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Head-to-head · Best Audio Interfaces

Audient iD4 MkII vs Universal Audio Volt Series

Which is the better buy? Side-by-side on rating, price, strengths, and watch-outs — with the published ratings we averaged to get there.

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The short answer

Audient iD4 MkII comes out ahead by a narrow margin (4.5 vs 4.4). The gap is mostly about solo recording setups with technical demands — read the strengths below before deciding.

Audient iD4 MkII
Higher ratedRanked #2 in Best Audio Interfaces
Audient iD4 MkII
3 sources$195as of Jul 31

The Audient iD4 MkII packs professional performance into a compact desktop box with an all-metal shell. Reviews cite a -114.8 dB A-weighted noise floor and 115.0 dB of dynamic range. The complaints are physical: the volume knob feels flimsy, and volume settings reset every time you power cycle. It also skips the input monitoring hardware its sibling, the iD14 MkII, includes. Solo recording setups are a good match; anyone wanting more advanced monitoring features will be disappointed.

Strengths
  • — All-metal construction with solid heft and professional appearance
  • — Excellent technical performance with low noise floor (-114.8 dB A-weighted)
  • — Good dynamic range (115.0 dB A-weighted)
Watch-outs
  • — Volume knob feels less robust compared to other models
  • — Volume level does not persist between power cycles
  • — No input monitoring on hardware (unlike iD14 MkII)
$195 · Check Price on AmazonFull review →
Universal Audio Volt Series
Ranked #4 in Best Audio Interfaces
Universal Audio Volt Series
5 sources3 derived$199as of Jul 31

The Universal Audio Volt 476P sits at the top of the Volt series, with four analog preamp inputs and two headphone outputs against the Volt 476's two inputs and one headphone output. Reviewers praised its studio-grade tracking, helped by selectable UREI 1176-derived compression models and vintage tube preamp emulation. It runs bus-powered in limited configurations, and the software bundle includes Ableton Live Lite and Celemony Melodyne. Some setups will need a dedicated power supply, and reviewers found the smooth plastic knobs ergonomically suboptimal. Bedroom producers and beginning recordists who want a full-featured 24-bit/192 kHz AD/DA interface with the I/O for multi-mic tracking sessions are the target.

Strengths
  • — Four analog preamp inputs with UREI 1176-derived compression model presets
  • — Vintage toggle emulates characteristics of the Universal Audio tube 610 console preamplifier
  • — Supports bus-powered operation via USB-C cable in limited configurations
Watch-outs
  • — Requires dedicated power supply in some setups due to higher power draw
  • — Smooth plastic knobs may be ergonomically suboptimal for some users
$199 · Check Price on AmazonFull review →

Derived means the reviewer published no score, so one was inferred from their written verdict. Everything else is a number the publisher printed. How we rank.

How they stack up

Audient iD4 MkII

The Audient iD4 MkII offers excellent technical performance with a low noise floor and good dynamic range, surpassing the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 4th Gen and Behringer UMC22 in these areas. However, it lacks the analog preamp features of the Universal Audio Volt Series and the specialized podcasting capabilities of the Focusrite Vocaster Two, making it more suitable for solo recording setups rather than multi-mic tracking or podcasting.

Universal Audio Volt Series

The Universal Audio Volt Series stands out with its UREI 1176-derived compression models and vintage tube preamp emulation, features not found in the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 4th Gen or the Audient iD4 MkII. While it's more expensive than the Behringer UMC22, it offers studio-grade tracking capabilities that the budget option lacks, and unlike the Focusrite Vocaster Two, it's designed for multi-mic tracking rather than podcasting.

Specs side-by-side

SpecAudient iD4 MkIIUniversal Audio Volt Series
Inputs24
Outputs22
ConnectivityUSB-C, 3.5mm jack, 1/4" jack—
Sample Rate96kHz24-bit/192 kHz
Bit Depth24-bit24-bit
PreampsJFET—
PowerPhantom power availableBus-powered via USB-C in limited configurations
Headphone Jack3.5mm and 1/4-inch1/4" jack
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