Head-to-head · Best Audio Interfaces

Behringer U-Phoria UMC22 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

Universal Audio Volt Series comes out ahead by a narrow margin (4.2 vs 4.4). The gap is mostly about bedroom producers seeking full-featured I/O — read the strengths below before deciding.

Ranked #6 in Best Audio Interfaces

Behringer U-Phoria UMC22

4.2

3 sources1 derived$69as of Aug 1

The Behringer UMC22 costs little and still covers home recording duty, producing good-quality audio from a variety of sources. MusicRadar called it a great audio interface for first-timers or those on a tight budget, while noting it has no dedicated Windows driver and runs noisier than competitors. Audio Science Review confirmed the USB-powered design with 48V phantom power, two line outputs, and a headphone out, and found it supports only 48kHz at 16 bits. Beginners and tight budgets are its market; anyone after premium performance should spend more.

Strengths

— Insane value for money
— Nice and compact size
— Great for home studio work

Watch-outs

— No dedicated driver on Windows
— Noisy compared to others

$69 · Buy at sweelee.com.sg Full review →

Higher ratedRanked #4 in Best Audio Interfaces

Universal Audio Volt Series

4.4

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 Amazon Full 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

Behringer U-Phoria UMC22

The Behringer UMC22 offers unmatched value for money compared to the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 4th Gen and Universal Audio Volt Series, but it lacks the build quality and technical performance of the Audient iD4 MkII and the advanced features of the Focusrite Vocaster Two. While it's a solid budget option, it's outperformed by the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 4th Gen in terms of noise floor and dynamic range.

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

Spec	Behringer U-Phoria UMC22	Universal Audio Volt Series
Inputs	2	4
Outputs	Headphone out, 2 line outputs	2
Sample Rate	48kHz	24-bit/192 kHz
Bit Depth	16 bits	24-bit
Power	USB-powered	Bus-powered via USB-C in limited configurations
Headphone Jack	1/4" jack	1/4" jack

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