Head-to-head · Best Audio Interfaces

Audient iD4 MkII vs Behringer U-Phoria UMC22

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

The short answer

Audient iD4 MkII comes out ahead by a narrow margin (4.5 vs 4.2). The gap is mostly about solo recording setups with technical demands — read the strengths below before deciding.

Higher ratedRanked #2 in Best Audio Interfaces

Audient iD4 MkII

4.5

$232.36as of Jul 1

The Audient iD4 MkII offers solid build quality and professional performance in a compact desktop interface. Reviews highlight its all-metal construction, excellent noise performance with a -114.8 dB A-weighted noise floor, and good dynamic range of 115.0 dB. However, some reviewers noted the volume knob's lack of robustness and the fact that volume settings don't persist between power cycles. While it provides good technical specifications, it lacks input monitoring hardware that's present on its sibling model, the iD14 MkII. This makes it suitable for solo recording setups but may disappoint users seeking more advanced monitoring features.

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)

$232.36 · Check Price on Amazon Full review →

Ranked #5 in Best Audio Interfaces

Behringer U-Phoria UMC22

4.2

$69as of Jul 7

The Behringer UMC22 offers exceptional value for money as a budget audio interface, capable of handling home recording duties and 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, though it lacks a dedicated Windows driver and is noisier than competitors. Audio Science Review confirmed its USB-powered design with 48V phantom power, two line outputs, and headphone out, noting it supports only 48kHz at 16 bits. It's ideal for beginners or those on a tight budget but may not satisfy users seeking premium performance.

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 →

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.

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.

Specs side-by-side

Spec	Audient iD4 MkII	Behringer U-Phoria UMC22
Inputs	2	2
Outputs	2	Headphone out, 2 line outputs
Connectivity	USB-C, 3.5mm jack, 1/4" jack	—
Sample Rate	96kHz	48kHz
Bit Depth	24-bit	16 bits
Preamps	JFET	—
Power	Phantom power available	USB-powered
Headphone Jack	3.5mm and 1/4-inch	1/4" jack

← See the full ranking of best audio interfaces