Head-to-head · Best Audio Interfaces

Behringer U-Phoria UMC22 vs Universal Audio Apollo X GEN 2

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

Verdict is reader-supported. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Some links on this page are affiliate links — if you click through and buy, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Our ratings are sourced from independent publications, not sponsors.

The short answer

Universal Audio Apollo X GEN 2 comes out ahead by a narrow margin (4.2 vs 4.5). The gap is mostly about professional musicians seeking studio-grade performance — 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 #3 in Best Audio Interfaces

Universal Audio Apollo X GEN 2

4.5

3 sourcesall derived$1,199as of Jul 31

The Universal Audio Apollo X Gen 2 is a substantial refresh of the Apollo line, keeping Thunderbolt connectivity while improving dynamic range and lowering THD. Reviewers pointed to the industry-leading Unison preamps, the pristine conversion quality, and real-time UAD processing, with Sonarworks SoundID correction now integrated for monitoring accuracy. The premium price and the missing Thunderbolt cable were both noted as drawbacks. Professional musicians and producers who want studio-grade performance on a desk are who it's for.

Strengths

— Industry-leading Unison preamps with analog emulation
— Pristine AD/DA conversion with wide dynamic range
— Real-time UAD plugin processing for zero-latency tracking

Watch-outs

— Premium price point
— No Thunderbolt cable included in the box

$1,199 · 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 Apollo X GEN 2

The Universal Audio Apollo X Gen 2 excels in industry-leading Unison preamps and real-time UAD processing, features not available in the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 4th Gen or Audient iD4 MkII. While it's more expensive than the Behringer UMC22, it provides pristine AD/DA conversion and professional-grade performance that the budget option cannot match, and unlike the Focusrite Vocaster Two, it's built for professional studios rather than podcasting.

Specs side-by-side

Spec	Behringer U-Phoria UMC22	Universal Audio Apollo X GEN 2
Inputs	2	4x XLR-1/4" Combo
Outputs	Headphone out, 2 line outputs	2x Balanced 1/4" TRS
Sample Rate	48kHz	—
Bit Depth	16 bits	24-bit
Power	USB-powered	—
Headphone Jack	1/4" jack	—
Preamps	—	4x Unison-enabled
Connectivity	—	Thunderbolt 3

← See the full ranking of best audio interfaces