Do you want to know which audio interfaces on the market are currently the best? Then you’re in the right place. Whether you want to produce music professionally in a home studio or record instruments or vocals, the interfaces in this review are affordable and well equipped.
These interfaces are also a great fit for podcasters and streamers, for example thanks to the EVO 4’s automatic gain feature, but more on that later.
Let’s jump in with the best beginner-friendly audio interfaces in the lower price range.
One quick tip: Many retailers offer a return policy, so you can send products back if the audio interface you ordered doesn’t meet your expectations or you just can’t get comfortable with the keys on your new keyboard.
The Best Audio Interfaces Compared – Which USB Audio Interface Should You Buy?
An external interface for professional audio work isn’t a huge investment anymore because these days you can get really solid units for under $150. In this article we test and compare entry-level audio interfaces from Focusrite, Steinberg, Audient and EVO.
The Best Audio Interfaces Under $150 From Our Test
Audient iD4 MK2
The UK company Audient is well known among producers. Alongside large 16-channel mixing consoles, Audient also makes audio interfaces for home use.
A while ago, Audient released a new version of the popular iD interfaces with a faster USB-C connection and a clean, minimalist design.
What makes these units special? Very strong converters and excellent build quality. It’s no surprise the reliable Audient iD4 MK2 takes the #1 spot in our test.
The iD4’s metal chassis feels extremely solid and all key controls are on the top panel. You also get a large notched main output knob for precise volume control.
Top panel controls:
- LED meter
- Mic gain
- D.I. gain
- Monitor mix
- Speaker mute button
- iD control button
- 2 LEDs for +48V and USB
Rear panel:
- Mic/instrument input (combo jack, Amphenol)
- Main outputs
- USB-C port
Front panel:
- Additional JFET instrument input
- 2 headphone outputs
With the Monitor Mix knob, you can blend between the direct input signal and your DAW signal. The Speaker Mute button lets you silence the main outputs instantly. You can also swap the panning of your monitor speakers.
Another smart bonus is ScrollControl, which integrates the big knob with your DAW so you can use it for navigation.
iD4 owners also get access to free software offers, for example Steinberg’s Retrologue 2 synth. You’ll find the current rotating deals in Audient’s ARC Center on Audient’s website.
If you need two mic inputs, you can go for the slightly more expensive big brother, the Audient iD14. Current deals on Audient interfaces can be found here:
Technical specs (Audient iD4)::
- 24-bit / 44.1–96 kHz
- 1 mic/line input (XLR/TRS combo by Amphenol, Class-A Audient console mic preamp, 48V phantom power)
- 1 JFET instrument input
- Main speaker outputs: 1/4" TRS
- 2 headphone outputs: 1x 1/4" TRS, 1x 1/8"
- USB powered
- Mac/PC and iOS compatible
- Includes USB-C cable (1 m) and Audient ARC software bundle
- Dimensions (W x H x D): 133 x 120 x 40.7 mm
Focusrite Scarlett 2i2
The standard beginner interface almost everyone has seen. Focusrite’s Scarlett 2i2 has a lot going for it, not least the price. At around $151, it’s slightly above the limit, so we’ve also linked the Solo version with just one mic input.
The Scarlett 2i2 keeps all controls on the front. The top is completely flat. On the back you’ll find the USB-C port, a Kensington lock and the line outputs.
As expected, there’s also a generous software bundle and, to celebrate the 3rd generation, three months of Splice included.
Technical specs (Focusrite Scarlett 2i2):
- 24-bit / 192 kHz
- 2 mic/line inputs (XLR/TRS combo by Amphenol, Scarlett mic preamps, 48V phantom power)
- Main speaker outputs: 1/4" TRS
- Headphone output: 1/4"
- USB powered
- Mac/PC compatible
- Includes USB-C to USB-A cable (1 m)
- Ableton Live Lite, Pro Tools First, Focusrite Red 2 and Red 3 Plug-in Suite, Softube Time and Tone Bundle and one XLN Audio instrument of your choice
- 3 months of Splice free
- Dimensions (W x H x D): 175 x 47.5 x 98.8 mm
Steinberg UR22C
A classic. The Steinberg UR22C is the updated version of the legendary UR22. Thanks to USB-C, it transfers data faster and is ready for modern setups.
One small downside—similar to the Focusrite Scarlett—is the included USB cable: if you use a MacBook with USB-C ports only, you’ll need an adapter because the included cable is USB-C to USB-A.
The UR22C chassis is similar to the Scarlett Solo. The key controls are on the front, the top is flat and on the rear you’ll find the usual suspects, including the USB-C port.
For completeness, we’ve also included the older version with USB-B.
Technical specs (Steinberg UR22C):
- 32-bit / 192 kHz
- 2 mic/line inputs (XLR/TRS combo by Neutrik, Class-A D-PRE mic preamps, 48V phantom power)
- MIDI in/out
- Main speaker outputs: 1/4" TRS
- Headphone output: 1/4"
- Mono button
- Latency-free DSP monitoring with selected plug-ins
- Powered via USB or optional PSU
- Mac/PC compatible
- Includes USB-C to USB-A cable (1 m) and Cubase AI and Cubasis LE (iPad app)
- Dimensions (W x H x D): 159 x 47 x 159 mm
EVO 4
The EVO 4 is a special interface and a completely new model from Audient. It’s ideal for podcasters, streamers and anyone who wants a fast, time-saving feature like Smartgain: with one button press, all connected mics are automatically gain-staged so you can start right away.
It’s the most affordable model in our comparison and the only one with a plastic housing. While it could be damaged if dropped, it still feels sturdy and well made.
On the EVO 4, all key controls are on the top panel. The front and rear mainly hold the mic and instrument inputs as well as the speaker and headphone outputs.
Technical specs (EVO 4):
- 24-bit / 96 kHz
- 2 mic/line inputs (XLR/TRS combo by Amphenol, mic preamps with 58 dB gain, 48V phantom power)
- 1 JFET instrument input
- Main speaker outputs: 1/4" TRS
- Headphone output: 1/4"
- Smartgain function
- Loopback function
- USB powered
- Mac/PC and iOS compatible
- Includes USB-C to USB-A cable (1.5 m) and Audient ARC software bundle
- Dimensions (W x H x D): 140 x 55 x 60 mm
Our Conclusion
This test made one thing clear: you can get excellent audio interfaces for very little money these days. Our favorite is still the Audient iD4—the converters, the control layout and the design impressed us the most. If you need two mic inputs, we recommend the Audient iD14 or one of the other interfaces featured here. Drop a comment below—what interface do you use in your home studio?
All Audio Interfaces in One Liste
We created a list on Thomann with all interfaces featured in this test. Click through or check out other buyers’ reviews to choose your new interface.
Click here to see the list on Thomann!
What Mattered Most In This Test
We focused on models that are built to last and suitable for professional studio use. A solid chassis, high-quality D/A converters and mic preamps, stable knobs, useful I/O and the included bundle all played a major role in our evaluation. We also aimed to keep every interface at a maximum price of $150.
Audio Interfaces mit USB-C oder USB-B Anschluss kaufen?
| Mit USB-B |
USB-B is still common. These cables (also used for printers) offer up to 5 Gbit/s. A USB cable is usually included with new interfaces. If your computer only has USB-C but your interface uses USB-B, we recommend using a single USB adapter rather than a multi-port hub. |
| Mit USB-C |
With up to 10 Gbit/s, USB-C offers faster data transfer than USB-B and is now appearing on more and more models. Many manufacturers are updating their interfaces, for example Audient and Steinberg. |
All interfaces recommended here work well for podcasters and streamers. With the EVO 4, you can automatically set mic gain via Smartgain and with an adapter you can even connect the interface to a smartphone.
Why Do I Need An Interface for My Home Studio?
Your PC or laptop may have a built-in sound card but an audio interface lets you record vocals, control your studio monitors and track instruments like guitar.
The interfaces in this article all include headphone outputs and some models add useful features like LED meters.
How to Connect Microphones, Speakers and Instruments Correctly
You can connect microphones to your audio interface with an XLR male to XLR female cable. Instruments are connected using a TRS to TRS cable. Studio speakers (nearfield monitors) can be connected with either XLR male to XLR female or TRS to TRS, depending on which outputs your audio interface provides.
Headphones require a 1/4" (6.35 mm) jack plug or an adapter for a 1/8" (3.5 mm) plug.
Here’s the page with studio equipment accessories: The right cables and adapters for studio monitors, instruments and headphones
