Universal Audio Volt 2

Universal Audio | audio interface | $199

2-in/2-out USB audio interface with high-quality preamps and analog-inspired tone shaping.

Universal Audio Volt 2

Key Specifications

  • Connection Type: usb-c, xlr, trs
  • Sample Rate: 192kHz
  • Bit Depth: 24-bit
  • Dynamic Range: 112dB
  • Preamp Gain: 55dB
  • Phantom Power: Yes
  • XLR Inputs: 2
  • Headphone Outputs: 1
  • Direct Monitoring: Yes
  • Loopback: No

What These Specs Mean

Sample Rate: 192kHz

Higher sample rates capture more audio detail — important for professional recording and mixing.

Bit Depth: 24-bit

Higher bit depth means wider dynamic range and less quantization noise in quiet passages.

Phantom Power: Yes

Phantom power (48V) is required to use condenser microphones.

XLR Inputs: 2

More XLR inputs let you record multiple microphones simultaneously.

What You Need To Run This

Universal Audio Volt 2 has 2 XLR inputs. Recording through them also takes an XLR microphone and one XLR cable for every input you fill.

XLR microphone — the 6 cheapest of 18 in our catalog

Samson Q2U USB/XLR Dynamic Microphone Samson | $79.99 Rode PodMic XLR Dynamic Microphone Rode | $99 Elgato Wave:DX Dynamic Microphone Elgato | $99.99 Samson Q9U XLR/USB Dynamic Broadcast Microphone Samson | $149.99 Audio-Technica AT2035 Cardioid Condenser Audio-Technica | $159 Rode NT1-A Large-diaphragm Condenser Rode | $169

XLR cable — 4 options in our catalog, cheapest first

Amazon Basics XLR Male to Female Cable Amazon Basics | $11.51 Hosa MCL-205 XLR to XLR Cable Hosa | $16.95 Elgato Wave Link XLR to USB-C Cable Elgato | $19.99 Rode SC7 10ft XLR Cable Rode | $39

Realistic Total Cost

The cheapest working combination in our catalog, using the least expensive item that satisfies each requirement above. Swap any line for a pricier option and the total moves with it.

This product Universal Audio Volt 2 $199
Cheapest: XLR microphone Samson Q2U USB/XLR Dynamic Microphone $79.99
Cheapest: XLR cable Amazon Basics XLR Male to Female Cable $11.51
Total to get running $290.50

Price Position In This Category

At $199, Universal Audio Volt 2 is the 17th cheapest of the 28 audio interfaces we list, which puts it in the middle third of the category by price. In the rest of the category the cheapest is Y.D.F AR001 USB Audio Interface at $49.99 and the most expensive is Audient EVO 16 Audio Interface at $674.99; the median audio interface price is $199. That is $475.99 below the most expensive option and $149.01 above the cheapest in this category.

Compare Against

Arturia MiniFuse 2 vs Universal Audio Volt 2 Arturia | $199 Universal Audio Volt 2 vs M-Audio M-Track 2x2M-C M-Audio | $199 Universal Audio Volt 2 vs Solid State Logic UF8 Audio Interface Solid State Logic | $199 Universal Audio Volt 2 vs SSL 2+ USB Audio Interface SSL | $199 Universal Audio Volt 2 vs SSL Origin 2x2 USB Audio Interface SSL | $199 Universal Audio Volt 2 vs Steinberg UR12C Audio Interface Steinberg | $199 Universal Audio Volt 2 vs MOTU M2 2x2 USB-C Audio Interface MOTU | $199.95 Universal Audio Volt 2 vs PreSonus Revelator io24 PreSonus | $199.99 Audient EVO 4 vs Universal Audio Volt 2 Audient | $179.99 Universal Audio Volt 2 vs Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 (4th Gen) Focusrite | $224.99