Out-of-band noise issue: After making this video, I noticed that some interfaces produce quite a high amount of out-of-band noise which can negatively affect the measurement of the noise in the audible range. I re-measured all the interfaces with a low-pass filter in place to attenuate the out-of-band noise. In some instances, this lowered the measured noise figure. This is especially true for the Focusrite Scarlett 3rd generation products where the low-pass filter resulted in as much as 8 dB lower noise. The corrected values can be found in my newer reviews and I will use these numbers in future videos: th-cam.com/video/NtdYPLKuAxc/w-d-xo.html
Love your videos! Not sure how to interpret this comment though. Are there measurements in the table that are now known to be wrong? If so, it's unfair to the affected manufacturers not to correct it.
I thought it was weird that the 3rd gen was performing worse than the 2nd. Good to see that it was because of an unrealistic scenario (unhearable frequencies) as a 2i2 3rd gen owner myself
Julian, do you have exprerience with Focusrite Clarett? I'm sitting on the fence of Motu M4 or Focusrite Clarett 4Pre. Motu has good price and great quality, but Clarett 4Pre has tons of inputs and outputs and probably similar quality?
Very detailed "sound engineering" review, but these are mostly recording devices, not dedicated DAC/amps for audiophiles, and while playing an instrument or singing your main focus is usually about performing, not on listening, do these slight and minor changes in your headphones really matter at this point ? Most musicians use DT770 or M50x headphones, they are relatively cheap and low rated by audiophiles... My point is that most of these red dots on the chart seems to be about headphones issues, and considering the low price of these interfaces (equivalent or cheaper than most cheapest DAC/amps), a perfect sound quality could be less important than other "details" like connectivity, or optional functions like mono/stereo, mixing input and output in the headphones, also durability, or maybe even form factor, etc. ? What do you think ?
This is EXACTLY what I wanted to see for a long time. Finally somebody did it! THANK YOU! Headphones amp is very important in any sound card and almost everybody omits that
Julian is the best audio interface reviewer, without any competition here on the tube. SSL 2 may not shine on the head amp department but with recording it's a total different case.Danke Julian.
it's only for low impedance headphones.. so it's an extremely good interface if you intend to use higher impedance headphones, which most of the mid - higher end headphones are anyway.
Everyone should share this !!! everywhere !!! This what a tech review should be, not "This has very good sound quality" and that's it. Everyone can learn.
Totally worth spending 39 minutes watching the review. Before I was confused about which headphones impedance to choose for my interface, now I'm pretty sure what I will end up buying :) thanks for the commitment and the details.
These reviews are like a university seminar in Audio technology where you can receive a lot of knowledge. At the same time they are like a language course in excellent English. I could listen for hours.
Really good to see this. Of note: nowhere in the review was their any discussion of the interfaces' appearance or other things that do not matter. So often one sees "reviews" online that are just not really well-informed and not very helpful in the end. Obviously a huge amount of work goes into making something like this and that shows. Thanks Julian!
I can't believe I got the Motu M2 by pure chance, I wasn't even planning on buying it but it was the last interface with 2 inputs in a store nearby, I'm so glad that I did because now I'm thinking about buying some open back Headphones that needs some power to drive. Thanks for your work Julian, you're a fucking legend.
Wow this is impressive work Julian. As an Audio Professional looking for a new interface to buy this was by far the clearest comparison available to me. Not only a scientific measurement of all the relevant parameters but an easily understandable explanation of why each parameter matters in the real world. A complete avoidance of all the fancy bells and whistles offered by the different models and a sharp focus on the real issue - the sound! You helped me decide where my money will go, thank you.
Excellent video! Incredibly detailed, well-structured as well as fact-based comparison. So I guess the behringer UMC202HD was a solid budget choice for my 35 Ohm Headset earlier, but for my new 250 Ohm I'll upgrade to a Motu M2 then to make the most of it while still being able to listen on the 35 Ohm. An informed buying decision I couldn't have made that easily without your video. Thanks and keep up the great work!
@@PAZPERDEE for me it was the perfect choice. I'm able to get the most out of my beyerdynamic DT1990 and enjoy everything in excellent clarity and detail. At least I know if my production sounds off, it's not the fault of the equipment! It also works well together with my microphone setup. Really, there's nothing to complain about!
Thanks for your quick reply, it’s much appreciated, I am looking to pair the M4 with Beyer Dynamic 880 pro 250 ohm, just wanted to make sure they are sufficiently driven power wise with everything I have read, I am glad your set up up works well, I should be good then 🤞😄
How about the... Audiofuse Studio from Arturia? I know it's very pricey, but so full-featured...maybe Julian can get his very excellent comparison skills working on that interface. One of these companies should snap him up.
Fantastic and the most thorough review on YT, this review has finally sealed the Motu m2 deal for me over the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 3rd Gen that I was also considering to purchase. Keep up the great work.
Top notch comparison video. You were the influence behind my purchase of the Motu M2 and DT 770 pro 250Ω headphones. Perfect match for what I use them for. You give more usable info than the manufacturers ever could.
Please do speakers output next and what DAC they use. Everybody does mic preamps but almost nobody talks about sound quality form their unit. I compared old NI Audio 6 sound card with my Audient iD14, side by side and I was blown away how much fuller and crispier and overall lively sound was form Audient. It was night and day. I have send Audio 6 back even if drivers performed better but sound from Audient, thanks to highest quality Burr Brown converters was just superior. As far as I know only Audient and Motu say what converters they use. And that is like THE MOST important part of your sound card. I am curious how Motu performs as I am planning to change form Audient to Motu because of drivers performance on Motu. (audient is OK but I wand fastest). So if you can, please compare speakers output (maybe with some sound samples) and check what converters they use, if you can. Please consider adding iD14 to the test as it has best converters, but Evo is fine too. Thanks!
Yes please do a video on the speaker output next for both balanced and unbalanced outputs. I actually own the Motu M4. I use beyerdynamic 770 pros to monitor with it, but it's only now just occurred to me that I might be able to use it for more than just monitoring, and also use it as my official DAC within a desktop computer HiFi audio setup. More info on that would be great!
"Third-ed" this! I've heard a HUGE difference in quality between my older USB interface & PC soundcard, that i'm wondering why no reviewer really talks about! The recording interface was the one that had lower output clarity/quality, which is alarming when i'm supposed to be mixing on it!
This video helped me decide on an audio interface so thanks for that :) Appreciate all the effort it must have taken to do all the measurements. I'm quite sensitive to noise as I've gotten progressively more sensitive headphones over the years. Even as I've aged I find that noise and distortion are noticeable and more annoying than other abberations and compromises I can make for price. Seeing this kind of in-depth analysis helps a lot!
This was the best explanation and test setup for audio output, I have ever heard. I've been around a long time in electronics and computers and I saw this video on my notifications, just awesome. Thank you Julian, and I ordered a Motu M2 about three hours before I saw this. My intent was to use it as a headphone amp most of the time and when I needed to use it as an AI a couple of times a week. Now I don't have to change my order :-)
Best review of the audio interfaces. He didn't compare the size, the looks, the feels and names., just the specs, specs and specs in detail and depth. Expecting the same details on monitor outs and preamps, instrument/line ins. Great work JK.
This is the kind of concrete, quantified information that we need. I feel like I learned a lot about headphone amps just by watching this video. Thanks for all the hard work!
This is the type of videos that thumbs-up is just not enough. I really appreciate the quality and details of this review. Thanks you so much for your time and effort comparing all these audio interfaces!
I have been watching audio tech comparison videos for the five years I've been doing VO, and have NEVER seen a video as amazingly detailed, explained and helpful as this. Thank you so much Julian!
These videos are so useful. Thank you so much! You made me get a MOTU M2 and it's been stellar! Also, your tone is really cool, I could see myself listening to an audiobook that you narrated :D
I'd love to see a roundup like this of more prosumer interfaces (e.g. Focusrite Claretts, UA Apollo Twin, Presonus Quantum, RME Babyface Pro, etc). Anyone else?
I picked up a Focusrite Scarlet Solo for recording and room EQ work. It appears to kinda be crap for monitoring, but I never intended that to be it’s primary function. Awesome reviews man, thank you.
What an amazingly thorough video! Liked and subscribed half way through! What I WOULD LOVE to see next is the same kind of video comparing high-end interfaces instead. I own an Audient iD14 which has served me well for years, however I've been thinking of upgrading to either UAD Apollo X4, Apogee Element 46 or Apogee Symphony Desktop (which isn't out quite yet). As the manufacturers publish so little information about their headphone outputs it's so difficult to choose. Ideally I want something that will easily drive any headphone I might ever want to get.
Holy science, this is great work! Behringer gets often way too much slack simply for being cheap. This kind of comparison between actual hp amps would be really cool. Cheers!
Amazing, one of the few reviews of the headphones amp in audio interfaces. I've never see anyone mention the performance of headphone amps in than AI, glad someone is!
An unbelievably in depth roundup, just what I needed to help me choose my next interface! I hope the channel continues to get the recognition it deserves!
Hi. This or Focusrite 2i2? So far I have a Push 2 with Ableton Live 10 Suite,a Lenovo W530, some studio headphones Senheiser HD ermm I forgot the whole name and Im not home at the moment for quite a while. Looking at a good audio interface to start with ( debating between Motu 2 or Motu 4 or Focusrite 2i2 3rd gen but Im running Windows 10 and the last one more suitable for Apple if Im not wrong) and some budget friendly microphone later on up to £250. So Motu 2 to start with then later on a microphone? I need to learn first Live 10 properly plus Push 2 in the same time. Microphone maybe can wait a bit.
Are you working on a shootout between the SSL and the MOTU? Would be good to see as these are they 2 high end interfaces in this catagory. Cheers , love the content you release 👍
Incredible video, I love it when people cover something that is often overlooked. I would love to see a comparison of dynamic range / dac quality of the interfaces's when the preamp is bypassed (ie. using a dbx286s etc). I'm using the Shure SM7B > dbx286s > ur22mkII and have been considering upgrading the interface, however it's hard to justify the upgrade when the preamp won't be used. In these particular setups it would be awesome to see / hear the difference!
Julia, what a review, so solid. I was watching your analisis of the 2i2 and Motu and I could figure out wich one of the should I get but with this video the ranking just solved it. Really big thanks for this kind of videos. You're awesome!
Really impressed by how detailed you've made this comparison. My wife is looking at getting a new audio interface for her music work, and was considering the Focusrite and Motu models. Looks like the Motu is quite a bit better in this area. We were also looking at the Tascam US-4x4, but it looks like you haven't reviewed this range of interfaces.
Really appreciate this comparison! Was interesting to learn about the UR22 MKII impdeance, which I have. Always wondered why it sounds pretty good on my high end high impedance headphones and awful on my M50x.
What's the impedance of your headphones? I used to have M50x and they sounded ok on my smartphone, but absolutely unusable on ur242. Now I have UR22c, and some Sony headphones which also sound good on the smartphone and bad on UR22c (32 Ohm).
@@unpluggged to simplify things a Dac is a sound card and an Amp how the name is it amplifies the sound you usually use a Dac to get a clean signal an the amp to make is louder for headphones
@@unpluggged These interfaces are basically DAC amps with multiple analog input options, they're very similar desktop products but with a much different focus and intended purpose. I would rather stick with using my interfaces *as interfaces* and stick with my THX AAA amp and dedicated DAC for dedicated listening.
@@charlesanderson1855 But why? All the differences are within the realm of inaudibility if you have an interface like the M2 with quality headphone output at all impedances. I can completely understand the need for a dedicated amp if you need the power to drive notoriously hard to drive headphones, but otherwise it's completely redundant and unnecessary, unless you just like having the pretty boxes. If they're good enough for audio producers, they are certainly good enough for dedicated listeners.
Well, these are budget options (nothing above $230), and they do a lot more than just dac+headphone amp (they also have mic pres, line outs for speakers). So, considering that... They're not too bad.
What I don't get is that the Evo 4 has a very high impedance at 20ohm, yet it performs very good with low ohm loads with respect to distortion and power output and frequency response ? Like how bad is the 20ohm output, if I use 32-80ohm headphones. All the figures suggest it doesn't impact the results at all?
It will impact the frequency response. Basically it will colour the natural sound of your headphones, this can be amplified if you already have cans with a non neutral frequency response. The ohms of your headphones should be 8 times higher than the amp for a neutral response. So you would need cans higher than 160 Ohms. It will affect the sound of the 80hms headphones a bit and even more in the 32 ohms range.
Headphones are a more complex load and have a changing impedance over the whole frequency range. That's why a high output impedance can change the sound of your headphones. This isn't directly reflected in the distortion and frequency response measurements. With a high output impedance your results will vary depending on the headphones you connect and that's of course not great.
@@JulianKrause Makes sense, but could you actually test and demonstrate the changes and their effects or is there some online guide that can simulate this? I'm going to get a bit technical so bear with me. I saw your other video on headphone impedance matching, but it didn't fully cover the outcomes one can expect when the output impedance is less than 8 times the headphone impedance. For example, suppose we have a 80 ohm headphone. The impedance depends on frequency. The 80Ohm value is just an average. At resonance frequencies of the headphones the impedance of the headphones will be large and thus we will see little variation in the output freq. response since it's easier to drive a high output impedance. Below and above the resonance peak the impedance will dip and this is the most problematic area where I would expect distortion in the output freq. response, because the impedance can dip to values near the output impedance of the source.
I own the Motu M2 and really like it BUT the windows driver has problems. I always have to reset (switch off and on again) to get it working after I send my Windows 10 PC to work which is super annoying! I found lots of posts about that problem in the internet but no solution.
Try installing the latest version of the driver. I had the same issue, but downloaded the newest version (4.0.8.4479) and haven't had any issues since. Before I updated the driver I used another workaround: I always switched on the interface after Windows booted, and that seemed to have fixed the bug I experienced before.
@@sudee999 already running 4.0.8.4479 but I just saw there is a new firmware 1.02 saying it included "general bugfixes" (I am running 1.01). Lets see if that helps!
@@ReneHoffmann194 did you try disabling usb selective suspend and also disabling power manangement for the USB root hubs in device manager? Also if you click the M in the top left corner of the driver control panel window it will bring up a diagnostic menu that reports errors, might help track down the issue.
Hi Julian! Great review. I have ATH-M40X headphones (35 ohms), and I'll buy the SSL 2 interface. Will I need a headphone amplifier like the Mackie HM series? Or wich one would you recommend me? Thanks, keep up the good work and reviews.
Gonna do my part for the YT Algorithm and comment. I'm very impressed with the amount of labor that went into benchmarking and producing this video, please keep it up!
Bravo ! I don't know how long it must have taken you to put this presentation together but it is extraordinary. I don't have a tenth of your technical knowledge, but your graphs and explanations were able to convey the strengths and weaknesses of all the interfaces. My concerns over purchasing a Motu M2 over the Scarlett 2i2 have been put to rest . Thank you
Before I say anything, I would thank you a million times if you checked the revision of the motu M2. Different audio chip, better stability on the xlr ports because it has two screws instead of just one and it's made in a different place. I would love to know if it's any better (or worse). I bought the Motu M2 for a set of mics and the absurd low latency. Well, I did some deep research about the interface and it turned out it was a beast. Seeing this comparison makes me feel even better about my purchase. 10/10, just a 100 buck second handed
Please do a full comparison table for the inputs and the main outputs (like the headphone outputs) please......!!!! Doesn't matter if people don't understand the numbers the green to red colors are just gold..!!!
This video helped a lot, great work Julian! I had a hard time deciding between the EVO and 2i2 (the MOTU was just too expensive), but since you can currently get the Audio 1 for less than €90, with Guitar Rig Pro and a €25 voucher, and most of the headphones I already own are low resistance, that's what I ended up with. And I'm really happy with it.
I was just clueless and not able to make my mind about which interface and which headphone to get, after watching a few videos I am able to set what characteristics I need when I go to a music store. Thank you Julian, I like you detailed technicality
This is literally one of the most extensive review out there. Thanks for doing this Julian. I just want to add some info about the output Impedance. I think the 10 ohm output impedance on many devices is deliberately chosen by these manufacturers as all of these amps are meant for professional use. This is because there is actually a standard on this. Further more, having higher output impedance can minimize the power draw since these devices are USB powered. However, the latter point is my guess though.
You are THE CHANNEL to go to for the best reviews on TH-cam: Clear, easy to understand and straight to the point! You provide us with the information we are looking for and that we can trust. Thank you so much. BIG thumbs UP and subscribed.
MOTU makes great interfaces. They are also very well rated in terms of quality of their preamps and A/D converters. I own the M4 myself… excellent product. That their headphone amplication is best in class is a nice bonus.
Absolutely great review and testing, as an electrical engineering student i appreciate the amount of work put into this. This review standard is something i expect out of Audio Science Review, and that speaks highly! Earned yourself a like, sub and notification!
this is insane specs. i can't believe how much detail he went on headphone amp just for an audio interface.. this is the stuff youtube is missing & other reviewers can't bother to do. you deserve a lot & i hope you get it! i was about to go for SSL2 based on reviews, but your review makes it clear to me wanting to get into mixing that SSL is not the way to go. i do have a DT770 250OHM, but i also have an AKG k702 which is 62OHM, a KNS 8400 which is 36OHM, & an etymotic er4sr that is 45OHM (that i barely use for mixing but worth mentioning), & the SSL might cause me trouble because i am a critical listener & i do some heavy referencing.. i can't let my interface bog me down, and this guy puts peace to my purchase decision i made over a year ago.. had i bought something else, i might've regretted it bc headphone amp is really important to me. i do have studio monitors in a treated room, but complete & proper treatment is too expensive. this guy makes life good for the bedroom producer. i wished i had these information when the interfaces barely came out & when i first started producing. guys & gals, if you're watching this video, rest assured, you're on the right track.
I've been recording music as a hobby for 40 years and my favourite pleasure listening setup with headphones--and I have a LOT of amp/headphone options--is 44 ohm Shure SRH840 headphones plugged into a 3rd gen Scarlett.. Yes, there is some audible distortion. But it's beautiful, rich, tubey sounding distortion that coats everything with a creamy layer of goodness. I wouldn't mix with it, but I could listen to it all day long.
WOW.. I bought the Motu M4 without checking if i can use my favorite low impedence (12 Ohm) IEM with it, I should have no issues with a value of 0.06 Ohm. I am more concearned about noise, lets see when i get my Motu, cross fingers. Danke Julian 👍👍👍
Great vid! I keep telling others about this high quality comparison video! Would love to see the exact same video but for the monitor outputs including TRS, XLR, and RCA outputs. Please and thank you Julian! Stay safe and be well!
Julian Krause Oh by the way, I own a Motu M4. Not m2. You're a smart guy and this might not even concern you. But personally, I wonder about the performance of the extra monitor outputs in the M4 unit. The 4 outputs are mirrored. Does this mean that they share the same signal, and risk crosstalk, distortion and sound bleed to the adjacent mirrored outputs? A lot of the other audio interfaces with 2 versions are similar. The larger or more expensive unit will usually have extra output options. Maybe you could briefly speak on the monitor performance of interfaces with more outputs using mirrored signals vs their counterpart with no more than 2 outputs? Thanks for working on this video!
Awesomely detailed work! This is precisely what i was looking for, painstaking objective measurements of everything, instead of the usual subjective opinion comparisons!! Comment for the algo! :D
Your comparisons, and individual reviews, are the best being made!. I do wish you would include evaluation of the monitor outputs. It is an equally important metric.
YES MOTU wins once again. I just got a Motu M4 and highly suggest people looking for a quality interface that records digitally yet with a clear warm analog type sound to check it out and it's easy to use I love it! Thanks Julian excellent video all round
Out-of-band noise issue:
After making this video, I noticed that some interfaces produce quite a high amount of out-of-band noise which can negatively affect the measurement of the noise in the audible range. I re-measured all the interfaces with a low-pass filter in place to attenuate the out-of-band noise. In some instances, this lowered the measured noise figure. This is especially true for the Focusrite Scarlett 3rd generation products where the low-pass filter resulted in as much as 8 dB lower noise.
The corrected values can be found in my newer reviews and I will use these numbers in future videos:
th-cam.com/video/NtdYPLKuAxc/w-d-xo.html
Julian how would the audio technica r70x headhones sound with the ssl2+? would i need a headphone amp?
Love your videos! Not sure how to interpret this comment though. Are there measurements in the table that are now known to be wrong? If so, it's unfair to the affected manufacturers not to correct it.
@@wzero07 unfortunately there is no where to plug a headphone amp into the ssl2+ :(
Will using an external headphone amp solve the problems of high output impedance and the such? I have a Tascam US-4X4HR.
I thought it was weird that the 3rd gen was performing worse than the 2nd. Good to see that it was because of an unrealistic scenario (unhearable frequencies) as a 2i2 3rd gen owner myself
This maybe was the most detailed review i have ever seen.
Julian, do you have exprerience with Focusrite Clarett? I'm sitting on the fence of Motu M4 or Focusrite Clarett 4Pre. Motu has good price and great quality, but Clarett 4Pre has tons of inputs and outputs and probably similar quality?
Yes! Excellent review. I'm also interest in Focusrite Clarett (2Pre in my case).
@@lassi6547 do you have to produce with or more often recording and mixing?
I think so too, but I understand very little of it.
Very detailed "sound engineering" review, but these are mostly recording devices, not dedicated DAC/amps for audiophiles, and while playing an instrument or singing your main focus is usually about performing, not on listening, do these slight and minor changes in your headphones really matter at this point ? Most musicians use DT770 or M50x headphones, they are relatively cheap and low rated by audiophiles...
My point is that most of these red dots on the chart seems to be about headphones issues, and considering the low price of these interfaces (equivalent or cheaper than most cheapest DAC/amps), a perfect sound quality could be less important than other "details" like connectivity, or optional functions like mono/stereo, mixing input and output in the headphones, also durability, or maybe even form factor, etc. ?
What do you think ?
This is EXACTLY what I wanted to see for a long time. Finally somebody did it! THANK YOU!
Headphones amp is very important in any sound card and almost everybody omits that
That German accent... I believe everything this man says.
He has a hifi accent
"no one who speaks german could be an evil man"
Ironic considering your user name is written in Japanese.
@@dannysov Hitler was Austrian, so you’re nearly right.
ahahah clearly :D
Thank God somebody finally made a video about the amp in interface's there are so many wanky opinions on yt
Julian is the best audio interface reviewer, without any competition here on the tube. SSL 2 may not shine on the head amp department but with recording it's a total different case.Danke Julian.
@Redpill Progressive He does have those videos as well, for each of these devices.
it's only for low impedance headphones.. so it's an extremely good interface if you intend to use higher impedance headphones, which most of the mid - higher end headphones are anyway.
Everyone should share this !!! everywhere !!!
This what a tech review should be, not "This has very good sound quality" and that's it.
Everyone can learn.
Oh come on! I miss adjectives like warm, fast, tight, clinical ;)
WoW, the audio world needs people like you. This video is a diamond in the rough.
Totally worth spending 39 minutes watching the review. Before I was confused about which headphones impedance to choose for my interface, now I'm pretty sure what I will end up buying :) thanks for the commitment and the details.
These reviews are like a university seminar in Audio technology where you can receive a lot of knowledge. At the same time they are like a language course in excellent English. I could listen for hours.
Really good to see this. Of note: nowhere in the review was their any discussion of the interfaces' appearance or other things that do not matter. So often one sees "reviews" online that are just not really well-informed and not very helpful in the end. Obviously a huge amount of work goes into making something like this and that shows. Thanks Julian!
I just ordered a Motu M2 and that video was really reassuring! Thanks, keep up the great work!
If you buy a audio interface based on a headphone amp it's a good choice but there also problems see Spike Pi reaction and at gearslutz.com.
@@FROZENMX The what now?
@@FROZENMX What are people supposed to do with your link?
Love the M2, I got rid of my Schiit Stack due to it being plenty good for driving all my cans.
I refunded my Focusrite 4i4 and bought M2 instead. Niceee
I can't believe I got the Motu M2 by pure chance, I wasn't even planning on buying it but it was the last interface with 2 inputs in a store nearby, I'm so glad that I did because now I'm thinking about buying some open back Headphones that needs some power to drive.
Thanks for your work Julian, you're a fucking legend.
The amount of work that went in to this video. wow. You deserve mores subs dude!
Wow this is impressive work Julian. As an Audio Professional looking for a new interface to buy this was by far the clearest comparison available to me. Not only a scientific measurement of all the relevant parameters but an easily understandable explanation of why each parameter matters in the real world. A complete avoidance of all the fancy bells and whistles offered by the different models and a sharp focus on the real issue - the sound! You helped me decide where my money will go, thank you.
Excellent video! Incredibly detailed, well-structured as well as fact-based comparison. So I guess the behringer UMC202HD was a solid budget choice for my 35 Ohm Headset earlier, but for my new 250 Ohm I'll upgrade to a Motu M2 then to make the most of it while still being able to listen on the 35 Ohm. An informed buying decision I couldn't have made that easily without your video. Thanks and keep up the great work!
How did you get on with your M2 purchase, are you happy with it driving your 250 ohm headphones, I am looking to buy and have a Similar set up, thanks
@@PAZPERDEE for me it was the perfect choice. I'm able to get the most out of my beyerdynamic DT1990 and enjoy everything in excellent clarity and detail. At least I know if my production sounds off, it's not the fault of the equipment! It also works well together with my microphone setup. Really, there's nothing to complain about!
Thanks for your quick reply, it’s much appreciated, I am looking to pair the M4 with Beyer Dynamic 880 pro 250 ohm, just wanted to make sure they are sufficiently driven power wise with everything I have read, I am glad your set up up works well, I should be good then 🤞😄
Already wasn't complaining about the Motu M2 so great to see that when properly measured it is as good as it sounds
Perfect review. Now it is time to add some high-end audio interface into these comparison charts.
How about the...
Audiofuse Studio from Arturia?
I know it's very pricey, but so full-featured...maybe Julian can get his very excellent comparison skills working on that interface. One of these companies should snap him up.
Audiofuse is still consumer grade. Maybe RME, Orion Studio mm
Fantastic and the most thorough review on YT, this review has finally sealed the Motu m2 deal for me over the Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 3rd Gen that I was also considering to purchase. Keep up the great work.
Top notch comparison video. You were the influence behind my purchase of the Motu M2 and DT 770 pro 250Ω headphones. Perfect match for what I use them for.
You give more usable info than the manufacturers ever could.
Please do speakers output next and what DAC they use. Everybody does mic preamps but almost nobody talks about sound quality form their unit. I compared old NI Audio 6 sound card with my Audient iD14, side by side and I was blown away how much fuller and crispier and overall lively sound was form Audient. It was night and day. I have send Audio 6 back even if drivers performed better but sound from Audient, thanks to highest quality Burr Brown converters was just superior. As far as I know only Audient and Motu say what converters they use. And that is like THE MOST important part of your sound card. I am curious how Motu performs as I am planning to change form Audient to Motu because of drivers performance on Motu. (audient is OK but I wand fastest). So if you can, please compare speakers output (maybe with some sound samples) and check what converters they use, if you can. Please consider adding iD14 to the test as it has best converters, but Evo is fine too. Thanks!
Yes please do a video on the speaker output next for both balanced and unbalanced outputs. I actually own the Motu M4. I use beyerdynamic 770 pros to monitor with it, but it's only now just occurred to me that I might be able to use it for more than just monitoring, and also use it as my official DAC within a desktop computer HiFi audio setup. More info on that would be great!
"Third-ed" this! I've heard a HUGE difference in quality between my older USB interface & PC soundcard, that i'm wondering why no reviewer really talks about! The recording interface was the one that had lower output clarity/quality, which is alarming when i'm supposed to be mixing on it!
This video helped me decide on an audio interface so thanks for that :) Appreciate all the effort it must have taken to do all the measurements. I'm quite sensitive to noise as I've gotten progressively more sensitive headphones over the years. Even as I've aged I find that noise and distortion are noticeable and more annoying than other abberations and compromises I can make for price. Seeing this kind of in-depth analysis helps a lot!
Was waiting for this one for a long time. Loved it! I hope you make a similar comparison for the mic pre amps of all these interfaces.
This was the best explanation and test setup for audio output, I have ever heard. I've been around a long time in electronics and computers and I saw this video on my notifications, just awesome. Thank you Julian, and I ordered a Motu M2 about three hours before I saw this. My intent was to use it as a headphone amp most of the time and when I needed to use it as an AI a couple of times a week. Now I don't have to change my order :-)
Best review of the audio interfaces.
He didn't compare the size, the looks, the feels and names., just the specs, specs and specs in detail and depth.
Expecting the same details on monitor outs and preamps, instrument/line ins.
Great work JK.
This is the kind of concrete, quantified information that we need. I feel like I learned a lot about headphone amps just by watching this video. Thanks for all the hard work!
This was so good! Explanation, descriptions, analysis, everything! Wonderful video, thank so much.
This is the type of videos that thumbs-up is just not enough. I really appreciate the quality and details of this review. Thanks you so much for your time and effort comparing all these audio interfaces!
I have been watching audio tech comparison videos for the five years I've been doing VO, and have NEVER seen a video as amazingly detailed, explained and helpful as this. Thank you so much Julian!
These videos are so useful. Thank you so much! You made me get a MOTU M2 and it's been stellar! Also, your tone is really cool, I could see myself listening to an audiobook that you narrated :D
I'd love to see a roundup like this of more prosumer interfaces (e.g. Focusrite Claretts, UA Apollo Twin, Presonus Quantum, RME Babyface Pro, etc). Anyone else?
YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
THIS
I picked up a Focusrite Scarlet Solo for recording and room EQ work. It appears to kinda be crap for monitoring, but I never intended that to be it’s primary function. Awesome reviews man, thank you.
That's a hell of a comparison. Thanks so much for the time and cognitive load you put into this video!
What an amazingly thorough video! Liked and subscribed half way through! What I WOULD LOVE to see next is the same kind of video comparing high-end interfaces instead. I own an Audient iD14 which has served me well for years, however I've been thinking of upgrading to either UAD Apollo X4, Apogee Element 46 or Apogee Symphony Desktop (which isn't out quite yet). As the manufacturers publish so little information about their headphone outputs it's so difficult to choose. Ideally I want something that will easily drive any headphone I might ever want to get.
You are a kind of hero, thank you for your work!
This video is absolute gold. Thank you so much for doing it. You just saved me from picking the wrong interface out of a couple of options
All of these years later and the MOTU M2 seems to be the best all rounder. That was quite a feat.
Great stuff, very informative! Glad I went with the MOTU M2 :-)
Holy science, this is great work! Behringer gets often way too much slack simply for being cheap. This kind of comparison between actual hp amps would be really cool. Cheers!
Amazing, one of the few reviews of the headphones amp in audio interfaces. I've never see anyone mention the performance of headphone amps in than AI, glad someone is!
An unbelievably in depth roundup, just what I needed to help me choose my next interface! I hope the channel continues to get the recognition it deserves!
motu m2 kills it for me..it has everything home recording studio needs
Hi. This or Focusrite 2i2? So far I have a Push 2 with Ableton Live 10 Suite,a Lenovo W530, some studio headphones Senheiser HD ermm I forgot the whole name and Im not home at the moment for quite a while. Looking at a good audio interface to start with ( debating between Motu 2 or Motu 4 or Focusrite 2i2 3rd gen but Im running Windows 10 and the last one more suitable for Apple if Im not wrong) and some budget friendly microphone later on up to £250. So Motu 2 to start with then later on a microphone? I need to learn first Live 10 properly plus Push 2 in the same time. Microphone maybe can wait a bit.
@@japanluv motu m4! you can easly drive any mic and headphones with it!
@@japanluv motu slapss, from my perspective
Great job. Appreciated. My Audient iD22 wasn't included but enjoyed it anyway.
Some manufacturers dont even provide these specs, glad I finally found them.
I was recommended the Scarlett Solo Gen 3 and I’m so glad I watched this video and got the Motu M2 instead.
How have you liked it?
Are you working on a shootout between the SSL and the MOTU? Would be good to see as these are they 2 high end interfaces in this catagory. Cheers , love the content you release 👍
Incredible video, I love it when people cover something that is often overlooked. I would love to see a comparison of dynamic range / dac quality of the interfaces's when the preamp is bypassed (ie. using a dbx286s etc).
I'm using the Shure SM7B > dbx286s > ur22mkII and have been considering upgrading the interface, however it's hard to justify the upgrade when the preamp won't be used. In these particular setups it would be awesome to see / hear the difference!
If you technical analysis on Audio Interfaces and associated devices, you da man! Excellent detailed data on this subject, thanks Julian!
Julia, what a review, so solid. I was watching your analisis of the 2i2 and Motu and I could figure out wich one of the should I get but with this video the ranking just solved it. Really big thanks for this kind of videos. You're awesome!
I Like To Watch Audient Id4 Detail Review
Really wating for this video from long time
Really impressed by how detailed you've made this comparison. My wife is looking at getting a new audio interface for her music work, and was considering the Focusrite and Motu models. Looks like the Motu is quite a bit better in this area. We were also looking at the Tascam US-4x4, but it looks like you haven't reviewed this range of interfaces.
Extremely satisfied with Motu M2. Thanks for the rec. Probably won't replace with anything less than an Apollo solo in the future, if I even need to!
You are the MVP dude. Amazing comparison
Yessss!! waiting for the good stuff
Really appreciate this comparison! Was interesting to learn about the UR22 MKII impdeance, which I have. Always wondered why it sounds pretty good on my high end high impedance headphones and awful on my M50x.
What's the impedance of your headphones? I used to have M50x and they sounded ok on my smartphone, but absolutely unusable on ur242. Now I have UR22c, and some Sony headphones which also sound good on the smartphone and bad on UR22c (32 Ohm).
@@olegloza 250 ohm
@@EricParker thank you! I guess, I'll have to invest in some new headphones...
It amazes me how Julian spoke with a straightforward tone while telling jokes. Made me laugh with those subtle jokes. Great information!
I would love to see how they compare to HiFi-DACs!
What have DACs to do with headphone amps?
@@unpluggged to simplify things a Dac is a sound card and an Amp how the name is it amplifies the sound you usually use a Dac to get a clean signal an the amp to make is louder for headphones
@@unpluggged These interfaces are basically DAC amps with multiple analog input options, they're very similar desktop products but with a much different focus and intended purpose. I would rather stick with using my interfaces *as interfaces* and stick with my THX AAA amp and dedicated DAC for dedicated listening.
@@charlesanderson1855 But why? All the differences are within the realm of inaudibility if you have an interface like the M2 with quality headphone output at all impedances. I can completely understand the need for a dedicated amp if you need the power to drive notoriously hard to drive headphones, but otherwise it's completely redundant and unnecessary, unless you just like having the pretty boxes.
If they're good enough for audio producers, they are certainly good enough for dedicated listeners.
Well, these are budget options (nothing above $230), and they do a lot more than just dac+headphone amp (they also have mic pres, line outs for speakers). So, considering that... They're not too bad.
What I don't get is that the Evo 4 has a very high impedance at 20ohm, yet it performs very good with low ohm loads with respect to distortion and power output and frequency response ? Like how bad is the 20ohm output, if I use 32-80ohm headphones. All the figures suggest it doesn't impact the results at all?
It will impact the frequency response. Basically it will colour the natural sound of your headphones, this can be amplified if you already have cans with a non neutral frequency response. The ohms of your headphones should be 8 times higher than the amp for a neutral response. So you would need cans higher than 160 Ohms. It will affect the sound of the 80hms headphones a bit and even more in the 32 ohms range.
Headphones are a more complex load and have a changing impedance over the whole frequency range. That's why a high output impedance can change the sound of your headphones. This isn't directly reflected in the distortion and frequency response measurements. With a high output impedance your results will vary depending on the headphones you connect and that's of course not great.
@@JulianKrause Makes sense, but could you actually test and demonstrate the changes and their effects or is there some online guide that can simulate this? I'm going to get a bit technical so bear with me. I saw your other video on headphone impedance matching, but it didn't fully cover the outcomes one can expect when the output impedance is less than 8 times the headphone impedance. For example, suppose we have a 80 ohm headphone. The impedance depends on frequency. The 80Ohm value is just an average. At resonance frequencies of the headphones the impedance of the headphones will be large and thus we will see little variation in the output freq. response since it's easier to drive a high output impedance.
Below and above the resonance peak the impedance will dip and this is the most problematic area where I would expect distortion in the output freq. response, because the impedance can dip to values near the output impedance of the source.
I'm so impressed with this! Thank you. Looking forward for an updated version with Audient id4/id14 mk II though.
You're a hero, dude. Thanks, that's what I was looking for.
I own the Motu M2 and really like it BUT the windows driver has problems. I always have to reset (switch off and on again) to get it working after I send my Windows 10 PC to work which is super annoying! I found lots of posts about that problem in the internet but no solution.
Try installing the latest version of the driver. I had the same issue, but downloaded the newest version (4.0.8.4479) and haven't had any issues since. Before I updated the driver I used another workaround: I always switched on the interface after Windows booted, and that seemed to have fixed the bug I experienced before.
This is really annoying. Hope they update it with drivers or firmware?
@@sudee999 already running 4.0.8.4479 but I just saw there is a new firmware 1.02 saying it included "general bugfixes" (I am running 1.01). Lets see if that helps!
@@sudee999 Even after updating the firmware, the problem persists and I have to reset the Interface after sleep.
@@ReneHoffmann194 did you try disabling usb selective suspend and also disabling power manangement for the USB root hubs in device manager? Also if you click the M in the top left corner of the driver control panel window it will bring up a diagnostic menu that reports errors, might help track down the issue.
Hi Julian! Great review.
I have ATH-M40X headphones (35 ohms), and I'll buy the SSL 2 interface. Will I need a headphone amplifier like the Mackie HM series? Or wich one would you recommend me?
Thanks, keep up the good work and reviews.
No, you won't. Any of these interfaces can drive those headphones with zero issues.
As a fellow user who use M40X, HI THERE
@@joshuareveles but in all seriousness, should I pay attention to those that can support lower impedance than 32 ohm, or higher than that instead?
@@nightx7596 well, it depends tbh. I personally use my Sennheiser HD 280 Pro with the SSL 2 and it drives them with no issues
@@nightx7596 is m40x good? or should i go for m50x ?
I came here for the Motu M2 and left ordering one. This was a seriously detailed comparison.
Thank You Julian...It was hard to find the output OHMs comparison in the Interfaces. Big Thumbs Up!!
After watching american reviewers, watching this feels like im listening to a scientist, haha (which is actually literally true).
Came here thanks to Giaco audiovisuel, and yes, awesome video. Thank you really great job.
Gonna do my part for the YT Algorithm and comment.
I'm very impressed with the amount of labor that went into benchmarking and producing this video, please keep it up!
Much appreciated!
Bravo ! I don't know how long it must have taken you to put this presentation together but it is extraordinary. I don't have a tenth of your technical knowledge, but your graphs and explanations were able to convey the strengths and weaknesses of all the interfaces. My concerns over purchasing a Motu M2 over the Scarlett 2i2 have been put to rest . Thank you
New standard set!
Absolutely amazing bud!
You have done it again.
An OUTSTANDING presentation, Julian ! THANK YOU !
I see Winamp, i like
Before I say anything, I would thank you a million times if you checked the revision of the motu M2. Different audio chip, better stability on the xlr ports because it has two screws instead of just one and it's made in a different place. I would love to know if it's any better (or worse).
I bought the Motu M2 for a set of mics and the absurd low latency. Well, I did some deep research about the interface and it turned out it was a beast. Seeing this comparison makes me feel even better about my purchase. 10/10, just a 100 buck second handed
Your attention to detail is always appreciated. Thank you!
Please do a full comparison table for the inputs and the main outputs (like the headphone outputs) please......!!!!
Doesn't matter if people don't understand the numbers the green to red colors are just gold..!!!
This helped eliminate my buyers remorse after purchasing the Audient Evo 4, thanks 😄
This video helped a lot, great work Julian! I had a hard time deciding between the EVO and 2i2 (the MOTU was just too expensive), but since you can currently get the Audio 1 for less than €90, with Guitar Rig Pro and a €25 voucher, and most of the headphones I already own are low resistance, that's what I ended up with. And I'm really happy with it.
I was just clueless and not able to make my mind about which interface and which headphone to get, after watching a few videos I am able to set what characteristics I need when I go to a music store.
Thank you Julian, I like you detailed technicality
Just upgraded my computer to 32 g and bought the motu m2 I'm ready to make some music great review
This is literally one of the most extensive review out there. Thanks for doing this Julian. I just want to add some info about the output Impedance. I think the 10 ohm output impedance on many devices is deliberately chosen by these manufacturers as all of these amps are meant for professional use. This is because there is actually a standard on this. Further more, having higher output impedance can minimize the power draw since these devices are USB powered. However, the latter point is my guess though.
some have or need also electrical feeding, probably Steinberg, because ur242 have and maybe also ur22 to feeding the onboard fx,
I like the way you report with the evidence data . One splendid review among those same old critics... thanks!
You are THE CHANNEL to go to for the best reviews on TH-cam:
Clear, easy to understand and straight to the point!
You provide us with the information we are looking for and that we can trust.
Thank you so much. BIG thumbs UP and subscribed.
MOTU makes great interfaces. They are also very well rated in terms of quality of their preamps and A/D converters. I own the M4 myself… excellent product. That their headphone amplication is best in class is a nice bonus.
Absolutely great review and testing, as an electrical engineering student i appreciate the amount of work put into this. This review standard is something i expect out of Audio Science Review, and that speaks highly!
Earned yourself a like, sub and notification!
Danke schön, war sehr informativ.
I love this channel. This video helped me decide on getting the Evo 4 interface that I have now. Thank you.
this is insane specs. i can't believe how much detail he went on headphone amp just for an audio interface.. this is the stuff youtube is missing & other reviewers can't bother to do. you deserve a lot & i hope you get it! i was about to go for SSL2 based on reviews, but your review makes it clear to me wanting to get into mixing that SSL is not the way to go. i do have a DT770 250OHM, but i also have an AKG k702 which is 62OHM, a KNS 8400 which is 36OHM, & an etymotic er4sr that is 45OHM (that i barely use for mixing but worth mentioning), & the SSL might cause me trouble because i am a critical listener & i do some heavy referencing.. i can't let my interface bog me down, and this guy puts peace to my purchase decision i made over a year ago.. had i bought something else, i might've regretted it bc headphone amp is really important to me. i do have studio monitors in a treated room, but complete & proper treatment is too expensive. this guy makes life good for the bedroom producer. i wished i had these information when the interfaces barely came out & when i first started producing. guys & gals, if you're watching this video, rest assured, you're on the right track.
I've been recording music as a hobby for 40 years and my favourite pleasure listening setup with headphones--and I have a LOT of amp/headphone options--is 44 ohm Shure SRH840 headphones plugged into a 3rd gen Scarlett.. Yes, there is some audible distortion. But it's beautiful, rich, tubey sounding distortion that coats everything with a creamy layer of goodness. I wouldn't mix with it, but I could listen to it all day long.
WOW.. I bought the Motu M4 without checking if i can use my favorite low impedence (12 Ohm) IEM with it, I should have no issues with a value of 0.06 Ohm.
I am more concearned about noise, lets see when i get my Motu, cross fingers. Danke Julian 👍👍👍
Very cool analysis :D thanks for taking the time to do this :)
Great vid! I keep telling others about this high quality comparison video! Would love to see the exact same video but for the monitor outputs including TRS, XLR, and RCA outputs. Please and thank you Julian! Stay safe and be well!
Hey, I'm currently planning to make exactly this video. Stay tuned!
Julian Krause siiiiiick man!!!!! Thank you!
Julian Krause Oh by the way, I own a Motu M4. Not m2. You're a smart guy and this might not even concern you. But personally, I wonder about the performance of the extra monitor outputs in the M4 unit. The 4 outputs are mirrored. Does this mean that they share the same signal, and risk crosstalk, distortion and sound bleed to the adjacent mirrored outputs? A lot of the other audio interfaces with 2 versions are similar. The larger or more expensive unit will usually have extra output options. Maybe you could briefly speak on the monitor performance of interfaces with more outputs using mirrored signals vs their counterpart with no more than 2 outputs? Thanks for working on this video!
This is amazing! You should update this chart for each new review of Interfaces
Du bist der beste! Vielen Dank - Jetzt muss ich dir MOTU 2 kaufen
Thank god i bought the MOTU M2(before watching this video, I was scared but now I'm super happy)
Awesomely detailed work! This is precisely what i was looking for, painstaking objective measurements of everything, instead of the usual subjective opinion comparisons!! Comment for the algo! :D
Your comparisons, and individual reviews, are the best being made!. I do wish you would include evaluation of the monitor outputs. It is an equally important metric.
YES MOTU wins once again. I just got a Motu M4 and highly suggest people looking for a quality interface that records digitally yet with a clear warm analog type sound to check it out and it's easy to use I love it! Thanks Julian excellent video all round
Excellent comparison. I'm glad to finally see a comparison of headphone outs for interfaces, which is often overlooked by other reviewers.
You to me are in the hall of fame of audio interface reviewers, subscribed. Thanks
Clearly tremendous amount of work /effort done , thanks for sharing with community .
Thank you! Appreciate the effort that went in to this video, it has certainly helped me figure out my next purchase (Motu M2) !