What are compact and portable USB audio interface options?
This page compares 4 compact and portable USB audio interface options with verified specifications and prices. Top options include SSL SSL 2+ MkII, Universal Audio Apollo Solo Heritage Edition, Shure MVX2U Gen 2. Prices range from £86 to £522. All data is sourced from manufacturer documentation and specialist retailers.
| Product ⇅ | Price ⇅ | Sample Rate (kHz) ⇅ | Bit Depth (bits) ⇅ | Inputs ⇅ | Outputs ⇅ | Latency (ms) ⇅ | Phantom Power ⇅ |
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SSL SSL 2+ MkII
US
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£221.35 ≈ | 192 kHz | 32-bit | — | — | — | ✓ |
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The SSL 2+ MkII is a 2-in/4-out USB-C audio interface with next-gen 32-bit/192 kHz converters, two SSL-designed mic preamps, two instrument DI inputs, four balanced outputs, dual independent headphone outs and Legacy 4K analogue enhancement. It suits singers, producers and content creators who want high-quality conversion, low-noise preamps and flexible I/O in a portable bus-powered unit.
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Universal Audio Apollo Solo Heritage Edition
US
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£521.98 ≈ | 192 kHz | 24-bit | — | — | 1.1 ms at 96 kHz | ✓ |
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Compact desktop 2-in/4-out Thunderbolt 3 audio interface with two Unison mic preamps, onboard UAD-2 SOLO Core DSP and Heritage Edition plug-in bundle. Suited for singer-songwriters, home producers, and mobile engineers who want high-quality 24-bit/192 kHz conversion and realtime analog emulations.
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Shure MVX2U Gen 2
US
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£86.18 ≈ | 48 kHz | 24-bit | — | — | Zero-latency headphone monitoring | ✓ |
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The Shure MVX2U Gen 2 is a compact, single-channel XLR-to-USB-C audio interface with built-in MOTIV processing, up to 60 dB of gain, and support for dynamic and condenser microphones. Its USB-C power, mobile compatibility, and zero-latency headphone monitoring make it suitable for podcasters, streamers, musicians, and creators recording on the move. ★ Ideal forIt suits compact and portable USB audio setups because it weighs 100 g, connects one XLR microphone directly to computers, phones, or tablets over USB-C, and provides 48V phantom power plus zero-latency headphone monitoring.
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Elgato Wave XLR MK.2
US
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£125.43 ≈ | 48 kHz | 24-bit | — | — | Zero-latency monitoring | ✓ |
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The Elgato Wave XLR MK.2 is a compact USB-C interface for XLR microphones, with 80 dB of clean gain, onboard DSP effects, Clipguard 2.0, and Wave Link integration. It suits streamers, podcasters, voice-over creators, and home recording users who want simple hardware controls and professional microphone processing. ★ Ideal forIt suits compact and portable USB audio interface setups because it weighs 320 g, connects via USB-C, provides one XLR input, and includes zero-latency headphone monitoring with onboard DSP effects.
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