Your audio interface is the foundation of your home studio. We tested the top options under £200 to find the best bang for your budget.
TL;DR
Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 4th Gen remains the default recommendation for its reliability and sound quality. SSL2 wins on character. Audient iD4 MKII wins on preamp quality. Universal Audio Volt 2 wins on bundled software. All four are excellent — your choice depends on priorities.
Why Your Audio Interface Matters
Your audio interface converts analog audio (microphones, instruments) into digital data your computer can process, and vice versa. It's the bridge between the physical and digital worlds in your studio, and its quality directly affects everything you record and monitor.
A good interface should have low-latency performance (so you can record without audible delay), clean preamps (so your microphone captures are accurate and noise-free), reliable drivers (so your computer recognises it consistently), and solid build quality (so it survives years of daily use).
The good news: at the sub-£200 price point in 2025, every major manufacturer offers interfaces that meet professional standards. The differences between them are genuine but often subtle — you'd need to record identical sources through each to hear the variations in preamp character.
Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 4th Gen: The Safe Bet
The Scarlett 2i2 has been the default recommendation for beginners for a decade, and the 4th generation deserves to maintain that position. Two inputs, two outputs, USB-C connectivity, and Focusrite's Air mode (which adds a subtle high-frequency sheen to recordings) make it versatile and easy to use.
The preamps are clean and transparent — they capture what's in front of the microphone without adding significant colour. For most recording applications, this transparency is what you want. Latency performance has improved with each generation, and the 4th Gen's direct monitoring is practically zero-latency.
At around £150, it represents reliable value. The Focusrite Control 2 software is straightforward, the build quality is solid, and driver support across Mac and Windows is consistently good. It's not the most exciting choice, but it's the one you're least likely to regret.
SSL2: When You Want Character
SSL (Solid State Logic) entering the budget interface market was a seismic moment. The SSL2 brings the company's legendary analogue character to a sub-£200 box, with preamps that have a warmth and presence that the Scarlett's transparency deliberately avoids.
The SSL 4K Legacy mode adds harmonic content inspired by their classic 4000-series console. It's subtle but audible — recordings have a density and richness that's immediately appealing. For vocal recording and instrument capture where you want some analogue warmth baked in, the SSL2 is the standout choice.
At around £180, it's slightly pricier than the Scarlett 2i2. The trade-off is a slightly less intuitive setup process and a monitoring section that's functional but basic. But for the sound quality alone, those are acceptable compromises.
Our Recommendation
All four interfaces in our test group (Scarlett 2i2, SSL2, Audient iD4 MKII, UA Volt 2) are excellent. None will hold back your production. The differences are in character and priorities.
For beginners and general purpose: Focusrite Scarlett 2i2. It's reliable, well-documented, and transparent.
For vocal recording and warmth: SSL2. The preamp character is special and worth the slight premium.
For preamp purists: Audient iD4 MKII. The preamp is derived from their high-end console line and it shows — detailed, open, and incredibly clean.
For plugin addicts: Universal Audio Volt 2. The bundled plugin package (including vintage UA compressor and reverb emulations) adds significant value.
Whichever you choose, invest the money you save (compared to more expensive interfaces) in a decent microphone and acoustic treatment. A £150 interface with a good mic in a treated room will always outperform a £500 interface with a cheap mic in an untreated room.