Universal Audio Volt 176 USB-C Audio Interface Reviews
The Universal Audio Volt 176 leverages UA's renowned analog expertise to deliver a USB-C audio interface worthy of a decades-long legacy. The Volt 176 boasts top-flight analog circuitry, along with class-leading 24-bit/192kHz AD/DA conversion, enabling you to create professional-sounding music productions, livestreams, and podcasts. This bus-powered audio interface boasts one microphone preamplifier with switchable 610-style analog sound and convenient input metering. This interface's crown jewel, however, is its built-in 1176-derived FET compressor with three push-button application modes. Beyond that, stereo analog outputs and a headphones output make monitoring a snap, plus you get direct monitoring for zero-latency operation. You also get MIDI I/O for your synths and controllers. The Volt 176 vaunts a rugged, retro-inspired industrial design and comes with a cutting-edge native software bundle.
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Highest Rated Reviews
Voltastic!
I use the 176 to play my guitar through plugins. I don't record with it, which is why I opted for the 176. If you plan on recording with multiple mics I'd go for the bigger volts. That being said, this thing is top notch. The build quality is great and so is the price. I'm severely technologically challenged, and this thing was super easy to setup.
No Hiss
I had to use a Neumann TLM 49, and then a Sennheiser 416 without a pre amp. Plugged them straight into the V176. I had to turn the gain up to 95% to get a good signal. And I got it with no hiss or distortion!
The other features are great, but the pre-amp in this thing is wonderful!
Extremely pleased with this interface
Lots of gain, even on my ribbon mic. No external preamp needed. It sounds great. The headphone out of actually audible and useable, unlike my other interfaces I've owned. I'm quite impressed. This interface is amazing for its size and price.
It works very well
It's awesome
Great Interface
Nice to have an onboard compressor and preamps are nice. Contrary to some of the reviews. Great look also and easy set up. I've used Focusrite for a while now but UA seems to beat it.
Universal Audio Volt 176
I just received this unit and put it through it's paces. Nice, nice warmth and versatile compressor settings.
This closely captures the true UA sound on recordings. I was also quite surprised to learn that this unit can also be used as a 'stand-alone' direct box without the computer! I was able to plug the outputs of this directly into the line inputs of my analog mixer, plug in a guitar, adjust the gain, compressor, and monitor levels, and WHOA!
This can be powered either by USB-A to barrel cable, or standard USB-C cable, (included),or an external 5VDC adapter center-pin positive (not included).
While intended as an audio interface for your DAW, it's nice to know you can just grab this as a direct box without lugging around a computer! Not a lot of other audio interfaces allow stand-alone operation. Kudos to UA!
Works well, compressor is great, input level monitoring not what I expected
Overall I am pleased with the unit and recommend it to anyone wanting a usb-c interface.
I primarily use this for guitar and bass live performance, running Positive Grid FX 2 on an iPad with the A15 processor. Processor load is typically less than 10% with this set up.
I will let other reviewers describe the sound quality as my ears are not the best, but sound quality meets my needs and seems at least as good as the MOTU M4 and Focusrite Scarlet units I also own.
I would like to make readers aware of the input level monitoring scaling, which is why I deducted 1/2 star. One of the selling points of the unit is it can impart analog "character" to the input signal. When using with an active bass, the unit was imparting "character" while the input monitoring was showing only two green bars. I was going for a very clean sound during a rehearsal and could not figure out where distortion was coming from. I searched through the amp models and other elements in FX2, but could not get the sound totally clean. It wasn't until after the rehearsal that I realized the Volt 176 was adding distortion, and I did not particularly like the distortion or "character" on bass for this application. I recommend starting with the input pot at 9:00 when using active instruments, and be mindful it adds "character" at some pretty low levels, well below when the yellow input LED lights up.
Now that I am aware if the input scaling, all is good. With bass, I run the compressor in fast mode and it effectively keeps the bass from peaking out main sound board when I slap and do the other obnoxious bass antics.
Decent Interface
Good converters. The standalone pre-amps are noisy if too much gain is applied, so it works better with a separate mic-pre. Overall good interface if you know how to use it.
Recommended by a friend
I've used most all of the major brands of interfaces, and a colleague recommended trying the UA Volt. I've got an SM7B with a Cloudlifter going into it, it's awesome! Both my audio and video editing projects sound great through this box.
Not bad at all
Cool pice I run the AT2020 through the art tps2 into the volt 176. Pretty good sounds with the compressor, vintage button is kinda cool don't use it too much as it adds a lil highs in my opinion!
