You’ve probably heard that Universal Audio Apollo audio interfaces are among the best you can buy, and we agree. Quality construction, the legendarily powerful Unison preamp, and a hardware/software integration that blows away the competition all make the Apollo line stand head and shoulders above the rest.
But before you pull your credit card, there are some questions you’ll want to address. What are the differences? Which one should you buy, or should you buy one in the first place?
Do You Really Need a UAD Apollo Interface?
The first step is determining whether buying a UAD Apollo interface makes sense for your situation. Owning the best comes at a cost, and that cost may or may not make sense for you.
If you’re already operating a home recording setup using an entry-level or midrange audio interface, there’s no question about it: upgrading to an Apollo interface will make a difference. But if you’re content with the sound you’re getting from your current interface, perhaps the Apollo difference isn’t worth the cost for you.
If you’re just getting started, jumping straight to an Apollo may or may not make sense. On the one hand, if you upgrade down the road, you’ll have spent money on a cheaper interface that you no longer use. But on the other, if you’re not certain how deep into this hobby you’re going to get, buying an Apollo outright might just be too much money.
Last, consider your goals in setting up a home studio. Is this merely a hobby, something that you don’t anticipate ever making you money or creating music that sees a wide distribution? If so, factor in whether you can afford to sink this much of your income into a “pure” hobby.
If you can, great! You won’t be disappointed by your Apollo interface. But if you need to keep the budget tighter, you might be better served with a budget or entry level audio interface or studio bundle.
On the other hand, if your end goal is wide or even commercial distribution and ultimately income generation, the cost is absolutely worth it. You have to pay for the privilege, but your music will sound better, period. And when you’re trying to make it, attributes like tonal flexibility and overall better DSP are worth the investment.
The UAD Apollo Line: More Power and Higher Quality for Discerning Artists
If you’re here, chances are you already know that a Universal Audio interface is going to outperform the lower-priced competition. But it’s helpful to know a little more about what that means. After all, it’s doing the same basic thing that any other audio interface would do. What makes this brand special?
The truth is, a lot. But here are a few of the most notable attributes.
High-end Construction
First, a UAD interface has a better build quality than many competitors, made from high-end materials and components. It will last well and look good in the process.
Unison Preamp
The Unison preamp attached to the XLR ports on every Apollo interface is a thing of beauty. Rather, it’s more than one thing of beauty: in addition to its own impressive natural sound, the Unison preamp can be physically reconfigured to achieve a wide variety of sounds, including near-perfect emulations of some of the most famous vintage preamps out there.
Where lesser audio interfaces offer you one preamp (and maybe a toggle on/off), UAD Apollo interfaces offer a whole world of hardware-based preamp emulations — achieved not via software emulation but from within the analog preamp itself.
Hardware/Software Integration
UAD achieves this preamp wizardry thanks to a high level of integration between its hardware and software. The company’s Console software is your interface to controlling those preamps, along with a lot more.
Other audio interfaces may ship with related software, but you’ll rarely find the kind of integration that Universal Audio has achieved.
Vastly Superior Digital Signal Processing (DSP)
Good audio interfaces include digital signal processing capabilities, where you can offload some plugins and processing needs to a separate processor in the audio interface. This way, your computer’s CPU doesn’t have to do all the work by itself.
Not only are UA’s digital signal processing cores more powerful than most competitors, they don’t stop with just one core. Even the desktop Apollo Twin X Duo has two cores, and you’ll get progressively more cores the higher up the lineup you go.
Some lower-end audio interfaces don’t do any onboard DSP other than standard D/A and A/D conversion. They push all of that work off to your system’s CPU. Those entry-level and midrange interfaces that do offer DSP pale in comparison to what any UAD interface can do.
Top Models Compared
Now that we’ve covered what sets the UAD Apollo line apart from other interfaces, it’s time to look at each of their top audio interfaces.
Apollo Twin X Duo / Quad
Quick note: I’ve already created a full review of the Apollo Twin X audio interface, so be sure to check it out if you want to go deeper than what you see below.
The Apollo Twin X Duo isn’t quite the entry-level Apollo interface. That distinction goes to the Arrow/Solo (which we’ll talk about later on). The Apollo Twin X is, however, the best option in the lineup for most at-home musicians.
This is a small desktop interface capable of 10 in, 6 out performance (when you expand it using the Thunderbolt 3 or optical ports). But on the unit itself, you’ll find two combo XLR/instrument jacks on the rear, both equipped with the stellar Unison preamp. There’s also an instrument input on the front, which overrides the first XLR jack.
You get two pairs of monitor outputs as well as an independently bused headphone output as well. The optical connection can take S/PDIF and ADAT connections for added expandability.
The biggest decision if you’re leaning toward an Apollo Twin X is whether to purchase the DUO or QUAD model. They are identical in every way from the outside: the only difference is the number of DSP cores included.
The more advanced your workflow and the more digital effects and plugins you use, the more benefit you’ll see from choosing the QUAD. But if you’re keeping things simpler, the DUO is likely sufficient for your needs. (It certainly beats any entry-level unit you may be upgrading from.)
The Apollo Twin X Duo has an MSRP of $1379, while the Quad model lists for $1749. (Of course, you can almost certainly find them for cheaper.)
Most at-home musicians will do just fine with an Apollo Twin X. If you can’t envision a scenario where you’d need more than two simultaneous microphone inputs, then this is the UAD interface for you.
If you’re likely to invite multiple other musicians to your studio for a session (and you don’t have any hardware that could work in tandem via optical input), you might want to consider moving up to a unit with more on-device I/O.
Check current prices on Amazon for the Apollo Twin X DUO
Check current prices on Amazon for the Apoll Twin X QUAD
Apollo x4
If you’re looking for more I/O in a single piece of hardware, stepping up to the Apollo x4 may do the trick. This 12 in, 18 out desktop interface adds a great deal more I/O flexibility but still fits nicely in many home studios.
With the x4, you get four combo inputs, each with a Unison preamp. The x4 also steps up to four line outs in addition to L/R monitor outs, and the unit supports both optical IN and OUT over separate optical ports.
Around front, the x4 adds a second instrument input and a second headphone monitor jack. The Apollo x4 also includes four UAD plug-in processing cores (same as the Twin X QUAD), enough to power even complex projects.
Other than these changes, the Apollo x4 matches the Twin X in most other ways.
The Apollo x4 steps up to an MSRP of $2749.
Check current prices on Amazon for the UAD Apollo X4
Apollo x6
With the Apollo x6, UA jumps from a desktop footprint to a rack-mounted format. With that change comes a pretty significant shift in focus and in design language. The x6 looks like something you’d find in a commercial studio. (That’s likely because it is something you’ll find in many non-home studios.)
The Apollo x6 jumps up to 16 x 22 I/O but changes the configuration pretty drastically. You actually only get two XLR inputs and two Unison pres, but you get more line inputs, more outputs, plus two ADAT IN and two OUT, S/PDIF IN and OUT, and even word clock connections.
The x6 adds another two DSP cores, for a total of six. You can run even more UAD Powered plugins in real time.
The x6 jumps again in price, with an MSRP of $3249. That’s a relatively small jump from the x4, but bear in mind that you lose two XLR inputs.
Unless you’re pairing it with other gear or you’re doing instrument-heavy live tracking, you’re likely better off moving either up or down on this list.
Check current prices on Amazon for the UAD Apollo x6
Apollo x8 and x8p
With the x8 and x8p, we’ve officially entered territory that won’t make sense for most home studios. These are seriously well-equipped rack-mounted audio interfaces. The 18 x 24 I/O Apollo x8 features four XLR inputs with Unison preamps, plus eight line inputs, eight line outputs, two monitor outputs, and the same S/PDIF/ADAT/word clock connections as the x6.
The x8p drops some of the separate line inputs in favor of eight XLR/line combo jacks and eight Unison preamps. It retains the ADAT connections but switches out the S/PDIF for 25-pin connectors. It’s a great choice for recording ensemble vocals or other intricate condenser mic-heavy setups. But chances are you’re not doing that sort of thing in your home studio.
The Apollo x8 lists for $3879, while the beefier x8p lists for $4629.
Check current prices on Amazon for the UAD Apollo X8
Check current prices on Amazon for the UAD Apollo x8p
Apollo Arrow / Apollo Solo / Apollo Solo USB
The Apollo Solo (previously known as the Arrow) is the closest thing UAD has to an “entry-level” unit. With an MSRP of $879, it’s tough to think of it in those terms.
The Solo is a scaled-back version of the Apollo Twin X, essentially. You get the same two combo jack inputs with the same Unison preamps, and you get the same quality DSP core — but you only get one of them. Other stuff that’s missing: this unit includes only one set of outputs rather than two, and there’s no optical port. Depending on the model you pick, you get either Thunderbolt 3 or USB-A connectivity.
The Solo is a solid device, but it’s a tough one to recommend. If you can afford a Solo, you can likely stretch to a Twin X—and you probably should. The difference in cost doesn’t match the drop in function, at least in my opinion.
There are a few exceptions. To our non-endorsement. One is if you’re a singer/songwriter who doesn’t want or need a complex setup. The Solo still gives you access to the impressive world of UAD powered plugins and those gorgeous preamps. The other is for well-developed studios heavily invested in UAD plugins who need a mobile interface solution.
Check current prices on Amazon for the UAD Apollo Solo
Final Thoughts
For musicians looking to seriously upgrade their recording quality, stepping up to a UAD Apollo interface is a great way to do so. For most at-home scenarios, the Apollo Twin X or Apollo x4 will be more than sufficient, which is why those two units get our top recommendation in the UAD Apollo family.