Podcasters, content creators and recording musicians all need reliable good sounding DAW interfaces, so we’re pitting Behringer — known for their extreme low prices — against SSL, a pricey brand known for their large, expensive, mixing consoles. Both of them use surface-mount construction, both of them have design engineers in the UK, and both products are entirely made in China. Is one noticeably better than the other?
In this article we’re focusing on two different, self contained, DAW interfaces, both featuring builtin microphone preamps, line inputs and outputs for recording, and dual headphone amplifiers so two people can listen independently. Both of these are currently priced at $229 from Internet retailers. Both feature class compliant drivers using Apple Mac OS 15 Sequoia, which means you can switch between interfaces without having to load any special drivers, just select which interface you want computer-audio to play out of. I summed the stereo outputs of the two interfaces with a line mixer to make switching between them fast.
Modern audio reproduction has reached a level of quality that can only be described as spectacular, especially for someone like me that has lived through the last 60 years of evolution in recording and playback. Listening to gear snobs discount the capability of entire brands, while giving their favorite expensive gear high-fives, is a risky way to research gear purchases. Subjective impressions are unreliable and prone to bias, and that is why I always say go and try stuff for yourself. You may need to get out of your comfy chair but using your own ears is the only way to really know if something is right for you.
THE CONTESTANTS
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| SSL 2+ desktop DAW interface, click to enlarge |
SOLID STATE LOGIC
The SSL 2+ has become a favorite, compact, DAW interface here at High on Technology. It’s inexpensive, has two balanced outputs, two headphone amps, two mic preamps (which don’t suck), it is bus powered by the computer it is plugged into (so you don’t need any extra power supply connections) and it has a latency-free source-monitor mix control that lets you blend your source with playback. The computer connection on the rear is a USB type C female and it comes with two USB cables, one is C to C and the other is C to A (for older computers), both of these cables are very short. It’s a desktop package so it needs space to sit on something like a desk, all the in and out connections are on the rear. You can read a complete and detailed review of the SSL 2+ here on High on Technology.
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| All inputs and outputs on rear, click to enlarge |
This little SSL interface can run at all the popular sample rates including 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, 88.2 kHz, 96 kHz, 176.4 kHz and 192 kHz. Another very useful set of connections is full size, 5-pin MIDI input and output jacks.
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| Behringer U-Phoria 1820 USB DAW interface, click to enlarge |
BEHRINGER
The Behringer U-Phoria UMC1820 is the challenger and it dwarfs the SSL in features and packaging for the exact same price. The U-Phoria is a 19” rack mount style package but it comes with little rubber feet installed to minimize scratches, in case you set it on your desk. This interface comes with a small power supply which must be plugged into an AC outlet. The connection to your computer on the supplied cable is standard, old style USB type B - A. My new Apple M4 Mac mini came with only USB-C connections so I use a third-party cable with C on one end (connects to computer) and B on the DAW end — this cable was about $8 from Amazon. Alternatively I could have used a USB adaptor (the interface works fine with either connection type).
The U-Phoria has eight XLR/combo jack inputs for microphones, instruments and balanced line level connections. There are ten TRS balanced line outputs along with a S/PDIF stereo digital audio connection for a total of 12 outputs. There are ADAT input and output light pipe connections, which can mate with an external converter package to expand this system to 20 total, discrete outputs, 18 of which would be analog. If you’re just using the line outputs and S/PDIF on the U-Phoria you can jump the sample rate up to 96kHz. The two independent headphone amps sound really good, and drive higher impedance headphones like Sennheiser HD600 to more-than adequate listening levels.
There is a main output section with master controls for “Main Out 1-2” which corresponds to the jacks on the back labeled 1/L and 2/R — these are intended for connecting to your monitor speaker system — this leaves eight more TRS balanced outputs for you to use in your productions.
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| U-Phoria rear, click to enlarge |
Two of the XLR/combo input jacks are on the face of the unit so you can plug microphones and instruments in without going around back. Both of the headphone output jacks and their associated volume controls are right there on the front panel. Every XLR input jack on the unit can be switched in level to accommodate instrument or line level input.
Phantom power is switched to the XLR inputs in groups of four channels, to 1 — 4, and 5 — 8. The U-Phoria has two 5-pin jacks on the back for MIDI input and output.
SPECIFICATIONS COMPARED
It is a little bit difficult to compare these pieces of hardware directly from their factory specifications because frequency response is only given at the sample rates shown and Behringer does not specify distortion levels.
FREQUENCY RESPONSE
SSL 2+ Monitor Outputs response at 48 kHz 20 Hz to 20 kHz (+0.05 or -.05 dB)
U-Phoria Monitor Outputs response at 96 kHz 10 Hz to 40 kHz (+0/-3 dB)
DISTORTION
SSL 2+ THD+N less than .002% @ -1 dBFS
U-Phoria Distortion not given
DYNAMIC RANGE (monitor outputs)
SSL 2+ A-Weighted 111.5 dB
U-Phoria A-Weighted 106 dB
MAXIMUM OUTPUT LEVEL - TRS BALANCED
SSL 2+ +6.5 dBu
U-Phoria +16 dBu
MAXIMUM HEADPHONE OUTPUT
SSL 2+ +10 dBu
U-Phoria +21.5 dBu
ANALYZING THE SPECS
I’ve used both of these interfaces extensively in the H.o.T. studio test area and both of them deliver professional performance, which includes, decent sounding microphone preamps and monitor output(s) with enough drive to power our custom JBL monitor system with smooth, low distortion sound.
Sample Rate: The SSL 2+ wins here, going all the way up to 192 kHz, which is my favorite sample rate for stereo master mixes. I'm fine with the sample rates provided on the U-Phoria because I don't run my multi-track at even its highest rate, the files just become so big and difficult to manage. I've compared 48 kHz masters to 192 kHz masters from my system and I've been able to pick out the higher one every time, just by the sound. I doubt anyone hearing my work knows (but I do ;-) lol.
Frequency Response and Distortion: The SSL2+ at 48k delivers very flat frequency response at its maximum output of -1 dBFS. Behringer’s frequency response spec is a bit vague, I suspect the -3 dB-shown is in the very high frequencies.
I normally run my interface at 24/44.1 kHz and that is what I’ve used on both of these for day to day use, neither of them have given me the slightest hint of poor frequency response, bass performance feels very smooth down into the lower octaves without any distortion breakup and high frequencies seem clear and equally low in distortion.
Maximum Output Level: This has become a more important specification since compact, powered monitors have become so ubiquitous. The JBL 3-series requires strong input signals to get to their higher output levels. The SSL 2+ has at times been turned all the way up to get the test-studio monitors up to the right volume level, this has led to electronic noise in the form of a buzz around 300 Hz (I suspect it’s being picked up from the nearby Mac mini). I have not noticed any hum or buzz in recordings I’ve made with the SSL 2+ so the hum seems to be a result of the playback circuitry being a little under-powered, combined with poor shielding that allows induced noise.
Dynamic Range: I’ve been using the SSL 2+ since it first came out and I’ve never noticed it being weak or strong in terms of dynamic range performance. While the U-Phoria Dynamic Range is 5 dB lower (according to the specs) than the SSL it has never demonstrated any weakness. In contrast to the hardware I had in the 90's, 80's and especially the 70’s, both of these pieces deliver excellent and very usable performance.
The U-Phoria has not shown any signs of buzz, noise or distortion on the studio monitors. When switching to the U-Phoria I had to recalibrate the monitor input levels because this interface has so much punch (possibly due to AC power instead of being USB bus powered like the SSL is).
Maximum Headphone Output: This is one area the U-Phoria runs away with the prize, the inbuilt headphone amplifiers have lots of output level into these tested headphones: Sennheiser HD600 and HD650, Beyer DT770 (250Ω) and Audio Technical ATH-50. There is enough output level available to hurt your hearing if you listen at high volume too much (you’ve been warned).
MIDI: Both of these interfaces have 5-pin MIDI input and output which is class compliant with Apples builtin drivers. This means you can plug a keyboard to the midi input and a hardware synthesizer module to the midi output, then patch the audio output from the synth back into your DAW and record. When doing this you’ll want to adjust the monitor mix knob to minimize any latency or echo.
SSL 2+ LIKES
Compact
Bus powered
Two independent headphone monitors
MIDI
Input metering
SSL 2+ DISLIKES
Weak monitor output drive
Prone to induced noise from computer
Weak headphone out
4K preamp settings, like bad tone controls
No insert between preamp and DAW
U-Phoria LIKES
Lots of inputs and line-level outputs for versatility
Clip indicator on every input
Rack mount packaging, controls and I.O. on front and back
Two independent headphone monitors
Two monitor bus selections 1-2 and 3-4
Eight microphone inputs
MIDI
U-Phoria DISLIKES
No output level metering
No insert between preamp and DAW
WHICH TO CHOOSE?
Each of these DAW has a place and a use. The SSL is for the person who needs a high-performance, super compact, easy to use interface which offers all the basic recording capabilities and options.
Another possible application might be to use the SSL2+ on a laptop as a stereo master recorder which would allow you to use the 192 kHz sample rate to achieve the smoothest digital sound quality for your stereo master. Playing back your multitrack on one DAW and connecting to another DAW for recording your stereo mix easily allows a higher sample rate option for your master as well as analog signal processing such as the SSL G-Comp bus compressor. If I was still traveling the world I would have to have one of these little SSL interfaces, unless I could find something smaller with inserts between the preamps and the DAW.
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| U-Phoria in test rack, click to enlarge |
The U-Phoria is currently mounted in the rack and hardwired into our Test Studio. This system is being used for a wide variety of content, including testing microphones, recording and playing synthesizers as well as music and video sound track playback. So far I’ve not found any application that the U-Phoria can’t do well. It sounds good, it has easy to use volume and monitoring, it is full range in frequency response.
EPILOGUE
Subjective impressions are prone to bias. To confirm any perceived difference, blind testing in a controlled environment is essential. Audiophiles and musicians may perceive differences due to expectations or marketing claims about “warmth” or “clarity”. Without blind testing, subjective impressions are unreliable.
Whenever possible use your own ears to make buying decisions, especially when the two items under consideration are exactly the same price like the two interfaces in this review. I’m glad to have both (they’re both good), but if I could only have one of them it would be the U-Phoria for all those additional inputs and outputs, plus the rack mount style packaging. If you have lots of inputs and outputs there are so many more creative options, for recording, reamping and processing your music (just to name a few). For a budget DAW interface that can get the job done in a high quality manner the U-Phoria UMC1820 by Behringer is a winner.
Thanks for reading High on Technology, Good Music To You!
©May 2025 by Mark King, it’s not ok to copy or quote without written permission from the author.
Go forth and create something beautiful……
Want more details? Go to the Solid State Logic web site and download the latest manual for the SSL 2+ to see if this interface is right for you.
Go to the Behringer web site and download the Quick Start manual for the U-Phoria UMC1820 to see if this interface is right for you.
LAST MINUTE UPDATE AND GOOD NEWS
SSL has announced the MKII version of the 2+, it is now the "SSL 2+ MKII", it's the same price and they've moved the headphone jacks and instrument inputs to the front panel (I guess they finally realized having all those jacks on the rear was very awkward ;-)
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| NOTICE: instrument input jacks and headphone outs on the front of the unit, click to enlarge |