Audient have announced the iD44 MkII, an upgraded version of their popular USB 24‑bit/96kHz audio interface. Check out our in-depth review of the original iD44 here.
Headline features include upgraded A-D converters which see the total harmonic noise and distortion figures gain a 9dB improvement, along with the addition of an Audio Loop-Back feature. The latter provides users with the ability to capture playback from multiple applications on their computer at the same time as the microphone inputs, which Audient say makes the iD44 MkII an ideal choice for podcasters, content creators and streamers.
One of the two built-in headphone amps now comes equipped with a dual output (via one quarter-inch socket and one mini-jack), allowing three sets of headphones to be connected at once. As well as the technical improvements and additional features, the unit has also received a cosmetic makeover, with the all-metal casing now sporting a new smoke-grey finish.
The iD44 MkII retains all of the I/O from the original, including four Class-A Audient microphone preamps each with switchable phantom power, pads and high-pass filters. The four microphone/line level inputs are present on XLR/TRS combo sockets, with the first two channels featuring a balanced insert point on TRS sockets. Two JFET instrument inputs are located on the front panel, and four line outputs are available courtesy of TRS sockets on the rear panel.
In terms of digital connectivity, two pairs of Toslink connectors provide 16 channels of I/O expansion via ADAT, and a BNC connector provides a Word Clock output. Power is delivered via an external PSU, and USB 2.0 connectivity is available on a USB-C connector.
One further thing that Audient haven’t changed from the original is the cost, with the iD44 MkII priced at £499.99 including VAT / 599 Euros$699 MAP.
