Apogee Boom Review
Verdict and Review Summary
The value in the Apogee comes from its simplicity and ease of setup. The included software is a nice touch as well. I didn't have any trouble getting a recording going in GarageBand and was extremely happy with the resulting audio quality. It's a good fit for small recording spaces - probably a home studio - and/or podcasting and live streaming.
The Apogee Boom is a simple, user-friendly audio interface that produces high-quality recordings with a really simple setup.
It also stands out from the crowd through its inclusion of onboard FX from DSPs and the Apogee’s Control 2 software. While its number of in/outputs may be too limited for some, it makes for a simplified and portable interface option, perfect for podcasters, live streaming, and home studio recording projects.
I tested it with GarageBand and some simple electric guitar recording.
This is my full Apogee Boom review.
This review was written after testing the Apogee BOOM with our own gear. Also note that we use affiliate links from companies we trust, like Sweetwater. This means if you buy through a partner link (one of our orange buttons) we might get a commission yet at no extra cost to you. Thank you for your continued support.
Other Similar Audio Interfaces
While we don't give ratings to audio interfaces, we've simply listed a few similar options that are good comparisons to the Apogee BOOM.
Interface | Title | Rated | Browse |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Focusrite Scarlett 4i4 3rd Gen USB Recording Interface | n/a | |
 | Universal Audio Volt 276 USB-C Audio | n/a | |
 | Solid State SSL2+ USB | n/a | |
| Apogee Boom | n/a |
The Apogee BOOM is really simple to set up. We were able to quickly produce some great recordings, without any noise or latency issues.
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Price Guide
All prices are current as of Mon, May 29th, 2023.
Price from Sweetwater
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Price History
Price History for Apogee BOOM 2x2 USB-C Audio Interface
Statistics
| Current Price | $299.00 | May 26, 2023 |
| Highest Price | $299.00 | October 12, 2022 |
| Lowest Price | $299.00 | October 12, 2022 |
Last price changes
| $299.00 | October 12, 2022 |
IDEAL FOR: Simple recording setups, one to two instruments, home studios, podcasts and live streaming.
We do not provide category ratings for audio interfaces.
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THE PROS
THE CONS
Strengths and Features
The BOOM is a super user-friendly device, charming in its simplicity. It works great with GarageBand and a simple Mac connection, and I had it up and running within five minutes. Let's take a look at some of the main features in a bit more depth.
Front and Back Panel
The BOOM is a 2x2 Interface, with one XLR 1/4-inch combo input, which takes line, mic, or instrument level connections. There's another 1/4 input which can take a line or instrument connection.
The back panel includes a 1/4-inch headphone output and two 1/4-inch monitor outputs.
One of the coolest and most helpful features on the front panel are the input gain controls. Pushing the output knob like a button triggers different internal settings, which are represented by corresponding lights on the front panel.
This way you can toggle between controlling both input gain levels, the overall output level, and activating or deactivating the onboard DSP effects on each channel. This is a really simple and useful way of switching between channels and having control over gain, output and effect levels.
The LED indicator is very helpful as well.
Apogee Control 2 Software
The included Control 2 software lets you control the Boom's input settings from your computer screen or iPad. Here you can select different input types switching between line, mic, and instrument.
You can also control gain, mute, solo, pad settings, pan both inputs, and activate/deactivate phantom power.
Stereo linking allows for you to select different mixes for both headphone and monitor outputs.
ECS Channel Strip
This onboard hardware DSP-powered ECS strip allows you to process your audio signal, offering some handy, if not simple options: A high-pass filter, drive, compression, and output level can all be adjusted here from your computer or iPad.
It also includes some useful presets, which are great for podcast audio.
The software that comes with the Apogee BOOM lets you control a lot of functionality from your iPad or computer.
Overall Value (price vs quality)
Priced at $299, the Apogee Boom's sound conversion and included software add a lot of value for what you pay. It's a decently affordable option if you're looking for something simple for just one or two mics/instruments.
However, if you're after more i/o options, the Focusrite Scarlett 4i4 offers more inputs and outputs at $245, so it really depends on what you're looking for.
Apogee follows the pricing model of comparable audio interfaces pretty closely.
Their asking price is par for the course.
Ideal fit and context
As I've already mentioned, the Apogee Boom is a good fit for podcasters, livestreamers, and simple recording projects.
Its usability, audio quality, and easy-to-use processing functions make it approachable for creators who aren't interested in larger scale, multiple input production setups.
The Apogee BOOM follows closely with the pricing model and market value of other similar interfaces.
Review Conclusion
Simplicity and quality wins the day with the Apogee Boom.
User-friendly, portable, and great audio conversion is about what you can expect in this price. Apogee does a good job of making sure that's all part of the deal, with some additional perks in the software.
If you're after something more advanced, check out some of the other options above, or additional interfaces within those series.
Let us know in the comments what you think or if you need any help getting set up with you Apogee BOOM.
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Written by GC Editorial on Interfaces and Roundups
Written by GC Editorial on Interfaces and Price Guides
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