UA Apollo X

New top-end interfaces come equipped with Hexa processing cores

Earlier this year Universal Audio launched Arrow, a portable UAD-equipped interface that offered the most affordable entry point into UA’s line of interfaces. Now, they’re turning their attention to the opposite end of their product line, announcing a new range of flagship rack-mounted, Thunderbolt 3 interfaces named Apollo X.

The X range comes equipped with new A/D and D/A converters, which Universal Audio claim are “nearing the widest dynamic range and lowest signal to noise available – at any price.” All of the interfaces boast preamps enabled with the company’s Unison technology, which allows users to track through emulations of classic hardware from the likes of Neve, API, Manley and Fender with ‘near-zero’ latency.

The range ups the DSP power compared to previous Apollo interfaces too. All of the X interfaces are set to come equipped with ‘Hexa’ cores, containing six DSP chips for running UAD plugins.

There are a few other features designed to help the X range slot into pro studios, including surround sound support (up to 7.1), integrated TalkBack mics and built-in cues, and the ability to switch between +24 / +20 dBu operation for optimal connection with studio gear.

The Apollo X range will come in four varieties: the x6, which is 16x22 with two Unison preamps, the x8, an 18x24 interface with four Unison preamps, the x8P with 18x22 I/O and eight preamps, and the top end x16, which is 18x20 and, according to UA has “the widest dynamic range (133 dB) and lowest THD+N (-129 dB) of any Thunderbolt audio interface on the market.”

Prices will start at $1,999 for the x6, up to $3,499 for the x16. All Apollo X interfaces come with UA’s Realtime Analog Classics Plus plugin bundle, which features emulations of the 610-B Tube Preamp & EQ, legacy LA-2A, 1176, and Fairchild compressors, Pultec EQs, Marshall Plexi Classic, and more.