Apogee BOOM review

BOOM is Apogee's most affordable interface, and its selling point is processing inside the box. Onboard DSP runs the Symphony ECS Channel Strip, with 3-band EQ, drive and a compressor that Apogee says was tuned by mix engineer Bob Clearmountain, so you can record a vocal that already sounds polished without loading your computer. The preamp provides up to 62dB of gain for demanding mics, and Apogee describes a studio-grade headphone amp and DAC that powers anything from in-ear monitors to high impedance headphones. The Apogee Control mixer blends analog inputs with audio from Twitch, Spotify, your DAW and more, which suits streaming. It works with iOS, Mac and Windows. The tradeoffs: at $299 it costs about as much as the SSL 2+ MKII, its product page documents fewer connections than the two-preamp picks, and the current plugin offer includes a 90-day PRO subscription that auto-renews unless canceled. We compared documented features and published prices; we did not test it.

Who it is for

Singers and streamers who want to record with EQ and compression applied by the interface itself.

Price

$299 at the Apogee store when checked.

BOOM $299.00 START SOUNDING PRO
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 8, 2026.

Key features

• Onboard DSP running the Symphony ECS Channel Strip with 3-band EQ, drive and compression
• Mic preamp with up to 62dB of gain
• Studio-grade headphone amp and DAC
• Apogee Control mixer for blending inputs with computer audio
• iOS, Mac and Windows compatible

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: Records with EQ and compression applied without loading CPU
• Strength: Headphone amp documented to drive in-ear monitors and high impedance headphones
• Strength: Software mixer suits streaming setups
• Weakness: Ties the SSL 2+ MKII for the highest price here
• Weakness: Fewer documented inputs and outputs than two-preamp rivals
• Weakness: Plugin offer includes a PRO subscription that auto-renews unless canceled

Key facts

• Mic preamp gain: Up to 62dB
• Onboard DSP: Symphony ECS Channel Strip
• Compatibility: iOS, Mac and Windows
• Software mixer: Apogee Control
• Price: $299 at the Apogee store

Where it ranks

Apogee BOOM is No. 10 in our Best Audio Interfaces verdict.