PreSonus AudioBox GO | USB-C Audio Interface

I just received this product two days ago and I am already extremely shocked and impressed by this thing.
First major pro: the size.
I knew going into purchasing this Presonus audio interface was going to be great for portability, but I can LITERALLY fit this thing into an incredibly small sweatpants pocket and take this interface with me anywhere. For size perspective, here is an image compared to this and my SSL2. While the SSL2 is capable of being a portable interface, I wanted something that could fit into a free personal item while flying. This is the perfect travel interface.
Second major pro: The clarity of the preamp. Honestly compared to my SSL2, to my ears, this thing has a clearer sounding preamp with less coloration than the SSL2. While the SSL2’s coloration (including the 4k button) works for some of my rap records, it doesn’t work for every situation. Being able to fire up a second interface with a more neutral, clear sound, is a huge pro.
Final major pro: The external features on the interface. At this price, it is impossible to find a great-sounding audio interface for travel purposes with an independent headphone volume knob, a mix knob to mix between zero-latency monitoring and computer playback, and a pair of quarter-inch outputs to link the audiobox go to studio monitors.

However, this interface is not without its faults.
First con: 50 decibel maximum gain: The max gain from the preamp on the audiobox go is 50 DB. That is nowhere near up to standard with 2022 audio interfaces. No way you can run any dynamic microphone without an inline preamp. I couldn’t run my $20 dynamic behringer xm8500 without having to scream into it to achieve an appropriate level.
Second con: Installing the software bundle. While the software bundle includes a ton of plugins to help get anyone started recording, the installation process with the bundle is terrible. It takes so long to install all of the free software you get with this interface.
The build quality is all-plastic, but the knobs are easy to control similar to the SSL2 knobs. No metering is a minor con, as well as a quieter maximum volume output.

The Presonus checks off all the boxes for me with a travel interface. Extreme portability, independent headphone volume knob, all the necessary external features to succeed as a travel AND studio interface, and clear preamps. I wouldn’t recommend it for traveling podcasters or dynamic microphone users, but otherwise, this interface blows away its competition. It even competes with the SSL2 with its clear sounding preamp.

This is a great little interface! Very simple, ultra portable (non-applicable to myself), and plug-n-play is seemless.

For now, my primary use for this is to power my Spark mic and have my audio monitors connect to my computer (previously using 1/4th to 3.5mm). Since the power is USB, I have it plugged into a USB hub with individual switches. When I sit down and toggle it on, it’s very fast to connect, then I can just toggle it back off afterwards to save power.

For my purpose, it’s perfect. If I ever start recording again, I will post an update about that.

It’s cheap, it’s light, but it’s amazing!

I’ve been having problems connecting my amateur 2.1 studio setup (2 E5 Speakers + subwoofer) to my computer, and this audio interface is able to connect 3 speakers individually (Line-out + headphone) and output to them simultaneously. This turns the headphone volume knob into the bass volume control too.

The balanced output is fantastic too, I can’t hear any noise or hum from my E5 speaker. But when I do the same through the PC 3.5mm port or USB dac/amp, the noise is loud and changes with my GPU load. Through some searching, it’s caused by fluctuating voltage and interference through the audio cable.

Solid recommendation and 5 stars from me.

So this was my third attempt at what should be a very simple task: connect a preamp to an iPad to do basic 2-4 track demo recording. Everybody claims to have a device that can do it but I’ve had no luck so far and this one was the worst yet. They tell you to create an account to update the firmware before use. You register for an account, they say they need to ‘send you a verification email’ before you can use the account and it never comes. Not in spam, not anywhere. 10 tries. No email, no account. So I found a workaround for installing the firmware. Got it updated. Plug the device as instructed through my Apple certified camera cable (the exact one they recommended) and it immediately shows up in the app. I go to record, the Audiobox is gone. I restart the program. Detect the audiobox. Attempt to record…again no Audiobox. 50 more tries checking every setting and connection and it just keeps doing the same thing. OK time to open a support ticket. Nope. Remember that account I couldn’t verify? I need to be logged into it to open a support ticket. Do you understand why I’ve given this one star and will have returned it by the time you’re reading this? I didn’t make the product, I didn’t make the app, and I’m not troubleshooting someone’s ‘release version’, full price, brand new, consumer model anything. It does what you claim or its trash, and I’m not paying for that. Sorry. I already have a digital mixer/recorder. I already have gear for recording on the PC. It all works great. I wanted something for the iPad and nobody seems able to deliver it despite their claims. I’ll be letting the one stars fly until somebody can back it up.

Simple… Easy to use interface… Especially with Apple products. Very happy with this purchase.

It isn’t cheap feeling per se. It weighs almost nothing. The jacks make me a little nervous as far a being damaged, but that is typical on consumer gear like this. Good enough quality for the price.

I bought this because I’ve always liked the functionality of the Presonus Audiobox line. At this price point, you don’t see many combis with a line input. The 2-channel Audiobox 96 does not have a line-in. The Go is also 96khz. Not bad for under $80.