MOTU
M4
interface_dac
$279
Used market: $165*
Specifications
6 of 13 values have a recorded source- Type
- Audio Interface·
- Ein dBu
- -129✓
- Bus Powered
- yes·
- Max Gain dB
- 60✓
- Analog Inputs
- 2x XLR/TRS Combo (Mic/Line/Instrument), 2x 1/4" TRS Line In·
- Analog Outputs
- 4x 1/4" TRS Balanced, 4x RCA (mirrored), 1/4" TRS Headphones·
- Digital Inputs
- USB-C·
- Min Usb Power W
- 2.5✓
- Headphone Output
- Max Voltage Vrms: 3.27·
- Max Input Level dBu
- 10✓
- Max Sample Rate kHz
- 192·
- Phantom Power Provided
- yes·
- Updated At
- 2026-08-04T23:30:57.609Z·
Expert Audio Engineering Commentary
Headroom Notes
MOTU publishes no headphone output impedance and no headphone power, only the maximum level. The +12.5 dBu figure therefore says how loud, not how much current: with 32 Ohm planars treat it as unverified.
Gain Staging Advice
0 to +60 dB with -129 dBu EIN, and +12.5 dBu on the headphone output - the highest headphone voltage in this batch. For a quiet dynamic microphone it is a better bet than any 55-58 dB interface here, though still short of the 69-70 dB tier.
Setups using this gear
* Estimated with the depreciation fallback (~59% retained value). · checked on 8/5/2026