Allen & Heath Unpowered Mixers

Every professional live sound rig needs a mixer. After all, it's the heart of your setup, and it's for this reason why the one you go with should be chosen wisely. Of course, you don't need to look any further than Allen & Heath for an unpowered mixer that's easy to operate, and built to last through countless amounts of use. In fact, Allen & Heath has been specializing in audio mixing consoles since 1969, and they've even earned the praise from legendary artists such as Alan Parsons and Pink Floyd.

So with that in mind, let's take a look at some of their choices. For those looking for something portable and lightweight, check out the ZED-14 USB Mixing Console. Boasting incredibly advanced features, 14 inputs, 6 mono channels with 3-band EQ and sweepable mids, stereo imaging control and much more, this mixer has it all. Whether you're an amateur enthusiast or an industry veteran, the ZED-14's simple operation makes it perfect for anyone who appreciates crystal-clear sound.

Now for those who want an absolute powerhouse, go with the ZED-R16 16-Channel FireWire Mixer. Combining an analog mixer with a FireWire soundcard and MIDI controls, the ZED-R16 is Allen & Heath's first true recording FireWire mixer in more than 10 years. Ideal for building tracks in the studio and recording live gigs, this mixer has 4-band, classic British EQ, two separate artist monitor feeds, and it's even equipped with a JetPLL digital audio chipset. Overall, the ZED-R16 is everything you'd expect from a pro audio company as renowned as Allen & Heath.

As any professional sound engineer would tell you, unpowered mixers have many benefits. Not only are they typically more affordable than powered mixers, but they also allow you to have more control over your setup, and make future upgrades to the amp you connect to it. In other words, for those who enjoy more freedom and versatility behind their console, an unpowered mixer is the way to go, and many experts agree that Allen & Heath unpowered mixers are the finest on the market.