96 kHz rack/stagebox digital mixer with 16 Mic/Line inputs, built-in Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 4 FX engines, 6 Aux outputs, SD/USB recording and a 24×24 USB audio interface.

Allen & Heath CQ-20B is an ultra-compact 96 kHz digital mixer in a rack/stagebox format, designed for bands, live sound, AV applications, recording and rental companies. With no built-in screen, CQ-20B is designed for remote operation using CQ-MixPad via its built-in dual-band Wi-Fi or a wired network connection. It can be positioned on stage close to the audio sources while the engineer mixes wirelessly from elsewhere in the room.

96 kHz processing provides comprehensive channel processing including EQ, Gate and Compressor. Quick Channels provide source-optimised settings for faster setup, while Complete Channels give full access to processing parameters. Gain Assistant automatically sets preamp gain, while Feedback Assistant detects and suppresses problem frequencies.

CQ-20B provides 4 FX engines and a 16-channel Automatic Mic Mixer (AMM) for speech and conference applications. Connectivity includes 16 Mic/Line inputs, 2 of which support Hi-Z instruments, plus 2 stereo Line inputs. Main LR, 6 Aux XLR outputs and stereo Alt Out provide flexible routing for FOH, monitors and additional feeds.

For recording, CQ-20B provides a 24×24 USB-B audio interface, SD multitrack recording and direct USB-A stereo recording without a computer. Bluetooth provides stereo playback through a dedicated input channel.

Key Features

• 16 Mic/Line preamps: 8 × XLR and 8 × XLR/TRS Combo inputs
• 2 Hi-Z instrument inputs: 2 Combo inputs offer 1 MΩ Hi-Z operation for direct instrument connection
• 2 stereo Line inputs: 4 × balanced 1/4" TRS
• Main LR outputs: 2 × balanced XLR
• 6 Aux outputs: 6 × balanced XLR, linkable as up to 3 stereo mixes
• Stereo Alt Out: 2 × 1/4" TRS for an additional stereo output
• Stereo headphone output: For signal monitoring
• 96 kHz audio processing: High-quality processing with <0.7 ms signal latency
• 24×24 USB-B audio interface: For multichannel recording, playback and DAW integration
• SD multitrack recording: Up to 24 channels @ 48 kHz or 16 channels @ 96 kHz
• USB-A stereo record/playback: Direct stereo recording and audio playback without a computer
• Bluetooth stereo playback: Dedicated stereo input channel for Bluetooth audio sources
• Quick and Complete Channels: Choose between fast simplified control and full channel processing
• Gain Assistant: Automatically sets preamp gain and helps prevent input clipping
• Feedback Assistant: Automatically detects and suppresses feedback frequencies
• 4 FX engines: Reverb, Delay, Chorus, Flanger, Phaser and other built-in effects
• 16-channel Automatic Mic Mixer (AMM): Automatic microphone level management for speech and conference applications
• 4 DCAs and 4 Mute Groups: Convenient control of multiple channel groups
• Chromatic Channel Meter LED: Configurable hardware signal-level indication
• Built-in dual-band Wi-Fi: 2.4 / 5 GHz wireless remote mixer control
• RJ45 Ethernet: Wired network connection for remote control
• Single/Dual Footswitch connection: Assignable function control using an optional footswitch
• CQ-MixPad: Full remote mixer control from Windows, macOS, iOS and Android
• CQ4You: Personal monitor mix control from iOS and Android devices
• 19" rack mounting: Available with the optional CQ20B-RK19 rack-mount kit, sold separately
• Soft carry case: Optional CQ20B-CASE available separately

Channels and Processing

• Mono input channels: 16, stereo linkable
• Stereo input channels: 4 - ST1, ST2, USB and Bluetooth
• Main Mix: Stereo LR
• Aux Mixes: 6 mono, linkable as up to 3 stereo
• DCAs: 4
• Mute Groups: 4
• Sample rate: 96 kHz
• Input channel processing: Polarity, HPF, Gate, 4-band PEQ, Compressor and Pan
• HPF range: 20 Hz–2 kHz
• PEQ: 4-band fully parametric EQ with RTA
• Compressor: RMS/Peak with Hard/Soft Knee
• Output Mix processing: GEQ/PEQ, Compressor, Limiter and Delay
• GEQ: 20-band, 1/2 octave, 31 Hz–16 kHz with RTA
• Feedback Assistant: Automatic feedback suppression with 16 filters
• Output Delay: Up to 682 ms
• FX engines: 4
• FX types: Easy Verb, Echo Verb, Space Verb, Echo, Tap Delay, Stereo Delay, Beat Delay, Double Tracker, Chorus, Flanger and Phaser
• Automatic Mic Mixer (AMM): 16 mono channels, D-Classic Gain Sharing

Inputs

• Mic/Line inputs: 8 × balanced XLR + 8 × balanced XLR/TRS Combo
• Mic/Line preamps: Fully recallable, digitally controlled
• Phantom power: +48 V
• Mic/Line sensitivity: –60 to 0 dBu
• Analogue gain: 0–60 dB in 1 dB steps
• Maximum Mic/Line input level: +17 dBu (XLR) / +30 dBu (TRS)
• Hi-Z inputs: 2 × 1 MΩ JFET, 0–40 dB gain
• Stereo Line inputs: 2 × stereo / 4 × balanced 1/4" TRS
• Stereo Line nominal level: +4 dBu
• Stereo Line Trim: ±24 dB
• Stereo Line maximum input level: +21 dBu

Outputs

• Main LR: 2 × balanced XLR
• Aux 1–6: 6 × balanced XLR
• Alt Out: 2 × 1/4" TRS stereo output
• Headphone output: 1 × stereo
• Nominal XLR output level: +4 dBu
• Maximum XLR output level: +22 dBu
• XLR output impedance: <75 Ω

Recording and Playback

• USB-B audio interface: 24 Send / 24 Return channels
• USB-B format: USB 2.0, 24-bit / 48 or 96 kHz
• USB-B compatibility: Core Audio, ASIO/WDM for Windows
• SD multitrack recording: 24 channels @ 48 kHz / 16 channels @ 96 kHz
• SD multitrack playback: 24 channels @ 48 kHz / 16 channels @ 96 kHz
• SD card: SDHC, 32 GB, UHS-I Class 10 for maximum channel count
• SD audio format: 24-bit / 48 or 96 kHz
• USB-A stereo recording: 24-bit / 48 or 96 kHz WAV
• USB-A stereo playback: 16/24-bit, 44.1 / 48 / 96 kHz WAV

Connectivity and Control

• Control: Remote operation with CQ-MixPad - CQ-20B has no built-in touchscreen
• Wi-Fi: Built-in dual-band 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac with automatic channel selection
• Ethernet: RJ45 network connection
• Bluetooth: Bluetooth 4.1 for high-quality stereo audio playback
• Chromatic Channel Meter LED: Configurable hardware channel level indication
• Footswitch: Configurable single/dual footswitch connection
• CQ-MixPad: Full remote control from Windows, macOS, iOS and Android
• CQ4You: Personal monitor mix control from iOS and Android devices

Audio Performance

• Sample rate: 96 kHz
• Dynamic range: 110 dB
• Frequency response: 20 Hz–20 kHz (+0 / –0.5 dB)
• Headroom: +18 dB
• THD+N: 0.003% (Mic → Main LR)
• Latency: <0.7 ms from local Mic input to Main LR with all processing in or out
• dBFS alignment: +18 dBu = 0 dBFS (+22 dBu at XLR output)

Dimensions, Weight and Power

• Dimensions (W × H × D): 372 × 134 × 154 mm
• Weight: 2.6 kg
• Power: 100–240 V AC, 50/60 Hz
• Power supply: Built-in, IEC mains connection
• Maximum power consumption: 45 W
• Operating temperature: 0–40 °C
• 19" rack mounting: Available with the optional CQ20B-RK19 rack-mount kit, sold separately
• Soft carry case: Optional CQ20B-CASE available separately