Allen & Heath ZED-14 - 14-Channel Touring Quality Mixer with USB I/O (AH-ZED-14)

I gave it 5 stars because I really like it, it has a lot of features, it sounds great, and the price is very reasonable. it is. However, this does not imply that it is flawless; however, the quality for the price is excellent. The sound quality was much better than I had anticipated, and to be honest - I was pleasantly surprised. I'm a tough critic, so I expected to be let down. I have a lunchbox setup with some high-end preamps, including some of the best, so I can provide you with a reference. But I needed a lot more simultaneous channels to record multiple bands at the same time. I chose this unit to replace an older, smaller board because it has comparable sound quality and is unlikely to disappoint. My initial recordings through it left me very impressed. I really like the inserts for out/in routing, and the EQs just worked and sounded great. This is ideal for connecting to an audio interface and mixing into a monitoring system. So, what's not to like about that? In this case, 48V means turning on or off all 16 channels. That's a terrible idea. There are no ribbons required for this contest. Furthermore, the USB interface has only two channels, which is inadequate for a board with so many. But it's doubly so when you discover that MacOS allows you to link audio interface units, only to discover that the interface is only 44. The resolution is 1k and the color depth is 16 bits. The lowest of modern digital sampling's lows. It renders the USB part largely ineffective, as you'll want higher-quality masters to begin with and won't use it even if you have it. And I'm guessing that's why so many people bought it: it wasn't clear what you'd get. Finally, while the faders have good travel, they have a light feel to them. They're not cheap, but they slide around far too easily for proper mixing, in my opinion. Tactile feedback is one of my favorite things. These, on the other hand, are lacking in this area. Highly recommended, once again, for the price. As long as you recognize that the criticisms are valid and that the limitations are real in comparison to more expensive equipment.

Danny James

| Nov 26, 2021

I liked it so much that I ordered one to start working on my own studio at home. So far, everything is going well! When used in conjunction with the ZED, the result is a powerful combination. I've attached a MXL 67g microphone to it, which weighs 14 ounces. It sounds far superior to the Sapphire Pro preamp I used for a few years. Although the MXL 67g appears to require a significant amount of amplification, the ZED-100 appears to not. 14, on the other hand, appears to be up to the task. I haven't used line inputs yet, but they will come in handy in the future. There does not appear to be a problem with the USB and MacBook Pro interface, and there have been no issues with audio latency thus far. So far, it's been a good mixer, with room for me to expand by adding inputs such as a CD player, etc. The phantom power switch on the board is difficult to depress, which appears to be inherently frustrating. I used a pen and pressed hard enough for it to click. It's possible that you'll be forced to do so as well!.

Shepard Kramer

| Aug 31, 2021

A& H took a chance with the ZED 14 by designing it for people who don't need (or can't afford) full-sized studio mixers. Could they enter the market for smaller mixers at prices that are affordable to these less well-off customers without offending (or worse, losing) their big board professional clientele? br>br>First and foremost, you should be aware that this device was manufactured in China rather than the United Kingdom. This should come as no surprise. br>br>However, things get better. Allen is a writer who lives in the Heath has carved out a niche in the modest mixer market that not only doesn't embarrass those of us who are devoted to their multi-purpose mixers, but also doesn't embarrass those of us who are devoted to their multi-purpose mixers. However, it is a worthy companion to the channel studio boards. That is a major accomplishment, especially considering the price. The board is solid, as you can see. br>br> It is. What you should do instead is "hear" what it does that other brands of mixers in this price range fail miserably at. This board is easy to work with because it is smooth, transparent, and flexible. After you get past the oddity of lit "mute" buttons instead of lit "on" buttons, there's nothing about this board that makes you scratch your head. Your work is what it does, and it does it in a powerful, dynamic, and fluid manner. br>br>For a small additional fee (not much), you get what engineers demand: dependable performance. This box is as close to the top lines of professional mixers (including A) as you can get for this market. As good as it gets with H's top lines)! Yes, there are units that sell for tens of thousands of dollars (A). H also sells those), but the ZED 14 will not disappoint you, and perhaps most importantly for the company, it is not the kind of embarassing mix-and-match mix-and-match mix-and-match mix-and-match mix-and-match mix-and-match mix-and-match mix-and-match mix-and-match mix-and-match You might be tempted to buy a box and then regret it quickly. Let's say it's not a Rolls Royce or a Bentley. a Range Rover to be proud of! Spend a little more because, as they say, you'll forget about the price later.

Harlee Rice

| Apr 09, 2021

With the exception of the USB 2 port, which is no longer in use. This is an excellent piece of equipment with its 0 interface. I attempted to use the USB interface to import a live mix into Logic X, but the results were inconsistent. You can find a slew of complaints about random crackling and static noise on the internet if you search hard enough. It's possible that digital distortion has ruined an otherwise excellent ZED mixer. Thunderbolt is the USB 3. 0 version of Thunderbolt. When they update the lineup, 0 has to happen. However, this version will not be of assistance to me. br>br>At this price point, 18 channels (10 mono, 4 stereo) offer a reasonable feature set. For vintage synths and outboard effects, I'm using it in a keyboard mixer. br>br>Unfortunately, it is made in China, as are the majority of products. The sound quality of vintage British and American gear would be superior, but they would require more maintenance and would be less feature-rich. rich.

Emmie Chapman

| Mar 16, 2021

This took the place of a ten-channel Yamaha board that had a little too much hiss for my taste. It's plug-and-play, but it does have drivers; I just didn't need them. I use it with Windows 10 and have had no problems; I still have the owner's manual on my studio desktop for reference, but I think I'll be able to master it soon. I've read some reports that the ZED10 and ZED14 have buzzing or hissing issues, but this 14 is just as quiet as the larger boards used at the radio station where I work. This board is more than adequate for my requirements. Remember to buy for what you'll need, not what you'll need now. This unit has enough inputs to accommodate any future equipment I might purchase.

Quinton Harmon

| Jun 13, 2021