Allen & Heath ZED-14 Multipurpose Mixer

Allen & Heath’s ZED-14 Multipurpose Mixer is a compact, versatile mixer that’s easy to fit into any audio setup. Whether you’re a touring professional or experimenting in a home studio, this mixer’s rugged portability and feature-packed controls make it the ideal choice for small bands, solo artists, or other AV applications that need quality sound on the go. With optimized connectivity, swept semi-parametric EQ, Duopre amps, and 157 controls on the front panel, the ZED-14 delivers the tools you need to ensure you sound your best.

The ZED-14 comes with DuoPre pre-amplifiers that use a 2-stage design and carefully controlled gain in each stage. These preamps boast a gain range of 69dB and reliably-even gain control when amplifying a signal from the mixer’s XLR input. Most of the gain comes from the first stage, which keeps unwanted noise to a minimum. Plug line level signals into the preamp’s second stage using the line input jack socket, which results in less noise when using line input or when matching a higher input impedance.

Built into the ZED-14 is a responsive 3-band, swept mid-frequency EQ design at uses MusiQ. Its optimized slope (Q factor) allows you to precision-equalize individual instruments in your band.

The ZED-14 comes with configurable USB audio inputs and outputs. No need to install external soundcards—just plug in a USB lead and select “USB routing” on the mixer to get started right away at your recording. This feature gives you CD-quality audio to and from your Mac or PC, while switches and connections via the mixer’s jack socket terminals offer a variety of send/return options.

Rounding out the ZED-14’s connectivity options are 6 mic or line inputs, 4 stereo inputs with EQ for MP3/CD players or keyboards, as well as professional XLR stereo outputs and a versatile monitoring section that lets you plug in headphones and/or speakers.

Allen & Heath ZED-14 Features

• 6 mono channels
• Neutrik mic XLR
• Neutrik ¼ inch jacks
• Channel insert
• Super wide gain 'DuoPre' mic line input
• 3 band EQ with MusiQ
• 4 auxes
• Illuminated mute
• Sound image pan
• Illuminated PFL & peak warning indicator
• ALPS 100mm faders
• 4 stereo channels with 2-band EQ and inputs for extra sources
• Stereo returns & playback
• All inputs with level control
• 12 bar meters
• Mono/stereo function on auxes 1&2
• Monitor output section
• Alt stereo output source
• Configurable USB stereo audio in/out
• Rack ears available

• ZED-14 Multipurpose Mixer1
• Mains Lead1
• Type A-B USB Lead1
• One Year Manufacturer Warranty1

• Operating Levels
  • Input
    • Mono channel (XLR) Input: +6 to –63dBu for nominal (+17dBu in max)
    • Mono channel Line Input (Jack socket): +10 to –26dBu (+30dBu maximum)
    • Insert point (TRS Jack socket): 0dBu nominal +21dBu maximum
    • Stereo Input (Jack sockets): 0dBu nominal (control = Off to +10dB)
    • Stereo input (phono sockets): 0dBu nominal (control = Off to +10dB)
  • Output
    • L, R & Mono Outputs (L&R XLR, Mono Jack): 0dBu nominal. +21dBu maximum.
    • Aux Outputs (Jack sockets): 0dBu nominal. +21dBu maximum.
    • Alt Outputs (phono sockets): 0dBu nominal. +21dBu maximum.
    • Rec Outputs (phono sockets): 0dBu nominal. +21dBu maximum.
• Frequency Response
  • Mic in to Mix L/R Out, 30dB gain: +0.5/-1dB 20Hz to 20kHz.
  • Line in to Mix L/R out 0dB gain: +0.5/-1dB 10Hz to 30kHz
  • Stereo in to Mix L/R out: +0.5/-1dB 10Hz to 30kHz
• THD+n
  • Mic in to Mix L/R Out, 0dB gain 1kHz +10dBu out: 0.004%
  • Mic in to Mix L/R Out, 30dB gain 1kHz: 0.014%
  • Line in to Mix L/R out 0dB gain 0dBu 1kHz: 0.005%
  • Stereo in to Mix L/R out 0dB gain +10dBu 1kHz: 0.003%
• Headroom
  • Analog Headroom from nominal (0Vu): 21dB
  • USB in & out headroom from nominal (0Vu): 14dB
• USB Audio CODEC (Coder/Decoder)
  • USB Audio In/Out: USB 1.1 compliant 16bit.
  • Sample Rate: 32, 44.1, or 48kHz
• Noise
  • Mic Pre EIN @ max gain 150R input Z 22-22kHz: -127dBu
  • Mix L/R out, L/R faders = 0, 22-22kHz ZED-14: -88dBu
  • Mix L/R out, L/R faders = 0, 22-22kHz ZED-18: -86dBu
  • Mix L/R out, L/R faders = 0, 22-22kHz ZED-24: -84dBu