Allen & Heath ZED-420 12-Channel Mixer

The versatile ZED-420 12-Channel Mixer from Allen & Heath gives you the professionalism and quality you crave, whether you need excellent sound for a live concert, house of worship, theater, sound reinforcement, or other AV application. Delivering the tools you need to take your audio project to the next level, this mixer boasts 4-band EQ, Duopre amps, as well as 16 mic or line inputs plus 2 dual stereo inputs, 4 sub-groups, 6 auxiliary sends, and a 7×2 matrix.

Built into the ZED-420 is a responsive 4-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-420 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.

The ZED-420 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-420’s connectivity options are 2 stereo inputs 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-420 Features

• 16 mono channels
• 2 dual stereo inputs with 4-band EQ
• Neutrik mic XLR
• Neutrik ¼ inch jacks
• Channel insert
• Super wide gain 'DuoPre' mic line input
• 4-band EQ with 2 swept mids and in/out switch
• Illuminated mute
• Sound image pan
• Illuminated PFL & peak warning indicator
• ALPS 100mm faders
• 6 auxiliary sends (2 pre, 2 post, 2 pre/post)
• 4 sub groups fed from each channel
• All inputs with level control
• 12 bar meters
• L, R and M main mix outputs
• 2 matrix sections available; can send output to USB
• Individual channel 48V phantom power
• Direct output on every mono channel
• Peak and signal indication on every channel
• Configurable USB stereo audio in/out
• Master level controls on all outputs
• Easy to use layout - all connections and controls on top surface

• ZED-420 12-channel mixer1
• Mains lead1
• Type A-B USB Lead1
• One Year Limited Manufacturer Warranty1

• Operating Levels
  • Inputs
    • 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)
    • 2 Track Input (phono sockets): 0dBu nominal +21dBu maximum
  • Outputs
    • L, R & Mono Outputs (XLR): +4dBu nominal. +27dBu maximum
    • L, R & M Insert (TRS Jack socket): -2dBu nominal +21dBu maximum
    • Group Outputs (Jack sockets): +4dBu nominal. +27dBu maximum
    • Group Insert (TRS Jack socket): -2dBu nominal +21dBu maximum
    • Aux Outputs (Jack sockets): -2dBu nominal +21dBu maximum (Bal Option +4)
    • Matrix Outputs (TRS Jack socket): -2dBu nominal. +21dBu maximum (Bal Option +4)
    • 2 Track Output (phono sockets): 0dBu nominal. +21dBu maximum
    • Direct Out (TRS Jack socket): 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
  • Mix Noise, LR out, 16 channels routed, Ref +4dBu, 22-22kHz: -90dB (-86dBu)
  • Mix Noise, LR out, 24 channels routed, Ref +4dBu, 22-22kHz: -89dB (-85dBu)
  • Mix Noise, LR out, 32 channels routed, Ref +4dBu, 22-22kHz: -88dB (-84dBu)
  • Mic Pre EIN @ max gain 150R input Z 22-22kHz: -127dBu