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Allen & Heath CQ-20B Ultracompact 20-Channel Digital Mixer (Rackmount/Stagebox)

BH #ALAHCQ20B • MFR #AH-CQ20B
2 reviews
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Allen & Heath CQ-20B Ultracompact 20-Channel Digital Mixer (Rackmount/Stagebox)
Key Features
  • 16 Mic/Line Inputs + 4 x 1/4" Inputs
  • 2 XLR Main + 6 XLR Mix + 2 1/4" Outputs
  • 24x24 USB-B Audio Interface
  • 24x24 Multitrack Rec/Playback via SD
Mix and record with the Allen & Heath CQ-20B, an ultracompact digital mixer in a rackmount/stagebox configuration featuring 96 kHz FPGA processing, Bluetooth, wireless control via built-in Wi-Fi, and SD/USB audio recording and playback. The mixer is well suited for bands, producers, and AV rental houses, and can be used as a main mixer in a small venue or a sub mixer on a larger stage. This unique format has no screen and is designed to be used with a compatible tablet. Keep it onstage and mix wirelessly from anywhere in the room.
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Allen & Heath CQ-20B Overview

From Manufacturer

Mix and record with the Allen & Heath CQ-20B, an ultracompact digital mixer in a rackmount/stagebox configuration featuring 96 kHz FPGA processing, Bluetooth, wireless control via built-in Wi-Fi, and SD/USB audio recording and playback. The mixer is well suited for bands, producers, and AV rental houses, and can be used as a main mixer in a small venue or a sub mixer on a larger stage. This unique format has no screen and is designed to be used with a compatible tablet. Keep it onstage and mix wirelessly from anywhere in the room.

The free CQ-MixPad application is easy to navigate and control the robust mix engine that comes complete with several assistants to help your mixes sound their best including a gain assistant, feedback assistant, FX assist engine, and Automatic Mic Mixer (AMM). Take control of the full complement of channel strip effects like EQ, compression, and gating that's available on every channel and set up several sub mixes for monitoring and effects. The CQ-20B features 16 mic/line XLR/combo XLR-1/4" inputs and two pairs of balanced 1/4" TRS line inputs. For outputs, the mixer offers two main XLR connectors, two 1/4" alternate connectors, and six XLR mix connectors. There is also an assignable headphone output. The mixer ships with a standard IEC power cord.

Hardware Features
  • 16 mic/line preamps, (8 x XLR + 8 x XLR/TRS ‘Combi’)
  • 2 x balanced stereo line inputs, (4 x TRS)
  • Main LR, (2 x XLR)
  • 6 x Monitor Mixes, (6 x XLR)
  • Assignable stereo line out, (2 x TRS)
  • Assignable headphone output, 1/4" TRS
  • 24x24 USB-B interface
  • 24x24 SD record/playback
  • Stereo USB record/playback with dedicated input channel
  • Stereo Bluetooth playback with dedicated input channel
  • 4 x FX Assist engines
  • Dual footswitch connection
  • Built-in dual band 2.4G/5G AC Wi-Fi with auto channel select
Software Features
96 kHz Processing Engine

  • Under the hood is a powerhouse of processing with Allen & Heath’s renowned 96 kHz FPGA technology. Including brand new smart tools and FX to get you a better mix, faster.

Quick and Complete Channels

  • Quick Channels offer instrument and application specific processing. Dial in a full channel of processing with a single knob. Switch to a Complete Channel for advanced tweaking.

Gain Assistant

  • CQ’s gain assistant saves you time by automatically and accurately setting preamp gain for you. It can then keep an eye on your preamp levels to prevent nasty peaks.

Feedback Assistant

  • Find and remove feedback frequencies at setup using fixed mode and then watch out for feedback throughout the show across all outputs with live mode.

FX Assist engines

  • Including brand new signal-conscious reverb and delay units, which dynamically respond to signal to always sit correctly in the mix.

AMM

  • Improve clarity and reduce background noise for speech applications without needing to lift a finger. Available on every input.

Remote Apps

  • Control the mixer from (almost) anywhere with free apps for Windows, Mac, Android and iOS. CQ-MixPad gives the engineer complete control anywhere in the room, and CQ4You allows the performer to adjust only their mix and hear exactly what they need to.
EAN: 6938122251618

Allen & Heath CQ-20B Specs

Key Specs
Max I/O Capacity
20x Input / 8x Output
Number of Analog Input Channels
20 (16 Mono / 2 Stereo)
Number of Mic Preamps
16
Number of Analog Output Channels
8
Faders & Level Adjustment
No
Built-In Effects
4x Stereo Effect (Type Unspecified)
Analog Inputs
8x XLR 3-Pin Balanced Mic/Line Input
8x Combo XLR-1/4" Balanced/Unbalanced Mic/Line Input
4x 1/4" TRS Balanced/Unbalanced Stereo Line Input (2 Stereo Pair)
Analog Outputs
2x XLR Main Output
2x 1/4" Alt Output
6x XLR Mix Output
1x 1/4" Headphone Output
Digital I/O
1x RJ45 (Network)
USB I/O
USB-A
USB-B
Wireless
Bluetooth / Wi-Fi
Rack Mountable
Yes
Mixer
Max I/O Capacity
20x Input / 8x Output
Number of Analog Input Channels
20 (16 Mono / 2 Stereo)
Number of Mic Preamps
16
Number of Analog Output Channels
8
Mix Routing
1x Stereo Main LRC
1x Stereo Subgroup
6x Mono Bus
Groups
No
Presets
No
Faders & Level Adjustment
No
Signal Processing
Dynamic Processing
Compressor, Gate
Solo/Mute
Solo, Mute per Input Channel, Bus, Master
Built-In Effects
4x Stereo Effect (Type Unspecified)
Automatic Mic Mixing
Yes
Digital Audio
Sample Rates
96 kHz
Connectivity
Analog Inputs
8x XLR 3-Pin Balanced Mic/Line Input
8x Combo XLR-1/4" Balanced/Unbalanced Mic/Line Input
4x 1/4" TRS Balanced/Unbalanced Stereo Line Input (2 Stereo Pair)
Analog Outputs
2x XLR 3-Pin Stereo Main Output (1 Stereo Pair)
2x 1/4" TRS Balanced/Unbalanced Alt Output
6x XLR 3-Pin Balanced/Unbalanced Mix Output
1x 1/4" TRS Unbalanced Stereo Headphone Output
Phantom Power
+48 V
Digital I/O
1x RJ45 (Network)
MIDI I/O
No
USB I/O
1x USB-A (Audio Playback, Audio Streaming, External Memory, Service)
1x USB-B 2.0 (Host Connection)
USB I/O Capacity
24x Input / 24x Output
Other I/O
1x 1/4" TRS Footswitch Input
Wireless
Bluetooth / Wi-Fi
External Display I/O
No
Recording
Max Multitrack Recording
24 Tracks
Media Support
SD
Power
Input Power
100 to 240 VAC, 50 / 60 Hz
Physical
Rack Mountable
Yes
Rackmount Size
4 U (with Non-Included Hardware)
Dimensions
14.6 x 6 x 5.2" / 372 x 153 x 133 mm
Weight
5.7 lb / 2.6 kg
Packaging Info
Package Weight
10 lb
Box Dimensions (LxWxH)
17.6 x 10.6 x 10.1"

Allen & Heath CQ-20B Reviews

Everything I'd hoped it would be

By Bob
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2025-07-14

Making the switch from analog to digital, for me, was inevitable. After much research and many conversations with the folks at my local music shop, I decided on the AH CQ-20B. The price was good and features were all there. Being “headless” i.e. no onboard controls, there was a bit of a learning curve cause you need to interface via ethernet or WIFI. That said the set up was easy and configuration is not bad once you figure out where everything is. I found when I had trouble getting it to do what I wanted, I was over thinking it! It’s more intuitive than it seems initially and AH has quite a few short videos on using and configuration to help.

Home run

By Joe
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2024-08-06

Let me start by saying that it arrived 2:30 in the afternoon. I had 2 hours before I was leaving for a gig. I decided to break the golden rule of DO NOT take a sophisticated piece of gear straight to a gig. Within one hour, I had it set up for my 6 piece band. Customized and individual monitors all set up. I took my DL32R for just in case but the A&H performed beautifully with no issues. Yes, I did download the app before the mixer arrived so I could play with it and learn the workflow. THIS IS AN AMAZING mixer. The auto for gain and feedback really does work. Mic preamps sounds great. I barely did any eq’ing. It’s super compact and light weight. I did buy the rack ears and now have it in my rack. I spend the next day after the gig and did a bunch of tweaking just to learn it better. I am super happy with this mixer (much better than the competition). Looking forward to the next gig and the next... And B&H is great.

See any errors on this page?

Does the CQ have midi?

Does the CQ have midi?
Asked by: Yoel
No, the Allen & Heath CQ-20B Ultracompact 20-Channel Digital Mixer does not support MIDI.
Answered by: Lisa S
Date published: 2023-08-30

Wgat us the latency while using as an audio ...

Wgat us the latency while using as an audio interface?
Asked by: Marquie
The system latency for the Allen & Heath CQ-20B Digital Mixer is rated at less than 0.7 milliseconds from the local mic input to the main XLR output, with all processing in or out.
Answered by: Lisa S
Date published: 2024-04-10

Is this unit compatible with stageboxes?

Is this unit compatible with stageboxes?
Asked by: Chris
The Allen & Heath CQ-20B Ultracompact 20-Channel Digital Mixer (Rackmount/Stagebox) and all models in the CQ series are self-contained and are not compatible for use with digital stageboxes. Tracks can be sourced from the XLR inputs, an SD card, or the USB ports. The Allen & Heath Qu-SB Portable 18-In/14-Out Digital Mixer (B&H # ALAHQUSB) and Allen & Heath Qu-Pac 16x12 Compact Mountable Mixer (B&H # ALAHQUPAC32) are similar rackmount mixers that are compatible for use with Allen & Heath's 48k stageboxes.
Answered by: Lisa S
Date published: 2023-11-09

Can I use a laptop instead of a tablet?

Can I use a laptop instead of a tablet?
Asked by: Trinity
Yes, the companion app for the Allen & Heath CQ-20B Ultracompact 20-Channel Digital Mixer (Rackmount/Stagebox) can be used on a laptop or desktop computer.
Answered by: Calvin M
Date published: 2024-10-13

What's the internal processing resolution 96kHz, ...

What's the internal processing resolution 96kHz, 48kHz or something else?
Asked by: Alan
The internal processing for the Allen & Heath CQ-20B runs at a 96kHz sample rate.
Answered by: Alex D
Date published: 2023-10-30

Can I use 6 individual in ear monitors directly ...

Can I use 6 individual in ear monitors directly from output 1 to 6 without a earphone amplifier (like the behringer powerplay)?
Asked by: Lucas
It is not recommended to connect in-ear monitors or headphones directly to a line output, like those on the Allen & Heath CQ-20B Ultracompact 20-Channel Digital Mixer, without the use of a headphone amplifier. While it will play audio, if you plug the headphones into the CQ-20B line outputs, you may experience issues with noise and distortion due to an impedance mismatch.
Answered by: Elliot
Date published: 2024-08-20

How many remote connections are allowed at once? ...

How many remote connections are allowed at once? Can I have 2 mixing ipads and 6 monitor apps connected at once?
Asked by: Burak
Two devices running the CQ-MixPad Control App can be connected, as well as 6 devices running the CQ4you monitoring app.
Answered by: Matt
Date published: 2023-12-12

does this come with rack mount hardware?

does this come with rack mount hardware?
Asked by: Steven
The Allen & Heath CQ-20B Ultracompact 20-Channel Digital Mixer (Rackmount/Stagebox) does not come with rack mount hardware. The Allen & Heath Rackmount Kit for CQ-20B Digital Mixer (4 RU) is available separately (BH #ALHCQ20BRK19).
Answered by: David M
Date published: 2025-03-11
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