The Allen & Heath CQ-20B is a compact 20 input digital mixer designed for live sound, rehearsal rooms, small venues, houses of worship, education spaces, theatre productions, AV installations and portable production use. Built around 96kHz processing and app-based control, the CQ-20B gives engineers, performers and venue teams a powerful digital mixing platform in a compact stagebox-style format.
With 16 mic/line inputs, two stereo line inputs, stereo main outputs, six aux outputs and an assignable Alt Out, the CQ-20B is well suited to bands, presentations, conferences, school halls, compact live rigs and multi-microphone speech applications. Its flexible input and output layout makes it easy to manage front-of-house audio, monitor mixes, playback sources and recording feeds from one small mixer.
The CQ-20B is controlled using Allen & Heath’s free CQ MixPad app, allowing full mixer operation from a tablet, phone or computer. Built-in dual-band Wi-Fi means the mixer can create its own wireless network without requiring a separate access point for many straightforward setups. A wired network connection is also provided, giving additional flexibility for venues, installed systems and more demanding live environments.
Designed to make digital mixing faster and more accessible, the CQ-20B includes a range of intelligent setup tools. Gain Assistant helps set input levels quickly, while Feedback Assistant helps identify and reduce problem frequencies during setup or performance. Source-optimised channel presets help speed up configuration for common input types, making the mixer practical for both experienced operators and users who may not work with digital consoles every day.
For speech-based applications, the built-in Automatic Mic Mixer helps improve clarity when multiple microphones are in use. This is particularly useful for conferences, panel discussions, school productions, assemblies, meetings, debates, podcasts and presentation spaces where several microphones may be open at the same time. By helping manage microphone levels automatically, the CQ-20B can deliver a cleaner and more controlled mix with less manual intervention.
The mixer also includes four multi-FX engines, providing access to useful processing for live vocals, instruments and production work. Input processing includes essential tools such as EQ, compression, gate and high-pass filtering, while output processing supports system tuning and control. This makes the CQ-20B suitable not only as a compact live mixer, but also as a practical control hub for smaller sound systems and portable AV setups.
Recording and playback options are a major strength of the Allen & Heath CQ-20B. USB-A allows stereo recording and playback using a USB drive, while USB-B provides multichannel audio interface capability for connection to a computer. An SD card slot is also included for multitrack recording and playback, making the mixer useful for live performance capture, rehearsal recording, virtual soundcheck, content creation and hybrid AV workflows.
Bluetooth playback is available on a dedicated stereo input channel, making it easy to connect a phone, tablet or other compatible device for background music, interval playback or simple audio source connection. This is useful for venues, schools, rehearsal spaces and portable systems where quick wireless playback is required without adding extra hardware.
The CQ-20B is compact, rack-mountable with the optional rack kit, and powered via a standard IEC mains connection. Its small footprint makes it easy to integrate into a portable rack, stage rack, installed AV system or mobile sound package. At only 2.6kg, it is also easy to transport for live events, rehearsals, temporary installations and hire applications.
For users looking for a modern digital mixer with professional audio quality, wireless control, multitrack recording and a compact footprint, the Allen & Heath CQ-20B offers an efficient and highly capable solution. It is particularly well suited to small and medium-sized live sound systems, venues, schools, churches, theatres, conference rooms, production setups and AV users who need a powerful mixer without the size and complexity of a larger digital console.
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