History of Allen & Heath

Allen & Heath is a British company specialising in audio mixing consoles and professional sound equipment. The company was founded in the late 1960s by Andy Bereza and Stephen Batiste, with early involvement from Ivor Taylor and Andrew Stirling. From the beginning, Allen & Heath focused on hand-built mixers, and their reputation grew quickly when major artists such as Genesis, Pink Floyd, and The Who began using their consoles. A notable early achievement was the creation of the “MOD1” quadraphonic mixer for Pink Floyd, famously used in their Live at Pompeii performances.

The company was one of the pioneers of modular console design, making it easier for engineers to service and upgrade systems. By the late 1970s, Allen & Heath (then often branded as Allen & Heath Brenell) was producing professional consoles, PA mixers, and tape machines that were widely adopted in live sound and recording.

Ownership of the company changed several times. In 1991, Allen & Heath was acquired by Harman International. A decade later, in 2001, the business underwent a management buyout, backed by 3i and the Bank of Scotland. Further investment rounds followed, including backing from Close Growth Capital in 2006. In 2008, Allen & Heath was purchased by D&M Holdings, and later in 2013, it was sold to Electra Partners. The following year, Allen & Heath became part of Audiotonix, a newly formed pro-audio group that also included Calrec and DiGiCo, and has since expanded to encompass brands such as Solid State Logic, KLANG, and Sound Devices. Today, Allen & Heath continues to design and manufacture in Cornwall, England, operating as part of Audiotonix’s global family of audio technology brands.

Current Products

Allen & Heath offers a broad range of products that cover everything from small-scale analogue mixers to advanced digital systems for touring, broadcast, installations, and DJ use.

At the high end of their digital offerings is the dLive series, which is designed for large-scale touring, festivals, and broadcast applications where very high input and output counts and flexible networking are required. Below this sits the Avantis, a mid-to-high-end digital mixer that integrates its mix engine into the surface itself, offering power in a compact format.

The SQ range is aimed at users who need compact digital consoles with professional-grade features, often used in live venues, houses of worship, and medium-sized events. Another very popular line is the Qu series, which became one of Allen & Heath’s best-selling digital mixers. In 2025, a new generation of Qu mixers was released, featuring 96 kHz FPGA processing, expanded I/O options, Dante compatibility, and updated user interfaces.

For smaller applications, Allen & Heath offers the CQ series, compact digital mixers designed for quick setups and streamlined operation. The ZED range continues their tradition in analogue mixers, catering to musicians, small studios, and live performers who prefer traditional hands-on mixing. The MixWizard line also remains popular for straightforward analogue setups.

In the DJ world, the Xone series has earned legendary status. The Xone:92, in particular, became a benchmark club mixer and is still revered today. More recent Xone models continue to blend analogue circuitry with modern digital connectivity, appealing to both professional DJs and electronic music artists.

Allen & Heath also produces hardware for installed systems, including the AHM series of audio matrix processors and a wide range of networked I/O expanders under the “Everything I/O” banner. These products integrate with protocols such as Dante, MADI, and Waves SoundGrid, ensuring compatibility with modern audio networking.

Strengths and Outlook

Allen & Heath’s enduring strength lies in its balance of heritage and innovation. The company has transitioned from building bespoke analogue consoles for rock legends to delivering sophisticated digital systems that rival offerings from Yamaha, Midas, and Soundcraft. Their products are known for modularity, expandability, and user-friendly workflows.

As part of Audiotonix, Allen & Heath benefits from shared technology and expertise, enabling continual innovation. Their refreshed Qu series in 2025 shows a commitment to keeping core product lines up to date with the latest processing technology and networking standards. Meanwhile, their DJ line maintains a strong cultural influence, and their installed systems continue to grow in importance in houses of worship, theatres, and venues worldwide.