Behringer X Air XR18

Allen &
Heath Qu-SB
£849
1
Qu-SB is a portable mixer
with 18 inputs (16 mic/
line, two line), 14 outputs
(12 XLR, two TRS) and one
headphone output. Allen & Heath’s
dSnake equipped AudioRacks can
extend the connectivity further
(potentially 38 ins, 24 outs) and it’s
compatible with their ME Personal
Mixing System. Mixer control is iPad
only, and you’ll need to hook up your
own wi-fi router. Nevertheless, you
do get three complementary apps:
Qu-Pad (the engineer’s app), Qu-You
(musician’s monitoring) and
Qu-Control (a levels only mixer app).
Onboard processing includes EQ,
dynamics and ducking on all inputs,
and EQ and dynamics across all
outputs, with a selection of full
channel and individual module
presets. There are four iLive inspired
FX engines with 82 reverb, delay,
modulation and gated verb presets.
These default to the four dedicated
FX busses but can also be inserted
across inputs and outputs. As well as
the full mixer, you get three Custom
layouts, and selecting just the
elements of your choice (inputs,
busses and so on) is a nice touch.
Qu-SB supports 32 channels of
DAW I/O via USB 2.0, but also
includes onboard multi-track
recording to USB stick, supporting
up to 18 tracks at 48kHz 24-bit.
Further features include automatic
gain adjustment for multiple mic
set-ups (AMM), and MIDI DAW
control (there’s a template for
Mackie Control and HUI).
All told the Qu-SB is an excellent
and scalable device, with some great
options and excellent iOS apps.
www.allen-heath.com
VERDICT 8.8
Behringer X
AIR XR18
£549
2
Behringer’s XR18 is a super
compact and sturdy unit. It
has 18 inputs (16 mic/line,
two line), eight outputs (main L/R
and six auxes) and one headphone
output. Mic preamps are quality
Midas designs and inputs 1 and 2
also get high impedance support.
Control connectivity is via onboard
wi-fi or wired ethernet, and audio
connectivity via USB 2.0 provides
18 channels of DAW I/O. It supports
Behringer’s Ultranet protocol and the
dedicated Ultranet output can carry
16 digital sources for onward use in
Behringer’s P16 Personal Mixers or
Turbosound’s iQ PA systems.
The XR18’s sole physical control
is the headphone level. Beyond this
settings are handled remotely via the
cross-platform X AIR Edit software
(PC, Mac, Linux, Raspberry Pi, iOS
and Android). The XR18 X32 effects
engine includes EQ, dynamics and
four multi-effects modules. The
latter can be used either in the four
dedicated FX busses or as inserts.
The 60 effect types include reverbs,
delays and modulations as well as
some vintage EQs and dynamics.
The in/out routing page offers
powerful selectable signal tapping
(pre/post fader, pre/post EQ etc) for
USB, Aux Outs, Ultranet and Main
Outs. Meanwhile the Meter page
provides a quick overview of signal
activity across Analogue ins, USB
returns, Effects Sends and Returns
Buss Output. Further functions
include four DCA groups, four Mute
groups and Auto-Mix for auto gain
control in multiple mic set-ups.
It’s a serious feature set for the
money and very easy to set up/use.
www.music-group.com
VERDICT 9.1
FM VERDICT
Both units are excellent and, given its
scalability and spec, maybe the Qu-SB
should win. But the cheaper XR18 is
small, robust, has cross platform software support and, with a
built-in wi-fi router, works straight out of the box. Brilliant.
2
Behringer X AIR
XR18
£599
QUICK SPEC: 18 inputs, 8 outputs
Cross platform software support
Onboard wi-fi router
small, robust, has cross platform software support and, with a
Head-To-Head | Reviews
93
FMU316.rev_headtohead.indd 93 2/22/17 5:07 PM