Zone Mixers & Install Mixers

Mixers built for fixed installs rather than live shows: they take background music sources, paging and presenter microphones, send them to the zones of a venue, then sit in a rack largely untouched. This section brings them together from Cloud, Allen & Heath, Biamp, Tascam and Lab Gruppen.

Cloud covers most commercial jobs. The CX261 is a single zone mixer, the CX163 handles two zones plus a utility output, the CX263 one stereo and two mono zones, and the CX462 is a 1U audio system controller. The Z4 Mk4 and Z8 Mk4 run four and eight zones with a dedicated paging mic input, and the DCM1 and DCM1e are digital 8-zone mixers, the DCM1e adding an Ethernet port for web control. For smaller rooms, the MX141M media mixer has FM and Bluetooth built in, and the MX155 and MX190 are 1U mixers with mic/line inputs, the MX155 adding talkover.

Tascam’s MZ series adds 3-zone install mixers: the MZ-123BT with Bluetooth and auto ducking, the MZ-223 in 2U, and the MZ-372 with six mic/line channels and talkover. The MX-8A is a 10×10 matrix mixer with DSP and USB conferencing, and the LM-8ST is an eight channel stereo line mixer. Lab Gruppen’s CM82 is an 8 in, 2 out commercial rack mixer, Biamp’s Apart ZONE4 a 4-zone stereo mixer, and Allen & Heath’s AHM-16, AHM-32 and AHM-64 are digital matrix processors for larger networked systems.

If you want the amplifier in the same box, mixer amps such as Cloud’s MA60, MPA and 46 series are in Install Amplifiers & Mixer Amps. Our 100V line and zone mixers guide covers how to plan zones and size the system.

Zone & Install Mixers FAQs

What is a zone mixer? A zone mixer sends music sources and microphones to separate areas of a venue, such as a bar, restaurant and terrace, so each area gets its own choice of source and its own level.

Do I need a zone mixer or a mixer amp? A zone mixer feeds separate amplifiers, which suits larger systems or sites where the amps are already in place. A mixer amp combines both in one unit, which suits smaller installs with fewer zones.

Can staff change the music and volume without going to the rack? Many zone mixers work with wall-mounted remote controls for source and level. Check the product page for which remote plates suit each model, or ask us and we will spec it.