Allen and Heath recently updated it’s Xone 92 mixer, a nice touch and all updates to excellent products are welcome, however wouldn’t it make far more sense to update the Xone DB4 4. There is no other mixer like it in there range or anyone else’s really.
Let’s look at the current Xone mixer range
Xone 96 (Flagship)
analog mixer with 2 sound cards, 2 killer filters as well as an outstanding send and return section, 4 band EQ and split cue
Xone 92 Mk2
Analog mixer with much the same type of layout as the 96, 2 filters and a send and return section and 4 band EQ
Xone PX5
A more standard club mixer with on board digital effects and 1 analog modelled filter
After this we are dropping down to mid range products.
Now let’s look at the original Xone DB4’s highlights
Selectable 3 channel EQ section,filter, isolation,EQ
On board studio grade effects per channel
Four on board loopers
2 filters
Soundcard
On the fly input selection
Now if we consider that a mk2 version could include a send and return section, midi, updated sound card/(s), possible 4 band switchable EQ, updated effects, better drivers and software, split cue etc. Surely an updated Xone DB4 Mk2 makes more sense here, given that the 96 and 92mk2 are so similar and the PX5 is more of a standard layout. An updated Xone DB4 offers a second Flagship product that has different options and makes the Xone mixer range far more diverse.
Thoughts?