Allen & Heath has extended its top ZED series with the launch of ZED Power 1000, a compact 2 x 500-watt powered mixer with onboard FX, 9-band graphic EQ and USB recording/playback.
A built-in, 2-channel, class D amplifier is coupled to a linear power supply to deliver cool running efficiency, robustness and high peak headroom with smooth bottom end.
The 9-band stereo graphic equalizer provides a very good tool for matching the PA to the acoustic space for the performance. Amp controls include individual level controls, status indication and routing matrix allowing stereo PA use or mono plus monitor/sub use.
ZED Power 1000 has 8 mic/line inputs offering 3-band EQ with swept mid, plus two stereo inputs. Two of the jack inputs can be switched to take a low level input from a guitar pickup, so guitars can be plugged straight into the mixer without needing DI boxes. These inputs have been designed to recreate the definition and warmth of a classic tube preamp in a combo or head amp.
A flexible USB connection allows playback to/from a computer for capturing stereo recordings of shows or playing walk-in music or backing tracks from a laptop. The mixer is also equipped with XLR main stereo outputs, 60mm faders, a flexible monitoring section and 16 digital FX.
The ZED Power 1000 weighs in at 24 pounds and has a robust carry handle built into the chassis.
Allen & Heath senior product manager Nicola Beretta states, “There are so many gigging musicians, schools, rental companies, hotels and conference venues who rely on powered mixers night after night. ZED Power 1000 offers them a great solution: it’s lightweight, it delivers the proven audio quality that our ZED series is renowned for, and it’s built to last, with individual circuit boards, nutted pots and a rugged linear power supply.”
ZED Power 1000 is available in March 2015.
