Digital mixing consoles
Allen & Heath CQ-18T: Full Specifications
Quick answer
The Allen & Heath CQ-18T Digital Mixer with 7" Touchscreen WiFi and Bluetooth Connectivity lists at $1,199.99. Published figures: input channels 16, mic preamps 16, mix buses 6. It suits a 150 to 400 seat room that wants digital recall without depending on a tablet.
Sixteen preamps, a seven inch touchscreen on the unit itself and built-in Wi-Fi. The onboard screen matters more than it sounds: the service still runs when a volunteer forgets the tablet.
Every figure below is the manufacturer's own published specification, taken from the product listing and the data sheet. Where a figure is not published it is left out rather than estimated. Price is the listed price when this page was last compiled and it changes often.
Allen & Heath CQ-18T specifications
The Allen & Heath CQ-18T publishes input channels 16, mic preamps 16, mix buses 6, at a listed price of $1,199.99.
| Specification | Published figure |
|---|---|
| Input channels | 16 |
| Mic preamps | 16 |
| Mix buses | 6 |
| Digital | Yes |
| Scene recall | Yes |
| Rack space | 3U |
| Tablet control | Yes |
What this model suits in a church
Best for: A 150 to 400 seat room that wants digital recall without depending on a tablet.
Category: digital mixing consoles. Tier on this site: Intermediate, which on ChurchSoundCalc means the buy-once pick for a mid-size room, where the money stops being wasted on replacement.
The closest alternatives at a similar price
Same category, nearest price. An alternative with no stated reason is filler, so each of these is here because it trades something specific against the model above.
Midas M32C Digital Rack Mixer for Installed and Live Sound Applications with 40 Input Channels and 25 Mix Buses
$1,299.00 Specs and sizingA single rack unit M32 engine with no preamps of its own: every input arrives over AES50 from a stage box. That is a feature in an installed system where the inputs are all on the platform anyway.
Best for: Installed systems built around a stage box, where the rack lives in a closet
Check price on Amazon
PreSonus StudioLive Series III 24R Digital Rack Mixer with Studio One Pro Software
$1,069.00 Specs and sizingThe 16R with eight more preamps, which is usually the difference between fitting the drum kit and not.
Best for: A full band input list that will not fit in sixteen channels
Check price on Amazon
Allen & Heath CQ-20B Digital Mixer with WiFi and Bluetooth Connectivity
$999.99 Specs and sizingA rack version of the CQ with 16 preamps and no surface at all, driven from Wi-Fi or a wired network. It disappears into the rack and is controlled from the room.
Best for: Installed systems where nobody should be able to reach the knobs
Check price on Amazon
Allen & Heath QU-SB Portable 18-In/14-Out Digital Mixer with Remote Wireless Control (AH
$999.99 Specs and sizingEighteen inputs and fourteen outputs in two rack units, with Allen and Heath preamps and the Qu processing set. A mature platform with years of firmware behind it.
Best for: A church that wants Allen and Heath sound quality at a rack-mixer price
Check price on AmazonSide by side
| Model | Price | Input channels | Mic preamps | Mix buses | Digital | Scene recall | Rack space |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Allen & Heath CQ-18T Digital Mixer with 7" Touchscreen WiFi and Bluetooth Connectivity | $1,199.99 | 16 | 16 | 6 | Yes | Yes | 3U |
| Midas M32C Digital Rack Mixer for Installed and Live Sound Applications with 40 Input Channels and 25 Mix Buses | $1,299.00 | 40 | 0 | 25 | Yes | Yes | 1U |
| PreSonus StudioLive Series III 24R Digital Rack Mixer with Studio One Pro Software | $1,069.00 | 24 | 24 | 14 | Yes | Yes | 4U |
| Allen & Heath CQ-20B Digital Mixer with WiFi and Bluetooth Connectivity | $999.99 | 20 | 16 | 6 | Yes | Yes | 2U |
How we chose
We did not test these products in person and we never claim to. Picks are researched from manufacturer specification sheets and operator manuals, FCC rules where spectrum is involved, published standards, warranty terms, and the recurring themes in verified owner reviews. Every pick is matched to a real room size, seat count or input list rather than to a price bracket, and it is placed in the tier where its capability actually belongs. Where a product is wrong for most churches we say so on the page.
Sources
- Allen & Heath published specifications for the CQ-18T
- Amazon product listing features and current pricing
Frequently asked questions
How much does the Allen & Heath CQ-18T cost?
It was listed at $1,199.99 when this page was last compiled. Pro audio and video pricing moves frequently and promotional pricing is common, so treat that as a planning figure and confirm the current price before a committee votes on a budget.
Is the Allen & Heath CQ-18T right for our church?
A 150 to 400 seat room that wants digital recall without depending on a tablet. Beyond that, the honest test is whether its numbers match your room rather than whether it is a good product in the abstract. Work out what your room actually needs first, then check this model against that answer.
Where do these specifications come from?
The manufacturer’s published figures, taken from the product listing and data sheet. We do not test products in person and we never claim to, so nothing here is a measured result. Where a specification is not published by the manufacturer it is omitted rather than estimated.
Researched, not professional advice. This page is compiled from published manufacturer specifications, operator manuals, FCC rules, published standards and owner-review consensus, not hands-on testing. Sound system design, rigging loudspeakers overhead, and any electrical work are jobs for a qualified professional: have flown loudspeakers and their attachment points signed off by a structural engineer or a certified rigger, and have all wiring done by a licensed electrician to your local code. Wireless microphone rules change, so confirm the current FCC position before buying. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.