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| UK Distribution Hub: | 1 |
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5-year warranty & 30-day money-back guarantee included
If you decide your order isn't suitable for any reason you can return it - just let us know within 30 days of receiving it. Please keep hold of all the original packaging until you're sure you want to keep the order.
Eligibility for Money Back Guarantee
Important: For hygiene and software licensing reasons, some items are only eligible for our Money Back Guarantee if they are returned to us unused and sealed in the original packaging with all software still "unregistered." Details of exclusions are shown within the product descriptions. Products include:
- Monitors and Headphones
- Earplugs and Ear Protection
- Reeds and mouthpieces for woodwind and brass instruments
- Mouth and Lip-Care Products
- CDs, DVDs and Software
We can collect your return for a small fee, or you can send it back to us yourself. The collection fee can be found in the returns information on each product's page on Gear4music.
In the unlikely event that any item in this order is faulty, damaged or incorrect on receipt, notify us within 14 days and we'll arrange a free collection.
When returning an order please ensure products are appropriately packaged and protected, to prevent them from getting damaged.
This table provides an overview of your statutory consumer rights, compared with our standard returns policy and optional extended money back guarantee and warranty.
| UK & Europe | EU Standard | Gear4music Standard | Gear4music Optional |
|---|---|---|---|
| Return Period | 14 days | 30 days | up to 180 days |
| Standard delivery charges refunded? | Yes | Yes | Yes, up to 30 days |
| Upgraded delivery charges refunded? | Standard costs only | Standard costs only | Standard costs only |
| Free collection on cancellation | No | No | Yes, up to 30 days |
| Free collection if defective, delivered damaged or incorrect item | Yes, within 14 days | Yes, within 14 days | Yes, within 30 days |
We are unable to accept returns of any custom made items designed to work together as a unique package and some items are only eligible for money back guarantee if they are returned to us unused and sealed in the original packaging. For full information on our returns policy, please refer to our returns and refunds information guide.
10-year warranty & 180-day money-back guarantee included
If you decide your order isn't suitable for any reason you can return it - just let us know within 30 days of receiving it. Please keep hold of all the original packaging until you're sure you want to keep the order.
Eligibility for Money Back Guarantee
Important: For hygiene and software licensing reasons, some items are only eligible for our Money Back Guarantee if they are returned to us unused and sealed in the original packaging with all software still "unregistered." Details of exclusions are shown within the product descriptions. Products include:
- Monitors and Headphones
- Earplugs and Ear Protection
- Reeds and mouthpieces for woodwind and brass instruments
- Mouth and Lip-Care Products
- CDs, DVDs and Software
We can collect your return for a small fee, or you can send it back to us yourself. The collection fee can be found in the returns information on each product's page on Gear4music.
In the unlikely event that any item in this order is faulty, damaged or incorrect on receipt, notify us within 14 days and we'll arrange a free collection.
When returning an order please ensure products are appropriately packaged and protected, to prevent them from getting damaged.
This table provides an overview of your statutory consumer rights, compared with our standard returns policy and optional extended money back guarantee and warranty.
| UK & Europe | EU Standard | Gear4music Standard | Gear4music Optional |
|---|---|---|---|
| Return Period | 14 days | 30 days | up to 180 days |
| Standard delivery charges refunded? | Yes | Yes | Yes, up to 30 days |
| Upgraded delivery charges refunded? | Standard costs only | Standard costs only | Standard costs only |
| Free collection on cancellation | No | No | Yes, up to 30 days |
| Free collection if defective, delivered damaged or incorrect item | Yes, within 14 days | Yes, within 14 days | Yes, within 30 days |
We are unable to accept returns of any custom made items designed to work together as a unique package and some items are only eligible for money back guarantee if they are returned to us unused and sealed in the original packaging. For full information on our returns policy, please refer to our returns and refunds information guide.
The product price includes 5 years' warranty and 30 day money back guarantee.
However, the Gear4music extended warranty scheme provides an enhanced service, and is designed to offer a higher level of protection than many 'free' warranties offered by some retailers and manufacturers.
The highlights of this enhanced warranty service are:
Please note that this extended warranty is currently only available on products sold within the UK, EU or EEA, and is subject to the terms and conditions as detailed on the extended warranty certificate provided.
For customers in outlying areas of the country, the price of the Extended Warranty may be marginally higher, due to the potential for higher collection and redelivery transport costs.
This enhanced warranty is in addition to the standard Gear4music and manufacturer warranty policies, and the Gear4music terms and conditions of trade. No statement or condition of sale contained within these terms affects or restricts your statutory rights as defined under the Consumer Contracts Regulation 2014.
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Key Features
The Allen & Heath AB168 Digital Stagebox is ideal for bands, venues, engineers and houses of worship looking for a robust, portable stage solution. It provides 16 mic/line inputs with remote gain control and phantom power indicators, along with 8 balanced XLR outputs. The unit connects using a single Cat5e cable and is compatible with a range of Allen & Heath digital mixers that support dSNAKE or SLink protocols.
Designed with the stage in mind, the AB168 is built into a rugged steel chassis with rubber bumpers and a carry handle. You can place it upright, on its side or flat, depending on what suits your space. There's also an optional rackmount kit if you need to integrate it into a touring rack or installation. The side-mounted power connector and secure cable clip help prevent accidental disconnects during live use.
It also offers powerful expansion options. The second EtherCon port allows you to connect another AB168, an AR84 or a ME personal monitoring system. With automatic firmware syncing and clear LED indicators for power, readiness and connectivity, the AB168 is a plug-and-play solution that simplifies stage I/O without adding complexity to your setup.
Product Ref: 350746
Each of the AB168’s 16 mic/line inputs can be controlled directly from your digital mixer, including gain, pad and phantom power. This gives engineers complete control from the desk, reducing the need to physically access the stagebox during setup or the show. A phantom power LED above each input helps identify which channels are active at a glance, improving clarity and reducing the chance of powering sensitive gear by mistake. All settings are recallable via mixer scenes, making it easy to prep for multiple acts or recurring events.
The unit integrates seamlessly into Allen & Heath’s patching system, so you can route input and output channels however your workflow demands. Whether you’re adding inputs to an existing rig or creating a satellite I/O point on a large stage, the AB168 gives you full routing flexibility. All input signals are converted close to the source, helping preserve audio quality by keeping analog cable runs short.
The AB168 takes the hassle out of firmware management. Once it’s connected to a compatible mixer, it automatically checks and matches the firmware version. If needed, it will update itself with no extra steps required. The process typically completes within two minutes, even if the unit is connected in a daisy chain. The automatic nature of this system means you don’t need to worry about compatibility during last-minute setups or touring changeovers.
Clear LED indicators show you what’s happening at a glance. A green Power LED confirms the unit is on, while the Ready light lets you know it’s in sync with the mixer. The dSNAKE connection LED flashes to show data traffic and turns red briefly during firmware updates. This straightforward visual feedback is useful during setup and troubleshooting, especially when time is tight and the stage is busy.
Durability and flexibility are key strengths of the AB168. It’s built with a tough steel chassis, rubber edge protectors and a side-mounted carry handle, making it easy to move and safe to use in demanding live environments. The unit can be placed flat with the sockets facing up, stood on its side, or positioned vertically in tighter spaces. If you’re working from a touring rack or need a cleaner stage footprint, an optional 19" rackmount kit is available.
The overall footprint is compact and tidy, with dimensions that make it easy to transport and place discreetly on stage. Despite weighing just 4.8kg, the unit offers solid stability. The power connector features a plastic clip to secure the cable, reducing the risk of accidental disconnection during performance. With no fans or moving parts, the AB168 also runs quietly, making it equally suitable for theatres, churches or acoustic venues where noise control matters.
The AB168 doesn’t just give you more inputs and outputs, it also gives you more flexibility in system design. The rear expander port allows you to daisy-chain a second AB168 or connect an AR84 for additional I/O. You can also use this port to link directly to an Allen & Heath ME personal monitoring hub, giving performers individual mix control on stage. This level of expansion means your system can grow and adapt to the demands of different shows or venues without requiring a full desk upgrade.
All connections are made using standard Cat5e or higher shielded twisted pair cable, with a recommended maximum distance of 100 metres between devices. Both EtherCon ports use locking connectors to prevent accidental unplugging during live events. This modular approach lets you build your system around your needs – whether you’re managing a permanent install or scaling up a mobile rig for a one-off festival stage.
The AB168 delivers high-quality audio across all of its 16 XLR inputs and 8 XLR outputs. Each input features a fully recallable mic preamp with a gain range of +5 to +60dB in 1dB steps, and a -20dB pad for handling hotter signals. Inputs can accommodate up to +32dBu, with a noise floor of -93dBu at low gain settings. This allows you to capture everything from quiet speech to loud instruments without distortion or background noise. Outputs operate at a nominal +4dBu with a maximum output level of +22dBu, ensuring plenty of headroom for loud PA systems.
The digital audio connection uses Allen & Heath’s dSNAKE protocol at 48kHz, carrying audio data, control signals and preamp commands over a single cable. Input conversion happens close to the source, which helps maintain signal integrity across the system. This reduces the risk of interference and signal degradation over longer cable runs. It also makes troubleshooting easier, since digital signals are less susceptible to ground loops or hum issues common with long analog runs.
