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Stage Box

Allen & Heath DX168 Stage Box

The Allen & Heath DX168 delivers 16 boutique A&H preamps at the stage over a single SLink shielded Cat5e link — the A&H equivalent of AES50. Pairs with SQ, Avantis, and dLive consoles. Two SLink ports allow daisy-chaining a second DX168 or DX32 off one console port for 32+ channel rigs without a second network cable run to FOH.

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Photos

Manufacturer product photography — the drawn faceplate stays true to panel layout; these show the hardware itself.

Photo: Allen & Heath1 / 2
Documented outputs
88 destination connections
Documented inputs
17Based on documented inputs
Rack space
4UBuilder checks available rail space
Power draw
30W45W documented maximum
Catalog estimate
~$1,699Use retailer rows for current price and stock

01 · What it does—and what that changes in your rig.

Product overview

Start with the payoff, then work through how it functions, where it fits, and the details that change a real build.

The payoff

Stage Box decisions, organized around the whole rig.

The DX168 is Allen & Heath's mid-size stage box — sixteen analog inputs and eight analog outputs housed in a 3U rackmount chassis, all transported back to the console over a single SLink connection on shielded Cat5e. SLink is A&H's proprietary network, functionally their answer to AES50, and this box exists to solve the oldest live-audio problem: getting a lot of microphone signals off the stage and to your console without running a snake thick enough to trip a drummer. It's the natural stage-end complement to any SQ, Avantis, or dLive system, and for those ecosystems it's the cleanest, most integrated answer available.

Documented outputs
88 destination connections
Documented inputs
17Based on documented inputs
Rack space
4UBuilder checks available rail space
Allen & Heath DX168 Stage Box — rear panel with IEC mains and dual etherCON DX link
Photo: Allen & Heath4U · 30W
Function

How it works in the path

At load-in, the single-cable discipline matters more than it sounds. One Cat5e run — shielded, locking EtherCon on both ends — carries everything in both directions, which means your stage pocket needs one cable path to the console, not a bundle. The two SLink ports let you daisy-chain a second DX168 or DX32 off the same console port, so a 32-input rig doesn't require a second network run back to FOH. At 30 watts nominal draw with a 45-watt ceiling, it's easy on your stage rack's power budget. The 330 mm depth is worth checking against shallow rack lids, but 5.5 kg means it won't fight you during a fast hang.

Best fit

Where it earns its place in the rack

If you're already on A&H — SQ for club work, Avantis for mid-size touring, dLive for the big rigs — the DX168 belongs in your system without much debate. The preamps are the same platform you chose the console for, gain is controlled from the surface or tablet, and the ecosystem just works. If you're on a different console family, it doesn't belong here at all; SLink is proprietary and there's no workaround. For straight A&H users whose input count exceeds 16, the daisy-chain option buys you time before you need to step up to a DX32, and that alone can justify the decision.

In the rack

Details worth deciding before load-in.

  • Use shielded Cat5e or Cat6 with locking EtherCon connectors on both ends — A&H specifies shielded cable for SLink, and an unshielded run on a noisy stage will remind you of that spec mid-show.
  • Plug the second SLink port into a downstream DX168 or DX32 rather than leaving it empty; even on a current single-box rig, having the daisy-chain path tested and labeled means a second box can drop in during a crisis without any recabling at the console end.
  • Map your eight outputs before doors — monitor sends, IEM feeds, or a side-fill mix — and label the rear panel with a strip of gaff and a marker so a substitute engineer can follow the patch without your help.
  • Budget the DX168 into a dedicated stage rack rather than sharing a case with amp gear; the analog I/O panel faces the back, and you want clear, organized cable dress rather than fighting amp power connectors for space.

02 · Know the whole path before you buy.

Signal path

Learn the route as a block diagram: source, product function, transport, and destination. Select any block to see what enters, what changes, and what leaves.

Interactive block diagramAuto-looping · hover, focus, or tap to hold a stage
Port-type signalProduct functionSystem boundary
Follow one signal from source to destination

Each block answers the same three questions: what arrives, what changes here, and what leaves.

01 · Source · selected
01 · Source

17 documented inputs

XLR female + IEC C14

Arrives as
17 documented inputs
Connector
XLR female + IEC C14
Signal
analog audio

03 · What this product asks of the rest of the system.

Compatibility

Treat connector names as the start of the check—not the answer. These are the boundaries that determine a complete working path.

Best fit · Stage Box

Use it when 4U and 185 mm of depth fit the case.

Plan the companion path

Complete the path with upstream and downstream gear that matches connector, direction, signal type, protocol, and wiring standard.

Protocol boundary

This product declares SLINK; matching plugs alone do not make other protocols compatible.

04 · Every connector, grouped by job.

I/O ports

Switch the product view and the documented port inventory updates with it—hardware and data stay side by side.

Every connector, grouped by job.

Switch panels to keep the hardware view and the documented port list in sync.

Front panel
INPUTS12345678910111213141516OUTPUTS12345678ALLEN&HEATHDX168DX ExpanderPowerNetwork
Rear panel
Allen & HeathDX168DIGITALPOWER
All documented ports for Allen & Heath DX168 Stage Box
PortPanelConnectorDirectionSignalChannels
Stage In 1frontXLR female inputanalog audio—
Stage In 2frontXLR female inputanalog audio—
Stage In 3frontXLR female inputanalog audio—
Stage In 4frontXLR female inputanalog audio—
Stage In 5frontXLR female inputanalog audio—
Stage In 6frontXLR female inputanalog audio—
Stage In 7frontXLR female inputanalog audio—
Stage In 8frontXLR female inputanalog audio—
Stage In 9frontXLR female inputanalog audio—
Stage In 10frontXLR female inputanalog audio—
Stage In 11frontXLR female inputanalog audio—
Stage In 12frontXLR female inputanalog audio—
Stage In 13frontXLR female inputanalog audio—
Stage In 14frontXLR female inputanalog audio—
Stage In 15frontXLR female inputanalog audio—
Stage In 16frontXLR female inputanalog audio—
Stage Out 1frontXLR male outputanalog audio—
Stage Out 2frontXLR male outputanalog audio—
Stage Out 3frontXLR male outputanalog audio—
Stage Out 4frontXLR male outputanalog audio—
Stage Out 5frontXLR male outputanalog audio—
Stage Out 6frontXLR male outputanalog audio—
Stage Out 7frontXLR male outputanalog audio—
Stage Out 8frontXLR male outputanalog audio—
SLink ArearetherCON bidirectionaldigital audio128
SLink B (thru)rearetherCON bidirectionaldigital audio128
Power (IEC)rearIEC C14 inputpower—

Showing 27 of 27 documented physical ports. Scroll to review the remaining rows.

05 · Compare the decision, not just the price.

Alternatives

The rows are organized around fit, power, I/O, and system role so a cheaper unit cannot hide a more expensive workflow.

Compare
Allen & Heath DX168 Stage Box — front panel with XLR inputs and outputs
AB168 front panel
Allen & Heath DT168 Stage Box — front panel with XLR inputs and outputs
MOTU Stage-B16 Stagebox
Fit📐 4U📐 3U📐 4U📐 2U
Power⚡ 30W⚡ 30W⚡ 50W⚡ 35W
Weight⚖️ 12.1 lb⚖️ 8.8 lb⚖️ 14.3 lb⚖️ 7.1 lb
I/O🔌 27🔌 5🔌 27🔌 35
Estimate💵 ~$1,699💵 ~$1,499💵 ~$2,199💵 ~$1,695
Deep diveCurrent selectionFull comparison →Full comparison →Full comparison →

06 · Resolve the questions that can change the purchase or build plan.

Planning questions

Short, source-backed answers surface rack fit, power, cabling, and connection details before they become surprises.

How will the Allen & Heath DX168 Stage Box affect rack fit and case depth?

It occupies 4U. Its documented depth is 185 mm.

How much power does the Allen & Heath DX168 Stage Box draw?

Typical draw is 30W and documented maximum draw is 45W.

What connections does the Allen & Heath DX168 Stage Box have?

27 documented physical ports, including Stage In 1, Stage In 2, Stage In 3, Stage In 4, Stage In 5, Stage In 6.

07 · See this unit inside a real rack plan.

Builder preview

Placement is only the start. Builder checks space · depth · weight, power headroom, dependencies, and compatible signal paths around this exact catalog item.Open in Builder
DX168 Stage Box positioned in a rack planA simplified plan shows the unit taking 4 rack units, with its documented connection path continuing to a planned destination.Allen & HeathDX168CONNECTED GEARnext signal destination4U · 185 mm deep

08 · Related gear, in the order you may need it.

MOTU Stage-B16 Stagebox

Stage Box

MOTU Stage-B16 Stagebox

2U · 35 ports · ~$1,695
Midas DL16 Digital Stage Box

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Midas DL16 Digital Stage Box

2U · 34 ports · ~$1,039
Midas DL32 Digital Stage Box

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Midas DL32 Digital Stage Box

3U · 59 ports · ~$1,699
Behringer S16 Digital Stage Box

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Behringer S16 Digital Stage Box

2U · 34 ports · ~$579
Behringer S32 Digital Stage Box

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Behringer S32 Digital Stage Box

3U · 51 ports · ~$689
Midas DL251 Digital Stage Box

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Midas DL251 Digital Stage Box

6U · 67 ports · ~$2,899

Planning guides for stage box systems.

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