The Allen & Heath DX168 is a portable, rack-mountable I/O expander designed to seamlessly extend the input and output capabilities of the dLive digital mixing system. This robust stagebox provides an additional 16 premium microphone/line inputs and 8 line outputs, connecting to a dLive MixRack or Surface via a single CAT5e/6/7 cable using Allen & Heath's proprietary DX connection protocol. Its compact and portable design makes it an ideal solution for adding local input clusters in larger venues, creating satellite stage boxes for complex multi-stage events, or serving as a compact system core for smaller gigs when paired with a dLive Surface. The unit is built to withstand the demands of the road, featuring a rugged chassis and high-quality components that ensure reliable performance in diverse live sound environments.

Audio fidelity is paramount in the DX168's design. Each of the 16 inputs is equipped with Allen & Heath's renowned, discrete Class-A microphone preamplifiers, offering ultra-low noise, high headroom, and musical transparency. These preamps are fully controllable remotely from the dLive surface, including gain, 48V phantom power, and high-pass filter settings. The 8 balanced line outputs provide additional feeds for monitors, recording, or processing loops. All analog audio is converted with high-performance 96kHz/64-bit floating-point processing, maintaining the sonic integrity expected from the dLive ecosystem. The unit also includes a dedicated stereo "Listen Back" input on a 3.5mm jack, allowing engineers to monitor an external source directly through their dLive headphones.

Network flexibility and system integration are key strengths. The DX168 features dual DX ports for daisy-chaining multiple expanders or creating redundant network loops, enhancing system scalability and reliability. It supports cable runs of up to 100 meters, offering significant setup flexibility. With minimal local controls—primarily just status indicators and network management buttons—the DX168 is designed to be a transparent extension of the mixer, placing all control at the engineer's fingertips on the dLive surface. As a vital component of the dLive ecosystem, the DX168 provides a powerful, high-quality, and flexible solution for expanding I/O resources without compromising on the system's renowned sound quality or operational workflow.