Back in March, Cornish legends Allen & Heath announced a special limited edition version of the Xone:92 to celebrate 20 years of the iconic club mixer. The new 92 offered a host of improvements that 20 years of use inevitably brings up. Now that the LE run is done, A&H have gone and released a full update to the Xone:92.
As usual, here’s the press release…
Allen & Heath Refine Xone:92 for the Next Generation of Performers
EMBARGOED UNTIL: OCTOBER 9th 09:22 AM BSTAllen & Heath have announced the launch of an updated Xone:92, a pivotal moment for the legendary DJ mixer that defined club music for a generation.
“For twenty years, the Xone:92 has been the top choice for DJs who demand unparalleled sound quality, rock-solid reliability, and an uncompromising build,” says Al Crombie, Allen & Heath’s DJ Product Specialist. “With this update, we’ve kept everything DJs love about the original, while adding powerful new features. The result is a mixer that sets a new standard for analogue mixers.”
Staying true to its roots, the new Xone:92 retains the signature all-analogue audio path while introducing cutting-edge enhancements inspired by the Xone:92 Limited Edition. Designed to cater for everyone, from aspiring bedroom DJs to club and festival headliners, the updated mixer balances legacy and innovation.
The updated model delivers the iconic Xone sound, but with the latest high-performance analogue components in the audio path, the Xone:92 VCF has extended frequency precision thanks to the optimised control curve. Additionally, silent filter switching enables seamless transitions and enhanced resonance provides new creative dimensions for performers.
The updated Xone:92 revamps the classic Storm Grey colourway with enhanced UV printing for low light legibility, and a refocused legend for increased visibility of key controls, with recessed Filter and XFade assign switches further improving ergonomics.
The crossfader has been updated to the industry-favourite mini innoFADER Pro®, tuned to match the curve of the original 92 fader while providing a smoother, more precise and longer-lasting mixing experience.
For more information, please visit www.allen-heath.com
My take
One thing that’s not clear in this, is the whether it’s seen as a mk2 or a refresh of the original. While there’s no specific mention of ‘mk2’ in the product literature, the support information and manual refer to is as such. I reached out for clarification to Al Crombie, the main man behind the Xone product range, and got the following reply:
The new Xone:92 is a Mk2.
The rest is semantics!
- Standard production of the old model is discontinued. And superseded by the new, Mk2, version.
Mk2 distinguishes the new 92 product launched this morning from ‘old’ production version.- Documentation (User Guide, Specs, W&D etc) all describes the Xone:92 Mk
- Old and new models are not directly compatible from hardware perspective (i.e. you cannot retro-fit parts from the new 92l to update an old 92 to a Mk2).
- Marketing references the ‘new 92’. That is what it is, fundamentally the new model It’s still the Xone:92, like ‘the new Mac’, or ‘the new Ford Escort’ (apologies for my anachronistic analogy!), etc
You will find the model details, but not inherent in the hardware’s nomenclature. Apple doesn’t state a model’s revision on the device itself or necessarily highlight it in messaging. Standard car models doesn’t typically denote ‘mk2’ on the boot etc.
So this is a complete revision of the hardware, built with newer components, with no backwards compatibility, and a swathe of improvements. From what I can tell, it’s essentially a brand new box with all the improvements of the Limited Edition model, but the more recent gunmetal (or green, if you ask Mark) faceplate.
Speaking of the faceplate, I’m happy that they’ve worked hard at making sure the mixer has better visibility in low light. The markings are screen printed in UV reactive ink to improve contrast… the mixer should look awesome at an 80s themed event! Years ago, I reviewed the Xone:43C and highlighted the issues with low light visibility (pun intended) which has thankfully seen improvements over the years.
The new Xone:92 continues the legacy of being a 100% pure analogue signal path, but we’d expect nothing less. There’s improvements in the preamps, as well, with the phono output matched to the line level. Quiet phono output has historically been an issue with the Xone:92, which was improved in newer mixers like the Xone:PX5 and Xone:96.
For those that need it, the crossfader now comes with a Mini innoFADER Pro as standard. This was custom designed for the 92 specifically. Crossfader quality has been a long-time criticism of the Xone mixers, so it’s good they’ve listened to feedback, along with requests for crossfader curve control.
Overall, it’s a solid update to an iconic bit of kit, and it gladdens my heart that in an age where the industry continues to shrink and consolidate, Allen & Heath continue to be a reliable presence for DJs around the world. I have no doubt these mixers will outlast most of their contemporaries with ease.
Your take
Is there anything you wish was added to the new Xone:92? What other gear would you like to see from Allen & Heath?
The new Xone:92 [mk2] is due in stores October 2024, with a MSRP of $1799/€1669/£1399.
