Every mixing console we evaluate receives a rating out of 5 stars, calculated from a proprietary grid of five criteria. This rating is not an average of opinions found online: it is the result of a structured evaluation combining official manufacturer specifications, the field experience of sound engineers, and our own expertise.
Our five criteria
| Criterion | Weight | What we assess |
|---|---|---|
| Audio quality | 30% | Preamps, converters, headroom, sonic signature, latency |
| Workflow & ergonomics | 25% | Surface, screens, speed of use live, learning curve |
| Connectivity & networking | 15% | I/O, protocols (Dante, MADI, AVB), expansion, redundancy |
| Value for money | 20% | Pricing against direct competitors |
| Reliability & versatility | 10% | Touring robustness, support, live / studio / broadcast fit |
The overall rating is the weighted sum of these five criteria, rounded to one decimal and expressed in stars.
Our sources
Our evaluations rest on three pillars: official manufacturer technical specifications, a synthesis of sound-engineer feedback (specialist forums and communities — always reworded, never reproduced), and our own expertise in live, studio and broadcast mixing consoles.
When available data is insufficient to assess a criterion reliably, we prefer not to assign a rating rather than put forward an unfounded figure.
Transparency
Some pages contain affiliate links. If you buy through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. This never influences our ratings, which are established independently using the grid above.