Audient Horizon 16 34-in/34-out Thunderbolt 3 Audio Interface

About: Audient Horizon 16 34-in/34-out Thunderbolt 3 Audio Interface

NOTE: For use with macOS only.

The Horizon 16 is the definitive 34-in / 34-out Thunderbolt 3 audio Interface for the professional project studio. It delivers 16x16 channels of primary analogue I/O via four industry-standard DB25 connectors, providing a transparent bridge for boutique outboard racks and summing workflows.

With 0.99ms round-trip latency and Elite 32-bit Mastering-Grade Converters, Horizon 16 eliminates technical friction, ensuring only the uncoloured character of your analogue chain remains. Welcome to the new standard of conversion.

• 34-in / 34-out connectivity over Thunderbolt 3
• 16-in / 16-out primary line I/O over four DB25 connectors
• Dedicated stereo mix-bus inputs for printing your master
• Dedicated stereo monitor outputs for independent reference listening
• 32-bit / 192kHz conversion, 133dB dynamic range
• 0.99ms round-trip latency (192kHz, 64-sample buffer)
• Dual ADAT I/O – 16 channels of digital expansion
• Horizon Control software – virtual patch bay, custom monitoring, and extensive metering
• Advanced monitor control – mono, polarity, dim and reference level
• Selectable reference levels (+18dBu, +24dBu) and BNC word clock I/O
• Scalable architecture – daisy-chain up to four Horizon units on a single driver, with a system maximum of 200 x 200 I/O
• 1U all-metal chassis, three-year warranty
• macOS, up to 192kHz

Hear nothing but the truth - Mastering-Grade Conversion

The Horizon 16 features high-performance 32-bit AD/DA converters delivering a staggering 133dB of dynamic range. This is conversion without compromise, providing the absolute transparency required to identify micro-details in a mix and make critical decisions with total confidence.

• Flagship ESS Converters - Features ES9823PRO and ES9039 converters - the highest-performing chips available, selected for unrivalled depth and imaging.
• Precision Transient Capture - Ultra-low noise OPA1602 and OPA1612 op-amps ensure fast, percussive transients are captured with surgical precision.
• Ultra-Low Jitter Clocking - Features hybrid analogue/digital PLL circuits for reliable jitter attenuation and rock-solid stereo imaging.

Native Performance - Power without restrictions

Ditch proprietary DSP and restrictive ecosystems. Horizon 16 utilises a high-bandwidth Thunderbolt 3 connection to deliver 0.99ms round-trip latency (192kHz / 64-sample buffer) – the benchmark for real-time native monitoring.

• Total Plugin Freedom - Run your entire VST/AU/AAX library at professional speeds using your Mac’s full processing power.
• Sub-Millisecond Performance - Achieve near-zero latency for mission-critical monitoring and real-time signal processing.
• Rock-Solid TB3 Driver - Minimises CPU overhead and buffering for rock-solid, high resolution performance in large-scale sessions.
• Forward Compatible with Thunderbolt 4 and 5.

Future-proof your studio - Massive Scalability

Never outgrow your interface. Horizon’s Thunderbolt 3 architecture allows you to scale from a single 16-channel unit to a massive 200-in x 200-out studio centrepiece without ever changing your workflow.

• Unified 200x200 Rig - Daisy-chain up to four Horizon units for a staggering 200-in / 200-out total capacity on a single MacOS driver.
• Unified MacOS Driver - Manage up to 400 channels of unified routing and synchronisation through a single software panel and host connection.
• Digital Expansion - Dual ADAT I/O per unit provides additional digital connections for external preamps and more.

Frictionless Software & Monitoring - Built for session speed

Manage your signal flow with Horizon Control and the high-resolution Motion UI hardware display. Achieve total command over your studio with software-hardware integration designed for session speed.

• Routing Matrix - Route any input to any output instantly within the software.
• Custom Monitoring - Define bespoke layouts and instantly switch between multiple speaker sets.
• Extensive Metering - Monitor all D-Sub banks simultaneously with accurate hardware feedback.
• Professional Monitoring - Access Mono, Polarity, Dim, and Reference Level controls.

More I/O for your gear - ​Dedicated Mix-Bus Capture

Maximise your workflow without sacrificing primary inputs. The Horizon 16 features a dedicated Stereo Mix-Bus Path, so you can record your final console or summing box mix-down without ever unplugging your gear. Keep all 16 D-Sub I/O permanently connected to your outboard racks while having a dedicated ‘Print Path’ for your master bus.

Professional Utility

• Selectable Reference Levels - Calibrate your I/O to perfectly match your analogue gear’s sweet spot and headroom ( +18dBu, +24dBu).
• BNC Word Clock I/O - Integrate seamlessly into complex digital environments with dedicated sync I/O and switchable internal termination.
• Optimised for Modern Macs - Seamless macOS integration and improved security without disabling system settings.
• Silent Thermal Design - High-efficiency fanless cooling ensures silent operation, critical for machine-room-free control rooms.

Built to Last

Housed in a rugged 1RU full-metal chassis with a sleek black finish, the Horizon 16 is a durable, long-term investment in your studio’s future. Backed by a three-year warranty, it is built to handle 24/7 operation in the world’s most demanding studios.

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• Torpedo Wall of Sound - Highly realistic speaker simulation from Two notes
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Specifications

• ADC Input
  • MAXIMUM INPUT LEVEL: 24dBu = 0dBFS
  • THD+N @ -1dBFS: -117dB, 0.00014%
  • DYNAMIC RANGE: 127dB A-Weighted
  • FREQUENCY RESPONSE: ±0.2dB 10Hz to Fs/2 (Nyquist)
  • CROSSTALK: <130dB
• Line Outputs
  • MAXIMUM OUTPUT LEVEL: 24dBu = 0dBFS
  • THD+N @ -1dBFS: -122dB, 0.00008%
  • DYNAMIC RANGE: 132dB A-Weighted
  • FREQUENCY RESPONSE: ±0.5dB 10Hz to Fs/2 (Nyquist)
  • CROSSTALK: <130dB
  • IMPEDANCE: 47Ω
• Monitor Outputs
  • MAXIMUM OUTPUT LEVEL: 24dBu = 0dBFS
  • THD+N @ -1dBFS: -120dB, 0.00008%
  • DYNAMIC RANGE: 133dB A-Weighted
  • FREQUENCY RESPONSE: ±0.5dB 10Hz to Fs/2 (Nyquist)
  • CROSSTALK: <130dB
  • IMPEDANCE: 47Ω
• Digital Features
  • INPUTS: Optical Input SPDIF/ADAT x2
  • OUTPUTS: Optical Output SPDIF/ADAT x2
  • WORD CLOCK: Input and Output, ±10ppm accuracy
  • SUPPORTED SAMPLE RATES: 44.1kHz, 48kHz, 88.2kHz, 96kHz, 176.4kHz, 192kHz
• DSP Mixer Roundtrip Latency
  • All figures at 64 sample buffer size
    • 44.1kHz: 4.286ms
    • 48kHz: 3.938ms
    • 88.2kHz: 2.143ms
    • 96kHz: 1.969ms
    • 176.4kHz: 1.077ms
    • 192kHz: 0.99ms
• Connectivity
  • THUNDERBOLT 3
• Power Requirements
  • INPUT VOLTAGE: 85 – 264 VAC
  • INPUT FREQUENCY: 47 – 63Hz
• Physical
  • DIMENSIONS (WxHxD): 19 x 1.75 x 13 inch (48.3 x 4.45 x 33 cm)
  • WEIGHT: 8.93 lbs (4.05kg)