Audient Horizon 16 34-Input/ 34-Output TB3 Audio Interface w/ 16 Channels Analog I/O

Audient's Horizon 16 delivers 34-in/34-out Thunderbolt 3 connectivity with 16 channels of primary analogue I/O across four industry-standard DB25 connectors, positioning it as a high-channel-count audio interface for professional project studios working with outboard gear. The interface centres on 32-bit AD/DA conversion with flagship ESS ES9823PRO and ES9039 converters, delivering 133dB of dynamic range and 0.99ms round-trip latency at 192kHz with a 64-sample buffer. That sub-millisecond performance allows real-time native plugin processing without perceived delay, bypassing proprietary DSP systems in favour of using the Mac's full processing power across VST, AU and AAX formats.

The signal path employs ultra-low noise OPA1602 and OPA1612 op-amps for transient capture, paired with hybrid analogue/digital PLL circuits for jitter attenuation. All 16 analogue inputs and outputs are accessible via the four DB25 D-Sub connectors, with dedicated stereo mix-bus inputs allowing final mixdown capture without unplugging outboard racks. Dual ADAT I/O provides 16 channels of digital expansion at 48kHz, while BNC word clock I/O with switchable internal termination handles sync in complex digital environments. Reference levels are selectable between +18dBu and +24dBu to match analogue gear headroom, and the Thunderbolt 3 driver supports system expansion up to 200×200 I/O across four units.

The 1RU full-metal chassis houses fanless cooling for silent operation, with Horizon Control software and Motion UI hardware display managing routing and monitoring. The routing matrix allows any input to patch to any output, while the monitoring section provides mono, polarity inversion, dim and reference level controls with instant switching between multiple speaker sets. Forward compatibility extends to Thunderbolt 4 and 5 connections, and the interface ships with access to bundled plugins and software through Audient's registration system. Dimensions are 48.3cm wide, 33cm deep and 4.45cm tall, with a weight of 4.05kg. Note that this is a macOS-only interface with no Windows support.

Features

• 34-in/34-out Thunderbolt 3 audio interface with 16×16 analogue I/O via DB25
• 32-bit AD/DA conversion with ESS ES9823PRO and ES9039 converters, 133dB dynamic range
• 0.99ms round-trip latency at 192kHz with 64-sample buffer for real-time monitoring
• Dedicated stereo mix-bus inputs for console or summing box capture
• Dual ADAT I/O providing 16 channels of digital expansion at 48kHz
• BNC word clock I/O with switchable internal termination for sync integration
• Selectable reference levels at +18dBu or +24dBu for analogue gear calibration
• System expansion support up to 200×200 I/O across four units via unified driver