Behringer S16 16-Channel Digital Snake with Midas Preamps

The Behringer S16 is a 16-channel digital stage box designed to replace heavy, expensive analog snakes with a single Cat5e cable carrying bidirectional audio over AES50. At its core are 16 Midas-designed microphone preamps — the same topology found across the Midas heritage line — offering clean, transparent gain with enough headroom for dynamic sources like drums and brass. All preamp parameters, including gain, phantom power, phase, and pad, are fully controllable from a connected Behringer X32 or Midas M32 console, eliminating stage-side adjustments entirely. The AES50 network, powered by Klark Teknik's SuperMAC technology, delivers sub-millisecond latency and ultra-low jitter across runs of up to 100 meters, keeping your signal chain tight and phase-coherent from stage to front-of-house.

The S16 fits into a standard 1U rack space and provides 16 XLR inputs on the front panel alongside 8 XLR balanced outputs for monitor sends or local playback. The rear panel houses dual AES50 ports for daisy-chaining additional units and an ULTRANET connector for direct integration with Behringer's Powerplay P16 personal monitoring system. For worship venues, mid-size touring acts, theater productions, and corporate AV setups running X32 or M32 consoles, the S16 represents a dramatic reduction in stage wiring complexity and cost. It is purpose-built for the Behringer/Midas digital ecosystem, and within that ecosystem, it delivers audio quality and reliability that consistently surprises engineers accustomed to paying considerably more for comparable stage box solutions.