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Gear Talk

CQ20B vs X32 vs Prime 4+ — Our Real‑World Setup

We compare flexibility, streaming, and routing for live shows, church events, and weddings.

By UGE • Updated Aug 23, 2025 • 6–8 min read
Mixing console and DJ controller

What we bring for what gig

Weddings

Prime 4+ as primary (standalone + streaming), CQ20B for extra mics/zones when needed.

Church / Faith Events

CQ20B for compact multi‑mic routing + app control; X32 for large bands or complex scenes.

Live Shows

X32 when channel count and monitor mixes matter; Prime 4+ only for DJ‑centric sets.

Streaming‑friendly App‑controlled Scene recall Zone outputs Redundancy

What these actually are (in plain English)

Allen & Heath CQ20B

A compact digital mixer in a stagebox form factor. Lives near the mics/instruments; you mix from an iPad/phone. Great when you need several mics, quick EQ/FX, and minimal footprint.

Behringer X32 (family)

A full digital console ecosystem (desk or rack). Big on I/O, routing options, and scene recall. Our pick for bands, multiple monitor mixes, and more complex shows.

Denon DJ Prime 4+

A standalone DJ controller with onboard streaming and recording. Rock‑solid for receptions and parties; can run a whole night without a laptop.

Note: Models/firmware vary. We’re focusing on field workflow vs. strict spec sheets.

Quick comparison (field‑use highlights)

CQ20B
X32
Prime 4+
Best for
Small bands, services, extra mics/zones with minimal footprint
Full bands, complex routing, multiple monitor mixes
Weddings/parties as main playback & mixing for DJ sets
Control
App (iPad/phone); stagebox lives on deck
Physical surface or app; deep scene control
Onboard screen/controls; laptop optional
Streaming / Playback
Use external player/laptop; feeds mixer
External sources; not a DJ deck
Onboard services + local drives; records sets
Routing & I/O
Solid small‑format I/O, quick EQ/FX, simple aux/zone
Extensive I/O, buses, matrices, stageboxes
Main + booth/zone outs; 2 mic inputs; AUX for add‑ons
Footprint
Very compact
Larger (console/rack)
DJ console size
Redundancy
Easy to pair with backup player; app control redundancy
Console + stagebox backups; scene recall
Dual USB/local media + external backup deck possible

How we actually deploy them

Weddings (most common)

Prime 4+ handles ceremony prelude/playlist, cocktail, and reception DJing without a laptop. We add the CQ20B when we need extra wireless mics (officiant + readers + toasts) and a separate zone (cocktail/ceremony room). The CQ makes quick EQ of lavs/handhelds painless from an iPad while the DJ is at the booth.

Church services

CQ20B shines for compact praise teams, multiple mics, and a couple of instruments. If we’re mixing a full band or need several monitor mixes/record feeds, we bump to the X32 for the bus count and scene workflow.

Live shows / corporate

For full bands or complex A/V we bring the X32 (desk or rack) and build scenes for each segment (walk‑in, speakers, band, awards). For DJ‑centric after‑parties, the Prime 4+ takes over as the main playback with balanced outs to the PA.

Routing recipes we use

Two‑room wedding (ceremony → cocktail → reception)

  • Ceremony: 2x wireless (officiant + reader) into CQ20B → Zone A speakers; music from Prime 4+ AUX.
  • Cocktail: CQ20B Zone B with soft playlist; quick EQ to fit the room.
  • Reception: Prime 4+ mains to PA; CQ20B sends toast mic to the same PA, with gentle compression.

Praise team + tracks

  • 4–6 vocal mics + stereo tracks into CQ20B; tablet control from the front row.
  • One aux feed to stage wedge, one matrix to livestream/camera.

Band + speakers (gala/awards)

  • X32 scenes: Walk‑in music → Emcee → Band → Awards → After‑party.
  • Separate bus for stage monitors, matrix for press/record, and delay fills for back of room.

CQ20B — why we like it

  • Tiny footprint; lives near sources.
  • App control lets us mix from anywhere in the room.
  • Fast vocal cleanup (HPF, basic comp/EQ) for speeches and lavs.

Keep in mind

  • Needs a reliable Wi‑Fi plan for control.
  • Not a DJ deck—pair with a player/controller for music.

X32 — why we like it

  • Lots of buses and matrices for monitors, record feeds, and zones.
  • Scenes/snippets make complex shows predictable.
  • Expandable via stageboxes; widely available nationwide.

Keep in mind

  • Bigger footprint; more setup time/crew.
  • Overkill for simple two‑mic ceremonies.

Prime 4+ — why we like it

  • True standalone playback with onboard streaming.
  • Balanced main + booth outs; quick booth/zone options.
  • Records sets—great for post‑event review.

Keep in mind

  • Not a replacement for a full live‑sound mixer.
  • Streaming availability depends on venue internet and service logins.

FAQ

Do you bring backups?

Yes—redundant playback (secondary deck/laptop), spare mics, and extra cables/power. For large shows we stage a backup mix path.

Can you stream directly from the controller?

Prime 4+ supports onboard services; we still prep offline playlists for reliability. For CQ20B/X32 gigs we play from local sources and route via the mixer.

Will this fit my venue?

We scale rigs to room size and guest count. Tell us your venue and program, we’ll recommend the right combination.

Always verify exact I/O and feature sets on the manufacturer docs for your model/firmware.

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