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Apollo x16
Experience the gold standard in audio recording.
- Connect your studio gear with 16 x 16 analog I/O via DB-25 connections with switchable +24 dBu headroom settings
- Use onboard HEXA Core DSP to record and mix large sessions using UAD plug-ins in realtime
- Create immersive audio mixes up to 9.1.6 for Dolby Atmos, Auro‑3D, Sony 360 Reality Audio, and others
- Work faster with new UAD Console features including Auto-Gain, Plug-In Scenes, Monitor Controller, Immersive Audio, and more
- Mix with confidence in stereo and immersive formats using Apollo Monitor Correction by Sonarworks®*
- Get included UAD plug-ins from Auto-Tune, Fairchild, Teletronix, and more with Essentials+ or Ultimate+ Editions
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Experience the Gold Standard in Audio Recording
What They Say
Jacquire King
Kings of Leon, Norah Jones, Cold War Kids
Vance Powell
Jack White, The Dead Weather, The Raconteurs
Fab Dupont
Shakira, Santigold, Jennifer Lopez
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Frequently Asked Questions
The Universal Audio Apollo x16 is worth it for any professional studio that needs 16 channels of high-resolution analog I/O, onboard HEXA Core DSP, and full Dolby Atmos monitoring capability in a single 2U rackmount unit. It brings together UA's most advanced A/D and D/A converters, a comprehensive monitor controller, and a library of more than 200 UAD plug-ins that run in realtime without taxing your computer's CPU. For studios working with large channel counts, outboard patchbays, or immersive audio formats, the x16 is purpose-built for that scale.
The Apollo x16 Gen 2 is one of the only rackmount interfaces that combines elite audio conversion, UAD-2 SHARC DSP processors, immersive audio mixing up to 9.1.6, and a fully integrated monitor controller with room correction in a single unit. Most interfaces at this tier offer great conversion or onboard processing, but rarely both. Apollo x16 supports Apollo Monitor Correction by Sonarworks, which calibrates your monitoring environment for accurate playback in both stereo and immersive formats.
HEXA Core DSP means the Apollo x16 has six onboard UAD-2 SHARC processors dedicated entirely to running UAD plug-ins in realtime, independent of your computer's CPU. That headroom lets you load complex plug-in chains on every channel across large sessions without the buffer size tradeoffs that native-only processing requires. The more channels and plug-in instances you run, the more that advantage shows up in your daily workflow. DSP pairing also allows you to link two SHARC processors in series for more complex chains on important channels.
The Apollo x16 sits at the top of the Apollo X rackmount lineup, offering 16 channels of line-level only analog I/O via DB25 connections and UAD-2 HEXA Core DSP. In comparison, the Apollo x8p includes eight channels plus eight built-in Unison mic preamp inputs, which makes it the better choice for studios that need high-quality preamps alongside their conversion. The Apollo x6 supports up to 5.1 surround, while the x8 and x8p go up to 7.1. Only the x16 (and the x16D with Dante networking) supports immersive audio mixing in formats up to 9.1.6.
The Apollo x16 does not include built-in mic preamps. It connects to your existing preamps, analog consoles, and outboard gear via DB25 connectors on its 16 analog inputs and outputs, with a switchable +24 dBu headroom setting for compatibility with pro-level gear. For recording through Unison preamp technology, the Apollo x8p, x6, x4, or Twin X are the right models, all of which can be daisy-chained to the Apollo x16 for future expansion where needed. The x16 is designed for studios that already have preamps and need the best possible conversion and monitoring on the other end of the chain.
The Apollo x16 Gen 2 uses UA's highest-resolution converters to date, with D/A dynamic range of 133 dB and total harmonic distortion of -129 dB. Dual-Crystal Clocking keeps jitter extremely low across all sample rates — up to 192 kHz — which contributes to a clean, stable stereo image that holds up in critical mixing environments. Sound on Sound noted that "Apollo X's sonic accuracy is on another level" compared to most competitors in this category.
Apollo x16's onboard realtime HEXA Core DSP runs UAD plug-ins in realtime through UAD Console, completely separate from your computer's processor. UAD native plug-ins, available via the UAD Spark subscription or as individual purchases, run on your computer's CPU inside your DAW like standard plug-ins. The x16 comes with certain plug-ins in both formats: DSP for near-zero-latency monitoring and tracking, and UAD native plug-ins layered on top for expanded processing during mixing sessions.
Yes, the Apollo x16 works on both Mac (including Apple Silicon Macs) and Windows PCs via Thunderbolt 3 or 4. UA's LUNA recording software is also available on both platforms. For full compatibility details, including minimum OS versions, visit help.uaudio.com.
The Apollo x16 works with all major DAWs, including Pro Tools, Logic Pro, Ableton Live, Cubase, and LUNA, using VST, AU, and AAX 64 plug-in formats. LUNA, UA's own DAW, offers the deepest integration with the x16 on both Mac and Windows. UAD Console runs alongside your DAW of choice for monitoring, routing, and realtime processing, and UAD plug-ins appear as standard inserts in your session.
The Apollo x16 connects via Thunderbolt 3 and requires a Thunderbolt 3 or 4 port on your Mac or Windows PC computer. It does not offer USB connectivity. For studios without available Thunderbolt ports, UA offers USB-compatible Apollo models in the Twin and x4 desktop lineup.
Yes, the Apollo x16 supports immersive audio mixing up to 9.1.6, making it compatible with Dolby Atmos, Auro-3D, and Sony 360 Reality Audio production workflows. The UAD Console app includes integrated Bass Management and Immersive Audio speaker control, and Apollo Monitor Correction by Sonarworks calibrates your main monitor outputs for accurate playback in immersive formats. Apollo Monitor Correction requires Sonarworks' SoundID Reference software, a compatible measurement microphone, and the Apollo SoundID Integration Add-on license.
Yes, you can link up to four Apollo x16 units over Thunderbolt for 64 channels of the same elite A/D and D/A conversion, which is ideal for tracking through large-format recording consoles. You can also combine the x16 with other Thunderbolt Apollo rackmount units and add a desktop Apollo Twin X or x4 as a remote volume controller for the rack. For networked studio environments, the Apollo x16D variant adds Dante connectivity for routing audio over standard Ethernet.
The Apollo x16 includes a built-in monitor controller with two ALT speaker outputs in stereo mode (one ALT in immersive mode), integrated talkback, and Apollo Monitor Correction for calibrating both stereo and immersive monitoring environments. UAD Console handles your monitor routing, speaker switching, and Plug-In Scenes, which let you save and recall complete plug-in parameter states for your monitoring chain.
DSP-based interfaces like the Apollo x16 are more relevant in 2026 than they have ever been, particularly for studios working with immersive audio, large track counts, or complex analog-emulation plug-in chains. Onboard UAD-2 HEXA Core DSP offloads the most CPU-intensive UAD plug-ins from your computer, letting you push bigger sessions without sacrificing buffer size or tracking latency. While native plug-in performance has improved, nothing solves the tracking latency problem at the source like processing that never touches your CPU in the first place.
The Apollo x16 Gen 2 is consistently recognized among the top rackmount audio interfaces for professional studios, offering a combination of 16-channel elite audio conversion, realtime HEXA Core DSP, and Dolby Atmos monitoring support that no single competitor currently matches at the same level. In independent reviews, Sound on Sound, Tape Op, and MusicTech have all cited the Apollo X Gen 2's sonic accuracy and workflow improvements as benchmarks for the category. Studios that work with large sessions, outboard patchbays, or immersive formats will find it to be the most complete single rack unit available.
The Apollo x16 delivers near-zero-latency monitoring through its realtime HEXA Core DSP, which processes UAD plug-ins onboard rather than through your computer, removing host buffer delay from the monitoring signal entirely. On the conversion side, Dual-Crystal Clocking maintains low jitter at all sample rates including 192 kHz, contributing to a clean and stable signal path and stereo image from source to monitor. For tracking sessions where latency is critical, the Apollo x16’s combination of onboard processing, elite performance, and high-accuracy clocking is what sets it apart from native-only interfaces in the same price range.