Waves Audio Exhibits IONIC 16, a SoundGrid Stagebox with Superior Audio Quality

by | Audio, Gear, Production

Waves Audio, the world’s leading developer of professional audio signal processing technologies and plugins, is exhibiting IONIC 16, a 16-in / 12-out SoundGrid stagebox with Waves Signature Preamps.

With Waves’ new IONIC 16, you can now step up to superior stagebox sound. The IONIC 16 delivers superb sound quality, with uncompromising punch and clarity in any live sound scenario. Built for excellence, IONIC 16 is designed to elevate your sound and complement the already exceptional sonic performance of the Waves eMotion LV1 live mixer.

At the heart of IONIC 16’s pristine sound and unmatched performance are Waves Signature Preamps—newly designed with fully discrete high-end analog circuits, delivering maximum headroom, lightning-fast transient response, and an incredibly low noise floor. Able to handle any signal you throw at them with full confidence, these preamps feature a gain structure meticulously designed to deliver a wide dynamic range and handle bigger signals, with practically no restraints. The result is plenty of headroom, transients that do not clip, and an extremely low noise floor—for an incredibly clean, punchy sound.


Waves Signature Preamps deliver timeless analog warmth – a rich, full-bodied sound usually found only in high-end mixing consoles, without compromising any of the punch or clarity, using its analog modeled HMX harmonic enhancer. The harmonic enhancer can also be turned on or off per input, with ‘off’ providing a more neutral sound.

The IONIC 16 delivers crystal clear outputs with extra headroom. Whether you are powering stage wedges that compete with the drummer, a full rack of in-ears transmitters, or a PA system of any size or quality, IONIC’s twelve powerful outputs and two independent headphone-outs deliver super-clear results with plenty of headroom.

IONIC 16 also enables you to get more out of your stage mics: its preamp section’s analog impedance selector allows you to choose the mic reaction you want. You can choose between a classic 2kΩ and a modern 7kΩ, for greater sonic flexibility.


IONIC 16 provides seamless integration and connectivity to any eMotion LV1 system, ensuring quick and easy setup without wasting time on manual configurations. IONIC’s control panel is available in the LV1’s device rack, letting you control various parameters in your preamps and outputs directly from the mixer, without missing a beat.

Waves IONIC 16 features:

  • 16 in / 12 out SoundGrid stagebox with superior audio quality
  • 16 mic / line inputs with original-design Waves Signature Preamps
  • Stereo AES input/output
  • Analog-modeled harmonic enhancement per input (optional)
  • Analog input impedance selector: classic 2kΩ / modern 7kΩ
  • Seamless integration with the eMotion LV1 live mixer
  • 12 crystal clear line outputs (selectable between 18/24 dBu)
  • 2 independent, powerful headphone outputs
  • Sample Rates: 44.1, 48, 88.2 and 96 kHz
  • Road-ready 2U chassis: rugged build, rack-mountable

To learn more, click here.

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