Mackie DLZ160S 16-Channel Digital Mixer vs Soundcraft EPM8 8-Channel Mixer
Mackie DLZ160S 16-Channel Digital Mixer vs Soundcraft EPM8 8-Channel Mixer compared — specs, features, and which one to buy for your setup. See the full breakdown on CreatorConfig.
The Ruling
Mackie DLZ160S 16-Channel Digital Mixer or Soundcraft EPM8 8-Channel Mixer? Get the Soundcraft EPM8 8-Channel Mixer, narrowly.
The Soundcraft EPM8 8-Channel Mixer wins Channels — but only just, and the rest of the chart is close. It is the pricier of the two at $299, so the Mackie DLZ160S 16-Channel Digital Mixer stays the pick if $199.01 matters more than those specs.
At a Glance
Where each one actually leads
Every axis is scored out of 10 from the catalog specs below. The scores are relative to the products on this page, so a 10 means “best of these”, not “perfect”, and two identical columns mean the catalog genuinely cannot separate them. Axes the catalog holds no figure for on both sides are left off entirely rather than guessed at.
| Category | Mackie DLZ160S 16-Channel Digital Mixer | Soundcraft EPM8 8-Channel Mixer |
|---|---|---|
| Audio Resolution | 10/10 | 10/10 |
| Channels | 2.5/10 | 10/10 |
| Value | 10/10 | 3.3/10 |
The Split
What each one wins
Mackie DLZ160S 16-Channel Digital Mixer
Creator mixer built to manage microphones, monitoring, and multi-source audio control for streaming or production.
It gives up XLR inputs to the Soundcraft EPM8 8-Channel Mixer. It is the cheaper of the two, by $199.01.
Leads on
- Nothing on the spec sheet goes this one’s way.
Soundcraft EPM8 8-Channel Mixer
Creator mixer built to manage microphones, monitoring, and multi-source audio control for streaming or production.
On paper the Soundcraft EPM8 8-Channel Mixer takes XLR inputs (8, +6). It concedes nothing measurable on the sheet. That costs $199.01 more than the Mackie DLZ160S 16-Channel Digital Mixer.
Leads on
-
XLR Inputs +682
More XLR inputs mean you can connect more microphones at once.
Where they’re identical
These 4 specs are the same on both of them, so none of it is part of the decision.
- Operating System windows, macos
- Sample Rate 48kHz
- Bit Depth 24-bit
- Phantom Power Yes
The Record
22 specs, grouped by area
A group is won by whoever takes more of its rows outright. Specs the catalog cannot rank are shown but never decide a group.
Bottom Line
Who each one is for
The Soundcraft EPM8 8-Channel Mixer is the pick on the specs the catalog holds, but “better on paper” and “right for you” are different questions. Each case below names what the product is actually good at and who that suits.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main difference between Mackie DLZ160S 16-Channel Digital Mixer and Soundcraft EPM8 8-Channel Mixer?
The largest gap is XLR inputs, where the Soundcraft EPM8 8-Channel Mixer leads — 8 against 2. Across the catalog's specification sheet the two differ on 1 spec. They match on 4 specs, including operating system, sample rate and bit depth. Two audio mixers from Mackie and Soundcraft, each taking a different approach to channel count and routing flexibility.
Which is better for streaming, Mackie DLZ160S 16-Channel Digital Mixer or Soundcraft EPM8 8-Channel Mixer?
Get the Soundcraft EPM8 8-Channel Mixer, narrowly. The Soundcraft EPM8 8-Channel Mixer wins Channels — but only just, and the rest of the chart is close. It is the pricier of the two at $299, so the Mackie DLZ160S 16-Channel Digital Mixer stays the pick if $199.01 matters more than those specs.
What do the Mackie DLZ160S 16-Channel Digital Mixer and Soundcraft EPM8 8-Channel Mixer have in common?
Both share 4 specifications in the catalog, including operating system (windows, macos), sample rate (48kHz), bit depth (24-bit) and phantom power (Yes). None of those is a reason to pick one over the other.
Is the Soundcraft EPM8 8-Channel Mixer worth the extra $199 over the Mackie DLZ160S 16-Channel Digital Mixer?
The Soundcraft EPM8 8-Channel Mixer costs $299.00 against $99.99, a difference of $199. The premium buys XLR inputs (8). Whether that is worth it depends on which of those you would actually use.