CB Electronics have announced the upcoming launch of their latest series of digitally controlled patchbays. Since the release of the XP-Relay, the company say they have received requests for a larger version, and so have responded by designing not one but three new additions to the range: the XP‑Relay32, XP‑Relay32X and XP‑Relay64.
All three models employ the same relay-based signal routing as the original model, and pair a transparent audio path with a versatile software-controlled routing system. As its name suggests, the XP-Relay32 features a 32x32 routing matrix and comes housed in a 1U enclosure, while the 2U XP-Relay64 extends the I/O count to 64x64; the XP-Relay32X then houses a 32x32 matrix in a 2U chassis, and can be upgraded to an XP-Relay64 at a later date.
The majority of each system’s I/O is provided on rear-panel DB25 connectors, with a pair of front-panel XLR/TRS combo sockets and XLR outputs offering quick access to a pair of channels for quickly auditioning equipment. Up to four units can be linked together, and it’s possible to configure them as send/return devices when building a larger system. The devices are compatible with a range of signals and levels including mic, line-level, CV, MIDI and Timecode, and are capable of passing phantom power.
As with the previous XP-Relay, routing is taken care of by CB-Electronics’ X-Patch application, which is available for Windows and macOS systems, and communicates with up to four devices via USB or Ethernet. It allows for the creation and management of complex routing chains including mults, mono-to-stereo conversions, inserts and A/B groups, and makes it possible to save and recall configurations instantly. Once configured, XP-Relay devices will load their last-used configurations automatically on power-up.
Pricing & Availability
The XP-Relay32 is expected to be shipping by August 2025, with the XP-Relay32X and XP-Relay64 set to follow in October 2025. Prices are as follows:
- XP-Relay32: £3840 including VAT.
- XP-Relay32X: £4440 including VAT.
- XP-Relay64: £8400 including VAT.
A pre-order discount of 10% is being applied to all orders made before 1 August 2025 for the XP-Relay32, and 1 October 2025 for the XP-Relay32X and XP-Relay64.
