Universal Audio’s Apollo E Series Just Made Dante Networks a No-Brainer

Universal Audio just flipped the script for live audio and studio integration.

With the Apollo E Series now shipping globally, the pro audio world has access to something it’s been quietly waiting for — a true bridge between networked audio and the legendary tone UA is known for. If you’re working with Dante or Apollo x16D, this release is a big deal. You’re getting real Unison preamps, UAD plug-in power, and personal monitoring — all in a sleek, PoE-powered form factor that’s built for the road and the rack.

At a Glance: What You Need to Know

• Apollo E Series brings classic Unison preamps and real-time UAD plug-ins to Dante networks
• Apollo e1x and e2m are PoE-powered, mic-stand mountable, and ready for stage or studio
• You can now expand your I/O and monitoring without leaving the Dante ecosystem

Unison Preamp Power, Anywhere You Want It

Let’s start with the Apollo e1x. This is the real deal Unison experience, complete with tone emulations from API, Neve, Manley, SSL, and others. You’re not stuck in the control room anymore. With PoE powering and a mic-stand mount, you can drop it on stage, front-of-house, or a remote tracking room and get that classic tone where it actually matters. This kind of remote control over gain, phantom power, polarity, and more — all through the UAD Console and Dante Controller — means less cable mess and more sound control.

Want to scale up? Just link more Apollo e1x units using the built-in coupling bracket. You can run up to 16 of these guys off a single Apollo x16D. And the latency? Set it right in the Dante Controller, from 1 to 5 ms. That’s tight enough for live vocals and broadcast use.

Monitoring Made Simple with Apollo e2m

If Apollo e1x brings the front end, Apollo e2m brings the foldback. It’s more than just a headphone amp.

With stereo line inputs and outputs, dual headphone jacks (1/4” and 1/8”), and PoE operation, it turns any Dante node into a pro monitoring station. Got a synth? Drum machine? Playback device? Plug it straight into the e2m and feed it into your network. Add personal cue mixes from the Apollo x16D’s four stereo cue buses using the UAD Console. Place it anywhere using the mic-stand mount, and forget about power strips — PoE handles that.

Together, e1x and e2m form a complete I/O solution. And yeah, it all plays nice with your existing Dante setup. These are true network endpoints, and they look the part — streamlined, tough, and clearly built for life on the road or in a high-traffic studio.

Why This Matters for Audio Engineers

Here’s the kicker: Until now, getting UAD plug-in power into a Dante setup was clunky at best.

With Apollo x16D and the E Series, it’s finally streamlined. You get DSP-powered plug-ins in real time, legendary preamp tone, and modern routing flexibility without workarounds. And the fact that it’s all controlled via UA’s own Console app makes integration easy — even elegant.

Personal monitoring setups usually take a lot of gear and a lot of setup time. With e2m, you just mount it where it’s needed, connect with Dante, and you’re done. It cuts the need for multiple boxes, patch bays, and converters. That’s a real upgrade for live crews, studios, and broadcast engineers alike.

Conclusion

The Apollo E Series isn’t just another Dante accessory. It’s a rethink of how we bring pro audio tone into the networked world. With e1x and e2m now shipping worldwide, there’s really no excuse left for muddy live sound or clunky monitor setups. If you’ve got an Apollo x16D — or any Dante system — this is the upgrade you’ve been waiting for. It’s clean, it’s fast, and it sounds like your favorite records.