Compact 48-channel / 44-bus 96 kHz digital mixer with RackUltra FX, 17 motorised faders, 9" touchscreen and 128×128 SLink connectivity.
Allen & Heath SQ5+ is the new-generation compact SQ-series digital mixer designed for live sound, AV, recording and installation applications. It retains the proven 96 kHz XCVI processing core, high-resolution audio, ultra-low signal latency, DEEP Processing and RackExtra FX of the SQ platform, while introducing a redesigned control interface, expanded mixing capabilities and flagship-tier RackUltra FX processing derived from Allen & Heath's dLive platform.
SQ5+ provides 48 input channels and 44 buses, 12 stereo Aux/Group mixes, LR and 6 mono/linkable Matrix buses. Every input channel includes HPF, Gate with sidechain and filter, freely assignable Insert, 4-band parametric EQ with RTA and Peak/RMS compressor. Mix channels include parametric EQ, 28-band graphic EQ and compressor as standard.
DEEP Processing allows emulations of classic analogue processors to be embedded directly into channel and Mix strips without adding signal latency, with processing available across all channels simultaneously.
What's New in SQ5+?
Compared with the previous-generation SQ-5, SQ5+ introduces several significant upgrades:
- 4 × RackUltra FX engines with dedicated stereo Send/Return channels in addition to the 8 RackExtra FX engines
- 12 FX engines in total - 8 RackExtra FX + 4 RackUltra FX
- New 9" touchscreen with redesigned dark GUI
- New illuminated high-grip encoders for improved hands-on control and visual feedback
- Drag-and-drop channel and Mix assignment
- Enhanced channel naming and colour coding on the displays
- Enhanced Chromatic Channel Metering with level indication down to –72 dB
- Expanded 44-bus mixing architecture
- 6 mono/linkable Matrix buses
- 128×128 Intelligent SLink connectivity for the Everything I/O ecosystem
- Support for the latest generation of DEEP Processing add-ons
- 2 × 24-channel AMMs, combinable as a single 48-channel Automatic Mic Mixer
- New SQ+ MixPad and SQ+4You remote-control apps
One of the most significant additions to SQ5+ is RackUltra FX. Four dedicated RackUltra FX engines with stereo Send/Return channels complement the 8 RackExtra FX engines. Originally developed for Allen & Heath's flagship dLive system, RackUltra FX provides premium reverbs, vocal tuning and pitch processing, distortion, saturation and more. The 4 RackUltra engines can also run RackExtra FX, providing flexible configuration across all 12 FX engines.
Control
SQ5+ features a 9" touchscreen with a redesigned dark GUI, 17 motorised 100 mm faders, 6 Channel Strip layers and 8 assignable SoftKeys. Channels and mixes can be freely arranged across the control surface using drag-and-drop, with custom naming and colour coding available on the displays.
Chromatic Channel Metering provides clear at-a-glance level indication down to –72 dB using LEDs with variable brightness and colour.
Recording and Playback
The integrated 32×32 USB audio interface operates at both 96 kHz and 48 kHz and supports multitrack recording, backing-track playback, livestreaming and Virtual Soundcheck.
SQ-Drive enables direct recording and playback without a computer:
- 16 channels at 96 kHz
- 32 channels at 48 kHz
- Stereo recording and playback
Audio can be recorded directly to and played back from a USB drive.
Connectivity and Expansion
The 128×128 Intelligent SLink port provides direct access to the Allen & Heath Everything I/O ecosystem, including remote stage boxes, I/O expanders and other Allen & Heath consoles.
A dedicated I/O expansion slot supports optional SLink, Dante, Waves and MADI cards, allowing SQ5+ to integrate into complex FOH/monitor splits, broadcast systems and networked audio environments.
For conferences, panel discussions and broadcast applications, SQ5+ includes 2 independent 24-channel Automatic Mic Mixers (AMM). They can operate independently for 2 separate zones or be combined into a single 48-channel AMM.
The free SQ+ MixPad app provides remote control from Windows, macOS, iOS and Android devices. SQ+4You allows up to 8 performers to control their own monitor mixes directly from iOS or Android devices.
SQ5+ is built around a rugged all-metal chassis and can be installed in a 19" rack using the optional rack-mount kit.
Key Features
- 48 input channels / 44 buses
- 96 kHz XCVI Core
- 12 × stereo Aux/Group mixes + LR
- 6 × mono/linkable Matrix buses
- DEEP Processing ready
- 8 × RackExtra FX engines
- 4 × RackUltra FX engines
- 9" touchscreen with redesigned dark GUI
- 17 × 100 mm motorised faders
- 6 × Channel Strip layers
- 8 × assignable SoftKeys
- 128×128 Intelligent SLink
- I/O expansion slot for SLink, Dante, Waves or MADI cards
- 32×32 USB audio interface at 96 kHz and 48 kHz
- SQ-Drive multitrack recording and playback
- 2 × 24-channel AMMs or 1 × 48-channel AMM
- SQ+ MixPad and SQ+4You remote control
- 19" rack-mountable with optional rack kit
