Processing power, not reinvention, is where the SQ+ makes its stand
For years, the Allen & Heath SQ mixer has been the quiet backbone of touring rigs, fixed installations, and studios — reliable precisely because it disappears into the work. On May 19, 2026, the company introduced the SQ+ Range, three new consoles that preserve what engineers already trust while expanding the processing headroom and effects depth that modern workflows increasingly demand. It is not a reinvention, but a considered evolution — the kind that acknowledges that tools must grow alongside the people who depend on them.
- The original SQ line, beloved for its reliability, was beginning to show the ceiling of its processing power as live and studio demands kept climbing.
- Allen & Heath answered with three new SQ+ frame sizes — the SQ5+, SQ6+, and SQ7+ — each carrying four RackUltra FX engines previously reserved for flagship dLive systems.
- A larger 9-inch touchscreen, expanded fader and input counts, and a new dark GUI signal that the physical experience of mixing has been rethought alongside the processing upgrades.
- Next-generation DEEP Add-Ons like CompStortion and Source Expander — once exclusive to higher-end Avantis and dLive consoles — are now coming to the SQ+ tier, closing a long-standing gap.
- Launch registrants receive the PlusPack bundle of effects and processing Add-Ons, with U.S. buyers gaining additional access to RackUltra FX Essentials, lowering the barrier to the platform's full potential.
Allen & Heath has spent years turning the SQ mixer into a workhorse found everywhere — touring rigs, fixed installations, studios. But workflows shift and demands grow, and on May 19 the company introduced the SQ+ Range: three new consoles built on the same proven architecture, but with substantially more room to breathe.
The lineup spans three sizes. The SQ5+ offers 17 motorized faders and 16 XLR inputs in a rack-mountable frame. The SQ6+ steps up to 25 faders and 24 inputs with added SoftRotaries for deeper control. At the top, the SQ7+ delivers 33 faders and 32 inputs — the kind of desk suited to mid-sized venues or complex studio sessions.
The core 48-input, 96 kHz XCVI processing engine carries over from the original SQ, but the real leap is in effects headroom. Every SQ+ model ships with four RackUltra FX engines — technology developed for Allen & Heath's flagship dLive system — bringing reverbs, vocal tuning, pitch processing, amp modeling, and saturation to a more accessible tier. Three next-generation DEEP Add-Ons, including CompStortion and Source Expander, will follow, tools that previously lived exclusively on dLive and Avantis systems.
The physical interface has grown too: a larger 9-inch touchscreen replaces the original's smaller display, and a new dark GUI improves visibility across lighting conditions. Networking, I/O expansion, multitrack recording, and remote control apps all carry over unchanged. Buyers who register their console and subscribe to the Allen & Heath newsletter receive the PlusPack bundle at launch, with U.S. purchasers gaining access to the RackUltra FX Essentials Bundle as well.
The SQ+ doesn't reinvent what made the SQ successful — it gives it more muscle where it matters most, and signals that the platform still has room to grow.
Allen & Heath has spent years building the SQ mixer into something you find everywhere—touring rigs, fixed installations, studios, the kind of workhorse console that becomes invisible because it just works. But the company knows that what worked five years ago doesn't always work today. Workflows shift. Demands grow. So on May 19, the manufacturer introduced the SQ+ Range: three new consoles designed to sit alongside the original SQ line, each one built around the same core architecture but with substantially more room to breathe.
The new lineup comes in three sizes. The SQ5+ is the entry point, with 17 motorized faders, 16 XLR inputs for microphones and line-level sources, and 8 SoftKeys for quick access to functions. It can be mounted in a standard 19-inch rack if the situation calls for it. The SQ6+ steps up to 25 faders and 24 inputs, adding 16 SoftKeys and four SoftRotaries for deeper control. At the top sits the SQ7+, a full-featured desk with 33 faders, 32 inputs, 16 SoftKeys, and 8 SoftRotaries—the kind of console you'd expect to see handling a mid-sized venue or a complex studio session.
What separates the SQ+ from its predecessors isn't the core engine—all three models still use the same 48-input, 96 kHz XCVI processing core that powers the original SQ range. The real difference lives in the effects and processing headroom. Allen & Heath has added four RackUltra FX engines to every SQ+ model, each with dedicated stereo sends and returns. RackUltra was developed for the company's flagship dLive system, and it brings a serious toolkit: reverbs, vocal tuning, pitch processors, amp modeling, and saturation effects. Every SQ+ comes with all four engines standard, though additional Add-Ons are available for users who want to expand further.
The next generation of DEEP Add-Ons—the company's modular processing suite—will take advantage of that extra processing power. Three new tools are coming: CompStortion, Source Expander, and Dual Threshold Expander. These weren't available on the SQ line before; they lived exclusively on dLive and Avantis, Allen & Heath's higher-end systems. Now they're coming down to the SQ+ tier. At launch, anyone who registers their new SQ+ and signs up for the Allen & Heath newsletter gets the PlusPack, a bundle containing the full suite of DEEP and standard effects Add-Ons. In the United States, there's an additional bonus: access to the RackUltra FX Essentials Bundle.
The physical interface has grown too. The SQ+ models feature a larger 9-inch touchscreen—up from the original SQ's smaller display—and a new dark GUI designed to reduce eye strain and improve visibility in different lighting conditions, whether you're mixing in a dark theater or a bright outdoor venue. Everything else carries over: the 128×128 Intelligent SLink port for networked control, the dedicated I/O expansion slot that accepts Dante, MADI, Waves, or SLink cards, dual USB ports for multitrack recording and computer interfacing, and remote control apps for Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android.
The SQ+ Range doesn't reinvent the wheel. It takes a proven design and gives it more muscle where it matters most—processing power, screen real estate, and the kind of effects toolkit that used to require stepping up to a much larger console. For venues and engineers who've built their workflows around the SQ line, the upgrade path is clear. For new buyers, the choice between the original SQ and the SQ+ comes down to whether they need that extra processing headroom and those additional effects engines. Either way, Allen & Heath is signaling that the SQ platform has room to grow.
Citas Notables
User needs and workflows evolve over time, and with that in mind, Allen & Heath introduced the SQ+ Range— Allen & Heath (paraphrased from announcement)
La Conversación del Hearth Otra perspectiva de la historia
Why does a console need a new version when the core engine stays the same?
Because the core engine isn't where the limitations live anymore. It's the effects processing and the physical interface. Users were hitting ceilings—they'd run out of reverb engines, or they'd want effects that only existed on much larger desks. The SQ+ removes those ceilings.
So this is really about effects and screen size?
And faders, and inputs. But yes, the processing is the headline. Four RackUltra FX engines on every model—that's a massive jump. It means you can do things on an SQ5+ that used to require an SQ7 or stepping up to dLive.
Who benefits most from this?
Touring engineers, mostly. The people who need reliability and flexibility in one package. Also studios and fixed venues that have been waiting for the SQ to mature into something with more effects depth. The SQ was always solid, but it was a bit lean on the processing side.
The launch incentives—PlusPack, the Essentials Bundle—that seems aggressive.
It is. Allen & Heath is saying: we know you might be on the fence about upgrading. Here's the full effects suite, free, if you register and sign up for our newsletter. It's a way to get people invested in the platform early.
Does this cannibalize sales of the original SQ?
Probably some. But I think the real play is capturing people who were looking at other brands. If you're a mid-sized venue or a touring rig that's been considering Yamaha or DigiCo, the SQ+ with all that processing power suddenly looks a lot more attractive.
What's the next move for Allen & Heath?
Watch for those next-generation DEEP Add-Ons—CompStortion, Source Expander. Those are tools that were exclusive to flagship systems. If they keep bringing flagship features down to the SQ+ tier, they're building a platform that can grow with you.