Allen & Heath SQ Series SQ-7 48-Channel Digital Mixer

The Allen & Heath SQ-7 is a 48-channel, 36-bus digital mixing console built around the company's 96kHz XCVI FPGA engine — a processing core that delivers the kind of open, high-resolution sound you typically associate with dedicated studio converters. At 96kHz operation with variable bit depth optimization, the console reproduces transient detail and high-frequency air with a clarity that flatters vocals, acoustic instruments, and close-miked drums alike. The sub-0.7ms throughput latency is not a marketing number you ignore; it is the reason the SQ-7 excels as an in-ear monitor console, where even small amounts of delay create phase problems between the live sound reaching a performer's ears and the mixed signal in their monitors. With 12 stereo mix buses, each equipped with both parametric and graphic EQ, you have the routing depth to handle large bands with individualized monitor sends without compromise.

Build quality reflects Allen & Heath's professional heritage — the motorized faders are smooth and responsive, the aluminum chassis feels road-ready, and the multi-touch screen provides fast, intuitive access to channel processing and routing. The DEEP processing architecture is a genuine differentiator: rather than relying on generic dynamics and EQ, you can load boutique compressor and preamp emulations that run natively on the FPGA with zero additional latency, shaping the sonic character of individual channels the way you would with a rack of outboard gear. Expansion is straightforward via Allen & Heath's AB and AR stage box families, scaling the console up to 48 mic inputs for larger productions, and the SQ-7 can also network with other SQ, Qu, or dLive systems for two-way audio patching. Drop in an optional Dante or Waves SoundGrid card, and the console integrates seamlessly into networked AV installations or multi-console broadcast environments.