The Allen & Heath SQ7+ is a game-changer for live sound engineers, offering a familiar yet significantly enhanced mixing experience. This console is a testament to the manufacturer's commitment to innovation while respecting the tried-and-true aspects of its predecessor, the SQ-7. Personally, I think this is a masterclass in how to evolve a product without alienating its loyal user base.
What makes this console particularly fascinating is its ability to strike a delicate balance between tradition and innovation. Allen & Heath has addressed many of the SQ-7's limitations, such as the complex routing architecture and scene management system, without sacrificing the console's core strengths. The new SQ7+ feels like a natural evolution, not a drastic departure, which is a refreshing change in the world of digital mixing consoles.
One thing that immediately stands out is the console's ergonomic improvements. The layout refinements, darker color schemes, and bigger hi-res nine-inch capacitive touchscreen make the console more intuitive and user-friendly. The new rotary controls and soft-switches feel more refined and well-conceived, enhancing the overall mixing experience.
However, what many people don't realize is that the SQ7+ is not just an incremental upgrade. Under the hood, the console boasts a new 96kHz XCVI on-board processing core, which enables the mixer to run newer generations of effects and channel processing that were previously impossible on the earlier hardware. This additional power is directed towards the advanced DEEP Processing and RackUltra FX, offering improved premium reverbs, delays, de-essers, saturators, multi-band dynamic EQs, and compressors.
In my opinion, the new effects are amazing sounding, with the premium RackUltra FX representing a big step forward for SQ. The reverbs are far more detailed and glamorous sounding, and the additional delay options create far more sophisticated and nuanced spaces. The amp simulators and saturator offer welcome distortion characteristics, enhancing the overall sound quality.
However, there are some areas where I wish Allen & Heath had gone further. For instance, the console ships with none of the RackUltra FX as standard, which is a bit misleading given that the console physically names these extra FX buses on the hardware surface itself. It would have been more convenient if these FX were available as standard, or at the very least, offered as part of a USB 'licence key' that would allow engineers to access all the additional FX regardless of where they're working.
Despite these minor gripes, the Allen & Heath SQ7+ is an impressive evolution of the SQ range. It feels familiar, more capable, and better sounding, making it a must-have for live sound engineers who want the best of both worlds. From my perspective, this console is a testament to the manufacturer's commitment to innovation and user-friendliness, and I'm supremely confident that it will continue to impress for years to come.
