I just had my SQ5 delivered this past Friday. When it arrived and I turned it on, I noticed that ch 5 light was flickering but after some time this seemed to stop. I spent a couple of days becoming familiar with the console and setting up some scenes. Now I have had a chance to set up the board in my studio and check the audio, I am noticing that the same ch 5 is crackling regardless of whether anything is connected. Any ideas on this other than it is simply defective???
Was it really brand new or used?
It’s most likely a hardware problem.
But try saving your current state as a show on a USB stick and performing a reset using “Setup - Mixer Config - Role - Standard - Reset.”
If your input 5 still behaves differently than, for example, inputs 4 and 6 (all three disconnected), it’s most likely a defect.
In this case, if you also patch your input 5 to channel 6, channel 6 should also show the same problem.
Brand new. Shipped from Allen Heath Distributor to NC in the US.
I just performed the reset and the noise still remains on only ch 5.
Oh, what bad luck!
Then, unfortunately, you’ll probably have to contact your dealer or support.
Story of my life I’m afraid… thanks for the suggestions and support!!!
I had a brand new SQ5 that had a cold solder joint* on a header connecting two circuit boards that caused intermittent headphone output. The first step is probably to contact the US distributer:
https://www.allen-heath.com/distributor-location/usa/
I contacted them and heard back in less than a day about having service performed at my local A&H-authorized repair shop. It was fixed under warranty in about an hour. (Gourmet PA in Pittsburgh, PA, USA—super guys for you fellow Yinzers). You may be lucky to have a service center local to you?
But still, very irritating for there to be MFG issues on high-cost, mission-critical products. Cold solder joints are particularly bad because they tend to pass initial factory tests, only fail after some thermal cycling or jostling around in the back of a truck.
A&H may need to check their contract manufacture’s procedures. (I’m a Hardware Design Engineer that deals with contract manufacturers 
)
** (Nerdy electronics footnote): A “Cold Solder Joint” (sometimes called a “Dry” joint, particularly if there is insufficient solder) is a solder connection that was not properly heated, causing the solder to not properly flow through the joint, bond to the metal, and form a reliable joint. A dodgy joint like this can work for a while but will often break lose or become intermittent over time. In my case, not only was the joint cold, it also did not have sufficient quantity of solder even if it was properly flowed.
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Just checking that you have something plugged into the socket that’s patched to that channel? If you have a lead with nothing attached (e.g. an XLR but no mic) then younmay be seeing something that’s not audible or will go away when you connect it up.
What does the noise sound like?
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I’m pleased you got it taken care of so quickly.
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This is happening without a cable attached. The noise is a low level crackling.
Update: My dealer contacted A&H and from the looks of the text thread, it appears they will provide a replacement as the board is brand new. Excellent customer service…
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Glad to hear they are taking care of your issue!
I should add that my local repair shop told me specifically that A&H treated them very well regarding the repair and covering it as a warranty MFG defect—in stark contrast to how many other companies treat them nowadays. There are certain BBBBrands that they PPPPersonally do not wish to service anyMMMMore, if you get my meaning 
. However A&H, Yamaha, and a few others are still quite upstanding in how they treat not only their customers but also the service centers.
Sorry to hear. Sadly a dud then.
My update so far.
So finally on Monday I contacted the distributor to check on status and asking for tracking on new mixer. The rep sent me tracking info but it was for the defective unit delivered over a week before. I responded advising they had provided the wrong info. Then someone else got back to me that afternoon and suggested I do a hard reset to see if it corrected the problem.
I did this but there was still noise.
I wrote back advising him of this. He told me he would process a replacement unit and asked for some documentation ( receipt, serial # etc) which I provided. I then got a message advising me that an RMA had been opened and a note was included to their freight Dept asking them to send me a shipping label. The message said that once the return tracking number had been provided to them, they would send the replacement mixer. As the tracking number is established with the opened RMA and the shipping label shows this, I assumed this is what my customer service person needed to ship the replacement mixer to me. My plan was to take the defective unit to FEDEX tomorrow (it is 30 minutes from my home).
However, this morning after having not seen anything regarding tracking for the new mixer, I contacted cust service again to confirm it was being sent. Good job I did…I was told their policy is they will not ship till they RECEIVE the defective unit. I wish I had been told this so I could have shipped the defective unit on Monday. So I’ll be without a mixer for probably the best part of 2 weeks all in all.
At least things are moving along…
Another update:
The original guy I first spoke with who told me they would ship the replacement mixer when they saw tracking for the old one reached out and told me this was in fact the case and no need to wait till they receive it. I shipped back the defective mixer on Thursday and sent him proof of tracking. Then last night I received a notice from FEDEX telling me they are delivering the replacement on Sunday!!! Great news!
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Replacement arrived today. Everything appears good. Fedex was supposed to get my signature but instead dropped the box by my trash cans at the side of my house. All good though…thanks everyone for your support!
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Yay!
Glad to hear you’re back in business!
It’s a good thing the garbage disposal didn’t come by chance, otherwise maybe … who knows …
Ya Think? Fedex in my area is terrible though and always has been - damage to my property, leaving packages on the roadside etc etc…I have had zero issues with UPS. Even USPS is better than FEDEX…eek.
It seems to be the same everywhere.
Of course, there’s no excuse for it, but the employees of all these companies obviously don’t have it easy either.
They’re probably under extreme pressure and will only hope for honest customers and few criminal spies.
Because it naturally becomes problematic when someone takes the goods lying around.
Or even you could simply claim you didn’t receive the shipment.
But you’d certainly be happy for now – if your next problem hadn’t already struck … (