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.
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?
I’m pleased you got it taken care of so quickly.
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.