I'm hearing strange wind noises coming from the outputs of my SQ mixer

SQ SQ Troubleshooting
1

Hello,

I’m experiencing a constant “hiss / wind noise” coming from the outputs of my Allen & Heath SQ-7 mixer.

Here’s what I’ve checked so far:

  • The mixer has been fully reset to factory settings

  • All inputs and outputs are muted

  • No cables are connected to the mixer

  • Speakers and cables are tested and working properly

  • The noise is present even when the mixer is idle (no signal at all)

Despite all this, the noise is still clearly audible from the outputs.

This makes me think it could be a hardware issue, possibly related to:

  • Output stage (analog section)

  • Power supply

  • DAC or internal audio path

Has anyone experienced a similar issue with the SQ series?

Any advice or suggestions would be appreciated.

Thank you.

2

Hello,

are all the outputs on the back of the mixing console affected?

Do you have a stage box to test whether the same thing happens on its outputs?

Can you hear the noise when you monitor the output through headphones using PAFL?

BR,

HP

3

There must be an amplifier in the circuit between the output of the SQ and the speakers.

Is the ‘gain’ of the amplifier too great?

If it is, the amplifier is amplifying the noise!

Dave

4

Since this is your first post, we unfortunately have no idea if you have any experience with mixing consoles and their use.

It would also be interesting to know if this was/is a general issue with this particular console, or if the noise has only started recently and other consoles don’t produce noises under the same conditions.

Is it a consistent noise, like the kind a signal generator produces - because wind noises would fluctuate a lot.?
A sound sample could be helpful.

5

If this is a new system to you and your are using powered speakers and those speakers are set to mic level input you would hear noise when the speaker would be connected to a live level output, you would be amplifying the mixers noise floor many times with the speaker set to mic level input.

Aside from the noise how does the system sound playing some music or some check 1 2’s with a mic plugged into the mixer?

If it seems to work but you need to run the main level really low to keep the volume level with in reason the speakers (if powered) more than likely are set to mic level.

All said we need some more info on your system.