Tidal sound SQ5

SQ SQ Troubleshooting
1

Hello forum members, I’m here with a problem I’m having with my SQ5. I connected my Mac to the SQ5 via USB and played Tidal. The signal is there and I can hear the music, but when I pause, there’s a static sound, like “piiiii”.

When I resume playback, the static disappears and the music plays correctly. This only happens with TIDAL. It works fine with YouTube and Spotify.

Thanks

2

Was just heading to bed when I saw this. Personally I found it strange, so asked AI for the laugh. Here is it’s response in case it offers some suggestions worth trying:

That “piiiii” tone when paused is a pretty classic digital idle / clock / driver behavior issue, not a fault with your Allen & Heath SQ-5 digital mixer or your Mac hardware.

Since it only happens with TIDAL and not with Spotify or YouTube, the problem is almost certainly how TIDAL handles audio output when playback stops.

Here’s what’s going on and how to fix it.

:magnifying_glass_tilted_left: What’s Actually Happening

When you pause TIDAL:

  • It stops sending a proper audio stream
  • But your SQ5 still expects a valid digital signal (clock + data)
  • Instead, it receives a kind of idle digital noise / buffer artifact, which becomes that high-pitched tone

Spotify/YouTube don’t do this — they keep a silent stream running, which is why you don’t hear anything from them.

:white_check_mark: Fixes to Try (in order)

1. Change TIDAL Output Settings (most likely fix)

In TIDAL:

  • Go to Settings → Streaming
  • Turn OFF:
    • Exclusive Mode
    • Force Volume
  • If enabled, also try disabling:
    • Passthrough / MQA / Hi-Res exclusive options

:backhand_index_pointing_right: Exclusive Mode is the usual culprit — it hands full control to TIDAL and can cause exactly this behavior.

2. Match Sample Rate on the Mac

Open Audio MIDI Setup (on macOS):

  • Select the SQ5 USB device
  • Set:
    • Sample rate = 48 kHz (recommended for SQ series)
    • Bit depth = 24-bit

Mismatch (e.g., TIDAL switching rates dynamically) can cause weird idle tones.

3. Keep a Silent Stream Alive (workaround)

If the issue persists:

  • Play something muted in the background (e.g., a silent track or loop)
  • Or keep system audio active (like a muted YouTube tab)

This prevents the USB stream from going idle.

4. Check SQ5 USB / Routing Settings

On the SQ5:

  • Make sure USB input channels aren’t:
    • Boosted excessively (gain staging matters)
    • Routed through FX that might amplify noise

Also confirm:

  • USB source = correct channels
  • No unusual patching or inserts on those channels

5. Try a Different USB Buffer / Driver Reset

  • Restart Core Audio on Mac (or reboot)
  • Try a different USB port/cable
  • If using a hub, bypass it

:warning: If It Still Happens

Then it’s very likely just:

a quirk/bug in TIDAL’s macOS audio handling with USB DAC/mixers

This exact symptom shows up with other pro interfaces too (RME, Focusrite, etc.), so you’re not alone.

:+1: Quick Verdict

  • Your SQ5 is fine
  • Your Mac is fine
  • TIDAL is behaving differently when paused
3

Thanks for your reply. I haven’t found a definitive solution, but with Reaper open, the annoying sound disappears.
According to the AI, Reaper forces the Mac to synchronize its clock with the SQ5 by prioritizing CPU resources for the connection between the Mac and the SQ5.