If you run sound at a church, you already know the real cost of a bad console isn’t the price tag, it’s what happens when a volunteer freezes mid-service because they can’t find the right channel. Allen & Heath’s new SQ+ Series was built with exactly that problem in mind. It’s one of the consoles we spec most when designing a church sounds system built to hold up under real, volunteer-run conditions.
The SQ+ isn’t a brand-new mixer line so much as a major refresh of the SQ desks already running thousands of churches and venues. If your team is on an original SQ-5, SQ-6, or SQ-7, or you’re shopping for a first digital console, here’s what’s actually different, what it costs, and whether it’s worth the upgrade.
What Is the SQ+ Series?
The SQ+ Series comes in three frame sizes, same naming pattern as the original SQ line:
- SQ5+ — 17 motorized faders, 16 onboard preamps, compact and rack-mountable
- SQ6+ — 25 faders, 24 onboard preamps, the middle-ground workhorse
- SQ7+ — 33 faders, 32 onboard preamps, the flagship for larger productions
All three keep the same 48-input, 96kHz XCVI processing core that made the original SQ series an industry standard — so if your team already knows SQ, the learning curve for SQ+ is short.
The 6 Things Allen & Heath Actually Changed
1. A bigger, easier-to-read touchscreen. The display grew from 7″ to 9″, with a redesigned dark interface. For churches running volunteer teams, this is the upgrade that matters most day-to-day — bigger touch targets and better visibility mean less fumbling mid-song.
2. More processing and better built-in effects. Vocal reverbs, broadcast mix effects, and — new on this platform — real-time onboard vocal tuning. That last one is a genuine first for the SQ line.
3. PlusPack included at no extra cost. Previously, premium DEEP processing add-ons (vintage compressor and EQ emulations, mastering-grade limiters) were separate purchases. On SQ+, the full PlusPack bundle ships with the console. No surprise costs after the sale.
4. A faster, more modern workflow. Drag-and-drop channel assignment and better strip visibility cut down on menu-diving — useful for both seasoned engineers and the volunteer running second service.
5. Improved chromatic metering. Color-coded, brightness-adjustable level metering makes it easier to spot a hot channel at a glance, even from across the room.
6. More headroom for the future. Expanded DEEP processing capacity means SQ+ is built to support add-ons and features as Allen & Heath keeps releasing them — so the console you buy today doesn’t max out next year.
SQ vs. SQ+: What’s the Price Difference?
Street pricing puts SQ+ models roughly $700–$1,000 above their original SQ counterparts:
| Model | Approx. Street Price |
|---|---|
| SQ5+ | ~$4,999 |
| SQ6+ | ~$5,999 |
| SQ7+ | ~$6,999 |
The original SQ-5/SQ-6/SQ-7 typically run a few hundred to about a thousand dollars less, depending on the model and retailer. Given that PlusPack — previously a paid add-on — now ships free with every SQ+, the actual price gap once you factor in that included processing is smaller than it looks on paper. As always, confirm current pricing with your dealer, since street prices shift.
If your budgeting for a complete system rather than just a console swap, check out our guide on how much a church sound system actually costs.
Should Your Church Upgrade?
Here’s our honest take after working with these consoles in real services:
Upgrade if:
- Your current SQ is several years old and you’re already planning a refresh
- Volunteers regularly struggle with the existing interface or screen visibility
- You rely on vocal processing/tuning for your service or livestream and don’t want to pay separately for plug-ins
- You’re buying your first digital console and SQ+ fits your budget — there’s no reason to buy the outgoing model new
Skip it (for now) if:
- Your existing SQ-5/6/7 is working fine and your team is comfortable with it
- Budget is tight and the use case doesn’t call for the extra processing headroom
- You’re more limited by acoustics, speaker placement, or training than by the console itself. In our experience, that’s the more common bottleneck
A console upgrade won’t fix a room with bad coverage or an undertrained volunteer team. But if your team already knows and likes the SQ workflow, SQ+ is a meaningful, not gimmicky, step forward, especially for churches that lean on volunteers.
Thinking About an Upgrade?
If you’re weighing whether the SQ+ Series is the right fit for your church, venue, or event space, we’d love to help you figure it out — no pressure, no upsell. Contact Presence Pro Audio to schedule a demo or talk through your specific setup.
