Planned SQ5 setup with ME-500s

[GaryW]

Towards mid-year I’m planning on getting a SQ-5 mixer with either two DX168 or DX164-W expanders.
This is for a semi-permanent venue, the two expanders to be mounted stage left and right.

I currently have a single ME-1 and am planning on adding four or more ME-500’s.

In the “Supported SLink Port Connections” document, it explicitly shows: SQ5 -> AB168 -> AB168 -> ME-1/500 etc
But it doesn’t specifically show: SQ5 -> DX168 -> DX168 -> ME-1 -> ME-500 etc?

Can I assume that the second scenario will work?

Also, just to complicate things, could I put a PoE switch after the last expander for star connecting the ME’s?

[Gogos]

Hi Gary,

you can´t connect a DX168 with the ME-1. The DX works on 96kHz and the ME-… doesn´t support it. So you can only choose for example the AR2412 that works on 48 kHz for work with the personal Monitor System from A&H! This is a very big angry trouble from A&H !! Bring us new Mixers with 96kHz and Stagebox but not working with their Personalmonitor Mixers…that´s very fine ! 🙁

[Gogos]

Hi Gary,

sorry my english is not so good. Maybe you understand my post wrong, because i write it´s not work on 96kHz ? Of course you can connect the ME-.. Mixers directly on a SQ Mixer, that will work. But not at the DX168, because not possible to connect there.

[Wolfgang]

have a look here
https://www.allen-heath.com/ahproducts/sq-6/#tab4
and download the document “SQ-6 V1.1.0 SLink Connections”.
there is very nicely described what works.

[lightingman117]

As Gogos pointed out, the Personal mixers run on 48kHz (dSnake) whereas sLink (DX– products) run at 96kHz only. [ACE & Dante & Waves Soundgrid are ToBeDetermined (kHz)]

At present, you can have a 96kHz digital snake [NO ME’s] OR 48kHz digital snake & ME’s.

In the future the sLink expansion card will allow for a digital snake & a ME1 connection [local (sLink) port running as dSnake (48kHz) & expansion card (sLink) running at 96kHz for DX168 or DX32 or DXHUB].

I applaud A&H for the interconnectivity of the SQ-x series of boards, but I think a 96kHz digital snake option that works with ME’s is a blatant omission [perhaps it is in development].

I really think an extra port (ME_Link)=[dSnake] on the board would have been a better idea, putting the ME1/500/Hub on their own dSnake network at all times [either that or the new sLink card should have two ports on it, one sLink (96kHz and one dSnake (48kHz)]. They might come out with a sLink card for the ME-U with pass through that would be perfect. I really dunno how they’re gonna do it but it needs to be done for those that want personal mixers & dLive/96kHz preamps. Otherwise 96kHz is just another gimmick like everything else is these days.

My thread talks about this.

SQ -> ME1/500 Connectivity

[GaryW]

Cheers for the input guys, thanks!

It does look like each of the DM0, DM32, DM48 and DM64 all have dedicated ME-1/500 48khz ethernet port. All options I suspect are fairly expensive!

When I went to the A&H Qu-series, I was really surprised at how much better the mic pre’s sounded and how much hotter I could run signal into them.

I am drawn to the DX168 (or DX164-W) as I am assuming they use dLive class pre-amps, A&H’s top of the line pre-amps.

Has anyone done any listening tests / comparisons between A&H’s Qu, SQ and dLive pre-amps?

[lightingman117]

I was just talking to my buddy about the x32 vs dl32 preamps.

Last reply by Tim:
https://forums.prosoundweb.com/index.php/topic,165374.msg1528260.html#msg1528260

3rd reply by Tim:
https://forums.prosoundweb.com/index.php/topic,162417.msg1494328.html#msg1494328

Basically you can’t separate the analog preamp section from the rest of the board. The dLive is the best technically (objectively) sounding console on the market today; that’s not JUST because of its preamps.

Good, Better, Best. [Qu, SQ, dLive]

Yes DX168 uses the dLive preamps @ 96kHz. It will sound better than QU; but it’s just a PART of the ecosystem.

[GaryW]

Good points Lightingman117.
Thanks for the links too.

[lightingman117]

I forgot to mention that the 96bit accumulator is a big part of the dLive’s sound quality and SQ shares it.

https://forums.prosoundweb.com/index.php/topic,165251.msg1524135.html#msg1524135

Info on accumulator & floating vs integer math
https://forums.prosoundweb.com/index.php/topic,165379.msg1524844.html#msg1524844

[GaryW]

That makes a lot of sense, thanks.

I’ve gone ahead and added some ME-500’s to my current Qu-SB setup.
Will watch with interest as the time draws near to add a SQ-5 into the mix.

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