The Qu‑5D is a high‑end compact digital mixer from Allen & Heath. It belongs to their newer Qu series, and is the Dante‑equipped variant (“D”) of the Qu‑5. It combines powerful DSP, lots of I/O, a user‑friendly touch interface, and flexible routing, making it suitable for live sound, installations, houses of worship, broadcast, etc.
Key Featrues and Specifications:
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Channels / Inputs | 38 inputs to mix (32 mono/linkable, 3 stereo) |
| Preamps | 16 mic/line input preamps via XLR/Jack “combi” connectors |
| Outputs | 12 XLR outputs plus stereo outputs (TRS), AES3 digital, plus talkback. |
| Sampling & Processing Core | 96 kHz “XCVI core” — improved fidelity, lower latency, better headroom. |
| Digital Audio over IP | 16×16 Dante interface (48/96 kHz) via locking EtherCon port — for networked audio systems. |
| USB / Recording | USB‑C for 32×32 multichannel USB audio interface, SD card slot for multitrack recording, USB‑A port for stereo record/playback/data. |
| Control Surface | • 17 motorised faders (100 mm) • 7‑inch capacitive touchscreen display • Many rotary encoders & buttons • Dedicated channel meters, channel‑strip display (name, socket number, etc.) |
| Mix / Routing / FX | • Multiple mix buses, auxes/groups • Multi‑FX engines (6 stereo FX et al.) • “DEEP Processing” compatibility (from their dLive line) • Flexible patching, 4 custom layers, assignable soft‑keys etc. |
| Expansion & Connectivity | • SLink port for stage boxes / remote I/O (Everything I/O) • Dante for networked audio • Rack‑mount kit available (19‑inch fitting) • Headphones output, talkback socket, lamp socket etc. |
| User Workflow & Assist Tools | • Updated UI aiming for fast walk‑up mixes • Gain Assistant for setting ideal input gains • Feedback Assistant to help manage feedback frequencies • SoftKeys, multiple layers to organize channels/banks etc. |