Sound Devices A20-TX Digital Wireless Transmitter

Specifications

A20-TX Specifications

Specifications are subject to change without prior notice. For the latest information available on all Sound Devices products, visit: www.sounddevices.com.

Frequency Range

• 169 to 1525 MHz
• Transmitter tunable in 25 kHz steps
• Available frequencies are dependent on region

RF Output Power

• Off, Low – 2 mW, Normal – 10 mW, High – 20 mW, Extra High -40 mW

Modulation Mode

• Proprietary, 100% digital RF modulation
• Standard or Long Range, selectable

Antennas

• UHF RF: SMA connector, removable antenna
• 2.4 GHz built-in, bottom of unit

Audio Frequency Response

• 10 Hz – 20 kHz, +/- 1 dB re 1 kHz

Audio Input

• Lavalier Microphone
  • 2-wire or 3-wire type lavalier mics supported
  • Auto-selected when lavalier mic connected to Lemo input
  • Dynamic range: 134 dB min, A-weighted
  • Input clip level: 5V p-p (limited by lavalier microphone)
  • Lemo pin 1 = ground; Lemo pin 2 = 5V bias power; Lemo pin 3 = audio/bias (8k to 5V internal)
  • Auto unit power on/off with connection/removal of lavalier microphone (menu selectable)
• Balanced Mic
  • True, fully balanced, Sound Devices 8-Series mic preamp
  • Dynamic range: 140 dB min, A-weighted
  • Menu selectable with connection of XL-BALXLR-4 cable to Lemo input
  • Phantom power: 12V or 48V, full 10mA available per IEC 61938
  • XLR pin 1 = ground; XLR pin 2 = +; XLR pin 3 = –
• Line Input
  • True, fully balanced line-level input (no external resistors required)
  • Input clip level: +26 dBu
  • Menu selectable with connection of XL-BALXLR-4 cable to Lemo input
  • XLR pin 1 = ground; XLR pin 2 = +; XLR pin 3 = –
• AES42
  • AES digital input with common mode power for Digital mics such as Schoeps SuperCMIT
  • 250mA current available
  • Selectable audio channel 1 or 2 via menu
  • Menu selectable with connection of XL-BALXLR-4 cable to Lemo input
  • XLR pin 1 = ground; XLR pin 2 = +; XLR pin 3 = –
• AES3
  • AES digital input without common mode power
  • Selectable audio channel 1 or 2 via menu
  • Menu selectable with connection of XL-BALXLR-4 cable to Lemo input
  • XLR pin 1 = ground; XLR pin 2 = +; XLR pin 3 = –
• Guitar
  • Auto-selected when connected with A20-TX Smart Guitar Cable
  • ¼” tip = + ¼” sleeve = ground
  • 18V p-p max input level
  • Input impedance: 100k, 1M, 10M (menu selectable)
  • Cable capacitance: 0 pF – 3000 pF in 50 pF steps (menu selectable)
  • Balanced connection from ¼” plug to Lemo for low-noise susceptibility

Menu and Controls

• e-Paper screen highly visible in direct sunlight
• e-Paper screen keeps display even with no batteries
• Power/Pair button and three navigation buttons protected inside battery compartment
• Optional user-programmable bayonet switch for top of transmitter (A20-TX Switch)

Remote Control

• A20-Remote Android, iOS, and iPad app via Bluetooth 5.2 LE
• A20-Nexus, A20-Nexus Go receivers via super-long-range NexLink

Recording Media

• Micro SD card

Recording File Format

• 32 Bit Float, 48 kHz, Monophonic
• Broadcast WAV (<4 GB), RF64 WAV (>4 GB)
  (Simultaneous Record and Transmit mode when using lavalier mic input is not available on A20-TX units sold or operated in the United States of America.)

Timecode

• Input via XL-TC-USBC-LEMO, XL-TC-USBC-BNC, USB-A to USB-C (from 8-Series) or wirelessly over NexLink (from A20-Nexus/A20-Nexus Go)
• LTC: 0.3 V – 3 V p-p (–17 dBu to +3 dBu), 20k ohm impedance
• LTC Output via XL-TC-USBC-LEMO: 3 V p-p, 400 ohm impedance

Timecode Clock

• 0.2 ppm accuracy
• Holds accurate clock for four hours while powered down with batteries inserted, holds for one hour without batteries via internal supercapacitor
• Auto Jams timecode via USB-C connector or wirelessly via NexLink.

Timecode Frame Rates

• 23.98, 24, 25, 29.97 DF, 29.97 ND, 30 DF, 30 ND (Frame rates are auto-detected from incoming source)

USB-C

• Mass Storage (USB-C): USB 2.0 high speed for file transfer
• Charges Li-ion and LiFePO4 batteries inserted in A20-TX
• Pairing to Sound Devices A20-Nexus, A20-Nexus Go receivers
• Timecode I/O

Powering

• “1.5V” Alkaline, Lithium primary, NiMH AA batteries; 3 for operation
• “3.7V” Rechargeable Lithium-Ion, Rechargeable LiFePO4 AA batteries; 1, 2, of 3 for operation
• Energizer Ultimate AA primary cells recommended for longest runtime

Battery Charging

• Built-in charging of Lithium-Ion and LiFePO4 batteries via USB-C

Battery Runtime

• Up to 12 hours (depending on battery chemistry, number of batteries, RF power, input type, mode)
• Unit can be completely powered off remotely via app or via NexLink to extend battery runtime

Environmental

• Operating: -10° C to 38° C
• Storage: -40° C to 85° C
• 0 to 90% relative humidity (non-condensing)

Dimensions (H x W x D)

• 3.3 x 2.5 x 0.71 in
• 8.5 x 6.4 x 1.81 cm

Weight

• 0.2lbs (without batteries)
• 98g (without batteries)