Sound Devices Astral TX Digital Wireless Transmitter
- One Lemo input for lavs, mics, line, AES, and guitar
- SpectraBand tuning from 169 to 1525 MHz
- Built-in 32-bit float recorder and up to 12 hours of runtime
$2,895.00 USD
In Stock
Sound Devices Astral TX Digital Wireless Transmitter
The Sound Devices Astral TX is a digital wireless transmitter with a single Lemo input that accepts lavs, dynamic and condenser mics, guitars, line-level sources, and AES digital mics.
It has a built-in recorder, tunes across VHF and UHF, and runs up to 12 hours on AA or rechargeable batteries.
Inputs
The mic input uses the fully balanced preamp from Sound Devices’ 8-Series mixers, with 140 dB of dynamic range and 12 V or 48 V phantom power. A mic, line, AES3, or AES42 source connects through the XL-BALXLR-4 cable, and AES42 covers digital mics such as the Schoeps SuperCMIT. The lav input has its own preamp with more than 130 dB of dynamic range, and the optional Smart Guitar Cable connects a guitar.
Frequency Bands and Range
SpectraBand tuning covers 169 to 1525 MHz in 25 kHz steps, with available frequencies set by region. RF output runs from 2 to 40 mW, and the long-range digital modulation option reaches farther than standard modulation.
Control and Gain
NexLink, Sound Devices’ long-range 2.4 GHz control link, lets an Astral ARX16 or ARX8 receiver control the transmitter and jam its timecode, even through Wi-Fi and Bluetooth interference. The Astral Remote app controls it over Bluetooth. With GainForward, there is no gain to set on the transmitter: you adjust level at the mixer’s digital trim or at the receiver.
Power and Recording
Three AA batteries, or one to three rechargeable XL-B14500 cells, power the Astral TX, and it charges lithium-ion cells over USB-C. A built-in recorder writes 32-bit float, 48 kHz files to a micro SD card. The e-Paper display stays readable in sunlight and keeps its image with the batteries out.
Good to Know
On Astral TX units sold or operated in the United States, simultaneous record and transmit is not available with the lav input.
Features
- SpectraBand tuning from 169 to 1525 MHz
- One Lemo input for lav, mic, line, AES3, AES42, and guitar
- 8-Series balanced mic preamp with 12 V or 48 V phantom
- GainForward: no gain setting on the transmitter
- RF power from 2 to 40 mW, with standard or long-range modulation
- NexLink remote control and timecode jam from Astral ARX16 and ARX8 receivers
- Built-in 32-bit float, 48 kHz recorder on micro SD
- Up to 12 hours on AA or XL-B14500 batteries, with USB-C charging
- Sunlight-readable e-Paper display that holds its image when powered off
- Optional removable Astral TX Switch
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)
