Sound Devices Astral TX Digital Wireless Transmitter

A Kaleidoscope of Connectivity

Finding a tool that can serve multiple purposes is the goal of every audio professional. More flexible gear means less – less for you to carry in a bag or fit in a case, and less gear to rent for a gig. That’s the philosophy behind the Astral TX digital wireless transmitter. Sound Devices engineered it to be compatible with more input sources than any other transmitter, including two- or three-wire lavs, dynamic mics, phantom-powered condenser mics, guitars, balanced line-level sources, and even AES digital mics. The Astral TX transmitter’s multipurpose input saves you from having to pack or rent more transmitters.

True Balanced Input

The Sound Devices Astral TX transmitter includes an industry first: a full, true balanced ultra-low-noise, high-headroom mic preamp. In fact, this is the same preamp built into Sound Devices’ vaunted 8-Series mixers. The Astral TX mic preamp is a big step up from the excellent mic preamp built into the original A10-TX transmitter in terms of noise, headroom, and sonic purity.

Excellent Battery Life

The Astral TX transmitter features battery life of up to 12 hours. Additionally, the Astral TX’s flexible powering scheme allows the use of many battery types, including standard alkaline or NiMh AA batteries, rechargeable Li-Ion batteries, rechargeable LiFePO4 batteries, or even USB battery packs.

Advanced Features The Astral TX transmitter boasts industry-leading features like Sound Devices’ proprietary NexLink 2.4 GHz long-range wireless remote control technology that allows multiple Astral TX transmitters to be controlled and timecode synced dependably from an Astral ARX16 or Astral ARX8 digital receiver. NexLink works over long distances – even through Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and other 2.4 GHz interference. The Astral TX transmitter’s long-range modulation achieves excellent operational range. The Astral TX also includes Sound Devices’ proprietary SpectraBand technology, which enables the Astral TX transmitter to tune over a super wide range of 169-1525 MHz.

A20-TX Switch

For the applications that call for a user-actuated switch, the Astral TX transmitter features the industry’s first physically removable switch. Its large size, positive tactile operation, and magnetic activation give users ultimate confidence and reliability.

GainForward With GainForward, there is no gain setting on the transmitter! You control your Astral TX transmitter’s audio gain, either directly at the mixer’s digital trim control or at the wireless receiver, while maintaining the best audio performance in the industry. If the source is too soft or too loud, just use a downstream mixer’s digital trim gain control to make adjustments. No more bothering the talent to make gain changes.

Powering Options

There’s no need to stock special batteries for the Astral TX transmitter. It can work with any type of AA batteries, no matter the chemistry.

e-Paper Display

You can easily view settings and menus with the Astral TX transmitter’s e-Paper Display, even in sunlight or when powered down and its batteries removed. Need to change a setting in the dark? Open the battery door and the screen’s backlight turns on for easy visibility.

Features

• Worldwide VHF and UHF tuning range from 169 MHz-1525 MHz.
• Up to 12 hours battery runtime.
• Eco-friendly operation from rechargeable Lithium batteries or from standard AA batteries.
• Built-in battery charger via USB-C.
• Full remote control of the Astral TX via A20-Remote companion app and from Astral ARX16 and Astral ARX8 via long-range NexLink.
• State-of-the-art 100% digital long-range modulation delivers the longest transmission distance of any system on the market.
• RF Power output from 2 mW to 40 mW.
• Lemo input supports 2-wire or 3-wire mono lav, balanced mic, switchable 12, 48V phantom, balanced line-level, AES3, AES42 (compatible with Schoeps SuperCMIT), and guitar (w/ optional Smart Guitar Cable).
• GainForward Architecture – no gain control to worry about on the Astral TX.
• Full 10 Hz – 20 kHz audio bandwidth.
• Sound Devices 8-Series, fully balanced mic preamp built in (140 dB dynamic range).
• Ultra-quiet lavalier mic preamp (134 dB dynamic range).
• Built-in 32-bit float, 48 kHz recorder with removable micro-SD card.
• Ultra-stable timecode built in, auto jammed via wireless NexLink.
• Sunlight-readable e-Paper screen for control and display. Display persists when powered off.
• USB-C for pairing with the Astral ARX16, file offload, charging, and timecode jamming.
• Astral TX Switch: Optional user-programmable bayonet switch, magnetically sensed and physically removable.

Specifications

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 Astral ARX16, Astral ARX8 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 Astral ARX16/Astral ARX8) 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 Astral ARX16, Astral ARX8 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