Product Overview
One transmitter that rules them all. The extremely versatile A20-TX digital wireless transmitter lightens your load, saves you money, and gives you more choices than any other transmitter on the market. Use it with dynamic mics, phantom-powered condenser mics, guitars, balanced line-level sources, AES digital mics, and even two or three-wire lavalies. You no longer need specialized gear for specific applications. The A20-TX can handle it. The balanced input features the same balanced ultra-low-noise, high-headroom mic preamp that's in the Sound Devices 8-series mixers and offers a 140 dB dynamic range to capture everything from a whisper to a scream with stunning detail and no distortion. And when it's time to rock, the A20-TX is ready because it accepts high-impedance guitar signals. Plus, when used with the Smart Guitar Cable (sold separately), the guitar input will auto-select when connected. An e-paper screen means the display is highly visible, even in direct sunligt, and it won't disappear if the batteries die. The level controls are all located on the A20-Nexus Go receiver (sold separately), so performers never have to be interrupted. Utilizing the SpectraBand, the A20-TX Go enjoys an expansive 470 to 1525 MHz tuning range, so you'll always have open channels to choose from, even when traveling internationally. The transmitter supports timecode and features an internal micro-SD slot for capturing 32-bit 48 kHz audio files!
Sound Devices A20-TX 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 A20-TX via A20-Remote companion app and from A20-Nexus and A20-
- Nexus Go 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 A20-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 A20-Nexus, file offload, charging, and timecode jamming.
- A20-TX Switch: Optional user-programmable bayonet switch, magnetically sensed and physically
- removable.
Sound Devices A20-TX 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: 130+ 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, 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)
- 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 A20-Nexus, A20-Nexus Go
- 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)
