Location recording experts Sound Devices have announced the release of the A20-Nexus, a compact, expandable digital wireless receiver. Intended for use with the company’s Astral range of wireless transmitters, the new device utilises Sound Device’s SpectraBand technology, offering a global tuning range of 470 to 1525MHz. The A20-Nexus is a half-rack device, and in its base form offers eight true-diversity wireless receivers, and Sound Devices say that the system will soon be expandable to either 12 or 16 channel configurations via additional software licences.
The Sound Devices A20-Nexus offers eight digital wireless receiver channels, and can be combined with the company's mixer/recorder systems to provide an integrated wireless location recording setup.A 6.2-inch OLED touchscreen offers both control over the device and signal monitoring facilities, and the unit also features a Real Time Spectrum Analyser (RTSA) and scanning capabilities to assist with frequency coordination. Audio-over-IP functionality is also provided, with the A20-Nexus able to convert the RF receiver signals and transmit them on a Dante network.
The device can be controlled remotely, with a built-in web server allowing the A20-Nexus to be configured from a computer, tablet, or phone. In addition to operating the unit via network, it is also possible to power the device using Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) as well as delivering audio via Dante.
Settings on Sound Devices’ A20-Mini transmitters can be controlled directly from the unit thanks to the company’s NexLink technology, with GainForward Architecture also allowing each transmitter’s gain, low-cut, and limiter functions to be adjusted from the receiver or mixer-recorder.
A pair of DB-25 connectors provide 16 channels of microphone, line-level, or AES outputs, and the device is also capable of converting 16 channels from a connected Dante network and outputting them as either analogue or AES signals.
The A20-Nexus can be attached directly to any of Sound Devices’ 8-Series recorders, combining to offer a complete wireless location recording system. When used in this arrangement, the device can also be powered by a unit-to-unit connector.
“The Astral Series is the culmination of years of research and development in wireless technology to design robust, versatile solutions for mobile RF professionals that can be used around the world. With A20-Nexus, we sought to not only provide the ultimate portable receiver for our customers in film and television production, but also the Astral Series to meet the rapidly growing needs for wireless in live event production, musical theatre, corporate A/V, houses of worship, and more.” - Matt Anderson, CEO of Sound Devices
Pricing & Availability
The A20-Nexus is available now, with pricing starting at $14495. Software expansion licences will cost $2500 each.
