Astral TX

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 Astral 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.
8-Series, fully balanced mic preamp built in (140 dB dynamic range).
Ultra-quiet lavalier mic preamp (130+ 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 Switch: Optional user-programmable bayonet switch, magnetically sensed and physically removable.

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. We 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 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 our 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, 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.

Astral 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.

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.

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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

Astral Remote Android, iOS, and iPad app via Bluetooth 5.2 LE
Astral ARX32, Astral ARX16, and 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 Astral 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 ARX32, Astral ARX16, and 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 batteries inserted in Astral TX
Pairing to Astral ARX32, Astral ARX16, and Astral ARX8
Timecode I/O

Powering

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

Battery Charging

Built-in charging of Lithium-Ion 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)

FAQ

General

How does the Astral TX compare to other Sound Devices transmitters in size and weight?
The table below details the size and weight for the different transmitters:

A10-TX Astral TX Astral Mini

Dimensions (H x W x D)

3.3 x 2.5 x 0.7 in

8.3 x 6.4 x 1.8 cm

Weight

3.2 oz (without batteries)

104 g (without batteries)

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

3.2 oz (without batteries)

98 g (without batteries)

Dimensions (H x W x D)

2.98 x 1.88 x 0.74 in

7.58 x 4.8 x 1.9 cm

Weight

1.6 oz (without batteries)

51 g (without batteries)

A10-TX	Astral TX	Astral Mini
Dimensions (H x W x D) 3.3 x 2.5 x 0.7 in 8.3 x 6.4 x 1.8 cm Weight 3.2 oz (without batteries) 104 g (without batteries)	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 3.2 oz (without batteries) 98 g (without batteries)	Dimensions (H x W x D) 2.98 x 1.88 x 0.74 in 7.58 x 4.8 x 1.9 cm Weight 1.6 oz (without batteries) 51 g (without batteries)

Powering

What are the battery powering options
The table below details operational characteristics for the different recommended AA battery chemistries:

Battery Chemistry Recommended Model Required No. of Batteries Chargeable in the Astral TX

NiMH Eneloop or Eneloop Pro 3 No

Alkaline Energizer or Duracell 3 No

Lithium Primary Energizer Ultimate Lithium 3 No

Li-Ion Sound Devices 14500, 3.7V, 1200mAh 1, 2, or 3 Yes

Battery Chemistry	Recommended Model	Required No. of Batteries	Chargeable in the Astral TX
NiMH	Eneloop or Eneloop Pro	3	No
Alkaline	Energizer or Duracell	3	No
Lithium Primary	Energizer Ultimate Lithium	3	No
Li-Ion	Sound Devices 14500, 3.7V, 1200mAh	1, 2, or 3	Yes