Sound Devices Astral ARX 32 - A20-SuperNexus 16-Channel Rackmount Wireless Microphone Receiver with HexVersity (169 to 1525 MHz)

High-Performance, 16- to 32-Channel Rackmount Wireless Receiver (1 RU)
Keep your kit small and save space in your rack with the Sound Devices Astral ARX32, a wireless microphone receiver with 16 independent HexVersity channels—expandable to 32 HexVersity channels via software licenses—all in just a 1 RU, 19" rackmount chassis. Visit the PlugIn Store here  Utilizing SpectraBand technology to ensure mission-critical reliability across an ultrawide tuning range of 169 to 1525 MHz, the Astral ARX32 can be taken on tour worldwide without concerns about tuning bands.

With NexLink technology for full remote control of your transmitters, GainForward to adjust transmitter gain at the receiver, Dante, MADI, AES, and analog mic/line/guitar level outputs, along with RF Mirror Mode for full redundant operation, the Astral ARX32 is packed with features to give you peace of mind while speeding up your workflow, whether you're working in the field, on a production set, or at a live-performance venue.

Overview
16 channels—all with HexVersity (2-, 3-, 4-, 5-, or 6-antenna diversity)—in 1 RU rackspace
Expandable to 32 channels—all with HexVersity—in the same rackspace via software licenses
169 to 1525 MHz tuning range for full global coverage 
RF Mirror Mode for full redundant operation 
Native Dante, MADI, AES, and analog outputs 
SpectraBand with 3 tuning bands for a total of 72 MHz of operating bandwidth for transmitters 
Optional Astral Opto expansion box to add Optocore audio I/O and full redundant power supplies 
Simple 1-minute operation to change countries for entire system 
Built-in long-range NexLink remote control of all transmitters 
Integrated Real-Time Spectrum Analyzer (RTSA) and scanner for intuitive frequency coordination with TV Channel Finder, Frequency Exclusion Regions, and Peak Hold options.
AutoAssign: automatic deployment of multiple clean frequencies in seconds 
Built-in 6-to-2 RF combiner for multizone events
6 network ports (2 x RJ45, 4 x SFP) configurable for Dante, Dante Redundancy, and Control
Web App control from browser on any computer, smartphone, or tablet
Bridging between MADI, Dante, AES, Optocore, and analog
Wide, 12.4” color OLED array with touch for control and monitoring
Optical Fiber Ethernet option via two SFP slots
Supports GainForward Architecture: no gain setting on the Astral transmitter—adjust gain at the receiver or mixer 
100% digital long-range modulation delivers one of the longest transmission distances for digital systems
RF SAW filters for excellent rejection of interference transmitters 
Excellent audio quality: full 10 Hz to 20 kHz audio bandwidth 
BNC timecode input for auto timecode sync of transmitters over NexLink 
Three BNC antenna input pairs, each compatible with passive, bias-powered, and smart antennas
Configurable for HexVersity or combiner modes 
Cascade out option on rear BNCs for cascading to other receivers 
Automatic Antenna zero-loss loop through in the event of power loss for redundant operation
Front-panel 3.5mm and 1/4" headphone outputs 
USB-A and USB-C ports for thumb drives, keyboards, transmitter pairing, and timecode syncing 
Support for USB hubs 
PoE+ output for powering external PoE+ powered device, including the Astral Outpost-NL 
75-ohm termination switch added to the Timecode menu for rear panel LTC/WCK BNC input

SpectraBand + Real-Time Spectrum Analysis
The Astral ARX32 incorporates SpectraBand, a technology that enables it to tune over a super wide range of 169 to 1525 MHz. This global range is divided into multiple, tightly filtered frequency ranges called "filter ranges".
The sharp attenuation at either end of a filter range significantly reduces out-of-band interference, resulting in excellent range and performance (available filter ranges vary by country).
The ARX32 includes three independent Tuning Bands (or "Bands" for short). Each Band is tunable to any of the 24 MHz wide filter ranges, for a total of 72 MHz of simultaneously usable spectrum.
The built-in Real-Time Spectrum Analyzer (RTSA) includes Normal + Peak Hold and Average + Peak Hold trace types, while RF History runs continuously in the background for accurate long-term signal tracking.
The TV Channel Finder algorithm identifies 6, 7, or 8 MHz TV channels directly in RTSA and Scan Views, simplifying coordination in complex RF environments.
Frequency Exclusion Regions let you specify bands to avoid during AutoAssign or manual frequency assignment.
A Whip Antenna Length tool displays a real-size graphic to guide proper antenna cut length for your operating range.

HexVersity Reception
The ARX32's HexVersity architecture is well suited to massive venue events with its unrivaled antenna coverage.
Three antenna input pairs support passive, bias-powered, or smart antennas with automatic zero-loss loop-through on power failure for redundant operation.
The six antenna inputs can be configured in multiple ways for different applications including Diversity (1 antenna pair), 4Versity (2 antenna pairs), HexVersity (3 antenna pairs), and Zone Combine modes.

NexLink Wireless Transmitter Control
NexLink is a proprietary 2.4 GHz bidirectional wireless data link technology that allows multiple Astral transmitters to be controlled, monitored, and timecode synced from a Astral ARX32 over long distance.
NexLink is designed to offer robust and reliable control over distances far exceeding that of the wireless audio transmission, even in the presence of Wi-Fi and Bluetooth interference. One ARX32 can pair with up to 64 NexLinked transmitters.
Firmware 8.20 adds support for simultaneous NexLink communication via multiple Astral Outposts, greatly extending system coverage and control redundancy.
Timecode distribution to transmitters via NexLink from Astral Outposts is now supported for simplified system-wide sync.
Wireless maintenance features include a firmware update menu to update Astral transmitters over NexLink and the ability to abort pairing from the TX List screen.
NexLink connection stability has been enhanced for faster re-connections and more robust performance in dense RF conditions.
The transmitter control option “GPIO” has been renamed to “Control,” allowing it to trigger macros or GPIO events remotely.

RF Mirror Mode and System Redundancy
RF Mirror Mode provides automatic redundancy between Primary and Secondary ARX32 units to ensure uninterrupted operation during mission-critical events.
Firmware 8.20 adds the option for the Secondary unit to use either the Primary’s Outposts or its own local Outposts, offering more flexibility in distributed setups.
If the Secondary takes control due to Primary failure, it no longer switches back automatically when the Primary returns online—maintaining system stability and continuity.

GainForward
The Astral ARX32 supports the Astral series GainForward feature. GainForward eliminates the need to adjust microphone preamplifier gain at the wireless transmitter. Audio levels from the transmitter are adjusted at the ARX32 receiver.
If the talent speaks or sings too softly or emotes too loudly after being “wired” with the Astral transmitter, simply adjust the transmitter gain with the downstream mixer’s gain trim, instead of needing to access the transmitter.