Days before IBC 2018 Sound Devices and Audio Limited announced the A10 rack. A 4-slot wireless receiver enclosure With Dante support.

The total wireless track count for this 1HE 19 inch rack device will be 8, if all slots are filled with dual receivers. The outputs are analog or AES, besides the previously mentioned Dante. Also an active RF circuit is integrated, with loop trough functionality to another A10-rack.

Dante (Digital Audio Network Through Ethernet) is a combination of software, hardware, and network protocols that deliver uncompressed, multi-channel, low-latency digital audio over a standard Ethernet network using Layer 3 IP-packets.

The press release:

Sound Devices and Audio Limited—the TV/Film industry’s leading audio manufacturer and UK’s premier wireless manufacturer announce the launch of the A10-RACK, the latest member to join the A10 Digital Wireless family.

The A10-RACK is a 1-RU enclosure which accepts slot-in wireless receivers such as the Audio Limited A10-RX or other brand receivers. The A10-RACK features built-in power and antenna distribution plus Dante for up to 4 two-channel slot-in receivers. That is a total of eight channels of Dante, plus AES digital outputs, or analog outputs— all in a single, sleek, 1-RU chassis. The A10-RACK accommodates single-channel Unislot receivers and most two-channel Superslot-compatible receivers, such as Audio Limited’s A10-RX or other models from Lectrosonics and Wisycom utilising the D-sub 25 pin interface.

With the full Dante audio network integration of the A10-RACK, all eight channels of high-quality audio from the wireless receivers can be transported over a single CAT5 network cable to many destinations without any degradation or extra hardware.

“The vast flexibility of the Dante protocol has been a favoured feature since Sound Devices first introduced it in the PIX-260 and the 970 audio recorder, so working with Audio Limited to introduce Dante to the A10 Digital Wireless System via the A10-Rack was the next logical step,” said Matt Anderson, CEO of Sound Devices. “Both Sound Devices and Audio Limited customers have shared their desire for a versatile, cart-based solution. We listened, and I believe the A10-RACK checks off many items on that wish list.”

The A10-RACK also sports RF inputs with 12V powering of active antennas, plus loop-thru connections for another A10-RACK. This provides seamless integration between two connected A10-RACKs with a single pair of antennas – resulting in reduced complexity for 16-channel configurations and additional cost savings.

The A10-Rack will be distributed by Sound Devices in the United States and Audio Limited in the UK. Suggested list price is $1995.00 US. It is expected to begin shipping at the end of September.