Sound Devices has announced the introduction of the A20-HH, a new digital wireless handheld microphone that’s equipped with the company’s Astral functionality, such as a 470 to 1525 MHz global tuning range.
The A20-HH can be customized, beginning with its reversible A20-HH CD1 capsule collar, which accepts multiple manufacturers’ capsules that utilize Shure or Sennheiser threads as well as the Sound Devices CD1 cardioid capsule, a dynamic vocal microphone with a patented dual-engine design. With the collar, changing capsules only requires removing three screws and flipping the collar over. Meanwhile, the A20-HH control ring is also designed to be easy to swap out and gives the user optional external controls – one or three buttons or a slide switch – while the base unit has no controls on the outside to prevent accidental button pushes.
“As any performer knows,” says Sound Devices vice president of Sales Andy “Baggy” Robinson, “to truly customize a microphone, you need to be able to match its design to a costume. The A20-HH makes that so easy. Instead of having to prep a mic and then sending an expensive microphone out to be painted – risking damage or loss of the mic in shipping or during the painting process – you can just slide off the body shell from the A20-HH and have it painted, decorated, or covered in jewels. Or with the economical cost of the body shells – keep multiples on hand in different colours and styles and change them out during a show.”
The SpectraBand tuning range of 470 to 1525 MHz allows the A20-HH microphone to be used worldwide. In addition, it uses the Sound Devices Astral family’s NexLink long-range remote control and GainForward architecture that allows users to control gain and trim at the front of house trim instead of on the microphone. It also includes an e-Paper display that shows mic and battery status, even in full sunlight and while powered down.
Also onboard is the patented wideband RocketAntenna design. “One of the problems other wireless mics suffer from is that they lose signal if the talent grabs the mic around the antenna at the base of the mic,” explains Sound Devices CEO Matt Anderson. “Our patent-pending antenna design isn’t affected by that, so talent can grip the mic anywhere without the attenuation inherent in other designs.”
The A20-HH is water resistant, can survive many drops, and is powered by a standard XL-B18650 lithium-ion battery that is stated to run more than 10 hours when the microphone is set at 10 mW output.
“The A20-HH is the first truly global handheld as well as the missing transmitter of the Sound Devices master plan,” adds James Gordon, CEO of parent company Audiotonix. “The way the Sound Devices team have thought out every aspect of this microphone is nothing short of revolutionary. They have thought of every detail important to sound professionals. The A20-HH is setting a new standard in audio.” ? ? ?
