NAB 2026: Lectrosonics [LIVE REUPLOAD]

Product(s) covered

1. Lectrosonics L1 Lavalier (waterproof MEMS lav) + DSSM digital transmitter
2. Lectrosonics S1 Short Shotgun microphone (RF bias, symmetrical polar pattern, light aircraft aluminum)
3. Lectrosonics IFB T2.0 (new IFB transmitter/base station for IFB applications)

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1) Lectrosonics L1 Lav (with Sonora/MEMS capsule + DSSM)

Main features

• First Lectrosonics product to ship with the new MEMS capsule as part of their Sonora technology development.
• Waterproof / watertight: demonstrated operating underwater, including audible confirmation via headphones.
• Very low self-noise: 11 dB(A) equivalent self-noise
  • Claimed >10 dB lower than most lavs
  • Also described as 15–20 dB lower than most
  • Compared favorably to some pencil condensers.
• High SPL handling: 135 dB max SPL
  • Intended to handle loud sources while remaining quiet.
• Two sensitivity profiles via DSSM transmitter firmware
  • High sensitivity mode vs low sensitivity mode
  • ~20 dB difference
  • Implemented through internal circuit/gain switching (not just a passive pad)
  • Lets one lav be used with either sensitivity profile when paired with the DSSM

Included accessories / ordering variants

• Molded waterproof connector made by Lectrosonics (to mate with waterproof DSSM).
• Includes two acoustic caps with different EQ “bumps”:
  • One for a slight high/upper mid bump
  • One with a sharper bump around 10–14 kHz
• Kit version includes:
  • carry case, lav mic, clip, windscreen, both acoustic caps, and ID rings (to differentiate units)
• Naked version (cheaper): mic + both acoustic caps only.
• Connector options affect pricing depending on kit/contents.

Price & availability (from the video)

• Not on the market yet; “coming very soon.”
• $500–$700 list price, depending on connector and kit.
• TA5 version mentioned as available in samples shown:
  • Two versions: high sensitivity and low sensitivity, with ~20 dB difference
  • Note: wiring/connector design affects sensitivity
  • Potential for rewiring using wiring charts
  • Expecting/considering a pigtails version for users who want to wire their own

Pros (explicitly emphasized)

• Waterproofing extending to underwater operation
• Near-unheard-of low self-noise (11 dB(A))
• Studio-grade performance claims for a ~5 mm capsule
• High SPL capability (135 dB)
• DSP/transmitter convenience: two selectable sensitivity modes in DSSM without swapping the mic

Cons / limitations (implied or not fully provided)

• Requires the DSSM digital transmitter for the dual sensitivity profiles described.
• Availability is imminent but not yet shipping (timeline only “very soon”).
• No explicit compatibility statement outside Lectro’s DSSM ecosystem for the two-mode feature (charts mentioned “coming later” for other wiring cases).

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2) Lectrosonics S1 Short Shotgun (RF bias)

Main features

• Short shotgun using an RF-bias capsule
  • Said to be impervious to humidity
  • Designed to avoid crackling/sound changes common to DC bias condensers
• Low self-noise: 10 dB(A)-weighted
  • Positioned against some of the lowest pencil mics
• Aircraft aluminum body
  • Very light: ~78 g
• New interference tube design
  • Provides a symmetrical polar pattern
  • Uniform response regardless of pointing angle (no “side vs top/bottom” distortions)
• Frequency / “sweet” range (distance + response)
  • Response: about 3 dB down at 50 Hz
  • Proximity effect: low-frequency rise when closer than the reference distance
  • Up to 20 kHz
  • Broad upper-mid bump intended to match the lav’s sound profile
  • Suggested distance sweet spot: ~1 meter (possibly “a little less”)
• Accessory compatibility
  • Claims a standard ecosystem:
    • 5.4 mm outer diameter for the lav-style portion (lav concealers/mounts possible)
    • Standard 19 mm for shotgun mounting
    • Mentions common short-shotgun accessories (e.g., blimps/mounts/shock mounts)

Pros

• Humidity resilience via RF bias
• Low self-noise
• Very light weight
• Consistent polar symmetry across angles
• Tonally designed to pair with L1 (upper-mid bump alignment)
• Uses common accessories (no proprietary mounting needed)

Cons / limitations (explicit or implicit)

• Not waterproof
  • RF bias helps with humidity, but the S1 itself is noted as “waterproof? No.”
• Availability later in the year (second half)

Price & availability (from the video)

• Second half of the year
• List price: $1639
• Timing hinted as mid/late year, depending on finishing stages (roughly third quarter/fourth quarter)

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3) Lectrosonics IFB T2.0 (IFB transmitter)

Main features

• Positioned as an evolution of long-running Lectro IFB products (T1/T4 lineage; with T4 noted as over 20 years old).
• Modern usability and IO:
  • Modern color display
  • Menu structure similar to other Lectro products (audio/radio settings)
  • Tactile buttons (under a cap) rather than membrane buttons
  • Dedicated front-panel button to toggle carrier on/off
• Two-channel transmitter with independent channels
• External DC power
  • Wall/cart friendly
  • Uses Hirose 4-pin DC connector
• Connectivity:
  • Dante connectivity
  • Ethernet port compatible with Wireless Designer
• Inputs:
  • Combo jacks accepting analog mic level, line level, RTS, Clear-Com
  • Blocks DC (wet line issues not expected)
  • Accepts AES digital inputs
• RF power levels: menu-selectable 10 mW / 25 / 50 / 100 / 250
• Wideband power strategy:
  • Uses giant custom passive circulator isolator (two units)
  • Intended to enable high power wideband with controlled intermods
• Modes:
  • IFB mode
  • New hybrid mode
  • EU hybrid described as effectively the same as the new hybrid

Receiver compatibility (explicit)

• Compatible with any Lectro IFB receivers made in the past 25 years, specifically:
  • IFBR1, IFBR1A, IFBR1B, IFBR1C
• IFBR1C includes infrared
  • Used to program preset lists via the Wireless Designer ecosystem

App/software ecosystem

• Uses Wireless Designer
  • System appears with:
    • red carriers / transmitter channels
    • blue receiver channels
• Mentioned support with Wireless Designer version 2.1.11+

Power/antenna notes (from Q&A)

• Underwater/RF dunk tests used a coax antenna with SMA
  • Tip outside the water for RF transmission
• For the demo: they didn’t go extremely deep
• Unit supports SMA, so users can attach suitable coax/whips

Pros

• Modern UI/UX and networking (color screen, Wireless Designer, Dante, Ethernet)
• Flexible inputs (mic/line/RTS/Clear-Com/AES)
• High power strategy for wideband (up to 250 mW with intermod-control approach)
• Strong backward compatibility with many existing IFB receivers

Cons / limitations (explicit or implied)

• Availability depends on FCC lab testing clearance (expected in about a month at time of video).
• Higher pricing (MSRP referenced)

Price & availability (from the video)

• In FCC lab testing; expected clearance in ~1 month
• MSRP about $4200

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Comparisons made

• L1 vs other lav mics
  • 11 dB(A) self-noise framed as drastically lower than “any other lav mic” they’re aware of
  • Also lower than many pencil condensers
• L1 paired with S1
  • Described as designed to match each other’s sound profile (upper-mid bump alignment)
• S1 RF bias vs standard DC bias condensers
  • Emphasized humidity resistance (no crackling/sound change)
• IFB T2.0 vs prior IFB hardware
  • Framed as evolution from older T1/T4 systems, adding modern connectivity/usability while keeping established IFB functionality

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Unique user experience / demo notes

• L1 underwater demo
  • Headphones used to confirm behavior as the lav goes into and out of water
  • Continued operation after ~1 hour in the demo
• Live adjustment during the show
  • Plosives occurred when the mic was too close to the speaker
  • Reinforces practical lav placement considerations

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Overall verdict / recommendation

• L1 lav: Recommended for users who need a true waterproof lav with extremely low self-noise and high SPL handling, especially when paired with the DSSM for dual sensitivity modes. Best suited for professional environments with water exposure or loud/variable sources.
• S1 shotgun: Recommended as a humidity-tolerant, lightweight short shotgun with consistent polar response and tonal pairing designed for the L1. Likely well-suited to interior/news coverage.
• IFB T2.0: Recommended for facilities needing a modern, networked IFB transmitter with strong compatibility and flexible input types. Higher-cost and infrastructure-oriented.

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Speaker-specific points (who covered what)

• Carl (Lectrosonics)
  • Covered L1 MEMS/waterproof/self-noise/high-SPL specs, DSSM dual sensitivity profiles, acoustic caps, pricing/variants (kit vs naked), TA5 sensitivity versions, and rewiring/pigtail expectations.
  • Covered S1 RF-bias humidity resistance, self-noise, weight/specs, symmetrical polar response/interference tube design, frequency response, distance guidance, accessory compatibility, and pricing/timing.
  • Covered IFB T2.0 front/back panel features, Dante/Ethernet/Wireless Designer integration, RF power strategy (isolators), receiver compatibility, FCC testing/availability, and ecosystem/software behavior.
• Nick (Gotham Sound / NAB host)
  • Guided the session and asked key questions, including pricing/availability, sweet range, pigtails/wiring, receiver pairing, underwater RF antenna needs, app/software integration, bag version possibility, and more.

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