Summary of "NAB 2026: Zaxcom [LIVE REUPLOAD]"
Product(s) reviewed at NAB 2026 (Zaxcom)
1) DCIRX (demoed as a bridge to iPhone/broadcast camera)
What it is / key features
- A receiver/bridge that connects to an iPhone (shown using an iPhone mount demo).
- Takes audio from:
- A local 48V phantom microphone connected on/with the iPhone setup
- A wireless microphone feeding into the DCIRX
- A mono or stereo link combined with a mic plugged directly into the DCIRX
- Outputs 4 audio tracks to the phone, while locally recording in the DCIRX.
- No ZaxNet (explicitly stated: “There is no ZaxNet in there”; it’s not a two-way comms receiver).
- Supports 48V phantom mics and provides 5V bias for lavaliers.
- Can run off external power (e.g., 12V), while internal batteries act as a backup/auto switch.
- Claimed strengths:
- Cannot be overloaded
- Immune to interference
- Walk-tested demo with no dropouts while walking the hall (described as coverage spanning “several football fields” worth of walking)
User experience notes
- Demonstrated “USB audio” as a key path to get audio into the rig.
- Lemo connection praised; use case: quickly revert to hardwired backup if wireless dropouts occur (described as “only one on the market” for quick switching).
Battery life
- With a lithium-ion phantom-power mic: ~6 hours
- Recommended nickel-metal hydride: ~5 hours
- Works with external power; batteries act as backup.
Price / availability
- $1,595
- Shipping: within ~2 weeks (speaker said “start shipping, I believe, within 2 weeks”).
Pros
- Strong RF/interference claims (no overload, immune to interference, no dropouts in demo)
- Flexible audio routing (48V + wireless + mic link; 4 tracks to phone + local recording)
- External power support + automatic battery backup switching
- Strong connector concept for fast hardwired fallback
Cons / limitations
- No ZaxNet / no two-way comms (it’s a “bridge/receiver,” not a full ZaxNet interactive system)
2) ZRC (Zaxcom Remote Control for wireless transmitters)
What it is / key features
- A handheld remote with:
- Large full-color screen with “very real time” control feel
- Standalone operation: no phone required, no secondary software
- Rubberized/grippy case for drops; lightweight
- Runs on AA batteries (speaker says full day on NiMH)
- Remote controls wireless microphone features by entering the transmitter’s ID code:
- Set audio level
- Set whether it’s transmitting
- Change modulation types
- Built-in timecode reader/generator, and can act as timecode master for Zaxcom transmitters.
- Sports/event use case: one person can walk around and adjust transmitters during production.
Multi-unit / frequency notes
- Stated: it is not a Zaxnet audio device, so you can use multiple remotes simultaneously.
- Claim: if you have 10 remotes for 10 transmitters, they can all operate on the same frequency because the remotes only transmit commands when needed.
Connectivity / ports
- Timecode uses a Lemo 3 connection (for compatibility with timecode used on regular Zaxcom transmitters).
Availability
- Expected purchase availability: ~4–6 weeks
- Production is underway; software is done.
- Price not mentioned in the clip.
Pros
- Field-friendly dedicated remote (screen + buttons; not touchscreen due to environment)
- Real-time control without extra devices/software
- Timecode master capability built in
- Supports many transmitters via multiple remotes simultaneously
Cons / limitations
- No ZaxNet audio functionality (by design)—command control rather than a ZaxNet receiver
3) QRX400 (flagship ENG multi-channel receiver / big announcement)
What it is / key features
- Multi-channel receiver using Zaxcom’s narrow band direct conversion technology.
- Presented as the “best ENG receiver ever built” (speaker’s claim) in:
- Transmission RF quality
- Resistance to interference
Architecture
- Four independent narrow-band direct conversion receivers inside one unit:
- Four DCIRXs inside
- Works with a ~200 kHz narrow band per channel concept; speaker emphasized:
- You can’t overload it
- No IF cross-talk
- Reduced issues vs older 25 MHz digitizing approaches (“strong weakens and desensitizes” problem described)
RF front-end claim
- Very high IP3 (~+40), stated as “pretty unheard of” for an ENG receiver.
- Demo claim: place a walkie-talkie within a foot or two without wiping out performance.
System approach
- Designed to avoid wider-channel strategies (e.g., WiMAX-like approaches):
- Speaker claims it outperforms WiMAX
- Enables point-to-point without locking into 5 MHz channel constraints
Production-friendly features
- Built-in multi-channel audio recorder
- Likely records 6 channels: 4 received tracks + linear timecode track + automixer track
- Automixer to create an automix track from the four received tracks
- USB output (can act as an interface for recording via computer)
- Audio outputs described as at least 8 outputs total
- Example mentioned: 4 analog outputs on two TA5s
- AES 1–4 on one TA5
- Sunlight readable full-color display (also readable in darkness)
- Real-time spectrum analyzer (zoomable; shows channel signal within ~100 kHz window)
- Supports multiple modulations including ZHD-98 (speaker calls it a favorite; 100 kHz wide)
- Filter characteristics:
- 35 MHz wide front-end filter, continuously tunable
- Claims steep slope; can tune near 470 while resisting interference from 460-ish walkie-talkies
- Avoids “saw filter dilemma” (not locked to pre-decided passbands)
ZaxNet integration
- QRX400 has ZaxNet transmitter capability (speaker highlights this as “huge”):
- Lets users with other devices still get full value, since QRX400 can remotely control transmitters (e.g., gain control of preamps).
Frequency range
- 470 to 698 MHz
Price / availability
- Retail price: $3,800
- Expected release: 8–12 weeks (speaker said “sometime around July”)
- Prototype/production status: “in production right now.”
Pros
- Extremely strong RF/interference resistance claims:
- No dropouts in hall walk tests
- Cannot be overloaded
- High IP3 (~+40)
- Four narrow-band receivers with minimal cross-talk/interference artifacts
- Versatile audio platform:
- Built-in recorder + automixer
- USB interface option
- Multiple audio output types (analog + AES)
- Field usability:
- Full-color, sunlight/low-light readable UI
- Real-time spectrum analyzer
- Value:
- Speaker claims it’s less than half the price of other companies’ two-channel receivers
- Also positioned against eight-channel receivers priced 2x more
Cons / limitations
- No explicit cons stated in the clip; implied it’s an advanced, feature-dense ENG receiver rather than a low-cost simple link.
Comparisons made in the video
- Versus 25 MHz digitizing receivers
- QRX400 avoids “desensitizing” when strong signals are nearby by using narrow-band direct conversion per channel.
- Versus WiMAX-style systems
- QRX400 is claimed to outperform WiMAX, enabling point-to-point without large channel blocks.
- Versus competitors’ receiver pricing/channel counts
- QRX400 ($3,800) is claimed to be cheaper than other two-channel receivers and better value than eight-channel options that cost more.
- Versus ZaxNet use cases
- DCIRX has no ZaxNet (different from Zaxcom’s full two-way ecosystem).
- QRX400 includes a ZaxNet transmitter, enabling remote control of transmitters.
Unique points mentioned (consolidated)
- DCIRX: iPhone-based audio bridge with local 48V mic input and wireless mic input; sends 4 tracks to phone while recording locally.
- DCIRX: supports 48V phantom and 5V bias for lavs.
- DCIRX: accepts external power (12V); internal battery is automatic backup.
- DCIRX: cannot be overloaded and is immune to interference; hall walk test showed no dropouts.
- DCIRX: “USB audio” highlighted; Lemo connection for fast hardwired backup switching.
- DCIRX: No ZaxNet / no two-way communications receiver.
- DCIRX: battery life estimates ~6 hours (lithium-ion) or ~5 hours (NiMH).
- DCIRX: pricing/availability $1,595, shipping within ~2 weeks.
- ZRC: full-color handheld remote with real-time control; controls transmitter ID, levels, transmit on/off, modulation types.
- ZRC: built-in timecode reader/generator; can be timecode master.
- ZRC: field-safe without touchscreen reliance; standalone (no phone).
- ZRC: AA batteries, full-day run time on NiMH.
- ZRC: not ZaxNet audio; multiple remotes can operate together on the same frequency.
- ZRC availability: 4–6 weeks.
- QRX400: four-channel ENG receiver using narrow-band direct conversion; claimed “best ENG receiver” RF quality and interference resistance.
- QRX400: anti-overload design; “can’t overload” and no IF cross-talk; four narrow channels each with ~200 kHz concept.
- QRX400: high front-end IP3 +40; handles walkie-talkies nearby without wiping out performance.
- QRX400: includes built-in recorder/automixer; likely records 6 channels (4 RX + linear TC + automixer).
- QRX400: supports USB recording; outputs include analog and AES (at least 8 outputs total mentioned).
- QRX400: sunlight-readable full-color screen; readable in darkness.
- QRX400: real-time spectrum analyzer; supports narrow ZHD-98 (100 kHz) modulations.
- QRX400: frequency range 470–698 MHz; continuously tunable 35 MHz front-end filter.
- QRX400: includes ZaxNet transmitter for remote control (gain of preamps remotely).
- QRX400 price/availability: $3,800, release 8–12 weeks (~July).
- QRX400 connectivity: RS422 port for GUI bridge/remote control (USB control also mentioned as possible).
- Misc Q&A: QRX400 front-end filter behavior described as 35 MHz wide; VRX programming is not its job (VRX uses GUI bridge).
Speakers / roles (views grouped at the end)
- Glenn Sanders (Zaxcom): main technical/product claims, demos, feature explanations for DCIRX, ZRC, QRX400, RF/interference assertions, ZaxNet integration, and availability/pricing.
- Peter (behind the camera / interviewer/presenter): use-case emphasis (USB audio + Lemo hardwired backup idea), questions/clarifications on overload/dropouts and context.
- Interviewer/host (“Gotham Sound’s coverage”): guided walkthrough; asked about timecode, GUI bridge connectivity, battery life estimates, price/release timing, and clarifications.
Concise verdict / recommendation
- Best fit for RF-robust ENG crews (especially interference-heavy environments): QRX400 — positioned as the flagship receiver with strong anti-overload/interference claims, sunlight-readable UI, built-in recording/automixer, and cited value at $3,800 for 4 channels.
- Best fit for iPhone/broadcast-camera audio bridging (without two-way comms): DCIRX — $1,595, focused on robust linking + 48V mic support + local recording, and explicitly no ZaxNet.
- Best fit for field teams needing transmitter control/timecode without extra software: ZRC — standalone handheld remote with multi-transmitter control and built-in timecode master capability.
Overall, the video frames these as practical, RF-focused workflow upgrades, with QRX400 positioned as the “do-it-all” flagship receiver for serious ENG use.
Category
Product Review
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