Sony DWX Gen 4 Wireless System Detailed – 32-Bit Float Recording, 1.1ms Latency, and a 30% Price Cut

by Alexandra ThompsonSeptember 11^th, 2026

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At IBC 2026, Nino spoke with Markus Warlich, Pro Audio Lead at Sony Europe, about the company’s fourth-generation DWX digital wireless microphone system. The new generation introduces 32-bit float recording inside the DWT-B40 bodypack transmitter alongside the new four-channel DWR-R40Q rack-mount receiver, while retaining compatibility with earlier generations of the DWX system.

We recently covered the announcement of Sony’s DWX Generation 4 system, but the show floor conversation filled in the practical details that are harder to get from a press release: how much existing DWX hardware can still be used, where the 32-bit float files actually live, how the system connects to Sony cameras, and what has changed in latency, tuning range, remote control, and pricing.

Backward compatibility with earlier DWX systems

Sony first introduced its professional DWX digital wireless system in 2008, and maintaining compatibility with existing equipment was an important part of the fourth-generation design.

Older DWX transmitters and receivers can therefore be combined with the new hardware, provided the transmitter and receiver are operating with the same codec. In practical terms, someone who wants the DWT-B40 mainly for its onboard 32-bit float recording can continue using a compatible Generation 3 receiver rather than replacing the complete wireless chain.

There is one cut-off: systems from before 2012 are not compatible. Markus noted that the older European frequency ranges used by those systems are no longer legal anyway, so this is unlikely to affect many current European setups.

32-bit float recording inside the transmitter

The DWT-B40 adds internal 32-bit float recording to microSD cards. Sony positions the recording primarily as a safeguard against wireless interruptions, but it also gives productions a high-dynamic-range isolated recording that can be taken into post independently of the transmitted signal.

Sony uses two A/D converters to extend the available dynamic range. The transmitter supports microSD cards with capacities of up to 2TB, which Markus said can provide around 1,000 hours of recording.

A dedicated record button is included on the bodypack, and recording can also be controlled remotely. The system does not currently offer loop or overwrite recording, so it will not automatically overwrite older recordings once the card is full.

32-bit float stays on the card

The 32-bit float recording itself cannot be transmitted wirelessly. This is not simply a product-positioning choice: Markus said the available transmission bandwidth is not sufficient, so the high-dynamic-range file remains on the microSD card.

The wireless link therefore carries the normal transmitted audio, while the bodypack keeps the 32-bit float version locally for backup or later post-production. On a live production, for example, those card recordings could later provide clean isolated sources independently of the live transmission and mixing chain.

Timecode and file protection

Timecode can be jammed to the bodypack through its audio or USB connection. Recordings are stored as Broadcast Wave files with timecode information, allowing a backup recording to be aligned with the production audio later in post.

The recorder also closes the file at regular intervals, so a battery failure during recording should not result in the entire take being lost.

Sony was not ready to quote a timecode drift specification at IBC, so accuracy over long periods without re-jamming remains something to confirm once the final production units are available.

U.S. recording restrictions

In most markets, the DWT-B40 can record internally while simultaneously transmitting audio wirelessly. In the U.S., however, the Zaxcom patent covering simultaneous transmission and onboard recording means users can currently record or transmit, but cannot do both at the same time.

Markus said he expects the patent to expire within the next two or three years and hopes the restriction could then be removed for U.S. users through a firmware update. He was careful not to guarantee that, however. The U.S. and European versions also use different regulatory certifications and frequency configurations.

Lower latency and Codec Mode 6

Latency has been reduced compared with the previous DWX generation. The earlier system provided approximately 1.2ms latency through its digital output and 2.2ms through analog output.

With Generation 4, latency is approximately 1.1ms for either analog or digital output, bringing it close to analog wireless systems.

The system has a stated audio frequency response of 10Hz to 22kHz. Markus also said Sony plans to add a new Codec Mode 6 in Q1 2027, aimed at further improving audio quality.

Tuning range and channel capacity

The main European tuning range is 470 to 694MHz. The receiver covers the full range, while the bodypack transmitter is offered in low- and high-frequency versions, each covering 142MHz.

Minimum channel spacing can be as narrow as 375kHz where spectrum conditions allow. Sony’s control software can manage up to 82 channels in a studio remote-control setup, while larger deployments are possible where sufficient spectrum is available.

Maximum transmission power is 50mW, although permitted RF output varies by region.

Longer-range remote control

The DWT-B40 includes a separate 2.4GHz antenna for Sony’s remote-control system, with range increasing from roughly 10–15m on the previous generation to up to around 50m. Operators can remotely run frequency scans, change transmitter settings, and adjust RF output, including from compatible Sound Devices mixer-recorders.

Using DWX with Sony cameras

One detail that will matter to camera operators is that DWX does not support direct audio connection through Sony’s Multi Interface shoe. That functionality is available with Sony’s UWP series instead.

With a camera such as the FX5, you therefore still need to use the “handle” – the XLR audio handle – to get the DWX receiver into the camera rather than connecting directly through the MI shoe.

Timecode can also be jammed to the bodypack over USB-C or through the audio input.

Four-channel receiver and a broader market

The DWR-R40Q provides four-channel true-diversity reception in a 1U rack unit, with Dante networking and analog XLR outputs. Sony is using the new receiver, lower pricing, and backward compatibility to push DWX beyond its traditional high-end broadcast, film, and theatre base into a broader professional AV market.

For larger wireless setups, fitting four channels into a single rack unit is a practical advantage, reducing both receiver count and rack space.

Battery options and bodypack changes

Although the DWT-B40 retains approximately the same physical size as its predecessor, its power options have been expanded.

The transmitter can operate from two AA batteries or a Sony NP-BX1 lithium-ion battery and also supports USB power. Markus estimated approximately six hours of operation at the standard 10mW transmission setting, with runtime decreasing at higher RF output levels.

The transmitter also provides +48V phantom power, allowing compatible condenser microphones to be connected directly.

Price and availability

The quoted European list price is approximately €1,290 for the DWT-B40 bodypack transmitter and €6,490 for the four-channel DWR-R40Q receiver.

For comparison, the previous two-channel DWX receiver cost around €4,700, meaning a four-channel configuration using two receivers would have cost approximately €9,400. The new bodypack is also a few hundred euros cheaper than its predecessor.

The Sony DWX Generation 4 system is expected to become available around February or March 2027.

Would onboard 32-bit float recording make the DWX Gen 4 more useful for your productions? Let us know in the comments below.