Sound Devices Astral Mini Plus Wireless Bodypack Transmitter Launched – 8-Hour Battery, Extended SpectraBand Range, and IP67 Protection

April 2^nd, 2026

Sound Devices Astral Mini Plus Wireless Bodypack Transmitter Launched – 8-Hour Battery, Extended SpectraBand Range, and IP67 Protection

by Nino LeitnerApril 2^nd, 2026

Sound Devices has launched the Astral Mini Plus, an updated version of its compact wireless bodypack transmitter. Building on the original Astral Mini, the new model adds over 8 hours of battery life from the XL-B14500 rechargeable cell, an expanded SpectraBand tuning range down to 169 MHz, IP67 waterproofing, and a suite of usability improvements including tap-to-pair RFID setup and a sunlight-readable ePaper display.

The Astral wireless system has become a familiar sight on film sets and live sound stages since its introduction, and the Mini Plus represents the most significant update to the miniature bodypack transmitter in the lineup. It retains the same ergonomic form factor as the original Astral Mini while addressing several pain points that production sound mixers and theatre audio engineers have been vocal about, particularly battery endurance and RF flexibility.

All-day battery life

Perhaps the most welcome upgrade is battery runtime. The Astral Mini Plus uses one or two XL-B14500 rechargeable cells to deliver over 8 hours of continuous operation at 20 mW transmit power. For productions that routinely stretch past the 4- or 5-hour mark, whether that is a long day on a location shoot, extended theatre rehearsals, or back-to-back live performances, the ability to run through an entire day without a battery swap is a meaningful workflow improvement.

The unit also features built-in USB-C charging, so batteries can be topped off between setups without removing them from the transmitter. That is a practical touch for fast-turnaround environments where dedicated charging stations are not always within reach.

Sound Devices Astral Mini Plus Wireless Bodypack Transmitter Launched – 8-Hour Battery, Extended SpectraBand Range, and IP67 Protection. Image credit: Sound Devices

SpectraBand tuning now reaches 169 MHz

The original Astral Mini covered a SpectraBand range of 470 to 1525 MHz. The Mini Plus extends that significantly, reaching all the way down to 169 MHz for a full 169 to 1525 MHz tuning window. This is a substantial expansion that opens up access to VHF spectrum, which can be especially useful in crowded RF environments or in regions where UHF bandwidth is limited or heavily regulated.

For touring productions moving between countries, or international film crews working across different regulatory jurisdictions, the wider tuning range means the same hardware can operate legally without frequency-specific variants or hardware swaps. Combined with Sound Devices’ digital modulation technology, the Mini Plus is designed to find clean, usable spectrum wherever it is deployed.

IP67 waterproofing is new

The original Astral Mini was a rugged unit, but it lacked formal water resistance. The Mini Plus changes that with an IP67 rating, which means complete dust protection and the ability to withstand submersion in up to one meter of water for 30 minutes. In practical terms, this translates to reliable operation through sweat, rain, humidity, and the general unpredictability of outdoor location work and energetic stage performances.

Live theatre professionals, in particular, have been requesting this kind of protection for some time. Bodypack transmitters hidden under costumes are exposed to significant moisture from perspiration, and IP67 certification provides real peace of mind that the electronics will hold up under those conditions.

GainForward architecture and recording

The Mini Plus carries over Sound Devices’ GainForward Architecture, which eliminates the need to set gain at the transmitter. Instead, all level management happens at the mixer or receiver end, covering the full 10 Hz to 20 kHz audio bandwidth. For production sound mixers, this simplifies the workflow considerably: there is no risk of clipping at the transmitter, and gain decisions can be made centrally rather than chasing individual bodypacks around set.

The unit records internally in 32-bit float at 48 kHz, with 64 GB of onboard storage providing approximately 80 hours of recording time. This functions as both a safety backup and a primary recording source, depending on the workflow. An internal timecode generator with NexLink jamming support ensures that recorded files stay in sync with the rest of the production’s audio and video.

Usability improvements for faster deployment

Sound Devices has added several workflow-oriented features to the Mini Plus that aim to reduce setup time on location. A tap-to-pair function using integrated RFID allows rapid pairing via the Astral Remote app on a smartphone or tablet, rather than navigating through menu screens on the transmitter itself.

The ePaper display is another noteworthy addition. Unlike conventional LCD or OLED screens, ePaper remains visible in direct sunlight and, crucially, retains its last displayed information even when the unit is powered off or the battery is removed. That means a sound mixer can identify a transmitter’s assigned channel, frequency, and battery status at a glance without powering it on, which is useful when managing a large number of bodypacks.

A “vibrate to identify” function rounds out the usability features. When triggered remotely, the transmitter vibrates to help locate a specific unit in a bag or on a performer, a small but thoughtful touch for multi-transmitter deployments.

Side and bottom of the Sound Devices Astral Mini Plus. Image credit: Sound Devices

What we know about the specs

The Astral Mini Plus measures 85 x 50.8 x 20.3 mm (3.35 x 2.0 x 0.8 in), and Sound Devices has not yet disclosed the weight. It supports both 2-wire and 3-wire lavalier microphones, features an integrated rotatable belt clip with positions at 0, 90, 180, and 270 degrees, and uses an SSMA antenna connector. Bluetooth remote control via the Astral Remote app and NexLink long-range remote control are both built in.

The transmitter is compatible with existing Astral receivers, including the ARX2, ARX32, ARX16, ARX8, and the legacy A10-RX. It is worth noting that, like the original Astral Mini, simultaneous record and transmit functionality may be subject to regional restrictions in the United States due to patent considerations.

Pricing and availability

Sound Devices has not yet confirmed official pricing or a ship date for the Astral Mini Plus. For reference, the original Astral Mini currently retails for $2,495, and it would be reasonable to expect the Mini Plus to land in a similar range, though that remains to be confirmed. We have no information about availability yet.

Sound Devices CEO Matt Anderson described the Mini Plus as addressing “much-requested upgrades” from the user base, emphasizing its suitability for both live theatre productions and extended production sound work.

The Astral Mini Plus looks like a well-targeted update that addresses the practical demands of working sound professionals without reinventing the wheel. Are you currently using the Astral wireless system, and does the Mini Plus address the right priorities for your workflow? Don’t hesitate to let us know in the comments below!