Sonifex TB-6R - Talkback Intercom 6 Way, 19" Rack Mounted

Sonifex TB-6R

The Sonifex TB-6R is a rack-mount 6 Way Talkback Intercom which can be connected together to form a talkback system. 

Talkback refers to the standard method of communication between broadcast studios. Each studio has either a desktop, a rack-mount, or mixer-mounted intercom, usually containing a row of switch buttons. Eachswitch button connects to another studio when pressed, and routes the presenter audio to it.

The TB-6R is used for general talkback between studios and use DC signalling, also known as ground lifting or ground signalling, to communicate with each other. These units can be installed in various locations throughout a studio complex and linked to one another, with each unit being able to talkback to up to 6 others connected together. Most other talkback systems in general operation also use DC signalling, so you should be able to add these units into an existing installation.

Talkback For Up To 7 locations
Up to 7 locations or studios can communicate with each other. On each panel, there are 6 front panel buttons for talkback selection and 2 for external inputs. When a button is pressed, the button lights up and the talkback is active to that location.Press & Release, Press & Hold Operation

The buttons work with both a momentary and latched operation. If you simply press the button, talkback will be on and can be cancelled by pressing the button again. If you press and hold the button, the selection is cancelled when released. So, if you wanted to listen to an external input, such as the radio station feed, or off-air monitor, you could simply press the EXT 1 button. If you receive talkback from another studio when the external input buttons are also pressed, the external inputs can be either muted or mixed, depending on the setting of an internal jumper. 

The talkback outputs and input are balanced signals on a 15-way male D-type plug and the talkback input can be adjusted from -28dB to 9dB using a rear panel preset pot.

Onboard Electret Mic or External Mic
You can speak to the separate locations using the onboard front-panel electret mic or there is a separate external mic input on a 3 pin XLR female connector, into which you can plug a suitable gooseneck microphone. 

There is a rear panel switch to select between the electret and separate input mic. The mic input gain range is adjustable via a rear panel preset pot between 74dB and 53dB.

Monitoring External Inputs
The unit can monitor two external sources. The EXT 1 input is a balanced stereo input on a rear panel 9 pin D-type socket. The EXT 2 input is an unbalanced stereo input on the 9 pin D-type socket as well as dual phono sockets. EXT 1 is useful for monitoring a distributed signal, such as a radio tuner off-air feed, or an outside source routed from an ISDN codec. EXT 2 is useful for monitoring a local source, such as a portable minidisc/flashcard recorder/player, or the unbalanced soundcard output from a PC editing/playback package. 

If you already use a mixer which has a talkback input and output, or continuous talkback output, or just a line level output which you want to use, by changing internal jumpers the intercom can be configured to use these connections instead of the on-board microphone and speaker/headphones. For example, if you have a mic channel on a mixer assigned to talkback and the presenter is using headphones for monitoring the mixer talkback, the Talkback Intercom can be used purely for talkback switching and for monitoring external inputs.

Built-in Loudspeaker & Headphones
For monitoring, you can use either the built-in 1W loudspeaker, or headphones on a 6.35mm unbalanced stereo jack. The headphones provide 150mW into 32-600Ω headphones. When the headphones are used, the speaker is automatically muted. Additionally, the monitor speaker can be muted via a remote contact on the 9 pin D-type External Input connector, for example, when used in an area with live microphones. Both monitor and headphone levels are fully adjustable between -60dB and 9dB using the front panel volume control.

Sonifex TB-6R Features

• Provide talkback for up to 7 locations
• Brightly lit push-to-talk buttons.
• Momentary or latched buttons.
• Built-in electret microphone, with input for external microphone.
• Monitoring of 2 external inputs, e.g. for off-air receiver.
• Auto-muting, or mixing, of external inputs, when talkback is active.
• Integrates with Sonifex S2 mixer and is compatible with other talkback systems.

Sonifex TB-6R Specifications

• Talkback Input/Outputs: 15 way male D-type plug
• Talkback Input Gain Range: 9dB to -28dB adjusted by rear panel preset pot
• External Inputs & Mute: 9 way female D-type socket, for stereo balanced external input 1, stereo unbalanced external input 2 (or external talkback input/output), talkback control output and mute input
• External Input 2: Dual phono socket, stereo unbalanced in parallel with the 9 way female D-type socket
• External Inputs Impedance:
  
  • > 30kΩ unbalanced
  • > 40kΩ balanced
• External Talkback Input Impedance: > 30kΩ unbalanced
• External Talkback Output Impedance: < 80Ω unbalanced
• External Microphone Input: 3 pin female XLR socket
• Mic Input Impedance: 1.5kΩ balanced
• Microphone Input Gain Range: 74dB to 53dB adjusted by rear panel preset pot
• Headphone Output: 6.35mm (1/4”) jack, unbalanced stereo capable of driving 150mW into 32-600Ω headphones
• Headphone Output Gain Range: 9dB to
• Loudspeaker Power: 1W
• Mains Input Power: 85V - 264V AC, 47-63Hz, max 10W
• Fuse Holder: 1A anti-surge fuse