Rio Rancho Audio Maker Lectrosonics Upgrades Wireless Gear Ahead of NAB Show

Lectrosonics, the wireless audio manufacturer operating out of Rio Rancho since 1971, announced on March 31 that it had pushed significant hardware and performance improvements through its D-Squared product line, and signaled that additional new products will debut at the NAB Show in Las Vegas.

The headline upgrade targets the DSSM, a waterproof sub-miniature bodypack transmitter that already earned a nomination for a TEC technical excellence award. Power optimizations in the revised unit now deliver more than 10 percent additional battery life, pushing maximum runtime past seven hours. For sound mixers working long broadcast days or theatrical runs where changing batteries mid-show is not an option, that margin is operationally meaningful.

The DSR dual-channel and DSR4 quad-channel digital slot receivers also received attention. Revised internal circuitry is designed to improve both sensitivity and self-noise performance. The changes allow the receivers to operate in multiple modes, meaning production crews running older Digital Hybrid Wireless transmitters alongside newer D-Squared gear can now capture the audio benefits of a fully digital signal chain without replacing every piece of kit.

Karl Winkler, Lectrosonics EVP of Product Design and Distribution, framed the updates as part of a deliberate commitment to existing customers as much as to new sales. "Lectrosonics products are acclaimed throughout the world for the exceptional performance and durability," Winkler said. "As a company, we are committed to innovation and continually working to enhance and update our existing product lines alongside the development of new products."

The updated hardware is already shipping and drawing positive early feedback. There is no formal upgrade program for customers who own earlier versions, but the Lectrosonics service team is fielding inquiries about options and pricing for retrofits through its Rio Rancho support line.

Lectrosonics has operated from its Sandoval County base for more than five decades and received an Academy Scientific and Technical Award for its Digital Hybrid Wireless technology, a credential that carries weight with the film and broadcast buyers the company courts at NAB. The company's 2023 acquisition by the Freedman Group, the Sydney-based conglomerate that also owns RØDE Microphones, brought global distribution muscle while, by the industry's account, preserving Lectrosonics' Rio Rancho production footprint and brand independence.

The timing of the D-Squared announcement, a week ahead of the NAB cycle and with additional products still under wraps, is a calculated move to seed conversations with rental houses, integrators and broadcast equipment buyers before they hit the trade show floor. For Rio Rancho, it means the factory that ships gear to film sets and TV studios worldwide is heading into a major selling season with an updated line and something new still to show.