Thor Broadcast F-2AES-TX/RX AES/EBU Digital Audio over Fiber | 2 to 16 Channel XLR | 28 to 192 kHz Sample Rates

AES/EBU Digital Audio over Fiber

Balanced AES/EBU cable runs are limited in length and sensitive to interference and ground differences between rooms. The Thor F-2AES-TX/RX is a matched converter pair that carries AES3 digital audio over fiber instead, connecting through familiar XLR cabling at each end. Broadcast plants, live venues and studios spread across several rooms or buildings can therefore keep a single clock domain without worrying about copper distance limits.

Formats, Clocking and Signal Integrity

The converter is built to AES/EBU under AES3-1992, and also handles IEC 958 and related consumer formats. Sampling frequencies from 20 kHz to 216 kHz are supported, covering everything from legacy rates up to 192 kHz. Jitter is held below 0.005 UI peak-to-peak with rise and fall times under 25 ns, dynamic bandwidth reaches 140 dB and total harmonic distortion is quoted at -120 dB, so the recovered stream stays clean.

Connections, Impedance and Optics

Transmitter inputs are female XLR and receiver outputs male XLR, both at 110 ohm balanced impedance, with typical signal voltage of 3.3 V and an accepted range of 2 to 7 V. Channel capacity runs from 2 to 16 channels one way, or 2 to 8 channels bidirectionally. Optical transmit power sits between -3 and -7 dB with receiver sensitivity better than -24 dB, using ST/PC single-mode connectors and 1310 nm or CWDM wavelengths from 1470 to 1610 nm.

Powering and Installing the Pair

Each converter runs from 5 V DC at 2 A, supplied by an adapter accepting 90 to 240 V AC, so a pair can be fed from any standard outlet at either end of the link. Transmission direction is set by the model rather than by configuration, which keeps commissioning simple: connect XLR, connect fiber, apply power. Allow for the chosen wavelength when the same fiber also carries other services through a CWDM multiplexer.

Choosing Channels and Direction

Forward kits are listed as F-2AES-TX/RX, F-4AES-TX/RX, F-8AES-TX/RX and F-16AES-TX/RX, each shipping as a matched pair. Bidirectional versions are F-2AES-B-TX/RX, F-4AES-B-TX/RX and F-8AES-B-TX/RX, carrying audio both ways over one fiber. Studio to transmitter audio, venue distribution, OB truck connections and digital console links are typical uses. Several channel counts are quoted per project rather than listed, so confirm the exact code when ordering.