Hear Technologies Switch Back PLUS – All-in-One Dante Audio Interface, Mixer & MIDI Control Surface

OVERVIEW

The Hear Technologies Switch Back PLUS is an all-in-one Dante audio interface, mixer, and MIDI control surface in a compact device. The PLUS consolidates into a single unique tool what would typically require multiple pieces of hardware. As your studio’s interface and controller or your personal mixer and stage box at a live event, the PLUS’s hybrid functionality provides space-conscious flexibility.

Simply connect the Switch Back PLUS via a Cat6 Ethernet cable to a PoE+ network switch, and you‘re integrated with your Dante-enabled devices. Plug in your headphones or speakers, route your audio channels through Dante, and start making or playing music.

From the studio to the stage, the Switch Back PLUS fits effortlessly into a wide range of workflows. With seamless Dante connectivity, setup is simple, and the sound is crystal clear.

KEY HIGHLIGHTS

Audio Interface

The Switch Back PLUS features four local inputs, including an XLR microphone input with switchable phantom power, a high-impedance instrument input with adjustable gain, and two balanced line-level inputs. Route these inputs, along with the main stereo mix, to other devices on the Dante network. Additionally, the PLUS presents four more default-muted Dante channels, which mirror the four inputs and can be unmuted by pressing the BROADCAST button, allowing any of the inputs to be used as an intercom.

Multi-Channel Mixer

Control volume, panning, and stereo width of up to 32 stereo Dante audio channels. Features zero-latency, master volume control, 4-band parametric master EQ, balanced stereo outputs, two headphone jacks, and sharp OLED screens that display channel names and status.

MIDI Control Surface

MIDI shares the same network connection as Dante to send and receive CCs. This allows the knobs to be used for controlling software and external hardware. Get real-time feedback of CC values via the LEDs above each knob.

FEATURES

• Blend up to 32 stereo Dante channels along with 4 local inputs to a stereo mix
• Volume, panning, and stereo width control for all channels
• Transmit stereo mix and local inputs to other Dante-enabled devices
• Zero-latency monitoring of local inputs
• Four (4) local inputs, including microphone, instrument, and dual line-level inputs
• XLR microphone input with selectable 48V phantom power
• Studio-quality microphone preamp with 50dB adjustable gain
• Selectable 100Hz high-pass filter for microphone and instrument inputs
• High-impedance 1/4” instrument input with 32dB adjustable gain
• Two balanced 1/4” line-level inputs
• Two balanced 1/4” line-level outputs
• Dual headphone outputs with both 1/8” and 1/4” connections
• 5-watt capable headphone amplifier
• 4-band parametric master EQ with graphical UI
• Internal software compressor/limiter
• Signal present indication on all channels
• Discrete Dante intercom channels activated via BROADCAST button
• Network MIDI support for MIDI CC control and feedback
• Knobs can send and receive MIDI CC data
• OLED graphical displays for channel names and status information
• Brightness control for OLED displays
• Firmware updates and feature management via PRO Connect software
• Standard mic stand mounting compatibility
• Streamlined Ethernet cable relief channel
• 1000Base-T Ethernet connectivity
• Powered via PoE+

TECHNICAL SPECS

Microphone Input (analog input to Dante output @ 48kHz sampling rate)
Input Configuration:	Mono, Balanced XLR, 3-kΩ input impedance
Input Frequency Response:	20Hz – 20kHz +/-0.85dB, 30Hz – 20kHz +/-0.32dB
Input THD+N:	0.003% @ 150mV input, +24dB gain setting, 1kHz, A-weighted
Input IMD:	0.01% @ 150mV input, 60Hz & 7kHz (SMPTE/DIN)
Input X-TALK:	-106dB @ 150mV into Instrument Input, 1kHz, A-weighted
Input Sensitivity: (gain at max)	-36dBu input yields 0 dBFS full-scale output
Input Sensitivity: (gain at min)	+13.8dBu input yields 0 dBFS full-scale output
Instrument Input (analog input to Dante output @ 48kHz sampling rate)
Input Configuration:	1/4″ Tip-Sleeve, 1-MΩ High Impedance, Unbalanced
Input Frequency Response:	20Hz – 20kHz +/-0.76dB, 30Hz – 20kHz +/-0.33dB
Input THD+N:	0.003% @ 150mV input, +12dB gain setting, 1kHz, A-weighted
Input IMD:	0.006% @ 150mV input, 60Hz & 7kHz (SMPTE/DIN)
Input X-TALK:	-82dB @ 150mV into Microphone Input, 1kHz, A-weighted
Input Sensitivity: (gain at max)	-33.5dBu input yields 0 dBFS full-scale output
Input Sensitivity: (gain at min)	-1dBu input yields 0 dBFS full-scale output
Line Inputs 1 & 2 (analog input to Dante output @ 48kHz sampling rate)
Input Configuration:	1/4″ Tip-Ring-Sleeve, Balanced, 20-kΩ input impedance
Input Frequency Response:	20Hz – 20kHz +/-0.74dB, 30Hz – 20kHz +/-0.32dB
Input THD+N:	0.005% @ 1V input, 1kHz, A-weighted
Input IMD:	0.008% @ 1V input, 60Hz & 7kHz (SMPTE/DIN)
Input X-TALK:	-99dB @ 1V into adjacent line input, 1kHz, A-weighted
Input Sensitivity:	+18dBu (fixed gain)
Input Propagation Delay
Analog input to Dante:	0.542ms @ 48kHz, 0.396ms @ 96kHz, 0.318ms @ 192kHz
Analog input to Analog out:	0.662ms @ 48kHz, 0.349ms @ 96kHz, 0.182ms @ 192kHz
Mixer Headphone Power (Per Channel)
Inter Modulation Distortion:	Typically less than 0.08% (SMPTE/DIN)
Mixer Analog Outputs
Frequency Response:	20Hz – 20kHz +/-0.15dB
THD+N:	0.005% @ +18 dBu, 1kHz, A-weighted
IMD:	0.009% @ +18 dBu, 60Hz & 7kHz (SMPTE/DIN)
X-TALK:	-94dB @ +18dBu, 1kHz, A-weighted
Noise, A-Weighted:	-92 dBu (line output & headphone out, 48KHz sampling rate, master volume at 100%, no inputs)
Dynamic Range:	112.6 dBu (headphone output), 114.3 dBu (line output)
SNR:	100.5dBu (headphone output), 105dBu (line output)
Propagation Delay (Dante to Analog Out):	0.792ms @ 48kHz, 0.563ms @ 96kHz, 0.438ms @ 192kHz
Physical
Dimensions:	9.5″ H x 5.95” W x 2.71″ D (241 mm H x 151 mm W x 69 mm D)
Unit Weight:	1.6lb (0.72 kg)
Mounting:	Standard mic stand (5/8″, 27 threads per inch) or desk-mounted
Power
Power Requirements:	PoE+ 36-52 VDC, 15 Watts max**

Note: 0 dBu = 0.775 Vrms. Specifications and features subject to change without notice

**Provided by Hear Technologies PRONET or equivalent network switch with PoE+ capability