Cisco SX80 Codec CTS-SX80-K9 – 1RU Integrator Codec for Large Rooms

Product Overview

The Cisco CTS-SX80-K9 SX80 Codec is the integrator-grade codec of the SX family, supplied standalone with rack ears and a power cable for large meeting rooms, boardrooms and purpose-built vertical application rooms. Its five video inputs, three video outputs, fifteen audio inputs and eight audio outputs are what separate it from an all-in-one bar and make it the codec of choice where third-party DSP, matrix switching and ceiling microphone arrays are already installed. Cisco placed the SX80 end-of-sale on 29 October 2019 with a last date of support of 31 October 2024, naming CS-CODEC-PRO-K9 as the codec replacement and the Cisco Room Kit Pro G2 as the active replacement product.

Product Description

On the video side the SX80 accepts three HDMI inputs, one DVI-I input that takes analog VGA or YPbPr or digital DVI-D, and one composite or S-Video BNC input for legacy sources, then drives three screens from two HDMI outputs and one DVI-I output at up to 1920 x 1080 at 60 Hz or 1920 x 1200 at 60 Hz. Cisco describes the SX80 as offering industry-first support for H.265, alongside H.261, H.263, H.263+ and H.264, and it runs point-to-point calls at up to 6 Mbps with up to 10 Mbps total MultiSite bandwidth.

Audio is where this codec earns its place in a rack. Eight 48V phantom-powered Euroblock microphone inputs each carry their own echo canceller and noise reduction, backed by four balanced line-level Euroblock inputs, three HDMI stereo inputs, six balanced line-level outputs and two HDMI outputs, an eight-port mixer and eight assignable equalizers. With the LIC-SX80-MS licence the codec hosts five-way 720p30 or four-way 1080p30 calls on its own hardware. Cameras Cisco names for the SX80 are the Precision 60, the SpeakerTrack 60 dual-camera system and the Webex Quad Camera, with PresenterTrack requiring an additional Precision 60.

Physically it is 1RU, 17.4 x 1.7 x 12.2 inches and 8.05 pounds, and ships with its rack-mounting solution, so it drops into an existing AV rack without an extra shelf. It has one 10/100/1000 LAN port plus two further RJ-45 interfaces for Cisco peripherals, RS-232 and GPIO for room control, and runs from a 100-120/200-240 VAC supply rated at 170 watts maximum for codec and main camera. Explore the current large room solutions and video conference systems ranges for migration planning, and conference audio systems when the microphone array is being renewed at the same time.

Key Features

• Professional-grade video and audio I/O — Five video inputs, three video outputs, fifteen audio inputs and eight audio outputs across HDMI, DVI-I, BNC and Euroblock connectors let the codec sit inside an existing AV signal chain rather than replace it.
• Eight phantom-powered microphone inputs — Each of the eight 48V Euroblock inputs has its own echo canceller and noise reduction, so a large table or ceiling array can be wired directly to the codec without external preamps.
• Three-screen support — Two HDMI outputs and one DVI-I output drive up to three displays at up to 1080p60 or WUXGA, which is the standard layout for a boardroom running people and content side by side.
• Embedded five-way MultiSite conferencing — With the LIC-SX80-MS licence the codec hosts five-way 720p30 or four-way 1080p30 calls locally at up to 10 Mbps, removing the need for external bridging on small multipoint calls.
• H.265 support — Cisco describes the SX80 as offering industry-first support for H.265, which lowers the bandwidth needed for a given resolution on SIP calls.
• Rack-mountable 1RU chassis — The codec is 1RU at 17.4 x 1.7 x 12.2 inches and 8.05 pounds and ships with its rack-mounting solution, so no additional shelf kit is required.
• Room control interfaces — An RS-232 port for local control and diagnostics plus GPIO give a third-party control system a hardware path into the codec.
• Speaker and presenter tracking options — SpeakerTrack 60 provides fast-switching active speaker tracking across two PTZ cameras, and PresenterTrack follows a presenter within a defined trigger area using an additional Precision 60.

Typical Applications

• Boardroom — Cisco positions the SX80 for boardrooms, and the eight microphone inputs plus three-screen support match a long executive table with separate people and content displays.
• Conference room — Large conference rooms with existing ceiling microphones and a house audio system can use the Euroblock inputs and outputs directly.
• Auditorium — Six balanced line-level outputs feed an installed amplifier or DSP rack, and the SDI-free BNC input accepts legacy room sources.
• Training room — PresenterTrack with an additional Precision 60 camera follows a presenter between seated and standing positions inside a defined zone.
• Broadcast studio — The composite and S-Video BNC input and RS-232 control give the codec a place in a production chain built around legacy signal formats.

Technical Specifications