Arrived in our Dante LAB is the new Focusrite RedNet TNX Dante Interface. We took it for a spin the past month. So it’s time for sharing the results with you. Starting off with the product introduction.
“256 channels at your disposal”
Focusrite is a company that went on the Dante boat at an early stage. Focusrite rebranded the Dante technology into their own “RedNet” and till today this is the case. But besides the name there is no difference. The RedNet device portfolio contains almost the full spectrum from a PCI computer-board (PCIeNX), AD/DA converters to a remote desktop controller R1. One major thing was missing: an external interface from computer to Dante. And here it is, meet the RedNet TNX.
With this new unit the Focusrite portfolio is complete, and you can build if you want a Dante system solely with Focusrite equipment.
RedNet TNX: 128 I/O channels @ your laptop
The RedNet TNX interface has a whooping number of 128 input and 128 output Dante channels (256 in total). If that is not enough for you it is possible to buy an additional license at Audinate that will upgrade your TNX to 256 input and 256 output channels (so 512 in total). That’s huge and sets this interface apart from any competition.
Sample-rates of the Focusrite RedNet TNX Dante Interface
Now I hear you thinking “Yeah this high channel count is most likely only at 44.1/48kHz sample rate”. Hell no! The 128×128-channel count is supported from 44.1kHz till 192kHz. If you scale up to 256 channels the tradeoff between sample rate and channel counts gets into play, limiting the sample rate to a maximum of 96kHz. Still amazing high for 512 channels in total.
Cable connection
The connection between your computer and the TNX is based on Thunderbold-3. A sensible choice if you want to transport 128×128 (or even 256×256) audio channels between your computer and the Dante network. A full speed dedicated Thunderbolt port is advisable. Are you using less channels than it can run fine through a dock-station as I did.
Dante versus USB
A big plus for using a Dante link instead of a USB port between your computer/laptop and the audio converter is reduction of noise. USB ports can introduce noise into the analog domain when the converter is directly connected to your computer. When you use for instance a TNX Dante interface the analog converter is not directly connected to your USB port. Hence there is a LAN network in between. Therefore, the noise from your computer is not added into the analog signal at the Dante to analog conversion. Makes sense?
Price of the Focusrite RedeNet TNX Dante interface
I didn’t mention the price yet. The TNX is priced at Thomann for €1.818 euro excluding VAT. Around €500 euro more than the Focusrite RedNet PCIeNX version (€1.315 excl. VAT). The PCIeNX has the same channel count but can only run in a computer. The TNX can also be connected to a producer’s laptop, opening your complete analog studio at any sample rate to any studio guest, without the need for transferring files or projects to the studio computer. That is amazing.
The Focusrite RedNet TNX in the studio
I was really looking forward to testing this unit in our Dante-LAB. We currently have the RME Digiface Dante in the LAB. This is supporting 32×32 channels at a sample rate of 96kHz. This means that the studio DAW is limited to 32 output audio-channels that go into the mixing console. If you need additional effect outputs or anything else, you must sacrifice one of the analog audio channels. So, more Dante input and output channels are a welcome guest, so that more AD/DA converters can be added into the session.
The TNX has been built into a heavy metal case, made for a tough life on the road. It has two network ports that can be used in a redundant configuration or as a network switch. It also has two Thunderbolt-3 ports. One you need for the link with the computer, the other is free of use (but don’t do a heavy load on it if you run 512 channels). The TNX has an external 12V/5A power-supply with a non-locking connector.
Installation
After installing the TNX and connect it with my MacBook-pro M4 it did not immediately appear as an audio device. You must install a good old driver first. You can download this from the Focusrite website. After that all is fine.
The configuration of the RedNet TNX can be done in two ways. The first and most logical one is the Audinate Dante Controller application. Here you can set the usual suspects like sample rate, bit depth and of course the routing to your AD and DA converters.
RedNet Control 2
Focusrite also has their own management application “RedNet Control 2”. When opening this application, you will get an overview of all the Focusrite RedNet equipment in your network, you can see if it sends or receives audio and you can configure the device settings. You can’t set any routings via RedNet Control 2. RedNet Control-2 is a bit redundant to Dante Controller in my opinion.
Upgrading to 256 channels
The RedNet TNX comes standard with a support of 128 input and 128 output channels. But as mentioned you can upgrade to 256×256. The price depends a bit on where you live. In the UK it cost 137 pounds, in the Netherlands it is €151,78 euro excluding VAT.
Upgrading must be done via the Dante Controller app. More specific via the “Activator” tab in the main menu. A new window will show devices in your network that could be upgraded. Select the RedNet TNX and follow the steps.
Is there a sound to it?
The TNX is a straight input and output device; it has no built-in DSP functionality. Which means that you select in your DAW the TNX input and output channels and that’s it. There is no separate mixer screen where you can route audio from one channel to another.
At the end of the day, it’s all about the sound right? So, does the TNX have a sound?
Well, that’s not easy to answer. Since you stay in the digital domain, not converting into the analog domain, you would expect that sound quality is not affected. But the TNX does have to convert your PCM audio stream from the computer into Dante audio packages that run though the TCP/IP Ethernet network. This conversion should and must be bit perfect.
Secondly the 256 input and 256 output channels should be phase aligned going through the signal path from microphone to DAW. Meaning that your 10 drum microphone signals should arrive with the same phase offsets in your computer as they did when entering your AD converter in the recording room. I will leave this test for another article, okay?
From my hearing during normal use the TNX sounds great because it seems to add nothing :).
Round-up
The Focusrite RedNet TNX is a groundbreaking Dante interface with the highest channel count for external interfaces on the market to date (November 2025). From now on you don’t have to install a PCI card into your computer if you need more than 32 channels at 96kHz. The TNX can do it all with a total of 512 channels. And it does it very well too. No hick-up or any other noticeable issues to mention. Highly recommended.
