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Antenna Distro

Shure PA421B Antenna Combiner

The PA421B lets you combine up to four IEM transmitter RF outputs into a single antenna, dramatically reducing the number of antennas needed on stage. This is essential for clean deployments where multiple PSM transmitters share a common antenna rather than each having its own. The active gain stage makes up the combining loss, and four 15 V DC outputs on the rear can power the transmitters feeding it.

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Photos

Manufacturer product photography — the drawn faceplate stays true to panel layout; these show the hardware itself.

Photo: Shure1 / 2
Documented outputs
66 destination connections
Documented inputs
7Based on documented inputs
Rack space
1UBuilder checks available rail space
Power draw
25W110W documented maximum
Catalog estimate
~$2,195Use retailer rows for current price and stock

01 · What it does—and what that changes in your rig.

Product overview

Start with the payoff, then work through how it functions, where it fits, and the details that change a real build.

The payoff

Antenna Distro decisions, organized around the whole rig.

The PA421B is a passive 4-to-1 RF combiner designed to consolidate the antenna outputs of up to four PSM-series IEM transmitters into a single broadband antenna. Instead of running four antennas off four transmitters and turning your stage wings into a forest of paddles, you feed each transmitter's RF output into one of the four BNC inputs and drive a single antenna from the combined output. That single antenna still covers all four transmitter channels simultaneously. For anyone running a multi-pack PSM system, this is how a tidy, professional deployment actually happens.

Documented outputs
66 destination connections
Documented inputs
7Based on documented inputs
Rack space
1UBuilder checks available rail space
Shure PA421B Antenna Combiner — rear panel with antenna BNC combiner outputs and IEC power
Photo: Shure1U · 25W
Function

How it works in the path

Passive design is the headline spec that matters most here. The PA421B draws zero watts — nothing to power, nothing to configure, nothing to fail mid-show in the way an active component could. The tradeoff is insertion loss: combining four RF signals passively means each transmitter sees some loss before the signal reaches the antenna, so you'll want to verify your link budget still has enough headroom for your venue size. At 1U and 200mm deep, it sits cleanly in a standard IEM rack without reaching back into the bay. At 1.4 kg it's light enough that it won't stress a shelf mount, though you should still rack it properly.

Best fit

Where it earns its place in the rack

If you're running two, three, or four PSM300 or PSM900 packs and want a clean antenna solution without a powered distro, this is a direct, reliable answer. It's also the right call when your system tech wants to minimize active components in the RF chain. Where it's not the right fit: if you need to feed a remote active antenna distro like a Shure AD4D setup, or if you're combining antennas on the receive side for wireless mics rather than transmitters — this is transmitter-side only. Larger touring systems with more than four packs will need multiple units or a different architecture entirely.

In the rack

Details worth deciding before load-in.

  • Verify transmitter output power settings after patching through the combiner — some engineers drop PSM transmitter output to its lowest effective setting to minimize intermodulation between combined channels.
  • Run the combined output to your antenna with the shortest quality coax run you can manage; passive combiners can't make up for cable loss downstream the way an active amp can.
  • Label each BNC input with the pack number and frequency at patch — during a fast changeover in a dark wing, unlabeled BNC inputs on a black faceplate all look identical.
  • If you're stacking two PA421B units to cover eight transmitters, use a second passive combiner or a quality splitter to feed both combined outputs to one antenna, and re-check your link margin — you're now two stages of passive loss deep.

02 · Know the whole path before you buy.

Signal path

Learn the route as a block diagram: source, product function, transport, and destination. Select any block to see what enters, what changes, and what leaves.

Interactive block diagramAuto-looping · hover, focus, or tap to hold a stage
Port-type signalProduct functionSystem boundary
Follow one signal from source to destination

Each block answers the same three questions: what arrives, what changes here, and what leaves.

01 · Source · selected
01 · Source

7 documented inputs

bnc + IEC C14

Arrives as
7 documented inputs
Connector
bnc + IEC C14
Signal
antenna

03 · What this product asks of the rest of the system.

Compatibility

Treat connector names as the start of the check—not the answer. These are the boundaries that determine a complete working path.

Best fit · Antenna Distro

Use it when 1U and 200 mm of depth fit the case.

Plan the companion path

Complete the path with upstream and downstream gear that matches connector, direction, signal type, protocol, and wiring standard.

Connector boundary

Documented connectors: bnc, dc barrel, IEC C14. Match connector, direction, and signal type—not shape alone.

04 · Every connector, grouped by job.

I/O ports

Switch the product view and the documented port inventory updates with it—hardware and data stay side by side.

Every connector, grouped by job.

Switch panels to keep the hardware view and the documented port list in sync.

Front panel
SHUREPA421B
Rear panel
Power (IEC)-+DC Out 4 (15V)-+DC Out 3 (15V)-+DC Out 2 (15V)-+DC Out 1 (15V)Input 4Input 3Input 2Input 1
All documented ports for Shure PA421B Antenna Combiner
PortPanelConnectorDirectionSignalChannels
Input 1rearbnc inputantenna—
Input 2rearbnc inputantenna—
Input 3rearbnc inputantenna—
Input 4rearbnc inputantenna—
Main Out (50Ω, front)frontbnc outputantenna—
Expansion A In (front)frontbnc inputantenna—
Expansion B In (front)frontbnc inputantenna—
Expansion A+B Out (front)frontbnc outputantenna—
DC Out 1 (15V)reardc barrel outputpower—
DC Out 2 (15V)reardc barrel outputpower—
DC Out 3 (15V)reardc barrel outputpower—
DC Out 4 (15V)reardc barrel outputpower—
Power (IEC)rearIEC C14 inputpower—

Showing 13 of 13 documented physical ports. Scroll to review the remaining rows.

05 · Compare the decision, not just the price.

Alternatives

The rows are organized around fit, power, I/O, and system role so a cheaper unit cannot hide a more expensive workflow.

Compare
Shure PA421B Antenna Combiner — front panel
RF Venue COMBINE8 — 1U front panel with eight channel LEDs
Shure AD616 Axient Antenna Distro — front panel
Shure PA821B eight-input PSM antenna combiner — front and rear panels shown
Fit📐 1U📐 1U📐 1U📐 1U
Power⚡ 25W⚡ Unverified⚡ 15W⚡ 12W
Weight⚖️ 3.1 lb⚖️ 3.1 lb⚖️ 5.5 lb⚖️ 4.4 lb
I/O🔌 13🔌 10🔌 13🔌 13
Estimate💵 ~$2,195💵 ~$1,999💵 ~$2,995💵 ~$5,240
Deep diveCurrent selectionFull comparison →Full comparison →Full comparison →

06 · Resolve the questions that can change the purchase or build plan.

Planning questions

Short, source-backed answers surface rack fit, power, cabling, and connection details before they become surprises.

How will the Shure PA421B Antenna Combiner affect rack fit and case depth?

It occupies 1U. Its documented depth is 200 mm.

How much power does the Shure PA421B Antenna Combiner draw?

Typical draw is 25W and documented maximum draw is 110W.

What connections does the Shure PA421B Antenna Combiner have?

13 documented physical ports, including Input 1, Input 2, Input 3, Input 4, Main Out (50Ω, front), Expansion A In (front).

07 · See this unit inside a real rack plan.

Builder preview

Placement is only the start. Builder checks space · depth · weight, power headroom, dependencies, and compatible signal paths around this exact catalog item.Open in Builder
PA421B Antenna Combiner positioned in a rack planA simplified plan shows the unit taking 1 rack units, with its documented connection path continuing to a planned destination.ShurePA421BCONNECTED GEARnext signal destination1U · 200 mm deep

08 · Related gear, in the order you may need it.

Planning guides for antenna distro systems.