Kontex X-Headstage User Manual
One manual for all eleven Kontex X-Headstage models: armor, compatible systems, motion tracking, dimensions and pin maps.
12 min read
Updated September 21, 2026
The X-Headstage is a family of miniature headstages that amplify and digitize at the head, a few millimetres from the electrode sites, and send the result to an acquisition system over a single cable whatever the channel count. This manual covers all eleven catalog models — recording and stim-record, 16 to 128 channels, micro-HDMI and Omnetics probe-side connectors — in one document. The sections that are common to the family (armor, compatible acquisition systems, motion tracking) are given once, at the top; each model then carries only what is specific to it.
Engineered and manufactured by Kontex Neuroscience; commercialized by NeuroNexus. Each model's section links the manufacturer's own page for that model.
Research use only. NeuroNexus products and the procedures described here are for non-clinical research use, and must not be used in human or veterinary medical procedures.
Models covered#
| Model | Channels | Modality | Amplifiers | Host connector | Probe side | Weight | Accelerometer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| X3R32-HDMI | 32 | Record | one RHD2132 | micro-HDMI | Board-to-board | ~1.1 g | Yes |
| X3R32-OM | 32 | Record | one RHD2132 | Omnetics | Board-to-board | ~1.1 g | Yes |
| X3R64-HDMI | 64 | Record | two RHD2132 | micro-HDMI | Board-to-board | ~1.1 g | Yes |
| X3R64-OM | 64 | Record | two RHD2132 | Omnetics | Board-to-board | ~1.1 g | Yes |
| X3SR32-HDMI | 32 | Stim-record | two RHS2116 | micro-HDMI | Board-to-board | ~1.1 g | No |
| X3SR32-OM | 32 | Stim-record | two RHS2116 | Omnetics | Board-to-board | ~1.2 g | No |
| X3SR64-HDMI | 64 | Stim-record | four RHS2116 | micro-HDMI | Board-to-board | 1.5 g | No |
| X6R128-HDMI | 128 | Record | two RHD2164 | micro-HDMI | Board-to-board | ~0.9 g | Yes |
| XeR64-HDMI | 64 | Record | two RHD2132 | micro-HDMI | Adapter board | 1.37 g | Yes |
| XeSR16-HDMI | 16 | Stim-record | one RHS2116 | micro-HDMI | Adapter board | 1.18 g | No |
| XeSR32-HDMI | 32 | Stim-record | two RHS2116 | micro-HDMI | Adapter board | 1.18 g | No |
The X3 models carry a fixed probe-side connector. The X6 model is the high-channel-count build in the same footprint. The Xe (E-Series) models replace the fixed probe connector with an adapter board, so the part that wears with daily handling is the part that gets replaced.
Armor#
Optional protective covers are available for each headstage, for protection and anchoring. They are made from polyoxymethylene (POM), which is light and resistant to chemicals. Three standard armor types are offered, and shape and material can be customised.
Size, weight and shape differ between X-Headstage models.
S Armor#
S armors carry ear loops on the side. The loops anchor the headstage to accessories such as electrode adapters.
M Armor#
M armors protect the headstage while keeping the added size to a minimum.
IP Armor#
IP armors fully encase the X-Headstage and give the most protection of the three. With the optional parylene coating, the headstage has been tested to IP68.
Compatible acquisition systems#
Every X-Headstage is designed to pair with the XDAQ system, which clocks stimulation and recording together so the two share one timebase. The headstages also run on a range of open-source and proprietary acquisition systems, though a signal remap adapter is sometimes needed. Confirmed compatible systems, the same set for every model in this manual:
- Intan Recording Controller, 512-channel and 1024-channel models
- Intan Stim-Record Controller
- Open Ephys acquisition box
- NeuroNexus SmartBox
Platforms not listed here may also drive an X-Headstage.
Motion tracking#
Every XR headstage is configured with an analog 3-axis accelerometer. It is sampled at the same rate as the headstage inputs, and the data arrives in the AUX1, AUX2 and AUX3 signals of the data package.
The accelerometer cannot be omitted — XR headstages are not sold without it. XSR headstages do not support it at all.
X3R32-HDMI#
Overview#
The X3R32 is a 32-channel recording X-Headstage. It is built on one RHD2132 amplifier and delivers a single 32-channel data stream to the acquisition system over a micro-HDMI connector.
Dimensions and weight#
Weight ~1.1 g. Dimensions in millimetres.
Pin map#
Probe side#
micro-HDMI side#
Manufacturer's page#
X3R32-HDMI on docs.kontex.io ↗
X3R32-OM#
Overview#
The X3R32 is a 32-channel recording X-Headstage. It is built on one RHD2132 amplifier and delivers a single 32-channel data stream to the acquisition system over a Omnetics connector.
Dimensions and weight#
Weight ~1.1 g. Dimensions in millimetres.
Pin map#
Probe side#
Manufacturer's page#
X3R64-HDMI#
Overview#
The X3R64 is a 64-channel recording X-Headstage. It is built on two RHD2132 amplifiers and delivers a single 64-channel data stream to the acquisition system over a micro-HDMI connector.
Dimensions and weight#
Weight ~1.1 g. Dimensions in millimetres.
Pin map#
Probe side#
micro-HDMI side#
Manufacturer's page#
X3R64-HDMI on docs.kontex.io ↗
X3R64-OM#
Overview#
The X3R64 is a 64-channel recording X-Headstage. It is built on two RHD2132 amplifiers and delivers a single 64-channel data stream to the acquisition system over a Omnetics connector.
Dimensions and weight#
Weight ~1.1 g. Dimensions in millimetres.
Pin map#
Probe side#
Manufacturer's page#
X3SR32-HDMI#
Overview#
The X3SR32 is a 32-channel stim-record X-Headstage. It is built on two RHS2116 amplifiers and delivers a single 32-channel data stream to the acquisition system over a micro-HDMI connector.
Dimensions and weight#
Weight ~1.1 g. Dimensions in millimetres.
Pin map#
Probe side#
micro-HDMI side#
Manufacturer's page#
X3SR32-HDMI on docs.kontex.io ↗
X3SR32-OM#
Overview#
The X3SR32 is a 32-channel stim-record X-Headstage. It is built on two RHS2116 amplifiers and delivers a single 32-channel data stream to the acquisition system over a Omnetics connector.
Dimensions and weight#
Weight ~1.2 g. Dimensions in millimetres.
Pin map#
Probe side#
Manufacturer's page#
X3SR64-HDMI#
Overview#
The X3SR64 is a 64-channel stim-record X-Headstage. It is built on four RHS2116 amplifiers and delivers a single 64-channel data stream to the acquisition system over a micro-HDMI connector.
Dimensions and weight#
Weight 1.5 g. Dimensions in millimetres.
Pin map#
Probe side#
micro-HDMI side#
Manufacturer's page#
X3SR64-HDMI on docs.kontex.io ↗
X6R128-HDMI#
Overview#
The X6R128 is a 128-channel recording X-Headstage. It is built on two RHD2164 amplifiers and delivers a single 128-channel data stream to the acquisition system over a micro-HDMI connector.
Dimensions and weight#
Weight ~0.9 g. Dimensions in millimetres.
Pin map#
Probe side#
micro-HDMI side#
Manufacturer's page#
X6R128-HDMI on docs.kontex.io ↗
XeR64-HDMI#
Overview#
The XeR64 is a 64-channel recording E-Series X-Headstage. E-Series headstages trade a fixed probe connector for an adapter-based one, which moves the wear to the cheap part: when the probe-facing connector fails through daily handling, the adapter is replaced rather than the headstage. One headstage therefore covers more probe types over a longer service life. Built on two RHD2132 chips, it delivers a single 64-channel data stream over its micro-HDMI host connector.
Components#
The XeR64-HDMI is supplied with the back-to-back adapter board and the fasteners that hold it: two screws, two nylon washers and two washers. The probe-side adapter itself is not included.
Dimensions and weight#
Weight 1.37 g. Dimensions in millimetres.
Pin map#
Probe side#
micro-HDMI side#
Manufacturer's page#
XeR64-HDMI on docs.kontex.io ↗
XeSR16-HDMI#
Overview#
The XeSR16 is a 16-channel stim-record E-Series X-Headstage. E-Series headstages trade a fixed probe connector for an adapter-based one, which moves the wear to the cheap part: when the probe-facing connector fails through daily handling, the adapter is replaced rather than the headstage. One headstage therefore covers more probe types over a longer service life. Built on one RHS2116 chips, it delivers a single 16-channel data stream over its micro-HDMI host connector.
Components#
The XeSR16-HDMI is supplied with the back-to-back adapter board and the fasteners that hold it: two screws, two nylon washers and two washers. The probe-side adapter itself is not included.
Dimensions and weight#
Weight 1.18 g. Dimensions in millimetres.
Pin map#
Probe side#
Manufacturer's page#
XeSR16-HDMI on docs.kontex.io ↗
XeSR32-HDMI#
Overview#
The XeSR32 is a 32-channel stim-record E-Series X-Headstage. E-Series headstages trade a fixed probe connector for an adapter-based one, which moves the wear to the cheap part: when the probe-facing connector fails through daily handling, the adapter is replaced rather than the headstage. One headstage therefore covers more probe types over a longer service life. Built on two RHS2116 chips, it delivers a single 32-channel data stream over its micro-HDMI host connector.
Components#
The XeSR32-HDMI is supplied with the back-to-back adapter board and the fasteners that hold it: two screws, two nylon washers and two washers. The probe-side adapter itself is not included.
Dimensions and weight#
Weight 1.18 g. Dimensions in millimetres.
Pin map#
Probe side#
