Professional Direct Boxes

A Direct Box or simply DI (Direct Inject) is an electronic device that connects a high impedance line level signal that has an unbalanced output to a low impedance mic level balanced input, usually via an XLR connector. DIs are frequently used to connect an electric guitar or electric bass to a mixing console's microphone input. The DI performs level matching, balancing, and either active buffering or passive impedance bridging to minimize noise, distortion, and ground loops. DIs do not perform impedance matching.

Passive DI Boxes

A passive DI unit typically consists of an audio transformer used as a balun. The turns ratio is typically chosen to match a nominal signal source (such as the magnetic pickup of an electric guitar) to the input of an audio mixer.

Some models have no settings, while others can have a ground lift switch (to avoid ground loop problems), a pad switch (to accommodate different source levels) and a filter switch for coloring the sound.

Active DI Boxes

An active DI unit contains a preamplifier. Active DI units can therefore provide gain, and are inherently more complex and versatile than passive units. Active DI units require a power source, which is normally provided by batteries or a standard AC outlet connection, and may contain the option for phantom power use.

Most active DI units provide switches to enhance their versatility. These may include gain or level adjustment, ground lift, power source selection, and mono or stereo mode. Ground lift switches often disconnect phantom power.

Passthrough Connector

A passthrough connector is a second output, sometimes simply connected to the input connector, that delivers the input signal unchanged, to allow the DI unit to be inserted into a signal path without interrupting it. This is essential in many applications. Passthrough is more common on active than passive DI units. Passthrough is also commonly referred to as a bypass.

True bypass occurs when the signal goes straight from the input jack to the output jack with no circuitry involved and no loading of the source impedance. False-bypass or simply 'bypass' occurs when the signal is routed through the device circuitry with no intentional change to the signal. However, due to the nature of electrical designs there is almost always some slight change in the signal. The extent of change and how noticeable it may be can vary widely from unit to unit.

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Direct Box Products

Pro Co DB-1 Passive Direct Box $99.99	Rolls RDB104 4 Input Active Direct Box $179.99	Rolls ADB2 Active Direct Box $39.98
Rolls DB25b Direct Box With Pad/Ground Lift $26.99	Alto DI4 4-Channel Direct Box $129.00	Pro Co CB1 Passive Direct Box $59.99
Pro Co DB4A Quad Direct Box $263.99	ARTcessories dPDB Dual Passive Direct Box $48.00	ARTcessories PDB Passive Direct Box $35.00
Rolls ADi6 dB Max Active Direct Box $69.99	BBE DI-1000 Jensen Equipped Direct Box With Sonic Maximizer $249.99	BBE DI-100X Direct Box With Sonic Maximizer $149.99
ARTcessories Z Direct High Quality Passive Direct Box $25.00	ARTcessories X Direct Professional Active Direct Box $40.00	BSS AR-133 Single Input Active Direct Box $169.99
Pro Co iFace Portable Media Player Interface $149.99	ARTcessories AVDirect Multi-Input Audio/Video Direct Box $55.00	Countryman TYPE85 Type 85 Active Direct Box $189.00
Radial Engineering PROAV2 Passive Stereo Direct Box $169.99	Radial Engineering PROAV1 Passive Multimedia Direct Box $119.99	Radial Engineering JDI Jensen Transformer Equipped Passive DI $199.99
Radial Engineering ProDI Compact Passive Direct Box with Radial Transformer $99.99	Radial Engineering J48 Phantom Powered Active Direct Box $199.99	Radial Engineering JPC Active Stereo PC Direct Box for Sound Cards & Consumer Electronics $199.99
Radial Engineering JDV Active Class-A Direct Box $399.99	Radial Engineering Pro48 High Resolution Active Direct Box $139.99	Radial Engineering ProD2 Passive 2 Channel DI With 2 Radial Transformers $149.99
Radial Engineering ProRMP Passive Re-Amping Device with Custom Transformer $99.00	Whirlwind EDB1 Passive Direct Box $29.95	dbx dB10 Passive Direct Box $99.95
dbx dB12 Active Direct Box $139.95	Rolls DB24 Stereo Direct Interface $58.75	Rolls DB225 Passive Professional Direct Box $62.99
BBE DI-400 4 Channel Rack Mounted DI Box with BBE Sonic Maximizer $249.00	BBE Magnum DI Active Direct Box Powerable by +48v Phantom or 9 Volt Battery $99.99	Pro Co DBA-1 Professional Active Direct Box $214.99

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