Direct Boxes Reamp Boxes
Last Update 05-26-2025
I acquired a variety of direct boxes and reamp boxes over the
years. Direct (DI) boxes convert an unbalanced signal into a
direct injection (DI) signal that is balanced, suitable for
recording devices or FOH mixers. The two types of direct boxes
are passive and active, the primary differences are their input
impedances and the conversion element.
Passive boxes use a transformer for the conversion element so it
requires no power, but their input impedance are limited to
~50K. These are suitable for line level devices with low
output impedance but not passive pickups such as those on
guitars. Active boxes use active circuitry (IE opamp or
discrete transistors) for the conversion element so they require
power (external supply, battery, or phantom) and their input
impedance can be much higher. These are better for passive
pickups on guitars and are equally suitable for line level
devices. The noise and tone varies depending on the quality of
the transformer or the active elements; some are transparent, others
(especially the cheap ones) drastically alter the tone.
Transformers also offer the protection of isolation as the balanced
signal does not require ground connection to the mixer or recorder,
which eliminates ground loops and protects from electric shock.
Below is a list of the direct boxes I currently have:
Radial J48: active version. Low noise high fidelity
DI. Can handle extreme transients without distortion, ideal
for string instruments (guitars, mandolin, piezo pickups,
etc). Internal switching supply can deliver high current
demands with extreme transients, provides more headroom and lower
distortion. 15dB pad for high output instruments.
Phantom power only, includes an LED to indicate presence.
Merge feature changes the input/thru jacks to dual inputs and sums
the inputs to mono at the output. Ground lift and phase
reverse for optimal stage use. Low Cut 80hz high pass filter
reduces resonant feedback. Input impedance ~1Mohm works for
most passive instruments but not Rhodes (see Countryman Type 10).
Radial JDI: passive version. This original world
acclaimed Radial DI uses a custom wound Jensen transformer that
exhibits near flat frequency response (great for bass guitar and
synths), low noise and harmonic distortion, and virtually zero phase
deviation (tough bar for audio transformers). The cheaper
Radial passive DIs do not use Jensen transformers. Radial
eventually purchased the Jensen company because Jensen had trouble
supplying transformers to meet the demand. I also have the
JD-6 which is six JDI boxes in a single 1U rackmount enclosure,
which I use as a DI for the outputs of my MIDI drum machine.
Merge feature changes the input/thru jacks to dual inputs and sums
the inputs to mono at the output. Ground lift and phase
reverse for optimal stage use. Speaker option allows the JDI
to be used as a speaker DI for amplifier speaker outputs, the THRU
jack intended for connecting to the speaker cabinet. In
speaker mode, the JDI inserts a 30dB pad and speaker emulation
filter to the DI output.
Radial JDI Stereo: passive version. Stereo version of
JDI, without the merge and speaker functions. I use this for
gigs with single keyboard and no mixer.
Countryman Type 10: active version. My most transparent
DI box, stellar audio quality especially on keyboards. Input
stage is a FET amplifier configured for class A. Studio only,
no gigs. Three way pad switch. This box has the highest
input impedance (10Mohm) of any in my collection, which I needed for
my Rhodes piano. The pickups on the Rhodes piano are VERY
sensitive to input impedance and are easily loaded down. Their
tone can be drastically altered and become noisy with the wrong
input impedance on the DI. This is the only box that
eliminated the noise and produced a stellar tone. The high
input impedance can also benefit piezo pickups. No it is not
cheap but you get what you pay for. Battery or phantom power.
Countryman Type 85: active version. This is a class A
DI designed for passive guitar pickups or speaker outputs of guitar
amps (it is NOT a speaker emulator). Uses high quality
selected discrete components for best sound quality. Battery
or phantom power. Also good for old synthesizers with really
hot outputs.
Countryman Type 10 Stereo: active version. Stereo
version of the Type 10. I use this for anything with stereo
outputs, especially keyboards.
ART XDirect: From the gotta-start-somewhere-dept.
Active version. Not terrible, but a little noisy and it alters
the tone. Battery power.
ART dPDB: From the gotta-start-somewhere-dept. Passive
version. Worst of the DI boxes in my collection. These
are great boxes if you want tone suck. Three way switches for
pads, ground lift.
Reamp boxes convert a recorded signal into one that can be
"replayed" into an amplifier. You use a DI box to record the
direct signal of your guitar while it is played through an
amplifier, then play back the recorded signal through a reamp box
which plugs back into your amplifier, allowing you to experiment
with tone/gain/stompbox settings, with different amplifiers, with
mic placement; then when you're happy you mic the amplifier and
record the final result. Very cool trick. Again, reamp
boxes come in the passive and active varieties with the same
differentiators.
The reamp boxes I own:
Radial X-Amp: active version. Requires supplied
external power supply (not battery or phantom). Variable
output level, clipping LED, two outputs (direct for proper grounded
amp, transformer isolated with optional phase reverse for multiple
amps), no filter controls.
Radial JCR: passive version. This one is THE classic,
it is a replica of the original reamp box developed and patented by
John Cuniberti in the 1990s (US#6,005,950). Originally only
found in studios, Radial was to great lengths to ensure that the
sound and performance of the replica are faithful to the
original. A special transformer shifts the output impedance to
match passive pickups on guitars and unbalance the signal from the
recorder. It includes tone filters, mute switch, ground lift,
phase reverse, and a volume control. The transformer also
provides isolation (see above).

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