Radial Engineering has introduced the Radial PZ-DI, a direct box that is designed to work with all types of acoustic and orchestral instruments via the ability to optimize the input impedance to match the pickup or transducer.
According to Radial president Peter Janis, “With bigger and better PA systems in every venue and on every tour, the need to faithfully amplify acoustic instruments has never been greater. In the past, the sound was masked. Today, you hear every nuance. This has spawned a need for a direct box that is equally capable of adapting to piezo transducers as it is to magnetic pickups. Piezos are particularly problematic due to the squawk and peaks that they produce.
“The PZ-DI is set to easily overcome these problems and is well equipped to help eliminate feedback and resonance caused by low frequencies along with the interaction between the room acoustics and the PA.”
The design begins with a 3-position impedance selector switch that allows matching the load with the pickup. This includes a 220k-ohm setting to warm up magnetic pickups, a 1 meg-ohm setting to replicate a classic DI box and a super-high 10 meg-ohm setting to eliminate the squawk and peaks that are common with piezo transducers.
To eliminate resonance and modulation between instruments, a variable lo-cut filter lets you dial out unwanted low-frequencies. This also helps improve clarity for a better mix.
Should the PZ-DI be called upon to interface a high output active bass or digital keyboard, one simply engages the -15 dB pad. A hi-cut filter can also be engaged to gently smooth out the over aggressive top-end produced by many active instruments.
The PZ-DI is capable of doing double duty as a standard direct box with front panel 1/4-inch input and thru connectors to interface with an electric bass and the stage amplifier plus XLR out to feed the PA.
The new DI employs 48-volt phantom power with an internal switching supply that at once elevates the rail voltage while reducing distortion of all types to deliver a smooth, natural tone.
The unit’s 14 gauge steel I-beam construction eliminates torque and reduces stress on the PC board for longer, trouble-free performance, while a unique book-end design creates protective zones around the controls, switches and connectors.
The PZ-DI is backed with a 3-year transferable warranty.
Estimated retail price: $300 USD.
