Detail 01
Active circuit
Buffers high-impedance sources. Piezo acoustic pickups keep their top end and level instead of going dull over a long run.
Product detailSKU #1274228072072
Radial EngineeringJ48 Phantom Powered Active Direct Box
1/6
Independent shopping perspective
The Korena take
An active direct box powered by the console's 48V. For sending instruments to a mixer over long XLR runs without losing level or top end.
Strong match
Who this is for
- Acoustics with piezo pickups going into a live console
- Basses and keys running long cable to front of house
- Stage rigs where the DI sits far from the board
Consider the trade-offs
When to look elsewhere
- Anyone whose console or interface can't supply 48V phantom
- Players who want battery operation for phantom-less boards
- Recording setups already using the interface's instrument input
What matters in use
The specifications, translated
Catalog numbers tell only part of the story. These are the details most likely to change how this product feels, sounds, or fits into a setup.
Detail 02
Phantom powered
Draws 48V from the mixer through the same XLR cable. Nothing to plug in at the stage end, no battery to die mid-set.
Detail 03
Direct box function
Converts an unbalanced instrument output to balanced XLR, so a 100-foot run to the board stays quiet.
Detail 04
Red enclosure
Easy to spot on a dark stage floor or in a crowded rack of black boxes when you're patching fast.
Final check
Know before you order
- 01Your board must supply 48V phantom on that channel or it won't pass signal
- 02No battery option — phantom is the only way to power it
- 03Cables not included; you supply the instrument cable and XLR
Product questions
Before you decide
Straight answers to the questions shoppers most often ask about this product.
01Does it need a power supply?
No wall adapter. It runs on 48V phantom power from the mixer or interface, sent up the XLR cable that carries the signal out.
02Active or passive — which do I need?
Active suits weak, high-impedance sources like piezo acoustic pickups. Passive suits sources with their own output stage, like keyboards or active basses.
03Will it work with an acoustic guitar pickup?
Yes. That's a common use. The active circuit keeps piezo pickups from sounding thin and losing high end into a long cable run.
04Can I use it in the studio?
Yes, if your interface supplies phantom power on the mic input you're plugging into. It sends a balanced mic-level signal to that input.
Reference
Full specifications
The complete catalog record, organized around the decisions musicians make when comparing gear.
1 detailsBody & build
- Color
- Red
