Sweet Stereo DI From Phoenix Audio
Phoenix Audio’s Ascent Mic Pre has been a huge hit at Sweetwater, and one of the key factors behind its immense popularity is its exceptional high-impedance DI circuit. The Phoenix Audio Nice DI bottles all this sonic goodness and packs it into a compact, rugged 2-channel chassis. As electronic instrumentation has skyrocketed over the last decade or so, high-quality DIs have become mission-critical. Whether you rock an elaborate synth rig, laptops, or loop stations or want a great-sounding DI for tracking your electric bass, the Nice DI is an ideal choice. With its unique gain architecture, Phoenix Audio’s DI technology handily delivers a broad tonal palette, elevating direct signals to the level of artistry we have accorded working with mic signals.
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Allows the natural sound of instruments to shine
The Nice DI’s input stage has a very high 10-Mohm input impedance that notably features no field effect transistors. This design does not load guitar and bass pickups and allows the natural sound of both vintage and modern instruments to shine while actually enhancing the tone with glimmer and growl as if you were plugged into your favorite amp. Synthesizers, drum machines, and even computer audio outputs can likewise be sweetened by the Nice DI.
High-fidelity transformerless input stage
The Phoenix Nice DI features a fully discrete Class A circuit design, handwired with mil-spec silver connections and clad in a rugged steel chassis. The transformerless 10-Mohm ultra-high impedance input stage preserves the tonal character of the source and delivers a clean, sturdy signal into the circuit without the treble loss or sluggish low-end characteristic of many inferior DI designs. With the Nice DI, you’ll delight in the punchy, full-bodied sounds required for the powerful, complex, and often bombastic sonic signature of modern music.
Masterful transformer-balanced output stage
Phoenix Audio couples their custom-wound DB694 output transformer to a fully discrete, proprietary DSOP-2 output amplifier, itself a direct descendant of the renowned TF1 amp that Phoenix chief designer David Rees developed as an upgrade for vintage Neve 80 Series console modules. Outperforming the TF1, the DSOP-2 represents a pinnacle of Class A output circuit design, offering a seamless tonal range from ultra-clean to gorgeously saturated. With its big iron and massive headroom, you can drive the DSOP-2 to taste — and you’ve got a massive gain range of 30dB on tap to play with! Crank the stepped output pots to elicit beautifully saturated tones; back off for a cleaner high-fidelity sound; or dial up any flavor in between.
Breathe new life into iron-poor tracks and mixes
Since the Nice DI accepts unbalanced line level and levels up to 0dBu, you can use it as a line amp to rejuvenate lackluster tracks — and even complete mixes — that need a shot of adrenaline. Simply input any signal to enhance it with lush Class A tone. With its easy-recall stepped per-channel gain controls, nailing your target sound — and getting back to it — is a cinch. Engineers at Sweetwater are finding the Phoenix Audio Nice DI to be a supremely musical, versatile, and intuitive creative tool that’s ideal for breathing new life into any direct injected signal. We think you’ll agree.
Phoenix Audio Nice DI Features:
- High-performance stereo direct box
- Acclaimed discrete Class A transformerless input stage with ultra-high 10-Mohm impedance
- Battle-tested discrete Class A DSOP-2 output stage with custom-wound DB694 transformer
- Stepped per-channel gain controls, 30dB gain range
- Balanced rear-panel XLR and unbalanced front-panel 1/4-in. TS outputs
- Front-panel 1/4-in TS Input and Thru jacks
- 10-segment LED output meter
- Frequency response: 20Hz–20kHz +/- 0.5dB
- Maximum Output: +26dBu @ 1kHz
- Noise: –90dB, 22Hz–22kHz
- Switchable mains voltage (110/220V AC)
