Telefunken TDA-1 1-channel Active Instrument Direct Box

Telefunken Sound Quality for Your Instruments

Whether you play guitar, bass, or keyboards, you need a direct box that won't diminish your instrument's tone, such as the Telefunken TDA-1 mono active direct box. Every aspect of this direct box is designed for maximum sonic integrity, from the Class A FET circuitry and custom-wound OEP/Carnhill output transformers to the gold-plated traces on the circuit board. You can expect warm and rich tone even after long cable runs, and the extruded aluminum enclosure ensures a long lifespan. When you need to convert an instrument-level signal to a mic-level signal, with sonic quality as your top priority, you'll be well served with the Telefunken TDA-1 direct box.

Related Videos: TDA-1 1-channel Active Instrument Direct Box

• Converts instruments to mic-level signals without signal degradation
• Why are transformers important?
• Why is a direct box so important?
• Which is right for me, a passive or active direct box?
• Built to withstand a lifetime of abuse

There are numerous situations in which you need a direct box to balance an unbalanced signal, such as if you need to drive a long cable run or if you want to plug your instrument directly into a microphone preamplifier. Regardless of why you need a direct box, you need one that won't ruin your tone, and that's where the Telefunken TDA-1 excels. Premium components and smart design lead to an astonishingly flat frequency response (+/-2dB from 10Hz to 40kHz), which means whatever you put in is what you're going to get out the other side.

There's actually a lot of nuance in winding copper around a coil, generating magnetic fields, and bending electrons to your will. Inferior transformers can leave your signal sounding dull, limp, and lifeless, devoid of musicality. Exceptional transformers such as the custom-wound OEP/Carnhill transformer in the TDA-1 not only serve their technical purpose of balancing and isolating your signal, but they also do so with outstanding richness, detail, depth, and dimension.

We know that the direct box is one of the least exciting parts of your rig to consider. But the fact is it's an integral part of your signal path, allowing you to convert between instrument- and microphone-level signals without noise issues and level mismatches. Direct boxes are a much-needed solution for many situations both onstage and in the studio, and if an inferior direct box alters your tone, there's not much you're going to be able to do about it. With the Telefunken TDA-1, your direct box will serve its purpose while providing the full, rich sound of whatever you plug into it.

The short answer is that it depends on what you're plugging into it. Generally speaking, in any audio signal path, you want to minimize the number of gain stages for maximum sonic fidelity. If you're balancing the signal of an instrument with active electronics, go for a passive DI. If you're working with an instrument with passive pickups, go for an active DI. Not sure about your application? Call your Sweetwater Sales Engineer, and we'll figure it out together.

Let's face it, no one is careful with direct boxes. Luckily the Telefunken TDA-1 is built with top-shelf components all the way through, all housed in a rugged aluminum chassis. The switches and connectors are recessed for added protection, and the gold-plated traces on the circuit board ensure they won't corrode over the years. If you can find a way to damage this direct box without specific malevolent intent, we'd love to hear about it.

• Mono direct box with custom-wound OEP/Carnhill transformer and Class A FET circuitry
• Exceptional sonic performance with incredibly flat frequency response (+/-2dB from 10Hz to 40kHz)
• High impedance input prevents inferior tone caused by loading down of passive pickups
• Ideal solution for plugging your instrument directly into any microphone preamplifier
• Top-quality components used throughout, hand-assembled with 100% through-hole circuit construction
• Recessed switches for 15dB pad and ground lift
• Rugged aluminum construction ensures a long lifespan