AEA TDI Phantom-powered Direct Box

Name: AEA TDI Phantom-powered Direct Box
Brand: AEA
Rating: 5 (7 reviews)

Active Direct Box with -20dB Pad

7 reviews Write your review Item ID: TDI

299

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AEA TDI Phantom-powered Direct Box

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A Super-clean Active Direct Box

The AEA TDI is a phantom-powered direct box with an ultra-low-noise JFET buffer driving a squeaky-clean step-down transformer. You also get a Thru jack that's paralleled to the unit's input jack. The TDI's active circuitry delivers top-grade sound quality while minimizing distortion and noise interference and maximizing your signal over long cable runs. Here at Sweetwater, we've found that this direct box tackles passive sources like guitars, basses, and piezo-equipped acoustic-electric instruments with aplomb, and, thanks to its -20dB pad, it can handle speaker-level signals and active instruments with equal assurance. The TDI is able to withstand exceedingly hot levels with zero clipping, and its rugged steel chassis can weather extreme live and studio applications without breaking a sweat. Engineers searching for a near-bulletproof active DI will find the TDI to be the perfect solution in myriad situations.

AEA TDI Phantom-powered Direct Box Features:

Phantom-powered direct box with active circuitry
Sports an ultra-low-noise JFET buffer driving a squeaky-clean step-down transformer
Delivers top-grade sound quality while minimizing distortion and noise interference
Maximizes your signal over long cable runs to safeguard against degradation
Ideal for passive sources like guitars, basses, and piezo-equipped acoustic-electric instruments
-20dB pad accommodates speaker-level signals and active instruments
Withstands exceedingly hot levels with zero clipping
Rugged steel chassis can weather extreme live and studio applications

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Tech Specs

Type: Active
Channels: 1
Pads: -20dB
Inputs: 1 x 1/4"
Outputs: 1 x XLR
Power Source: 48V Phantom Power
Height: 3.0"
Depth: 5.1"
Width: 2.0"
Weight: 1 lbs.
Manufacturer Part Number: TDI

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Reviews

5.0

7 Reviews

Customer Photos & Videos

I got this DI cause I needed a clean balanced in(for bass) and I like AEA as a brand. Same quality in the mics resides in this DI. Does the job it's supposed to and well, and it's made in the USA.

This DI is 100% worth it. I've been using a similar active DI that's by no means cheap, but I was always never totally satisfied with the noise floor. Figured that's just how it was, until I used the AEA and the noise virtually went away. I've used this on bass DI and guitar DI with great results in the studio, but I also tried it live on a variety of instruments and the results were amazing. I was actually having noise issues with the other DI, swapped in the AEA and voila, noise gone. I need another one!

This is a great DI that exceeded my expectations. I run a medium size recording studio and have several good options when it comes to DIs. While I have been happy with other options for most applications, I was curious how this product might compare to other good options. Being familiar with AEA, having used several of their mics and preamps, my expectations were high. Also I read that this DI was a collaboration with Fred Forssell who is a respected designer and longtime collaborator with AEA. To date I have tried this DI on electric guitar, keyboards, electric bass and upright bass pickup (gasp)! This DI performed very well in comparison to my passive and active Radial DI and the active Audient DIs that I regularly use. Noise floor was lower than other DIs used in the shootout which was very nice to see (& hear). I made sure to try the DI on both electric and upright bass pickups, which to be honest, the later is something I almost never do because of the nasal DI typical upright bass tone. In this case, it actually was a very usable sound which I suspect is at least partially due to the extremely high 10 Mohm input impedance. The DI absolutely shines on electric bass and will now be my go to DI for this purpose. I was initially hesitant to purchase this DI due to the price, but it has proven to be well worth the investment due to the low noise floor and linear frequency response that extends quite low. In short - highly recommended. I hope they eventually also release a stereo version which I would like to be first in line to purchase.

Wow - I never knew what a difference A DI could make. I had the opportunity to do a bunch of testing of DI's and wireless rigs through a good sound system over a period of several days. On my acoustic guitar I use a Tone Dexter 2. I came out of the 1/4" out of the TD2 into the input on the AEA DI - this was a huge improvement! By far the the biggest impact from using the AEA DI was on acoustic bass. The bass has a Realist pickup. The channel path on this one made a very big difference. It was super important to plug the bass cable directly into the DI. We (my wife is the bass player) also use an amp on stage we found it was necessary to use an LR Baggs Venue (a previous guitar rig..) between the DI and the amp. We came "1/4" cable out of the "thru" on the DI into the Venue and then 1/4" from venue to amp. The DI also made a huge difference on banjo (I really don't normally like a plugged in banjo, but with this DI it sounded really great straight from a wireless to DI (no preamp processing necessary.)). This is a game changer - I never would have thought it could make so much difference - it makes everything better.

Never Thought I'd Write a Review for a DI Box. A few years ago, I updated my old cheap passive DI's for a pair of active Klark Teknics that made an immediate difference in the sound of my acoustic guitar pickups (active & passive). I was considering purchasing another when I saw AEA came out with a DI Box. Since my AEA N22 is my go to mic for everything, I splurged and bought the TDI, and I couldn't be happier. It brings out all the warmth and woody sound back into my guitars when I record using a small Yamaha USB mixer. I can't wait to use it for playing live and have it replace my old LR Baggs belt clip preamp.