Radial Introduces the PZ-DI Orchestral Acoustic Direct Box

Vancouver BC - Radial  Engineering Ltd. is pleased to announce their most advanced direct box to date, the Radial PZ-DI - a special direct box that is designed to work with all types of acoustic and orchestral instruments by enabling you 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 lets you match 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 -15dB 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 fully capable to work double duty as a standard direct box with front panel ¼" input and thru connectors to interface with an electric bass and the stage amplifier plus XLR out to feed the PA. The PZ-DI employs 48V phantom power with an innovative internal switching supply that at once  elevates the rail voltage while reducing distortion of all types to deliver a smooth, natural tone with the same perfectly cascading even  harmonics normally found on high-end studio preamps.

And as with all Radial products, the PZ-DI is made tough to handle the rigors of professional touring. 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.

The PZ-DI will start shipping in October 2012. Estimated retail price: $300 USD.