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AEA Ribbon Mics TDI Active Direct Box

BH #AEAEATDI • MFR #AEA TDI
1 review
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AEA Ribbon Mics TDI Active Direct Box
Key Features
  • Phantom-Powered DI for Live or Studio
  • Unbalanced Hi-Z to Balanced Line Level
  • Ultralow Noise JFET Buffer
  • Clean Lehle Stepdown Transformer
Featuring a proprietary circuit designed by Fred Forssel, the TDI from AEA Ribbon Mics is a phantom-powered DI box that supports perfectly transparent conversion from unbalanced Hi-Z to balanced mic-level signals. With a Thru jack for amplifiers and a -20 dB pad for handling hot signals, the TDI is an indispensable tool for the studio or stage.
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AEA Ribbon Mics TDI Overview

Featuring a proprietary circuit designed by Fred Forssel, the TDI from AEA Ribbon Mics is a phantom-powered DI box that supports perfectly transparent conversion from unbalanced Hi-Z to balanced mic-level signals. With a Thru jack for amplifiers and a -20 dB pad for handling hot signals, the TDI is an indispensable tool for the studio or stage.

The TDI offers extremely low noise, interference, and distortion thanks to its JFET analog buffer and superclean Lehle stepdown transformer. A ground-lift switch is also provided for eliminating any remaining hum or noise that can arise from grounding loops. Though designed for instrument-level signals generated by passive pickups, the TDI also works great with line-level signals from drum machines, samplers, and synths. Made in the USA, the TDI is built to last with a durable steel chassis, ideal for tours, stage backlines, and years of rigorous studio use.

Simple Use
The straight-forward design of the TDI makes setup and usage simple. Power for the TDI is supplied with standard 48V to the XLR output. Simply plug the 1/4” cable from your instrument into the input jack of the TDI, and connect the output via XLR to the next device in your signal chain (preamp, PA, audio interface, etc.), then engage phantom power.
Thru Jack
Optionally, you can also use the Thru jack to send your instrument signal to other instrument-level sources, such as amplifiers. The through-put feature is also useful for simultaneous wet/dry signal tracking.
UPC: 652401978275

AEA Ribbon Mics TDI Specs

General
Item Type
Standard DI
Number of Channels
Single-Channel
Active/Passive
Active
Circuitry
Solid-State (JFET)
Preamp
Pad
-20 dB
Ground Lift
Yes
Polarity Reverse
No
EQ & Tone Shaping
Low-Cut/High-Pass Filter
No
Connectivity
Audio I/O
1x 1/4" TS Unbalanced Instrument Input
1x 1/4" TS Unbalanced Thru
1x XLR 3-Pin Balanced Mic Output
Performance
Frequency Response
10 Hz to 50 kHz (at -0.5 dB)
10 Hz to 120 kHz (at -3 dB)
Input Impedance
10 Megohms
55 Kilohms (With Pad)
Output Impedance
<50 Ohms (Balanced)
Total Harmonic Distortion/Noise
0.002% (at 1 kHz)
Power
Operating Voltage
48 V (Phantom Power)
Physical
Dimensions
5.1 x 3 x 2" / 13 x 7.6 x 5.1 cm
Weight
1.2 lb / 0.5 kg
Packaging Info
Package Weight
1.335 lb
Box Dimensions (LxWxH)
7.2 x 3.2 x 2.6"

AEA Ribbon Mics TDI Reviews

The new classic DI

By Richard
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2024-02-29

AEA is known for great mics and great pre-amps and the TDI is built the same way, high quality, clean and transparent. In the couple of weeks I have had it, it has been used on multiple basses, with passive and active pick-ups as well as acoustics with Piezos. Regardless of input, there was absolutely no distortion and no coloration, the sound of the instruments came through, good or bad, but gave me total control at the console. Excellent for Piezo pick-ups, as the 10MOhm input impedance loads the pick-ups nicely, no harshness or overtones like some DI's. This has quickly replaced my old classic Type 85 and my newer J48 as the go to DI in my kit. I have not been excited about a DI in a while, a lot out there, but the newer ones were all about imparting their color, not the TDI, it is as good as it gets, and looks great too.

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