Radial Engineering J48 Active Direct Box

Radial Engineering

Phantom Powered Active Direct Box

The J48 is a high performance active direct box for live concert touring and professional recording studio applications, with the ability to handle extreme transients without distortion while delivering the natural sound of your instrument.

  • Exceptional headroom & dynamic range
  • Retains the natural sound of the instrument
  • Merge switch sums stereo instruments to mono
  • Powered by 48V phantom, no batteries required

Higher Rail Voltage, Higher Headroom

Most battery-powered guitars and basses will produce as much as 7 Volts when played at maximum volume, which can easily overload typical active direct boxes which have are only able to handle about 3 Volts. The J48 uses a unique switching power supply that raises the internal rail voltage so it can handle up to an incredible 9 Volts, resulting in improved signal handling and greater headroom. This additional headroom significantly reduces distortion of all types, allowing the natural tone and character of the instrument to shine through.

The Radial J48 has gained a tremendous following through the professional audio community. With significantly more headroom, lower distortion and unmatched durability, it is no wonder that the J48 has become the most specified direct box on stages around the world. As you will note with the specifications below, the J48 is exceptionally linear when tested both under laboratory conditions and when placed under the extra stress of 100 meters (300 feet) of cable. In the lab, the high frequency response actually exceeds 40kHz! This makes the J48 a perfect candidate for the most demanding studio recording while being the obvious choice for the artist on stage.

Specifications
Audio circuit type: Proprietary analog circuit with low-noise op-amp
Frequency response: 20Hz ~ 20kHz
Dynamic range: 109dB
Total harmonic distortion: 0.002% @ -5dBu
Intermodulation Distortion: 0.003% @ -3dBu
Phase Deviation: +10º at 20Hz | 0º at 1kHz | -1º at 20kHz
Input Impedance: 220kΩ - ¼" input
Output Impedance: 200Ω - XLR output
Equivalent Input Noise: -103dBu
Noise: -99dB below 0dBu
Maximum Input: +10dBu
Features
Input pad, Mono Sum, 180° polarity reverse, Ground lift, HPF
Input Connectors: 1/4"
Output Connectors: Balanced XLR, 1/4" Thru
General
Construction: 14 gauge steel chassis and outer shell
Size (L x W x D): 3.3" x 5.0" x 2" (84 x 127 x 48mm)
Weight: 1.55 lb (720 g)
Power: 48V phantom - proprietary digital switching
Conditions: For use in dry locations only between 5°C and 40°C