Box Series

Made in Taiwan

USER GUIDE

DI-BOX2

Index

01 Overview

01 Features

03 Audio Connection

04 Various Instruments Connection

04 Input PAD Attenuation

05 Eliminating Hum and Buzz and

the Ground Lift

05 How to Replace DI-BOX Battery

06 Specifications

Unika Electronic Co., Ltd.

w w w . u n i k a . c o m . t w

6F, No.168, Xin-Hu 2nd Rd.

Nei-Hu District, Taipei City. 11494.

Taiwan, Republic of China.

　　 +886 2 27933017

　　 +886 2 27928264

　　 [email protected]

UNiKA DI-BOX2 User Guide

OVERVIEW

The Unika DI-BOX2 is a 2 channels active direct box, it is very easy to use, simply plug it in, turn on the power and it goes to work. However, there are a number of features built in that should be understood in order to get the most out of the DI-BOX2. So please take a few minutes to go through this user guide to ensure you get the most out of it.

　　 [email protected]

　　 If you still need further clarification, please send email to us and we will

　　 do our very best to reply you in short order.

FEATURES

• 2 channel high impedance direct inputs for electronic musical instrument signal feed .

• The ¼" TRS LINK socket carries a parallel-wired direct feed from the input.

• Selectable 3 steps attenuator for Hi-Z direct input .

• Accept power from plug-in 9V battery or +20V to +48V phantom power .

• 2 channel XLR Balanced Low-Z output with isolation transformer .

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UNiKA DI-BOX2 User Guide

① ② ③ ④ ⑤ ⑥ ⑦

⑧ ⑨ ⑩⑪

① Ch-1 ¼" TRS LINK socket carries a parallel-wired direct feed from the input.

② Ch-1 high impedance direct input for electronic musical instrument signal feed.

③ Output Stereo / Mono mode selector, set the operation mode to Stereo, or in 　

　 Mono mode the 2 inputs are summed so that the outputs become mono.

④ Input PAD: 0dB, -20dB & -40dB selectable 3 steps attenuator reduces the

　 input sensitivity to prevent overload.

⑤ Ground lift switch, lifts the pin-1 on XLR output connectors to help eliminate

　 hum and buzz caused by ground loops.

⑥ Ch-2 high impedance direct input for electronic musical instrument signal feed.

⑦ Ch-2 ¼" TRS LINK socket carries a parallel-wired direct feed from the input.

⑧ Ch-2 XLR Balanced Low-Z output with isolation transformer.

⑨ Ch-1 XLR Balanced Low-Z output with isolation transformer.

⑩ POWER switch: Used to switch the power ON/OFF.

⑪ POWER ON/OFF LED indicator.

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UNiKA DI-BOX2 User Guide

AUDIO CONNECTION

Instrument direct input & Parallel link connection

As with all audio gear, always ensure audio system levels are turned down or equipment turned off before making connections. This will avoid plugin or turn-on transients from damaging more sensitive components such as tweeters.

There are two channels on the DI-BOX2. These are identical and feature

XLR-¼”TRS combo jack INPUT, a ¼” thru-put LINK and a balanced XLR

OUPUT.

Connect your source instrument to the input and the balanced XLR output to the PA system or recorder. The LINK connector output provides the means for connecting the signal to a stage amp or personal monitor system. Simply connect the LINK to your amp or monitor. Unbalanced cables are much more susceptible to noise than their balanced counterparts. Keeping unbalanced cables under 8 meters (25’) in length is good practice while balanced cables can easily extend to 100 meters (300’). The balanced output of the DI-BOX2 is mic level, meaning that it should be connected to the mic input of a mixing console or mic preamp. Once connected, make sure phantom power is activated.

Female Male

XLR-TRS Combo input

2

3

1 1

3

2 2-Signal Hot +

3-Signal Cold -

1-Ground

Fig-1: XLR Plugs Balanced

　　　 connection:

　　 1-Ground

　　 2-Signal Hot (+)

　　 3-Signal Cold (-)

Fig-2: XLR-¼"TRS Combo

　　　 socket for direct input

For Unbalanced connection, pin-3 should be connected to Ground with pin-1.

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UNiKA DI-BOX2 User Guide

Tip-Signal (+)

Sleeve-Ground

Tip-Signal Hot (+)

Ring-Signal Cold(-)

Sleeve-Ground

Fig-3: ¼"TS Unbalanced connection Fig-4: ¼"TRS Balanced connection

VARIOUS INSTRUMENTS CONNECTION

Fig-5: 2 instruments, Guitar amps & PA connection

Fig-6: Stereo keyboard, Monitors & PA connection

INPUT PAD ATTENUATION

The most common use of the direct input is with guitar pick-ups or keyboards. The optimal setting for this is most likely with the pad switch set to 0dB, although with some high-output pick-ups the performance of the direct input may be improved if the pad switch is set to -20dB to prevent possible clipping of the input signal.

The instrument is connected to the XLR-1/4" Combo jack socket, and a parallel link feed taken from the other jack socket to the instrument’s own amplifier.

The direct input can also be fed either from a line-level output from the head (pad set to -20dB) or from the amplifier power output (speaker output, pad set to -40dB).

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UNiKA DI-BOX2 User Guide

ELIMINATING HUM AND BUZZ AND THE GROUND LOOP

The DI-BOX2 is equipped with output isolation transformers to eliminate hum and buzz caused by stray DC voltage and ground loops.

Computers, optical projectors and other consumer equipment can be particularly noisy, anyone that has incorporated audio with a projector knows that noise can be a serious problem, so transformers can be incredibly useful when combating system noise.

A ground lift switch on the outputs takes this one step further by lifting pin-1 on the

XLRs. Computers are often the source for noise problems in audio systems, so greater care is certainly needed to keep things quiet.

HOW TO REPLACE DI-BOX BATTERY

1

1

2 3

2 3

Battery installation:

① Put the battery into the slot. ② Verify the battery polarity is correct and snap it in.

③ Press it down into the battery holder.

1 2 3

3

2

1

Battery removal:

1

2 3

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UNiKA DI-BOX2 User Guide

SPECIFICATIONS

Direct Input

Link Output

Direct Input pad

Direct Input Impedance

Max. input level before Clip

Output level

Output impedance

Analog output

Frequency response

Dynamic range

Noise floor

Total harmonic distortion

Ground lift

DC Power

Finish

Size

Weight

Construction

( Specifications are subject to change without notice.

)

Unbalanced, XLR/¼"TRS combo jack.

(Pin-2 Hot, Pin-3&1 Ground).

Unbalanced, Parallel link output ¼"TRS jack for feeding to other equipment.

At 0dB

1 MΩ

+9dBu

Mic level

At -20dB

47KΩ

+29dBu

At -40dB

47KΩ

+49dBu

200Ω nominal, Transformer Balanced.

Balanced transformer isolated

(XLR-M, Pin-1 Ground, Pin-2 Hot, Pin-3 Cold)

20Hz to 20KHz , +1/-1 dB

>109dB

<-90dBu, unweighted 20Hz to 20KHz.

Less than 0.008% at 1KHz, 0dBu output

Lifts pin-1 on both XLR outputs plug-in 9V battery or +20V to +48V Phantom power

Durable powder coat

158mm (W) x 112mm (D) x 46mm (H)

1.2Kg, 2.6lbs.

14 gauge steel cabinet & chassis

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