The Type 85 is the ultimate in quality and convenience. It lets
you connect an acoustic instrument pickup or an electronic
instrument directly to a microphone input.
Frequently Asked Questions:
What does it do?
The Type 85 connects any high impedance instrument pickup, even
piezo pickups, to a balanced microphone (XLR type) input. It
provides a strong, clean signal to the mix board without adding
noise or distortion.
What doesn't it do?
It won't change the tone or volume you hear from your
own amp like passive direct boxes. It won't add hiss,
distortion, or buzz like some active direct boxes. It won't
break just when you need it. It won't develop a dead battery
on stage because it runs on Phantom power.
Why does it sound so good?
The Type 85 doesn't use a cheap FET opamp. It uses only
hand selected high quality discrete components woven into a
single ended class A circuit much like the classic tube
microphone preamp. The Type 85 has an incredibly smooth, sweet
sound.
Why is it so hard to break?
Connectors and switches are recessed into a single piece
extruded case with extra thick walls. You can actually drive a
truck over a Type 85 without hurting it. Internal electronics are
molded in a single epoxy block and fully protected against
electrical damage. The input circuit can withstand 220V AC all
day long and static spikes up to 20,000 volts!
Does it need a battery?
Most mixing consoles provide 48-volt Phantom power and the
Type 85 will automatically use it. If you don't have Phantom
power, the Type 85 will run from an internal 9V battery. An
alkaline battery will last about 400 hours.
How does it eliminate buzz?
Hum and buzz are often caused by a connection between the
mixer and ground at the guitar system. The Type 85 can always
isolate ground, even when running on Phantom power. Most direct
boxes can't do that.
Where are the rolloff switches?
It doesn't have any. The Type 85 is designed to transfer the
sound of your instrument to the mixing console, adding nothing
and taking away nothing. Adjusting the frequency content of a
sound source is an artistic decision best done at the mixing
location where you can hear the results and easily make
changes.
Technical Description
Input Resistance:
Pickup mode: 10,000,000 ohms, 10 times the input resistance of a
typical guitar amplifier Speaker mode: 10k ohms
Input Capacitance:
60 Picofarads, equal to 2 feet of low capacitance guitar
cable
Maximum Input Level:
Pickup mode: 5 Volts P-P Speaker mode: 300 Volts P-P Equal to
2,800 watts into 4 ohms
Input Protection:
220 Volts RMS and 20,000 Volt static discharges
Voltage Gain: Pickup mode:
-10dB Speaker mode: -46 dB
Noise (shorted input):
149 dB SPL, 1 kHz at 1% T.H.D.
Frequency Response:
20Hz to 20kHz ± 1dB
Distortion:
0.018% THD @ 1kHz and 1 V P-P in, 0.08% IMD 10kHz/60Hz 1 V P-P
in
R.F. Filtering:
250 kHz Low Pass on input, 30kHz Low Pass on output
Power Requirements:
48 V @ 0.4 ma Phantom or 9 V battery
Dimensions:
1.75 x 3 x 5 in. (45 x 77 x 127 mm)
Weight: 18.5 oz. (0.52 kg)
800-834-5986
