1-channel Passive Direct Box with Ground Lift and 15dB Pad

Telefunken Sound Quality for Your Instruments

Whether you play guitar, bass, or keyboards, you need a direct box that won't diminish your instrument's tone, such as the Telefunken TD-1 mono passive direct box. Every aspect of this direct box is designed for maximum sonic integrity, from the custom-wound OEP/Carnhill output transformers to the gold-plated traces on the circuit board. You can expect warm and rich tone even after long cable runs, and the extruded aluminum enclosure ensures a long life span. When you need to convert an instrument-level signal to a mic-level signal, with sonic quality as your top priority, you'll be well-served with the Telefunken TD-1 direct box.

Converts instruments to mic-level signals without signal degradation

There are numerous situations in which you need a direct box to balance an unbalanced signal; for example, if you need to drive a long cable run or if you want to plug your instrument directly into a microphone preamplifier. Regardless of why you need a direct box, you need one that won't ruin your tone, and that's where the Telefunken TD-1 excels. Premium components and smart design lead to an astonishingly flat frequency response (+/-2dB from 10Hz to 40kHz), which means whatever you put in is what you're going to get out the other side.

Why are transformers important?

There's actually a lot of nuance in winding copper around a coil, generating magnetic fields, and bending electrons to your will. Inferior transformers can leave your signal sounding dull, limp, and lifeless - devoid of musicality. Exceptional transformers such as the custom-wound OEP/Carnhill transformer in the TD-1 not only serve their technical purpose of balancing and isolating your signal, but they do so with outstanding richness, detail, depth, and dimension.

Why is a direct box so important?

We know that the direct box is one of the least exciting parts of your rig to consider. But the fact is that it's an integral part of your signal path, allowing you to convert between instrument- and microphone-level signals without noise issues and level mismatches. Direct boxes are a much-needed solution for many situations both onstage and in the studio, and if an inferior direct box alters your tone, there's not much you're going to be able to do about. With the Telefunken TD-1, your direct box will serve its purpose while providing the full, rich sound of whatever you plug into it.

Which is right for me, a passive or active direct box?

The short answer is that it depends on what you're plugging into it. Generally speaking, in any audio signal path, you want to minimize the number of gain stages for maximum sonic fidelity. If you're balancing the signal of an instrument with active electronics, go for a passive DI. If you're working with an instrument with passive pickups, go for an active DI. Not sure about your application? Call your Millionhead Sales Engineer, and we'll figure it out together.

Built to withstand a lifetime of abuse

Let's face it, no one is careful with direct boxes. Luckily the Telefunken TD-1 is built with top-shelf components all the way through, all housed in a rugged aluminum chassis. The switches and connectors are recessed for added protection, and the gold-plated traces on the circuit board ensure they won't corrode over the years. If you can find a way to damage this direct box without specific malevolent intent, we'd love to hear about it.

Telefunken TD-1 Mono Passive Direct Box at a Glance:

• Converts instruments to mic-level signals without signal degradation
• Why are transformers important?
• Why is a direct box so important?
• Which is right for me, a passive or active direct box?
• Built to withstand a lifetime of abuse