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Countryman Type 85 Active Direct Box

Runs on phantom power or 9V battery. 35 People rated this product:

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Manufacturer's Description for Countryman Type 85 Active Direct Box

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. zZounds is an authorized dealer of Countryman products.

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)

Countryman Warranty Countryman Warranty Countryman offers a Limited Lifetime Guarantee on Type 85 Direct Boxes. If you have additional warranty questions, please call the manufacturer at 800-669-1422

zZounds is an
authorized Countryman dealer

Our extended 30-Day 100% Satisfaction Guarantee applies on this product. Buy it, and if it isn't just right for you, return it!

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What Our Customers Are Saying About zZounds "The incredible staff at zZounds took the time to walk me through my purchase, making sure I didn't have to spend a lot of extra money on gear that had features I wouldn't need." - customer on February 2nd, 2012

Customer Reviews

5 out of 5 (35 ratings) Rate and Review This Product

Read 2 Countryman Type 85 Active Direct Box Reviews

"if you dont know about this one you better ask someone"

Sound: invisible, no difference Feature: everything you need Ease of Use: just as simple as any other DI Quality: tuffer than a brick, trough it aroud stages use it every show, still as good as first day Value: i dant want to buy any other DI, they just dont meet the same standard. the price is alittle high but the quality is worth it Manufacturer Support: never need The Wow Factor: you cant break it if you tried, its a solid tool Overall: this DI willl be my first choice as long as im pluggin up

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This review has been selected by our experts as particularly helpful. "Clean, Clear, Music!!"

Sound: If your tired of Buzz an Hum an Cracks an Pops this is the Direct Box You NEED!Clean an Clear is what this product delivers.Its built like a tank just like they advertise.It come Complete 9v Batter Included!Spend the extra money an get THE BEST dont waste time on the rest!

Style of Music: Country

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Read 2 Countryman Type 85 Active Direct Box Reviews

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Available on
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Need it now but short of cash? All we need is the first payment up front and the rest in easy monthly payments!

Fast approval.: We approve everyone, with very few exceptions, as long as we can verify your identity.
No interest. Ever.: It's just as if you paid the whole amount up front!
No paperwork. Nothing to track.: No application to mail or fax, no bills to pay. We automatically charge the payments to your credit card.

We'll wait on your money so you don't have to wait for your gear!

When you checkout, just click the Play as you Pay checkbox to indicate which installment plan you wish to use.

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We'll beat any price: Really. It's not a problem for us. In fact, we'll thank you for the chance to live up to our lowest price guarantee!
It's fast and easy: Just tell us where you saw the lower price - another website, an email offer, your local store - and we'll send you our lowest price offer in a matter of hours.
Simply click the Seen it for less? link: Next to the item you want, or give us a call at 800-zZounds (800-996-8637).

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We don't collect sales tax. Bonus!: Only NJ residents pay tax during checkout.

Available on
orders $249+

learn more

Need it now but short of cash? All we need is the first payment up front and the rest in easy monthly payments!

Fast approval.: We approve everyone, with very few exceptions, as long as we can verify your identity.
No interest. Ever.: It's just as if you paid the whole amount up front!
No paperwork. Nothing to track.: No application to mail or fax, no bills to pay. We automatically charge the payments to your credit card.

We'll wait on your money so you don't have to wait for your gear!

When you checkout, just click the Play as you Pay checkbox to indicate which installment plan you wish to use.

on most orders $49+

Just $2.99 on
smaller orders

Really heavy stuff might cost you a
little more

learn more

Why fight traffic and pushy salesmen when we'll bring your gear straight to your home, free of charge?

zZounds free shipping is really free!: No hidden charges or hassles on returns.
Fast, reliable delivery: We have warehouses on both coasts, so most shipments arrive in 3 days or less.
We don't collect sales tax. Bonus!: Only NJ residents pay tax during checkout.

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