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Countryman Type 85 Active Direct Box

Runs on phantom power or 9V battery.

(35) Read 2 reviews for this product | Rate and Review This Product

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Product Description

zZounds is an
authorized Countryman dealer

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 "zZounds is the best! They carry many of the top brands and their Play as you Pay installment plan allows me to split my order into low monthly payments." - customer on May 9, 2013

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

800-zZounds (800-996-8637)

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.

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.

You don't have to trade service for savings when you shop at zZounds!

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).

With zZounds you'll never have to worry that you paid too much.

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).

on most orders $49+

Just $2.99 on
smaller orders

Really heavy stuff might cost you a
little more

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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.

1. We offer the most flexible payment plans in the biz

zZounds offers a number of different installment payment plans that make it affordable and convenient for you to get the gear you really want today, without racking up risky credit card debt.

Other stores offer house credit cards that require you to fill out an application and pass a credit check--and, if you qualify, leave you vulnerable to exorbitant interest charges once the initial promotional period ends. zZounds payment plans are easy to get and simple to use; plus we'll never charge you interest!

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2. We guarantee the lowest price

If we don't already have the lowest price, just send us a link to any legitimate competitor's offer, and we'll beat their price as long as we're not losing money on the deal.

To submit a request for a lower price, click "Seen it for less?" on any product page. We answer most lowest price requests within two hours. For extra peace of mind, you also have 30 days after your purchase to find a lower price; if you do, we'll refund the difference.

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3. You'll get your gear fast

Because we have two well-situated warehouses--one on each coast--nearly three- quarters of the US population is located within our two-day shipping zones. Plus, we keep both warehouses well stocked with all the most popular products, so you'll usually get your gear fast without having to pay more for expedited shipping.

In fact, zZounds offers free two-day delivery on many of our best-selling products!

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4. We make returns super easy

You have 30 days to try your gear at home, in your practice space or studio. If you're not absolutely in love with the sound you're getting, just let us know. We'll promptly arrange for an exchange or a refund without the hassles or hidden charges you face with some of our competitors. If there's something wrong with the gear you bought from us, we'll email you an electronic return label so you can return it easily and free of charge.

zZounds.com return details »

5. Our customer service is consistently rated the best

zZounds customer service is consistently rated at or near the top on every major comparison shopping website--probably because we only hire experienced musicians with outstanding customer service skills to work in our call center, and they don't work on commission. To us, this is our most meaningful measure of success. zZounds has served over a million customers since 1996, and they're the only critics whose reviews really matter to us.

zZounds.com customer service »

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.

A guarantee so solid, you never have to worry about price when shopping at zZounds

We'll beat any price: Simply click the Seen it for less? link next to the gear you want or call us at 800-zZounds (800-996-8637)
Got a coupon from another site?: Use it with us - we'll beat those prices, too!
Find a better price after buying from us?: No problem. We'll refund you the difference for 30 days, so you'll never regret buying from zZounds.

You'll still get the trustworthy service you've come to expect from zZounds, without paying more for your gear!