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Radial Engineering J48 Active Direct Box  From Radial

J48™ Phantom Powered Active Direct Box

Radial Engineering

$249.99

Retail:  $300.00

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Radial j48 advanced active direct box - explained

Radial's Peter Janis explains some of the advanced features of the Radial J48 phantom-powered active DI.

  • Signal Chain
    • Radial Engineering J48 Active Direct Box

Manufacturer's Description from Radial

  • Ultra low distortion of all types
  • Exceptional headroom & dynamic range
  • Retains instrument's natural sound
  • Powered by 48V phantom

The Radial J48 has been designed from the ground up to deliver the most natural tone. As a direct box manufacturer, we do not believe it is our task to alter the sound of your prized '1962 Fender Jazz Bass', but retain and transfer the true character of the instrument to the mixing console without adding distortion or introducing artifact. This design philosophy has gained a tremendous following from many of the world's most demanding musicians.

Using only 48V phantom power, the Radial J48 is an active direct box that produces an exceptionally linear response that extends from 20Hz up to well above 40kHz. Low distortion of all types is achieved via a unique digital switching power supply that raises the internal operating rail voltage for added headroom and improved signal handling. The results are truly amazing. The J48 delivers an ideal even-order harmonic cascade and a sonic performance that outperforms DIs costing several hundreds more.

And like all Radial products, the J48 is both feature-rich for studio and made tough to handle the road. This includes a -15dB input pad to tame extra loud signals, 180º polarity reverse for feedback control on stage and a ground lift to help reduce hum & buzz caused by ground loops. Special features include a merge function that elegantly mixes left-right signals to mono without phase cancellation. To minimize resonant feedback with acoustic instruments, the J48 is also equipped with an 80Hz high-pass filter (low-cut). When engaged, this also increases headroom by eliminating unneeded bass frequencies.

Radial's innovative book-end design protects switches and connectors from abuse while the internal I-beam construction eliminates stress on the PC board. This serves to reduce solder joints from going 'cold' and delivers trouble-free performance for years. A full-bottom no-slip pad provides mechanical and electrical isolation while providing plenty of 'stay-put' for rockin' stages!

The Radial J48 is used by artists as diverse as acoustic guitarist Tommy Emmanuel; super-star engineer Joe Chiccarelli; and one of the most successful bands of all time, Fleetwood Mac. The Radial J48… the world's finest 48V phantom powered active direct box.

Radial Engineering

About Manufacturer

Radial Engineering is a manufacturer and distributor of professional audio equipment, building tools for the working audio and audio-video professional. Radial is located on the Fraser River, just outside Vancouver, British Columbia in the municipality of Port Coquitlam. The company began operations in the fall of 1991 as the Canadian distributor of Mogami cable and Jensen Audio Transformers. In 1992, it became a limited corporation under the JP Cabletek Electronics Ltd. banner. The Radial name was first used on house branded cables and snake systems. The Radial name and logo represents a cross section of quad cable; Radial being round. In 1996 the Radial JDI direct box was launched. This led the way to the Radial JDV and today, over 50 electronic products are now being produced under the Radial, Tonebone and Forest Audio brands. In 2001, the Primacoustic brand was launched to address the growing demand for acoustic products for the burgeoning home recording market and in 2006, the company officially changed its name to Radial Engineering Ltd.

Specifications

The Radial J48 has gained a tremendous following through the professional audio community. With significantly more headroom, lower distortion and unmatched durability, it is no wonder that the J48 has become the most specified direct box on stages around the world. As you will note with the specifications below, the J48 is exceptionally linear when tested both under laboratory conditions and when placed under the extra stress of 100 meters (300 feet) of cable. In the lab, the high frequency response actually exceeds 40kHz! This makes the J48 a perfect candidate for the most demanding studio recording while being the obvious choice for the artist on stage.

 

Specifications

 

 

Audio circuit type:

Proprietary analog circuit with low-noise op-amp

Frequency response:

20Hz ~ 20kHz (± 1.5dB)

Signal to noise ratio:

 

Dynamic range:

109dB

Noise floor:

-99dB below 0dBu

Equivalent input noise:

-103dBu

Maximum input:

+10dBu

Phase deviation:

+10º at 20Hz | 0º at 1kHz | -1º at 20kHz

Total harmonic distortion:

0.002% @ -5dBu

Inter-modulation distortion:

0.003% @ -3dBu

Input impedance:

220kΩ - ¼" input

Output impedance:

600Ω - XLR output

Features

 

Merge function:

IN and THRU jacks are summed to mono

Input pad:

-15dB

Polarity:

180º signal polarity reverse switch

Low-cut filter:

-3 dB @ 80Hz

Ground lift:

Disconnects pin-1 at XLR output

XLR configuration:

AES standard (pin-2 hot)

General

 

Power:

48V phantom - proprietary digital switching

Construction:

14 gauge steel chassis and outer shell, baked enamel finish

Size:

3.3" x 5.0" x 2" (84 x 127 x 48mm)

Weight:

1.55 lb (720 g)

FCC approval:

Complies with section 15 of the FCC Rules

Warranty:

Radial 3-year, transferable

Specifications are subject to change without notice.

Downloads

Action

Name

Description

J48 User Guide

J48 Smart Sheet