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Radial Pro48 1-channel Active 48v Direct Box

Phantom-powered High-resolution Active Direct Box with -15dB Pad for Passive Guitars and Basses
20 Write review Item ID: Pro48
$129.99

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Radial Pro48 1-channel Active 48v Direct Box
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$129.99
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A great way to connect your active instruments to your recording system!

The Radial Pro48 is a high-performance 48V phantom powered active direct box designed specifically for low-volume instruments with passive pickups. The Pro48's innovative digital switching power supply significantly increases headroom and allows for less distortion while yielding a smooth, linear response extending from 20Hz to well above 100kHz resulting in natural, uncolored signal transfer. This superior performance makes the Pro48 an ideal candidate for use with low-output instruments that require extra amplification. The compact Pro48 is built road-ready with 14 gauge steel in Radial's unique book-end design that provides protective zones around the switches and connectors. The internal welded I-beam construction assures outside stress will not torque the PC board thus assuring longer product life. The Pro48 is designed for high-use applications wherever an active direct box is called for. A -15dB pad switch is provided to tame hot signal and expands the range of instrument preamps and the ground lift switch helps eliminate hum and buzz problems caused by ground loops. With exceptional sonic performance, great natural tone at an affordable price, the Radial Pro48 truly represents a breakthrough in value!

Related Videos: Pro48 1-channel Active 48v Direct Box

Radial Pro48 Features:
  • High-resolution Compact Active Direct Box with 48v Phantom power
  • Increased dynamic range and headroom
  • Compact, rugged book-end design with 14-gauge steel welded I-beam construction
  • Ideal for low-output, passive guitars and basses
  • -15dB Pad accommodates high-output sources
  • 20Hz to 100kHz Frequency Response

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Tech Specs

  • Type: Active DI
  • Channels: 1
  • Pads: -15dB
  • Ground Lift: Yes
  • Inputs: 1 x 1/4"
  • Outputs: 1 x XLR, 1 x 1/4" thru
  • Power Source: 48V Phantom Power
  • Height: 2"
  • Depth: 5"
  • Width: 3.3"
  • Weight: 1.55 lbs.
  • Manufacturer Part Number: R800 1105

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Customer Reviews

4.7 out of 5

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It's Pin-3 Hot

This is a great little unit. It's got a good-feeling weight to it. It's a bit smaller than a regular sized Radial box so it fits in a guitar case a little easier. It has a transparent sound and a really hot output. Don't be afraid to use the pad!

However....

I got it to split my bass to record a clean and distorted track. I immediately noticed the two tracks were out of phase. After trying multiple cables and inputs, I contacted Radial about it. They said....

"The XLR output on the Pro48 is wired pin-3 hot and has been this way since the product's inception. Originally, there was an issue in-between the creation of the original circuit board design and the initial production of the product where this change somehow occurred.

"It was of course a mistake that we would have rather not have happened, but with so many units currently in the field we felt that making a change would be more of an issue if people started mixing the revised units and original units in their setups."

That's fine, but the manual says it's pin-2 hot in multiple places. It's also not stated anywhere on their website that I could find. The least Radial could do it state this in the manual. They also told me how to fix it if I wanted to (cross two resistors), but I don't feel like doing that right now.

I would have given it 5 stars, but I feel they could easily change the manual and website to reflect the manufacturing flaw.
by Dave from Minnesota on

Just what we needed!

Our bass players were always having issues with their passive pickups not generating enough signal strength when running through passive direct boxes. Input trim on their channels were maxed out at +40 dB just to get enough gain to hear them in the mix. The Pro 48 DI added 10 dB at the board to their signal so we now have some headroom.
by Jeff Grinstead from Colorado on
Music background: 50 years as performing musician, sound engineer, tech director and worship leader.

Quality Product

I'm very happy with this direct box. I have an old house and I was having ground loop issues with my old DI box, when connecting to both a guitar amp and an interface, even with the ground lift switch engaged. This active box does not have that problem. It is nice and quiet.
by Trevor on

Works very well

The PRO48 DI box does a great job. It splits my electric guitar signal into two allowing me to record a Direct Input signal and also mic my amp at the same time. Both tracks are strong, noise free and clean. As another reviewer said, they do seem to be out of phase however. So that must be accounted for. Recording levels are easy to set with a standard electric guitar or bass going into a preamplifier or audio interface. It is very solidly built.
by Sweetwater Customer on

Radial Pro 48 active DI box

Quite!!! The best there is regardless of price. I now have 6 in the studio and yes they are QUITE !!! Be careful, for the Pro48 active units are very loud! Watch you gain when setting up.
by Jeffrey Belka from San Diego on
Music background: Engineer , song writer
See also: Direct Input Boxes, Radial, Radial Direct Boxes
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