Active Di Box Vs Passive

But the differences go deeper than that.

Active di box vs passive.

Passive dis are ideal for instruments with strong outputs and both their low cost and durability make them the most popular kind of direct box. Active di units and passive di units. Passive di boxes are basically just transformers. In contrast active boxes do have active electronics which are powered by external power sources.

Active versus passive di box the di box for direct injection or direct input also known as a direct box is a device who s main basic function is to convert the unbalanced high impedance output of an instrument s signal into a balanced low impedance one which in turn allows longer cable runs without adding noise among other benefits. A passive di unit typically consists of an audio transformer used as a balun. Typical turns ratio is about 500 1 to match a nominal 50 kω signal source such as the magnetic pickup of an electric guitar to a 100 ω input. The biggest difference between an active di and a passive di is that an active di includes a preamplifier.

The most basic definitions of the two different kinds of di boxes are likely what you d expect. Passive does not have active electronics and therefore does not require an external power source. Active di boxes require a power source usually batteries or phantom power over an xlr jack.