The Radial Engineering PZ-DI Orchestral Instrument DI stands out as a direct box engineered specifically for acoustic and orchestral instruments. Its thoughtful design allows you to match the input impedance precisely to your instrument, optimizing frequency response, dynamics, and overall feel. No matter what pickup you use, the PZ-DI ensures your sound is smoother and more musical.
Impedance Control for Any Pickup
At the heart of the PZ-DI is a three-position load adjustment switch. The 1MΩ setting provides the classic impedance found on standard active DI boxes. For those using magnetic pickups, the 220kΩ option warms up your tone, delivering the feel and sound you’d expect from a tube amplifier. Meanwhile, the ultra-high 10MΩ impedance compensates for the often harsh and nasal characteristics associated with piezo-equipped instruments.
Flexible Tone Shaping
The unit also incorporates a fully variable high-pass filter, enabling you to tailor the low-end response of your instrument. This feature lets you roll off bass frequencies to eliminate unwanted resonance—retain deep lows for a cello, or raise the cutoff to better suit higher-pitched instruments like violins. For performers using active instruments with built-in preamps (such as some acoustic guitars), a dedicated low-pass filter allows you to gently soften the tone, ensuring a smoother and more natural sound on stage.
Advanced Power and Headroom
To minimize distortion and maximize signal handling, the PZ-DI employs an innovative DC to DC switching supply. This converts phantom power to deliver additional headroom, providing a wide dynamic range that’s perfect for acoustic instruments. If you’re working with a particularly high-output instrument, like an active bass or digital keyboard, a -15 dB pad is available to prevent overload and ensure clean signal transmission.
Stage-Friendly Features
On top of its powerful tone and impedance controls, the PZ-DI includes a 180° polarity reverse switch—ideal for eliminating feedback hot spots that can occur on stage. A convenient ground lift switch is also provided, effectively combating hum and buzz from ground loops.
Versatility for Any Performance
Capable of adapting instantly to any type of pickup, the PZ-DI lets you preserve the full-frequency response and dynamic range of orchestral stringed instruments, smooth out the peaks of bluegrass fiddle, banjo, or mandolin, split a bass guitar’s signal without tone loss, or amplify an acoustic guitar without the unwanted coloration that often comes with other direct boxes.
