IK Multimedia Z-TONE DI Premium Active Direct Box

Product Description

The IK Multimedia Z-TONE DI is a premium active direct box packed with unique new features. Whether you want more flexible routing on-stage or superior tone shaping in the studio, Z-TONE DI borrows the input circuits from IK's award-winning AXE I/O interface to let you do a whole lot more, and sound better doing it.

Premium sound & build

First and foremost, Z-TONE DI is designed to preserve the natural tone of your instrument. With exceptional 114 dB(A) dynamic range and extended 3 Hz - 30 kHz (±1 dB) frequency response, whether it’s for long cable runs on stage, or to capture DI tracks in the studio, Z-TONE DI ensures every nuance and detail is carefully maintained.

And Z-TONE DI is made in IK’s Modena factory and packed in a rugged metal housing for years of reliable performance.

The ideal front-end

Z-TONE DI offers a high-quality instrument preamp with exceptionally low noise and wide frequency response, and multiple circuit topologies to adapt to any type of guitar, pick-up and style.

Choose your pickup:

• PASSIVE: designed to accommodate everything from low-output vintage pickups to hotter modern humbuckers with ultra-low noise and extended frequency response
• ACTIVE: bypasses unnecessary gain stages when using active pick-ups, to keep your signal path as direct, transparent and clean as possible

Choose your channel:

• PURE: a completely transparent and ultra-accurate preamp circuit that won’t color your sound in any way
• JFET: a Class A JFET input buffer for subtle harmonic
• enhancement, midrange focus and warmth

Tone and feel like you’ve never heard

Guitar pickups can dramatically change their character depending on the impedance of your preamp. That’s why the tone and responsiveness of your guitar can change when plugging into different gear.

Z-TONE DI puts you in control, with the same variable impedance control as our award-winning AXE I/O audio interface. Dial in impedance from 1 MOhm to 2.2 kOhms to shape your sound In unique ways. At the maximum impedance, you’ll find your sound tighter, sharper and more precise. Increase the load and the sound becomes thicker and more bold.

You’ll quickly find yourself using this to give your guitars even more sonic character, dialing in sound that fits beautifully into the mix without the need for EQ.

Comprehensive routing options

Z-TONE DI offers a range of useful output options. First, the balanced XLR output offers a switchable ground lift, to eliminate noise and hum caused by ground loops. An unbalanced ¼” output offers additional flexibility.

Z-TONE DI also offers a Hi-Z Link out, which mirrors the input signal to connect to pedals and amps. This lets you easily record DI tracks alongside your real amp’s tone in the studio, or blend direct & amp sounds live on stage for even more sonic flexibility.

And an optional 20 dB pad extends the useful range of the unit, letting you use instruments and sources aside from guitar & bass. Many keyboards, synths and more still benefit from Z-TONE’s unique PURE / JFET circuits and ground lift feature, for flexible routing and tone shaping.

Z-TONE DI runs off a 9V battery for easy portability, but can also be powered by +48v phantom power from your mixer or interface to run longer sessions without worries.