World Famous Jensen Transformers release new ISO-MAX DI Boxes
Jensen Transformers was founded in 1974 by Deane Jensen, and to this day they still have a strong reputation for their transformers. Jensen entered the world of audio when he implemented his transformers in early recording consoles. He realised the importance transformers had on keeping the audio paths interference-free. Today, Jensen still manufacture a range of transformers for use in other products, and several stand-alone pro audio solutions. These latest DI boxes are based on their ISO-MAX technology with the aim of providing the cleanest impedance conversion available.
How important are DI boxes to you? I’m staggered when I come across engineers or musicians using the cheapest DI box available, particularly as part of a professional recording. In a worst case scenario, sometimes they’re just converting the connector to interface a device with their mic pre. They really do matter! It’s like choosing the world’s cheapest mic from Argos to record your lead vocal. There are many options available and they all sound different, offering varied specs for what can be a seemingly straight forward task.
I find these new DI boxes from Jensen really interesting, firstly because they’re passive. Most DI boxes of choice are active, either powered from a battery, power outlet or phantom power. Couple this with the unique electronics from Jensen’s ISO-MAX technology with “internal Faraday shielding”, and you get the impression that these are clearly designed to offer a very clean and accurate solution. Un-coloured from the electronics, I think we can expect these boxes to be very neutral. Jensen themselves say they “deliver unsurpassed signal handling with virtually zero harmonic distortion, phase shift or deviation from linearity”.
Designed to provide a balanced mic level signal that can be connected with up to 100m of cabling, these boxes are said to have a flat frequency response of 10Hz to 100kHz. There are 4 new boxes in the range offering different connectivity solutions. The ‘Concert-1’ offers input connections from any Hi-Z source, including stereo signals from keyboards or laptops with the option to sum to it’s mono output. The ‘Concert-2’ retains stereo connectivity, and like the ‘Concert-1’ also sports a convenient mini jack input for iPods and laptops. ‘Media-1’ and ‘Media-2’ offer the same summed mono or stereo output options as the ‘Concert’ units, but with an additional input sensitivity control for handling higher line level inputs with RCA connections.
These are great looking units that I’d love to try. Well worth considering if you’re after a transparent DI box solution. Prices are in line with other respected units on the market, ranging from 199.99 USD to 319.99 USD and are available now.
More Information: http://www.jensen-transformers.com/pro-audio/di-boxes/
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