Phoenix Audio N-Eight 8-Channel DI
Today’s Music Demands More and Better DIs
The Phoenix Audio pure Class-A DI was so popular in our DRS Series Mic Preamps that we’ve made it available in two stand-alone versions: the 2-channel (1/2RU) Nice DI and the 8-channel N8 (1RU). Over the past decade or so, the need for more DIs has skyrocketed as instrumentation has incorporated more and more electronic elements. From elaborate analog synth rigs to multiple laptops and loop-stations, getting excellent tone from multiple DIs is more important today than ever. With their unique gain architecture, Phoenix’s Nice DIs intuitively offer a wide array of tones, making working with direct signals as artistic as working with mic’d signals.
Pure Class-A Tone at Input
The Nice DIs are built around a fully discrete Class-A circuit design, all hand-wired with military-grade silver connections into rugged and portable steel boxes. Our transformerless, ultra-high impedance (10Mohm) input stage ensures that your signals are delivered into the circuit in their full glory. No treble roll-off or sluggish bass response common in many DIs. Instead, you’ll hear the full-bodied, punchy sounds necessary for delivering powerful and complex signals in modern music. Guitars and basses will sing, lush synths will swarm, and hard-hitting drum machines will thump and crack—each sound rendered with its transients and full frequency spectrum intact.
Versatile Transformer-Balanced Output
The output stage of the Nice DIs uses Phoenix Audio’s renowned DSOP-2, an all-discrete output amp based on head-designer Dave Rees’s TF1 amp (developed for vintage Neve modules). With its custom-wound DB694 transformer and enormous headroom, the DSOP-2 can be driven to taste. Deliver more gain to achieve a beautifully saturated sound, back off for a cleaner, hi-fi sound, or choose any flavor in-between. Because these DIs can accept unbalanced line level or levels up to 0dB, the N8 can be used anywhere a line-amp is necessary: alongside your console, in a live setting, or in any patch to pick up that Class-A tone. With an easily recalled stepped gain control on every channel, dialing in your exact sound is a breeze. You’ll find these to be the most musical, intuitive, and versatile DIs you’ve ever used, capable of breathing new life into any direct-injected signal.
Features
- Phoenix’s famous Class-A, discrete, transformerless input stage with ultra-high impedance (10Mohm) inputs
- Class-A, discrete DSOP-2 output with custom-wound DB694 transformer
- Stepped output pots for each channel with a wide gain range
- Pad on every channel (-15dB) with illuminated switch
- Phase reverse on every channel with illuminated switch
- Earth ground lift on every channel with illuminated switch
- 1/4″ jack (TS) input and through on the front panel
- 8 channels of DI
- Accepts balanced line level for processing unbalanced signals or acts as a balanced line amp
- 1U chassis rack space, ideal for studio and live applications
- 8 balanced main outputs on D-sub (Tascam DA88 wired)
- 8 balanced monitor outputs on D-sub (Tascam DA88 wired)
- External 24V PSU with lockable connector
