Countryman Type 85 Stereo Instruction Manual

COUNTRYMAN ASSOCIATES INC
TYPE 85
ACTIVE DIRECT BOX
An industry standard with road-proven ruggedness, the Type 85 connects
any high-impedance instrument pickup, even piezo pickups, to a balanced
microphone (XLR type) input. It provides a strong, clean signal to the mix board
without adding noise or distortion. It won’t change the tone or volume you hear
from your own amp like passive direct boxes. It won’t break just when you need
it. It won’t develop a dead battery on stage because it runs on Phantom power.
Indestructible
Connectors and switches are
recessed into a single-piece extruded
case with extra-thick walls. You can
literally drive a truck over a Type 85
without hurting it. Internal electronics
are molded in a solid epoxy block
and fully protected against electrical
damage. The input can withstand 220
V AC all day long and static spikes up
to 20,000 V.
Battery or Phantom Power
Most mixing consoles provide 48 V
Phantom power and the Type 85 will
automatically use it. If you don’t have
Phantom power, the Type 85 will run
for about 400 hours from a single
internal 9 V battery.
Frequency Response:
20 Hz to 20 kHz +- 1 dB
Noise Floor (shorted input):
.63 µV RMS (-122 dBu)
Power Requirements:
9 V battery or .4 mA @ 48 V Phantom
Input Protection:
220 V RMS and 20,000 V static discharges
Voltage Gain:
-10 dB in Pickup mode
-46 dB in Speaker mode
RF Filtering:
250 kHz Low Pass on input
30 kHz Low Pass on output
Maximum Input Level:
5 V P-P in Pickup mode
300 V P-P in Speaker mode
Equal to 2,800 Watts into 4 Ohms
Distortion:
.018% THD @ 1 kHz and 1 V P-P in
.08% IMD 10 kHz/60 Hz 1 V P-P in
Input Resistance:
10 MΩ in Pickup mode (10 times the input
resistance of a typical guitar amplifier.)
Input Capacitance:
160 pF, equal to two meters of low-capacitance
guitar cable.
Dimensions:
1.75 in x 3 in x 5 in (45 mm x 77 mm x 127 mm)
Weight: 18.5 oz (.52 kg)
Simply Exceptional Sound
The Type 85 uses only hand-selected
high-quality discrete components
woven into a single-ended class
A circuit, much like a classic tube
microphone preamp. The Type 85
has an incredibly smooth, sweet
sound. Unlike many active DI boxes,
the Type 85 can always isolate
ground, even when running on
Phantom power, to help eliminate
hum and buzz from ground problems.
The Type 85 doesn’t have roll off
switches or effects. Adjusting the
frequency content of a sound source
is an artistic decision best done at the
mixing location where you can hear
the results and easily make changes.

Typical Lead Guitar Setup
Typical Bass Guitar Setup
OPEN
GND
MIC OUTPUT
INSTRUMENT TYPE 85 (BACK)
PICKUP
SPEAKER
INSTAMP
TYPE 85 (FRONT) SPEAKER
TO MIX
BOARD
(Switch usually OPEN. Try GND to fix hum)(Plugging into INST turns on Type 85)
INPUT
GUITAR AMP
INSTRUMENT
OPEN
GND
MIC OUTPUT
TYPE 85 (BACK)
PICKUP
SPEAKER
INSTAMP
TYPE 85 (FRONT)
TO MIX
BOARD
(Switch usually OPEN. Try GND to fix hum)(Plugging into INST turns on Type 85)
INPUT
GUITAR AMP SPEAKER
Countryman Associates, Inc. 195 Constitution Drive, Menlo Park, CA 94025 US: [phone] Intl: 650-364-9988 F: [phone]
[email protected] For more information and warranty registration visit www.countryman.com Made in the United States.
Type 85: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you hook up a Type 85?
I have just a guitar (or other signal source) and no amplifier. How do I hook it up to the Type 85?
All signal sources must go to the “INST.” jack because inserting a plug into the “INST” jack turns the TYPE 85 on. The “AMP.”
jack is simply connected in parallel with the “INST” jack but it does not operate the power switch.
How do you use the “PICKUP-SPEAKER” switch?
Use the “SPEAKER” position when the TYPE 85 is connected to the speaker output of an amplier and the “PICKUP” for all
other sources including preamp outputs.
How many watts can the TYPE 85 handle?
The TYPE 85 is so well protected it can handle the full output of any amp without damage. In “SPEAKER” mode the TYPE 85
will distort at the equivalent of 1,700 watts into 8 ohms.
How does the TYPE 85 use Phantom power?
If your microphone input has 48 volt Phantom Power, the TYPE 85 will automatically switch off its battery and use the
phantom. The TYPE 85 will operate with phantom voltages as low as 24 volts but you will need to remove its internal battery.
How many hours will the TYPE 85 battery last?
A fresh alkaline 9 V battery will run the Type 85 for 400 hours. That’s 2 months running 8 hours a day but only 2 weeks
running all the time so it’s best to turn the TYPE 85 off when not in use. Unplugging the plug from the TYPE 85 “INST.” jack
turns off the battery. Unplugging the “INST.” input does not turn off the TYPE 85 when it’s running on Phantom power but it
shorts the input to ground to reduce noise.

Type 85
Frequently Asked
Questions
Q: How do you hook up a Type 85?
A: The diagrams on the next two pages show
you the two most common ways to connect
your Type 85.
Q. I have just a guitar (or other signal source)
and no amplifier. How do I hook it up to the
Type 85?
A. All signal sources must go to the “INST.” jack
because inserting a plug into the “INST” jack
turns the TYPE 85 on. The “AMP.” jack is simply
connected in parallel with the “INST” jack but it
does not operate the power switch.
Q. How do you use the “PICKUP-SPEAKER”
switch?
A. Use the “SPEAKER” position when the TYPE
85 is connected to the speaker output of an
amplifier and the “PICKUP” for all other sources
including preamp outputs.
Q. How many watts can the TYPE 85 handle?
A. The TYPE 85 is so well protected it can
handle the full output of any amp without
damage. In “SPEAKER” mode the TYPE 85 will
distort at the equivalent of 1,700 watts into 8
ohms.
Q. How does the TYPE 85 use Phantom
power?
A. If your microphone input has 48 volt Phantom
Power, the TYPE 85 will automatically switch off
its battery and use the phantom. The TYPE 85
will operate with phantom voltages as low as
24 volts but you will need to remove its internal
battery.
Q. How many hours will the TYPE 85 battery
last?
A. A fresh alkaline 9V battery will run the Type 85
for 400 hours. That’s 2 months running 8 hours
a day but only 2 weeks running all the time so
it’s best to turn the TYPE 85 off when not in use.
Q. How do I turn the TYPE 85 off?
A. Unplugging the plug from the TYPE 85
“INST.” jack turns off the battery. Unplugging
the “INST.” input does not turn off the TYPE
85 when it’s running on Phantom power but it
shorts the input to ground to reduce noise.
Q. I have hum or buzz. What should I do?
A. Try both positions of the “GND.” switch. If you
are using an amplifier, try different positions on
it’s grounding switch. Walk around the stage or
room with your instrument and see if the buzz is
worse near other equipment or lights. If it is, you
can ground them or unplug their power cords if
they are not in use. If the TYPE 85 is sitting on
or near another piece of electronics equipment,
move the TYPE 85 to see if a very strong hum
field is penetrating the TYPE 85 internal shields.
Power amplifiers, light dimmers, TV sets and
video monitors can generate especially strong
fields.
Type 85
Specifications
Imput Impedance
Pickup mode: 10 MOhms
Speaker mode: 10kOhms
Output Source Impedance:
100 Ohms
Output Load Impedance:
100 Ohms to infinity
Gain:
Pickup mode: -12 dB
Speaker mode: -48 dB
Maximum Input Level:
Undistorted: 5Vpp
Without damage: 220V AC/DC, 15kV Peak
Frequency Response:
20Hz to 20kHz ± 0.5dB
Noise:
Equivalent to 2.0uV maximum at input
BW=15kHz and the input shortened
High Frequency Rolloff:
-3dB at 30kHz falling 12dB/Oct.
Distortion:
0.05% at 1kHz and 1Vpp. input
Power Requirements:
+48V at 0.4mA on microphone line or 1.5mA
from a 9V battery (300 HourLife)
Dimensions:
1 3/4” (45mm) x 3” (77mm) x 5” (127mm)
Weight:
18 1/2 oz (520g)
Using Your
Type 85
Direct Box
Typical Lead Guitar Setup
PICKUP
SPEAKER
INSTAMP
INPUT
OPEN
GND
MIC OUTPUT
INSTRUMENT
GUITAR AMP
TYPE 85 (FRONT)
TYPE 85 (BACK)
SPEAKER
TO MIX
BOARD
(Switch usually OPEN. If there is hum, try GND)
Typical Bass Guitar Setup
(Plugging into INST turns on Type 85)
OPEN
GND
MIC OUTPUT
INSTRUMENT
INPUT
GUITAR AMP
TYPE 85 (BACK)
PICKUP
SPEAKER
INSTAMP
TYPE 85 (FRONT)
SPEAKER
TO MIX
BOARD
(Switch usually OPEN. If there is hum, try GND)
(Plugging into INST turns on Type 85)
Countryman Associates, Inc.
195 Constitution Dr.
Menlo Park, CA 94025
Phone: [phone]
or 650-364-9988
Fax: [phone]
[email protected]