Countryman Type 85 Stereo User manual

COUNTRYMAN
TYPE 85 STEREO

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Thanks for choosing the Countryman Type 85S Stereo Direct Box. We’re confident you’ll
find it the smoothest sounding stereo direct box available.
Each channel of the Type 85S DI uses the same circuit as the classic Type 85 FET Direct
Box. Using only the highest quality, hand-selected discrete components woven into a
Class A FET design, the Type 85S provides the ultimate way to connect guitar pickups,
contact microphones, or electric instruments to a recording or mixing console. By using
the Type 85S, you can be assured that the sound from your instrument will remain
unchanged and the mixing console will receive the best possible signal.
This booklet describes how to use the Type 85S to get the best performance in a variety
of different applications.

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Input Connector Options 3
Padding Options 4
Powering the Type 85S 5
Ground Lift 6
Typical Applications
Keyboards 7
Multimedia Devices 8
Key Specifications 9
Declarations 10
Contents

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The Type 85S provides three different connector
options on the input to accomodate a wide variety of
applications. Here are some things you should know
about the various connectors:
• If phantom power is available, all of the connectors
can be used. For battery operation, only the 1/4” jacks
are available, since the battery turns on only when you
connect a mono 1/4” plug to Channel A.
• The 1/8” jack is wired such that the tip routes to
Channel A, and the ring to Channel B.
• The 1/4” inputs have an input impedance of 10MΩ
since they are often used with piezo pickups, or other
high impedance sources. The RCA and 1/8” inputs
have an input impedance of 20kΩ since they are almost
always driven by low impedance sources.
Input Connector Options

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Padding Options
The Type 85S offers three pad levels (0dB, -15dB,
and -30dB) on each channel.
0dB Pad Level: Use for most sources (levels less
than 5Vpp, or 7dBu), such as passive acoustic or
bass guitars, piezo pick-ups, and many keyboards.
-15dB Pad Level: Use for very hot sources (levels
between 5Vpp and 28Vpp, or 22dBu), such as some
keyboards and active instruments.
-30dB Pad Level: Use when you want to capture
the sound of your amp in the mix, and are plugging
the amp output into the Type 85S input. Remember
that, as with any DI box, the Type 85S will not provide
the required load to the output of a tube amplifier. Always
connect a speaker or dummy load to the tube amp
output to prevent damaging the amp.

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Powering the Type 85S
The Type 85S is an “active” direct box, which means
it requires power to operate. To power the box, you
can either provide phantom power—which is available
on almost any modern mixing console—or use the
internal 9V battery. When used with a fresh alkaline
9V battery, the Type 85S will run for 130 hours.
You only need to provide phantom to Channel A to
power both channels of the device. And the battery is
only engaged when you plug a mono 1/4” cable into
the Channel A 1/4” input jack.
Your Type 85S continuously monitors phantom and
battery power levels, and seamlessly transitions
between them when necessary to achieve peak
performance.

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The ground lift switch isolates your input ground from
your XLR output pin 1. The Type 85S allows you to
lift or ground either channel indepedently. If you have
hum or buzz in your signal, try both positions of the
ground lift switches for both channels.
Ground Lift

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Typical Applications—Keyboards
For keyboards, try the 0dB or -15dB pad settings of the Type 85S, and either the 1/4” or RCA jacks on
the input. Use the 1/4” thru connection to output your signal to your stage monitors or amplifier, or to a
digital recorder.

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Typical Applications—Multimedia Devices
When using the Type 85S with multimedia devices (such as iPods®, laptops, DVD players, etc.), try the
0dB or -15dB pad settings and use the RCA or 1/8” jacks.

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Frequency Response:
20Hz to 20kHz (+/- 1 dB)
Noise (Shorted Input, 22Hz to 20kHz):
0.63μVrms (-122 dBu)
Distortion (1Vpp, Typical Load):
THD: < 0.018% (1kHz)
IMD: < 0.08% (10kHz/60Hz, 4:1)
Transformer Isolation Voltage:
>500VAC, ground to either XLR pin 1
Input Protection:
220V RMS and 20,000 V static discharges
Output Polarity
Pin 2 Positive
Cross-Talk Rejection:
>105 dB (20Hz to 20kHz)
Maximum Input Level (1% THD):
5Vpp (No pad), 28Vpp (-15dB pad), 158Vpp
(-30dB pad)
Input Resistance:
10MΩ(0dB pad, 1/4” input), 20kΩ(0dB pad,
RCA or 1/8” inputs), 10kΩ(-15, -30dB pad)
Dimensions:
2 x 4 x 6.25 in. (50.8 x 101.6 x 158.8 mm)
Weight:
31.2 oz (0.88 kg)
Key Specifications (See Datasheet for Full List of Specs)

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Declarations
We, Countryman Associates Inc., declare under our
sole responsibility that the following products:
Direct Box models DT10, DT85, DT10S and DT85S
To which this declaration relates are in compliance
with the essential requirements of:
2004/108/EC EMC
EN 55103-1
EN 55103-2
2002/96/EC WEEE
2003/108/EC
2002/95/EC RoHS
When used as specified.
RoHS

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Countryman Associates, Inc. 195 Constitution Drive, Menlo Park, CA 94025
Phone: [phone] or [phone] Fax: [phone]
Email: [email protected] Web: www.countryman.com

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