Phoenix Audio N-8 DI User manual

PHOENIX AUDIO
Costa Mesa
CA 92626
USA
Telephone [phone]
Email : [email protected]
N-8 DI Owner’s Manual
Firstly, let us congratulate you on your purchase of the 8 Channel N-8 DI. We
know you will be as pleased with its sonic qualities as we are.
You are now the proud owner of a Class A DI that has the advantages of
more than 25 years experience in audio engineering, today’s component and
manufacturing technology, but still retaining “that sound” uniquely achievable
through Class A design.
As you can tell, Phoenix Audio is dedicated to the development of Class A
discrete technology used within high build-quality equipment.
The N-8 DI uses our well proven and loved Discrete, Class A output
stage (DSOP-2) which gives a "valve-like" sound. It also incorporates
our high input impedance DI circuitry.
You CAN hear the difference!!!

N-8 DI - Class A Discrete 8 channel DI
Short description:
1. The Phoenix Audio “N-8 DI” is a high-quality, active, 8 channel DI,
with Class A, discrete, high-impedance inputs (10M), and Class A,
discrete, transformer balanced outputs.
2. The Phoenix Audio Class A, all discrete, Stereo DI has been tested
and used by many guitar professionals in studio recording environments,
and the comments are always the same. The overdrive is fantastic, the
guitar sounds clean, clear, and un-restrained. This is the definitive DI!!!.
The DI’s characteristics are very noticeable on any input source, and are
superb for “sweetening” the output from DAW or any other signal source.
Specifications
1U rack space unit: With External 24v at 1 amp PSU self switchable
240V/110V
Class A (DSOP-2) Output specs. Frequency response: 20Hz to 20kHz +-
0.5dB,
Maximum Output Level: +26dBu @ 1kHz
Noise: -90dB @ 20Hz to 20kHz.
Output connections:
Main output : 25 pin D-sub (wired Tascam DA88)
Monitor output : 25 pin D-sub (wired Tascam DA88 wiring)
DI inputs: ¼” TSR Jack on Front Panel
DI Through inputs: ¼” TSR Jack on Front Panel
Individual Earth Lift: Push-button illuminated Switches on rear panel
Gain pad reduction: -15dB pad push-button illuminated switch
High Input Impedance DI: Mono 1/4" 10 meg ohm Jack on front panel (no
FETs)
Phase Reverse: on Push-button illuminated Switch
Frequency Response: DI Input Stage: -0.3dB @ 40Hz, - 0.5dB @ 25kHz
Typical Headroom: +26dB on output stage
The N8 is a unique active DI with more crammed into the single rack space
than any other active or passive DI on the market today. It has 8 independent
channels of Class A discrete, High input impedance input stage, with Class A,
transformer balanced outputs.

It is much more versatile than the “dumb” passive DI's on the market, that are
often not much more than a “box of jack sockets” with standard transformers
on the output.
Value for money with a robust, “touring- grade” heavy-duty all steel chassis,
fantastic sound and huge versatility makes the N-8 a market leading active DI.
Overview:
The N-8 is an 8 channel Active DI. Being active has many advantages over a
simple “jack to transformer” passive DI.
1: The input impedance is much higher than any passive DI. This means
there is minimal loading on the output of the Guitar, Keyboard, DAW,
Microphone, or any other source you choose to use, which “opens” the sound
of the instrument allowing a new-found level of nuances and sounds to be
realized.
2: Coupled with the high input impedance, the huge amount of available gain
means that there is virtually no limit to what source can be used, and also
offers much more sound flexibility than a passive DI. Starting from clean and
crisp through to darker “rock” style, just by use of the available gain.
3: The output is driven into our custom designed output transformers using
our renowned Class A output stage. The transformer isolates and balances
the output and is capable of driving into long lines and multiple loads with no
loss of quality or level when used correctly.
4: There are 2 x 25 Way D-Sub Connectors on the rear panel. Both are wired
“Tascam” DA88 standard. The main output is a balanced output and is
capable of driving long studio lines, as well as driving multiple loads without
degradation of sound quality. The number of loads that can be driven, at
once of course depend on the total impedance of the loads and is best trialed
in advance, but it is far more than most passive DIs can drive.
The 25 Way D-sub for the monitor outputs follows the main outputs, but at a -
8dB reduced level. This is so that monitoring equipment that would normally
be over-driven by the active DI can also used at the same time, making it
possible to drive multiple monitoring/recording/main outputs all at once.
5: Unlike passive DI's, we have illuminated the push buttons using highly
efficient, ultra long-life LED's so that the switch positions of all 8 channels can
be seen at a glance, even in the lowest light situation.
The front panel has two illuminated switches.
The PAD switch allows hotter inputs to be utilized. The input is padded
immediately after the input jack by -15dB. It is unlikely you will ever swamp
the output transformer due to the carefully constructed gain stage, so if
distortion due to over-dive is heard, the PAD switch would be the first place to
try.

The PHASE switch inverts the phase at the input jack. This is useful to deal
with phase cancellation caused by system delays and other “out of phase”
problems.
It should be noted that the PAD and PHASE switches will affect both input
jacks at once as they are wired in parallel.
6: The input jacks are 1/4” TRS sockets. These sockets are able to accept
both mono and stereo jack plugs. One jack socket is marked “DI Input” and
the other marked as “Through”. The two sockets are wired in parallel, and
therefore can be interchanged. The through jack socket can be used to send
dry signals to other equipment. For instance: Plug a guitar into the DI Input
jack. The channel output (the D-25 Sub on the rear panel) could be sent to
your recording device. At the same time, plug a 1/4” patch lead into the
Through jack, the other end of which is plugged into your guitar amp.
7: The gain control is via the front panel knob. This controls the gain on the
Class A output stage (DSOP-2) that drives the output transformer. The output
has huge headroom available and the transformer can drive quite heavy
loads. It is unlikely that the output would ever be source of any distortion. In
the case of any distortion you should always look at the input levels first.
8: Earth lift switch. The illuminated earth lift switch on the rear panel is a
highly visible push-button. The switch disconnects the output cable screen of
each channel from the chassis/mains earth. It does not disconnect the chassis
safety earth.
9: The supplied PSU is a small form-factor world-wide approved, high quality,
stable unit capable of automatically adjusting to and accepting any
country/continent's mains voltage without the need for manual switching – just
plug and play.
The high quality, sturdy metal-bodied DC connector safely screw-locks into
the chassis connector on the rear of the unit and cannot be accidentally
kicked or pulled out.
Most racks have a convenient AC mains source and the PSU effectively filters
out any stray AC noise from external sources, but it’s tested and approved to
not add any stray AC noise.
No substitute PSU should be used with the N-8. Replacement PSUs are
available from Phoenix Audio.
There is no On/Off switch for the N-8. The unit is “always on” while plugged
into the AC mains.
!