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 add hiss, distortion or buzz like some active 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.

The Type 85 doesn't use a cheap FET op-amp. It uses only hand selected high quality discrete components woven into a single ended class A circuit much like the classic tube microphone preamp. The Type 85 has an incredibly smooth, sweet sound. The connectors and switches are recessed into a single piece extruded case with extra thick walls. You can actually drive a truck over a Type 85 without hurting it. Internal electronics are molded in a single epoxy block and fully protected against electrical damage. The input circuit can withstand 220V AC all day long and static spikes up to 20,000 volts!

The Type 85 will run on either phantom power or an internal 9V battery. An alkaline battery will last about 400 hours.