IK Multimedia Z-TONE Buffer Boost Instrument Preamp And DI Box Overview:

Key Features

• Active/Passive pickup selector
• PURE channel for transparent sound
• JFET channel adds warmth & harmonics 
• Z-TONE variable impedance control creates
• a wide range of tones
• Buffers signal for longer pedalboards & cable runs
• Boost circuit adds volume & drive
• Alternate outs for mixers & PAs
• Ground lift switch eliminates buzz & hum

Preamp/DI pedal with advanced tone shaping

Guitar & bass pedalboards are all about exploring new tones & textures creating a wide range of sound for your instrument. Z-TONE Buffer Boost takes your live rig to a new level letting you shape the sound of your instrument with the input circuits from our award-winning AXE I/O interface.

Change the tone & feel of your guitar or bass buffer your tone to survive even the biggest pedalboard kick in the boost and supercharge all your existing gear with a powerful new front-end.

The ideal front-end

Z-TONE Buffer Boost offers a high-quality instrument preamp with exceptionally low noise and wide frequency response and multiple circuit topologies to adapt to any type of guitar pick-up and style.

Tone and feel like you’ve never heard

Guitar pickups can dramatically change their character depending on impedance – many amps offer a load of 1 MOhms while pedals can run much lower. That’s why the tone and responsiveness of your guitar can change when plugging into different gear.

Z-TONE Buffer Boost gives you the same variable impedance control as our groundbreaking AXE I/O audio interface from 1 MOhm to 2.2 kOhms. At the maximum impedance you’ll find your sound tighter sharper and more precise. Increase the load and the sound becomes thicker and more bold. 

Specifications

Audio specs

• I/O Gain: Unitary from 1/4” input JACK to both 1/4” and XLR outputs when GAIN is at 0dB and Z-TONE at the SHARP position.
• Gain Range: From -8dB to +8dB
• Boost range: From 0dB to +10dB
• Input impedance – Z-TONE set on PASSIVE mode: Variable from 1M? down to 2.2k?
• Input impedance – Z-TONE set on ACTIVE mode: Approx 20k?
• Output impedance unbalanced out: 56?
• Output impedance balanced out: 600?
• Max input level before clipping: +13dBm when powered by 48V phantom+9dBm when powered by 9V battery
• Dynamic Range: better than 114dB(A) for both outputs input gain at 0dB
• Total Harmonic Distortion balanced output 1kHz +4dBm input: 0.0033% (PURE) 0.2% (JFET)
• Total Harmonic Distortion unbalanced output 1kHz +4dBm input: 0.00055% (PURE) 0.2% (JFET)
• Frequency response: from 5Hz to 30kHz -1dB
• Phase deviation: 0° +/-10° from 20Hz to 20kHz

Power

• Phantom power: +48V phantom on Balanced output.
• Battery power: 9V
• External DC power: 9VDC positive outside – not included
• Current consumption from P48 phantom power source: 6.5mA

Dimensions

• Size: 10.8cm/4.25″ x 12cm/4.72″ x 5.8cm/2.28″
• Weight: 600g