DM3

The DM3 is an active inline DI that turns a 1/4 in. output into a balanced XLR signal from a housing barely larger than a cable connector. Input impedance is 10 megohms, high enough that passive and piezo pickups keep their full top end instead of thinning out the way they can through a standard DI. The difference is most obvious on acoustic guitars with under-saddle pickups, older basses, and amplified violins.

Headroom is the other half of the story. Maximum input handles up to 49 dBV, so hot active basses, keyboards, and synths stay clean at full output. A dedicated Class-A output buffer feeds the balanced XLR at 86 Ohms with 1 uV of output noise, keeping long stage runs quiet. A ground lift switch deals with hum from mismatched power, and the lockable 1/4 in. input jack keeps the cable seated when someone walks past your pedalboard.

Powering is 48 V phantom at 3.8 mA from the console, so there is no battery to change and no adapter to find. The all-metal body measures 20 mm across and 95.5 mm long at 70 g, light enough to hang behind a stage box, clip to a mic stand, or sit in a pedalboard patch loop.

It suits electric guitar and bass, keyboards, synths, drum machines, piezo pickups, and laptop playback on stage, in the studio, and in houses of worship. A screwdriver and a 1/4 in. plug keychain are included.