Strymon PCH X2 Active DI Isolator

A Real Transformation
Putting a typical direct box on a high quality analyzer can reveal all manner of hidden issues - units sold as premium often exhibit audio behavior that is anything but, especially in the low frequency region or in measured total harmonic distortion. If you disregard all of the technical mumbo jumbo it just boils down to this: the audio running through your direct box is often being treated poorly.

Our phantom-powered and transformer-isolated PCH X1 and X2 active direct interfaces are different. Designed to be pristine-sounding before any other feature, these are units that you can trust implicitly to handle your audio, no matter what kind of signal it is. Other direct boxes can distort low frequencies to the point where a low B on a bass guitar barely resembles the input, but the PCH X1 and X2 remain flat from far lower than that (10Hz) to well above what dogs can hear (80KHz) within a half of a db, as well as remaining clean and quiet throughout that range.

Feature Rich
Along with pristine audio, PCH X1 and X2 were designed with a host of real-world features that make them ideal as direct interfaces and line isolators. Housed in a bulletproof 3mm extruded aluminum chassis for protection, it doesn’t matter if you’re using them on a loud stage or in a quiet world-class recording studio, X1 and X2 balance your audio perfectly and they’re small enough to fit just about anywhere.

X2 is really two X1’s in the same enclosure, so their audio performance and behavior are largely identical. Each channel’s audio passes through a custom transformer, eliminating most ground loops and offering true galvanic isolation. Each unit also features a ground lift switch per channel to combat hum, as well as a three position high pass filter that allows you to roll off low frequencies at two different points: 80Hz for taming rumble, and 240Hz for more dramatically carving out space in the mix for low frequencies on other instruments.

X2 features a phase reversal switch for reversing the polarity of the left XLR output, as well as a Sum switch that sums the inputs together and passes them to the left outputs (the right XLR output mutes to let you know Sum is engaged), allowing you to interface with both mono and stereo scenarios on the go without having to rewire anything.

Both the X1 and X2 feature a non-buffered Thru output in addition to the balanced XLR out, allowing you to feed the input signal to an additional device like an onstage monitor or instrument amplifier separately from the balanced output.

Technology

• Custom audio transformer per channel
• Runs on phantom power (each channel requires power)
• Ground Lift Switch per channel
• Three-position high pass filter on each input
• Defeatable Sum feature merges the Left and Right inputs and sends them to the Left outputs
• Extremely flat frequency response
• Extremely low total harmonic distortion (THD)

Construction

• Thick 3mm extruded aluminum shell with 5mm ribs for bulletproof protection
• Shell awning design protects switches while allowing easy access
• High quality long life jacks and switches

Specifications

• Input Impedance: 2 MΩ (For PCH X2, when SUM enabled: 4 kΩ)
• Max Input Level: +20.5dBu
  
• XLR Out Output Impedance: 100 Ω
  
• Gain Relative to Inputs: -20dB
  
• Maximum Output Level: +0.5dBu
  
• Noise Floor: -123 dBu (10-22kHz no A-Weight)
  

Frequency Response

• +/- 0.25dB, 20Hz - 30kHz (13.6KΩ load, HPF off)
  
• +/- 0.5dB, 10Hz - 80kHz (13.6KΩ load, HPF off)
  
• +/- 0.5dB, 20Hz - 20kHz (600Ω load, HPF off)
  
• Frequency Response (HPF 80Hz, 240Hz)
  

THD+N

• 1kHz: 0.0007% (-10dBu out)
  
• 100Hz: 0.0035% (-10dBu out)
  
• 50Hz: 0.0125% (-10dBu out)
  

Thru

• Gain Relative to Inputs: +0dB, (For PCH X2, when SUM enabled: -6dB)
  
• Output Impedance: 0Ω, (For PCH X2, when SUM enabled: 1 kΩ)
  
• Power Requirements 
  
• 5mA @ +48VDC (per channel)
  

Dimensions X1 

• L – 3.66″ (93mm)
  
• W – 1.97″ (50mm)
  
• H -1.54″ (39mm)
  

Dimensions X2 

• L – 3.66″ (93mm)
  
• W – 4.20″ (107mm)
  
• H -1.54″ (39mm)
  

Controls and Routing (the + hashmarks) 

• In -  1/4" unbalanced, TS, high-impedance input(s). Connect guitar, bass, keyboard, amp+cab simulation pedal, drum machine, modeler or any audio source needing to be balanced.
  
• Thru - 1/4" unbalanced, Left and Right, TS output(s). Passes your unbuffered input source(s) to amplifiers, effects, or other devices.
  
• XLR Out - Balanced, low impedance output(s). Connect to a mixing console or other low 
  impedance gear.
  
• Stereo Sum - Engage SUM to merge the stereo inputs and feed them to both the Left Thru and 
  
• LEFT XLR output (the Right output will be muted to let you know Sum is engaged).
  
• Ground Lift - Engage to lift the ground if you experience hum on the XLR Out(s).
  
• Variable HPF - Allows 6db/octave filtering of low frequencies below either 80Hz or 240Hz
  
• Phase Reverse - reverses the polarity of the Left channel XLR output

Strymon PCH X2 Active DI Isolator Canada Tone Design Pedalboard & Rack Setup