Radial StageBug SB-1 DI box

Radial StageBug SB-1 — Compact Active DI for the Road

The Radial StageBug SB-1 is a pocket-sized active direct box built to disappear into a guitar case while handing the front-of-house engineer a clean, balanced signal. It converts a high-impedance instrument output to a long-cable-ready balanced feed for the PA in a single pass. The moment 48 V phantom arrives at the unit, it is ready to play without any batteries or external supply.

What Sets It Apart

An 800 kΩ input impedance preserves the character of passive pickups, while the buffered balanced output suppresses hum across long XLR runs. A 15 dB pad, 180° polarity reverse, and ground-lift switch cover common stage problems without extras or menu diving.

Signal Path & Connectivity

The 1/4" instrument input feeds the active circuit, while a parallel thru jack sends the unchanged dry signal onward to a stage amp or tuner.

• Input: 1 x 1/4" TS — standard Hi-Z connection for any passive or active pickup source
• A parallel Thru jack forwards the unchanged dry signal to an on-stage amp or tuner without splitting the source passively.
• Balanced Output: 1 x XLR-M — low-impedance feed engineered for long cable runs to the desk

Power & Active Performance

Powered entirely by 48 V phantom from the mixing console, this direct box never asks for a battery swap. Its active topology buffers and balances the signal for lower-noise transmission over distance.

• Power Source: 48 V Phantom Power — no batteries required, plug-and-play on any phantom-capable channel
• Input Impedance: 800 kΩ — keeps passive pickup tone honest during the impedance conversion
• An active circuit topology buffers and balances the instrument signal end-to-end.

Controls & Physical Layout

• Pad: -15 dB — protects the desk input from hot active pickups and aggressive piezo sources
• Polarity Switch: 180° reverse — cancels low-frequency build-up between the DI and a miked cabinet
• Ground Lift: Yes — breaks ground loops that surface on shared power
• Dimensions: 34 mm H × 47 mm W × 114 mm D — stows inside a gig bag pocket
• At 249 g the chassis is light enough that players stop noticing it in transit.