Hosa DIB-445 Sidekick Active Direct Box

Hosa Sidekick

The SideKick DIB-445 takes the unbalanced high-impedance output of an instrument — guitar, bass, keyboards and more — and converts it to a balanced low impedance signal. Operating via convenient +48V phantom power from your mixer or audio interface, the SideKick DIB-445’s streamlined design features one unbalanced ¼” input, one balanced ¼” thru output, and one balanced XLR output. The SideKick DIB-445 does its job without adding or removing anything from the natural sound of the input source and offers high headroom and low harmonic distortion. Its impressive audio specifications include a near-perfect flat frequency response of 20Hz to 20kHz with only ±0.2dB. Its superbly low noise specification is -95dBu, A-weighted, with THD+N at less than 0.005% at 1kHz, giving it pristine audio quality that meets or exceeds the specs of other DI boxes at twice the price. Its sturdy all-metal housing makes it rugged enough for even the most grueling touring conditions.

The SideKick DIB-445’s features include a pad switch (with selections of 0dB, -15dB, and -30dB of attenuation), a ground lift switch to eliminate AC hum caused by ground loops, and a polarity flip switch to combat phase or cancellation issues. It comes with a one-year warranty.

• Active Signal Conversion: Converts unbalanced high-impedance signals (e.g., from guitars, basses, keyboards) to balanced low-impedance signals for clean, hum-free audio over long cable runs.
• Phantom Power Operation: Powered by +48V phantom power from a mixer or audio interface, eliminating the need for batteries or external power.
• Pad Switch: Offers 0dB, -15dB, and -30dB attenuation options to handle hot signals and prevent distortion.
• Ground Lift Switch: Eliminates AC hum caused by ground loops, ensuring a noise-free signal.
• Polarity Flip Switch: Corrects phase or cancellation issues for optimal sound quality in various setups.