As with all DI boxes, the role of the phantom-powered TDI is to facilitate impedance matching and a drop in level. The TDI works by using an ultra-low-noise JFET to buffer the high impedance of your instrument-level signal. The JFET then drives a super-clean step-down transformer which balances the signal. There is a THRU jack paralleled to the input jack. The TDI allows for out- standing sonic performance while minimizing distortion, noise interference, and signal degradation from long cable runs. The TDI can handle extremely high input levels without clipping. Its durable steel chassis can withstand the toughest live or studio environments. The Phantom-Powered TDI pairs great with passive instruments like guitars, basses, piezo pickups, etc. Its 20 dB pad can also flawlessly handle speaker-level signals or active instruments such as synths as well. As with all AEA electronics, this circuit was designed by Fred Forssell.