Tonecraft Audio Launches with 363 Tube Direct Box

Tonecraft Audio 363 Tube Direct Box

Tonecraft Audio launched this year with their flagship product, the Tonecraft 363 Tube Direct Box. The interface is made for all instruments that use a 1/4″ connection, but the company’s designer Ryan Feves notes that it was created with a slant towards upright and electric bass.

“While the DI is not exclusively for bass, [Jon Erickson] and I are both upright and electric bass players and definitely had bass players as a priority in this creation of this product,” Feves tells us.

Tonecraft Audio 363 Tube Direct Box insideThe 363 is a full range DI with a frequency response that extends from 5Hz to 75kHz. It features Class A all-tube circuitry that’s built with a turret and point-to-point wiring. The preamp includes a a Tung Sol 6SL7 and two Tung Sol 6SN7GT’s.

Its EQ section includes a classic 2-band Baxandall EQ that can be fully bypassed to quickly compare flat and EQ modes. The 363 offers up to 40db of variable gain with dual balanced outputs that range from mic level up to line level. Tonecraft explains this is to allow you to “directly feed your 4 converters or tape machine inputs without requiring an additional mic pre.”

The Tonecraft 363 Tube Direct Box is handmade in the U.S. It carries a direct price of $1,395. An optional rackmount ear kit is available for $75.

Tonecraft 363 Tube Direct Box Specs:

Input:10 meg, unbalanced
Thru:Loop of the input signal. May be connected to an amplifier or tuner.
Volume:Preamp stage gain control. Variable 0-40db Gain
Bass and Treble:Classic Baxandall EQ circuit with /-20db of boost and cut.
Eq/Bypass:Bypass mode has extended flat frequency response from 5hz to 75k and is ultra hi-fi. EQ mode is more amp-like in character with expanded tonal control.
Outputs:Dual balanced line level outputs with separate level controls. May be driven simultaneously to full +22dbu output level. Cinemag Hi-Nickel Output transformer.
Frequency Response:5hz-75k
Tube Complement:1 Tung Sol 6SL7 2 Tung Sol 6SN7GT
Voltage:115v/230v 60hz switchable on the exterior
Dimensions:13″ x 8.5″ x 3.5″
Other Features:Dedicated Ground Lifts for each output. Custom Steel chassis. Handwired, turret construction. Highly serviceable. Engraved and illuminated clear front panel. Adjustable brightness. Custom engraving available. Handmade in the U.S.A.
Accessories:Rackmount kits available

For more information:
Tonecraft

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Leave a Reply to Isaac Stoddard Cancel reply

  1. Pssst: Freq response needs a %THD “bracket” to be relevant. 5Hz is remarkable as a lower limit! But not at +/- 98% THD.

  2. Isaac,
    Thanks for your comment. We will be releasing THD numbers soon. Typical THD measurements are done at 1k (we should land right around .1% +/- .025%) but we’ll likely include 20hz. If we can pull an accurate number lower we will certainly do it. You are correct that frequency plays a major role especially down at subsonic frequencies. There is also input level, load and unit settings to factor in. Our unit by design can really run the gamut from super low distortion to quite gritty so we could literally write a page full of different THD figures. As you know THD is not a bad thing, used right. It’s one of the main things people like in a lot of vintage and vintage styled equipment.