We take cryptocurrency — so the coins you hold can buy real hardware.Pay in crypto, spend it on real hardware. Free insured shipping worldwide over $399. Plain, unbranded boxes, sent from Germany.Free insured shipping over $399. Your rate is locked for 30 minutes once checkout opens.Rate locked 30 minutes. Every item sealed, serial-checked and covered by a 24-month warranty.Sealed, 24-month warranty.

Saved items Sign in
Compact silver metal box with quarter-inch jacks, XLR output, attenuation switch and thru jack

Samson

Samson MDA1 Mono Active Direct Box live sound amplifier

SKU CH-NM9Q-38SSC

An active direct box that provides balanced output and a 0dB/-15dB attenuation switch for clean instrument signals on stage or in the studio

  • Active circuitry preserves top-end on passive pickups
  • Balanced output reduces noise on long cable runs
  • Switchable 0dB/-15dB attenuation matches varied signal levels
  • Thru jack sends signal to amp without affecting original audio
  • Runs on batteries or phantom power for flexible placement

Samson MDA1 Mono Active Direct Box

The Samson MDA1 is a mono active direct box built for live sound and studio use. It delivers a balanced output that resists noise over long cable runs. The unit runs on either batteries or phantom power for flexible placement on stage or in the rack.

Musicians needing clean instrument-to-mixer links

Players with passive pickups benefit from the active circuitry preserving high-frequency response. The Thru jack sends the signal to an amp or monitor without loading the source. It is not suited for users requiring multiple channels or stereo operation in a single unit.

15 dB attenuation switch for level matching

A two-position 0 dB/-15 dB attenuation switch adapts the input sensitivity to a wide variety of signal sources. This single control determines whether the direct box can handle hot active electronics or low-output passive instruments without distortion.

Highlights

  • Active circuitry preserves top-end on passive pickups
  • Balanced output reduces noise on long cable runs
  • Switchable 0dB/-15dB attenuation matches varied signal levels
  • Thru jack sends signal to amp without affecting original audio
  • Runs on batteries or phantom power for flexible placement

Specifications

BrandSamson

Questions about this item

Should I choose the battery or phantom power version for my setup?

The MDA1 operates on either phantom power or an internal 9 V battery, so you can use whichever is available at the venue or studio.

What does the -15 dB attenuation switch actually do for my instrument signal?

The 0 dB / -15 dB switch lets you pad hot signals from active pickups or line-level sources so the balanced output stays clean and undistorted.

What connector standard does the balanced output use and what cable runs does it support?

The balanced output uses a standard XLR connector, which rejects noise and allows much longer cable runs than unbalanced instrument cables.

Also in this aisle

People compared these

Same shelf, same checkout — eight coins and a 30-minute rate lock.