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$ 449 .00
Your Savings: $ 100 .00 Msrp: $ 549 .00
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SKU

42748

Acme Audio Motown D.I. WB-3 Passive DI Box

Reproduction of the classic Motown direct box that offers character and colorization
MFR# WB-3

Product Description

The Sound That Made History

During Motown’s heyday, a major technical component of “The Detroit Sound’ was the direct input box (DI). Designed by a young Motown audio engineer in the early 1960s, the musicians plugged straight in and achieved a distinct, colorful distortion that would become recognizable all over the world. The DI box was adopted by such Motown greats as James Jamerson Sr., Dennis Coffey and Bob Babbitt, who defined the sound of a generation with their soulful playing and crisply captured notes.

Recreated by Acme Audio, the new Motown D.I. WB-3 brings the exact character as the original DI box. Modern updates include the improved variable attenuated for high-level input and the custom-made, rugged steel case (the original DIs were built in Aluminum boxes). Owners of the Motown DI will find that it increases sound quality in a marginal acoustic environment, for the cleanest, purest sound source possible.


Recreating a Classic Transformer

The Motown D.I. WB-3 features transformers that have been painstakingly reproduced to exactly replicate those used in the original version of this direct box. In an effort to perfectly replicate the quality and sound to the original Motown Direct Box, Acme Audio tracked down the original manufacturer of the coveted transformer and enlisted them to start making them again after nearly 35 years.

As a result, the Motown D.I. WB-3 is built to the exact specifications with the same materials as the original and exhibits the same audio character and lack of low-frequency magnetic saturation that sets it apart from similar devices. The Motown DI is now available, making this unit not only a fine audio interface/level converter, but a piece of audio history.

Product Specifications

Condition New
Width 6 in
Height 5 in
Depth 8 in
Channels Single-Channel
Chassis Desktop
Active or Passive Passive
Tube or Solid State Solid State
Input Connectors 1/4-inch TS
Output Connectors Analog XLR

Product Reviews

5 out of 5 stars.
Review Count (12)

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Great sounding and super functional DI. I’ve never been so excited to DI stuff.

By Eric B on September 19, 2022

I can’t explain what it does to a guitar sound but I like it!!!

By Federico P on August 10, 2022

Good round bass sound. Lower mid punch

By CCP on March 24, 2022

Mucho Motown mojo!

By Daniel D on September 21, 2021

Best DI-box ever, also a great reamp box.

By Martin C on April 20, 2020

Very cool…even brought a new bass to go with it!

By Corday P on April 12, 2020

Good

By 逄捷 on October 9, 2019

Awesome!!! Money well spent.

By Love X on April 22, 2019

Just love it....It certainly has the Motown sound I am looking for...Clean, crisp, deep tone you want find anywhere else...

By Larry M on March 4, 2019

Best d.I. to use with a Pbass to get the Motown bass tone!!

By Daniel L on February 25, 2019

Fantsatic smooth sounding DI

By Joakim R on December 31, 2018

Sounds just like James Jamerson when you plug this thing in front of a good tube mic pre. Fat, punchy, I'm in love! Been using it on my live sessions to for FOH feed and the sound man is always commenting on how good my bass tone is.

By Frank Lee on May 5, 2017

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In almost 20 years in Pro audio buying, never did I receive a unit so well packed and exactly as described. Works flawlessly. The whole process has been so smooth. I will never hesitate to do business with you guys in the future and will recommend you to everyone I know.
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