sE Electronics FluxCore FCA1 – Ultra Hi-Z Active DI With Clean Gain

The sE Electronics FluxCore FCA1 is an active direct box for players and engineers who want a passive pickup, a piezo or a vintage high-impedance source to reach the desk exactly as it sounds at the instrument. A 10 MΩ input, switchable load, built-in DYNAMITE gain and a custom transformer-balanced output make it a DI you can leave on the input all session. At Soundium it is the active half of the new FluxCore series, alongside the passive FCP1.

Key Features

• 10 MΩ ultra Hi-Z input: Puts virtually no load on passive pickups and piezos, so the top end, attack and dynamics stay intact.
• Switchable LOAD (10 MΩ / 100 kΩ / 10 kΩ): Lets you dial in the feel of a typical DI box or line input when a pickup sounds better slightly loaded.
• Integrated DYNAMITE gain boost: Adds +15 or +30 dB of low-noise gain right at the source, which keeps the signal strong over long cable runs and in RF-heavy rooms.
• Custom-designed transformer output: Balanced and galvanically isolated XLR output for clean sound and solid noise rejection.
• Three-position ground lift with on+: Off, on and the new on+ mode, which also helps suppress high-frequency noise and RFI when a plain lift is not enough.
• Built to mount anywhere: Non-slip mat, full-size hook-and-loop pad for pedalboards and four rack screws; up to four units fit side by side in 1U.

Customer Benefits

Most DI boxes load a passive bass or acoustic pickup more than you think, and the result is a duller, flatter tone before the preamp even sees it. The FCA1 removes that variable, then gives you the tools to shape it: pad hot sources such as active basses or amp outputs by 15 or 30 dB, flip polarity when you blend the DI with a miked cab, and use the THRU jack to feed your amp at the same time. Phantom-power LEDs on the front and rear panels show at a glance that the box is live, whether it sits on a desk, a pedalboard or in a rack.

Quick Specs

• Type: Active DI (48 V phantom power, IEC 61938)
• Frequency range: 10 Hz – 80 kHz (−0.3 dB)
• Input impedance: 10 MΩ / 100 kΩ / 10 kΩ (pad 0 dB)
• Attenuation pad: 0 / −15 / −30 dB
• Gain: 0 / +15 / +30 dB (DYNAMITE)
• Max input level: 8 dBV (0 dB pad), 39 dBV (−30 dB pad)
• Output impedance: 60 Ω
• Current consumption: 7.2 mA
• Connectivity: 6.3 mm TS input, 6.3 mm TS thru, 3-pin male XLR output
• Dimensions (W × H × D): 100 × 39 × 127 mm
• Weight: 795 g

In the Box

• 1 × sE Electronics FluxCore FCA1 active DI box
• 1 × self-adhesive hook-and-loop pad
• 1 × self-adhesive non-slip mat
• 4 × rack-mounting screws

Ideal For

• Passive basses and guitars, upright bass and acoustic instruments with piezo pickups
• Studio re-amping and DI tracking where you want the full character of the instrument
• Live rigs and touring racks that run long cables in noisy RF environments

Compatibility

Connects to any mixer, interface or stagebox input with 48 V phantom power over a balanced XLR cable. Phantom power does not pass through TRS cables, so use XLR on the output side.

Pros & Cons

✅ Pros:

• Very high 10 MΩ input with switchable load for tonal control
• Up to +30 dB of clean gain at the source
• on+ ground lift tackles RFI as well as ground-loop hum
• Flexible mounting: desk, pedalboard or four units in 1U

⚠️ Cons:

• Needs 48 V phantom power; there is no battery option
• Mono only, so stereo keyboards or laptops need two units or the passive FCP1

If your bass or acoustic loses its life between the instrument and the desk, the FCA1 is the box that keeps it. Order the sE Electronics FluxCore FCA1 from Soundium, and pair it with the FCP1 when you also need a passive DI for keys and playback.