IK Multimedia Z-Tone Buffer Boost

IK Multimedia Z-TONE Buffer Boost — Preamp/DI Pedal with Advanced Tone Shaping

Level up your live rig and studio chain. Z-TONE® Buffer Boost puts IK’s award-winning AXE I/O input circuits onto your pedalboard so you can shape feel and frequency response, preserve your signal across long boards and cables, and kick in a musical boost when you need it.

Why players love it

• Active/Passive selector optimises the front end for any pickups

• PURE / JFET channels: totally transparent or warm, harmonically rich Class-A feel

• Z-TONE variable impedance (1 MΩ → 2.2 kΩ) to tighten, brighten or thicken your tone

• Boost circuit adds volume & drive to hit amps/pedals harder

• Always-on buffer keeps your signal clear on big boards & long runs

• Ground-lift to kill buzz/hum on stage

• Designed & made in Italy

Connect anywhere

• LINK amp/pedal out

• Balanced XLR DI out for mixers & PAs (transformer-isolated)

• Unbalanced ¼" out for extra routing flexibility

• True bypass when off

Included software

• AmpliTube 5 SE (Mac/PC) with a curated collection of amps, cabs & effects to sculpt your DI tracks.

Front-panel at a glance

Bypass • Boost On/Off • Boost • Gain • Z-TONE control • Active/Passive • JFET/PURE • Instrument In • Link Out • ¼" Out • XLR Out • Ground Lift • 9V DC In • 9V battery compartment

Tech specs

• Gain range: –8 dB to +8 dB

• Boost range: 0 dB to +10 dB

• Input impedance (Passive mode): 1 MΩ → 2.2 kΩ (variable)

• Input impedance (Active mode): ~20 kΩ

• Output impedance: 56 Ω (unbalanced), 600 Ω (balanced)

• Max input before clip: +13 dBm (phantom powered) / +9 dBm (9V battery)

• Dynamic range: >114 dB(A)

• THD @ 1 kHz, +4 dBm in: 0.0033% (PURE, balanced) / 0.2% (JFET)

• Frequency response: 5 Hz – 30 kHz (-1 dB)

• Phase deviation: 0° ±10° from 20 Hz – 20 kHz

• Power: 9V battery, +48 V phantom via XLR, or optional 9 VDC (positive outside) supply

• Size/Weight: 10.8 × 12 × 5.8 cm • 600 g

Perfect for

• Guitar & bass pedalboards needing tone shaping + clean buffering

• Direct-to-PA gigs or hybrid amp + DI setups

• Studio DI tracking (capture amp + DI simultaneously)

Available now at Colemans Music — Melbourne CBD & Online.
Plug in, dial Z-TONE, and make every rig your golden channel.