P48 Hi Z Piezo Buffer

Product Overview

The P48 Hi-Z Piezo Buffer is a high impedance buffer circuit designed for piezoelectric pickups, contact microphones (ensure adequate shielding), and hydrophone applications. Powered directly from 48V phantom power, it provides a simple interface between high-impedance piezo elements and standard audio equipment.

Designed for recording, instrument pickups, and sensor applications, this board enables clean signal transfer and eliminates loading effects that can degrade piezo performance.

Key Features

• High impedance input optimized for piezoelectric transducers
• Phantom powered (P48) – no external battery required
• Low output impedance for driving mixers, preamps, and recording devices
• Suitable for contact microphones and hydrophones

Applications

• Piezo pickup buffering for instruments and sensors
• Contact microphones for acoustic and structural recording
• Hydrophone and underwater audio applications
• Phantom-powered DI-style interfaces for piezo sources

Technical Description

The P48 Hi-Z Piezo Buffer provides a high impedance input stage that allows piezoelectric transducers to operate without signal loss caused by loading. This is critical for maintaining low-frequency response and overall signal integrity in piezo-based systems.

The circuit is powered from standard 48V phantom power, eliminating the need for batteries and making it well suited for integration with professional audio equipment. The buffered output provides a stable, low-impedance signal compatible with mixers, microphone preamps, and recording interfaces.

• High Input Impedance
  Preserves signal from piezoelectric pickups and contact microphones.
• Phantom Power Operation
  Operates directly from P48, simplifying system design and cabling.
• Low Output Impedance
  Enables reliable connection to professional audio inputs and long cable runs.
• Compact Integration
  Suitable for embedding in microphones, instruments, or custom enclosures.

Specifications

Helpful Pairings

This board is designed for use with piezoelectric elements, such as our JLI-PZ001 Piezo Element, and is intended for use with equipment that provides 48V phantom power.

For battery-powered operation or dual-channel applications, see our Dual Hydrophone PCB.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does this board do?
This board buffers signals from piezoelectric transducers, allowing them to interface with standard audio equipment without signal loss.

Do I need phantom power to use this?
Yes. This circuit is designed to operate from 48V phantom power supplied by mixers, audio interfaces, or microphone preamps.

What is this typically used for?
It is commonly used for contact microphones, piezo pickups, hydrophones, and other high-impedance sensor applications.