The Merge BRICK or Merge Box
Review by Tom Landin
Designed by: Zendrum Engineer Chris deHass
Reason for Upgrade:
Customer feedback regarding the plastic Merge Box durability has prompted Zendrum to upgrade the MIDI Merge Box from both a physical and an electronic perspective. May offer as an upgrade version or make it the standard issue for all future Zendrums.
Features:
1. Heavy Metal Housing with screw plate base. Virtually indestructible.
2. Switchcraft panel mount MIDI jacks
3. More heavy duty electronic parts, with built-in protection circuitry. If you plug the wrong voltage wall wart into it or the polarity gets reversed, it won't blow; it just won't work until the correct voltage is sensed.
4. A detachable wall wart power supply. 120VAC 60Hz 12W to 12VDC 500mA The cord is secured to the housing via a small metal screwed on clamp, thus preventing the power plug from inadvertently pulling out during use. If you needed to, you could go to Radio Shack for an emergency transformer after an encounter with a bad power spike.
5. Pre-attached Velcro on the base (hook), with the fiber strips ready to affix to your mounting surface. If you dont want to Velcro the Metal Brick, then the strips act as a sound and vibration cushion.
6. A Limited Lifetime Warranty from Zendrum Inspector 109, complete with a custom warranty sticker displaying the famous Inspector 109 mug shot. 7. Alpha model is plain just the metal enclosure. The production models are expected to be painted, powder-coated, or silk screened.
Side by Side Comparison:
FEATURE |
MERGE BOX |
MERGE BRICK |
Power
Supply
|
CUI 12VDC Model DV-1250, Hardwired to MIDI Box | CUI 12VDC
Model DV-1250, Detachable with strain restraint |
Power
Cord Length
|
6 ft. | 6 ft. |
Polarity/Voltage
Protection
|
None |
Built-in |
Box
Size
|
1.5H x 2W x 3L | 1.25H x 2.25W x 4.5L |
Box
Weight (est.)
|
3 - 4 oz | Almost 1 pound. |
Box
Padding
|
None | Velcro on base |
MIDI
Ports
|
Soldered to circuit board | Switchcraft Enclosure Mounted |
Circuitry
|
Standard 5-pin Active MIDI, board glued to plastic enclosure. | Heavy Duty 5-pin Active MIDI, Internals coated with a non-conductive, non-drying goop. [Silicone] |