ROCHESTER, NY — Whirlwind USA, “the company that connects everything,” reports that unit sales of its IMP 2 Direct Box, launched in 1977, exceeded the million mark in unit sales.
“In 1975, when the company created the first commercial direct box, we didn’t realize we were creating an industry,” said Will Young, Whirlwind’s head of marketing and artist relations. “The IMP 2, designed in 1977, became the industry standard in passive direct boxes right out of the gate. This DI box is not our flashiest and feature-filled DI by any stretch, but it has stood the test of time, and can still be found everywhere from small clubs, to churches, to giant stadium productions. A million units later, this tireless workhorse is still hand-built the way it was when we first invented it.”
The IMP 2 features 1/4″ parallel wired in/out jacks, an XLR output, ground lift switch to help isolate hum and buzz and a tough metal enclosure. It also uses Whirlwind’s TRHL transformer, which is riveted, not glued, to the chassis.
“One thing that is consistent across all product lines is that we overbuild, whether it be for installations, theaters, live events, concert touring, or players looking for a good guitar cable,” Young said. “Everything we do is developed and built right here at our plant, and we’re able to make sure the reliability factor is extraordinarily high.”
Whirlwind, a leading interface manufacturer for the live event, audio installations, and theater industries, makes everything from cables to concert splitters to electrical distribution systems and beyond. These products are put into service supporting elaborate events staged at venues ranging from major league sports stadiums to the White House. The company is led by Michael Laiacona, who founded Whirlwind in 1975.
For more information about Whirlwind, go to www.whirlwindusa.com.
