This little box from Behringer is a very handy addition to the home studio, mobile record rig or stage setup.
I have 2 of these and use them for live gig recordings with my mobile rig where I often don't know what I'm going to encounter until I arrive. These little boxes are very versatile and allow me to connect a wide range of instruments to my recording interface via balanced connections for best low noise performance with long cable runs.
For example, I've used them as classic DI boxes, to insert between instrument and amplifier and to simultaneously take a balanced line level output out to the interface, I've used a single unit to feed an unbalanced stereo output from a keyboard into twin balanced XLR inputs. I've used them to interface with a drum machine via the headphone output (the drum machines' main outs were broken).
They are powered via phantom power from the XLR connection or via 9V battery. You can connect instrument amplifier speaker outputs to them and use the inbuilt attenuator to match the signal. Other features include a ground lift, and the ability to use as either a twin channel single in single out DI box, or a single channel box with single in, multiple out.
Compact and lightweight, they seem rugged enough in day to day use, no issues with noise or build quality, and of course, excellent value.
To sum up, don't be put off by cheap reputation these are very versatile little tools and very competitively priced.