Avalon U5 Question...

dmwynn · #1 09-06-2010, 08:11 AM

I'm sort of new to the whole upgraded DI thing, so be kind. I've got a Walkabout and I love it. I usually take a DI from the back of the head and it sounds good. Lately I've been looking at more rack gear such as preamps, DIs (particularly the Avalon and Tech21, as those seem to be very popular amongst players on this forum) and the like. Does the Avalon do something different that the DI on my head doesn't do? Does it sound better? Just curious, as it seems kind of redundant to have 2 DIs. Unless it sounds way better.

Thanks!

Son of Bovril · #2 09-06-2010, 08:39 AM

The Avalon is super clean Class A, It will really let the natural tone of your bass come through. if that is waht you are looking for then it is worth the cost and effort of lugging it around. The Tech 21 is MUCH smaller & cheaper and is more about simulating a tube amp kind of tone. 2 different tools that do the same thing but with very different design objectives.

JimmyM · #3 09-06-2010, 11:36 AM

i agree with you, dm. from all accounts, the walkabout di is great, so if it serves your needs, save yourself $500.

bongomania · #4 09-06-2010, 11:45 AM

Also, there are cheaper and much much smaller DI's that will sound 100% as good as the Avalon in a live stage context. A Radial J48 or JDI, a Countryman Type 10 or Type 85, and many many more. There may be individual cases where the specific functions of the Avalon make it "worth it" to some users onstage, but for most people in most cases the size alone makes the Avalon a poor choice outside the recording studio. And frankly, I like the tone of the JDI better than the Avalon anyway.

**Ukiah Bass** · #5 09-06-2010, 12:18 PM

Save yourself the money and use the Walkabout DI for live performance. 99.9% of the audience will not hear any difference. Let the studio buy expensive DIs.

JimmyM · #6 09-06-2010, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ukiah Bass

Save yourself the money and use the Walkabout DI for live performance. 99.9% of the audience will not hear any difference.

well that one person who really counts will hear the difference...you. and there are quite a few people who believe the difference they get with the u5 or the reddi or any number of high end di's that are considered too big and expensive for live work is worth buying it and toting it. so if you plug into one and decide your tone can't live without it, get it. but that's something everyone has to decide for themselves. i've heard bass players sound fabulous using di's much worse than any of them. hell, even a $50 whirlwind di will sound fabulous in the right hands. but the only soundmen who will ever complain about the walkabout di are big babies who have no business behind a board in the first place.

naturalkinds · #7 09-06-2010, 02:13 PM

The Avalon is a completely different tonal approach than the Walkabout. They are literally at opposite ends of the spectrum. If you get tired of the WA tubey sound, you may very well benefit from a cleaner DI, like the U5. (I myself think the WA is the best sounding DI I've ever used on a bass, but I see why others might not like it.)

Of course no one really notices for live performance purposes; I support Ukiah there. But that's seldom the issue. In a studio, it gives you more tracking options if you have a palate of different sounds available.

**Ukiah Bass** · #8 09-06-2010, 02:46 PM

I suggest you try some objective recording tests and decide for yourself. I did this with a Genz Benz Shuttle 6 DI and the Countryman DI. The result: nearly indistinguishable performance of each. The methodology and results are presented in this thread:

Comparing the Genz Benz Shuttle 6.0 DI to the Countryman Type 85 Direct Box

RickenBoogie · #9 09-06-2010, 04:48 PM

If you like the tone you get from your Walkabout, (and who wouldn't), just leave well enough alone. The Avalon will sound like an Anti-Walkabout, and in my book, that is NOT an improvement.

dmwynn · #10 09-06-2010, 05:06 PM

Thanks for all the great responses! I do quite love the tone of my Walkabout (in conjunction with a 4003), I've just always been curious about all the DI options, wondered if it was worth looking into. The Avalon was the first to my mind as a lot of opinions I've seen/read have qualified it as the bee's knees of "affordable" DIs. I'm sure there're a lot that would disagree but I've seen a lot of positive feedback on it. I do love the tube tone though, so I'll be sticking with my rig. That, I believe, sounds better than 90% of the giant rigs I see sitting there when I load in. Just a small victory for myself, so to speak.

dmwynn · #11 09-06-2010, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyM

but the only soundmen who will ever complain about the walkabout di are big babies who have no business behind a board in the first place.

All the sound guys I've had experience with love my amp. They can't believe that all that sound comes from such a small package.

David1234 · #12 09-06-2010, 05:18 PM

My favourite DI is my SWR Headlite, and happens to have a 400W power stage as a bonus. I'm guessing the walkabout is best for you in the same way that my headlite is best for me.

naturalkinds · #13 09-06-2010, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ukiah Bass

I suggest you try some objective recording tests and decide for yourself. I did this with a Genz Benz Shuttle 6 DI and the Countryman DI. The result: nearly indistinguishable performance of each. The methodology and results are presented in this thread:

Comparing the Genz Benz Shuttle 6.0 DI to the Countryman Type 85 Direct Box

Kind of hard to do 'objective listening tests' in advance of owning the U5, no?

While I very much valued and learned from your thread, it's certainly true that those two DIs have the same tonal philosophy -- viz., uncoloured transparency. The OP is comparing the WA -- the anti-transparent tubey DI with variable drive -- to the Avalon U5 -- one of the quintessential clean DIs.