cheap DI vs. expensive DI

[Juniorkimbrough]

Whats the difference?

Most DI's just send a clean signal to the board so what is the advantage of using a more expensive one over a cheaper one?

[Tony G]

My guess would be the better quality of DI, the cleaner the signal. If you were to solo the bass out and do a DI shootout at a studio, I can see you being able to hear the differences. However, add the rest of the instruments to the mix, and those differences won't be so clear.

[getz76]

I think there is a misconception that all DIs are clean and pristine. Plenty give instruments a distinguishable tone; usually not as much as you can do with a preamp with gain control, but still a tone nonetheless.

[Juniorkimbrough]

And just to specify I am talking about DI's that would be used in a live setting, not in the studio.

I totally understand why someone would by something more expensive for studio use but I have a hard time justifying the cost of a higher end DI for live use.

[getz76]

Can you define higher end?

[BetterBottomEnd]

Cheap DI's have the tendency to add noise to the line. The difference in quality between moderately priced and expensive DI's is much more subtle. IMHO at least once you get up to the level of a decent DI for live use you really want buy reliability. DI's do color your tone a little but it's very subtle and not something I personally would worry too much about in a live setting.

[Gearhead17]

I recently purchased a Radial JDI Direct Box, it was $180. Through some research, I found out the components used in the JDI were being used in custom made Direct Boxes that cost anywhere between $1000 - $2000.

The JDI is made out of 14 gauge steel and is made for the touring musician. The unit made my bass sound like my bass when I tried it through a massive PA system. No coloring or added noise.

I thought of it this way, why should I try to save money on a DI box? I thought $180 sounded reasonable, so I went for it. Plus, the JDI is a top of the line DI box, I really can't go wrong and I don't have to ponder if there are better products on the market.

When I tried out my DI box, I also gave a Behringer Active DI Box a try. The sound was still good, but there was some noticeable noise coming from it - mainly static.

[WalterBush]

Originally Posted by Juniorkimbrough

I totally understand why someone would by something more expensive for studio use but I have a hard time justifying the cost of a higher end DI for live use.

I wouldn't skimp and get a "cheap" DI if I were you--the difference between, say, a Whirlwind or Behringer and Radial DI is primarily noise and durability.

Past that point, you're paying for coloration of sound--I like the BBE DI 1000 specifically because it colors my sound, and is quiet as long as I don't engage the Sonic Maximizer, for example. It's also built like a tank. More expensive DI's also add or color sound somewhat, rather than just pass along a straight impedance-matched signal.

Anything from Radial will last forever and give you good, quiet signal to a PA, as well as some options regarding impedance and output matching, depending on model.

Anything cheaper than that, and you risk losing tone and having it crap out on you after a few times being dropped, IME.

[jokerjkny]

i just like how my Tube DI's give you that tubey goodness.

but i realized w/ cheaper DI's, i.e. behringer, etc., they just dont take the abuse of the road. tonally, they do tend to break up a bit too when i hit 'em w/ my active basses. IMHO, anything countryman or radial are terrific values.

[seanm]

The really cheap ones can sound bad. I have a $45 DI and a $100 DI. The $45 looks cheap, isn't as robust, and sounds bad when ABed with the $100 one. For something you buy and keep basically forever, an extra $50 is worth it.

All prices in Canadian Loonies, eh?

[SBassman]

Originally Posted by jokerjkny

i just like how my Tube DI's give you that tubey goodness.

but i realized w/ cheaper DI's, i.e. behringer, etc., they just dont take the abuse of the road. tonally, they do tend to break up a bit too when i hit 'em w/ my active basses. IMHO, anything countryman or radial are terrific values.

What's a good example of a DI with tubey goodness - and low price?

[ExaltBass]

I agree with Gearhead17 - I use a Radial Tonebone Bassbone DI (to be able to switch between 2 basses live). There is a certain solidness and clearness that comes through on the better DIs. Your bass sounds like itself 'on a good day'. But, the WHOLE signal path affects that sound: the bass - pickups - cable - DI - - amp - speaker cable - cab. Also throw in there the power source and cable to the amp! No ONE component is king - ANY one can mess it up!

[Juniorkimbrough]

The only reason I'm asking these questions is because I got stuck with a cheap D.I. because I needed one that day and I had to buy a $30 DI from the local guitar shop.

What's the difference between these two Radials? I realize one has the Jensen transformer and the other doesn't, but I really don't see myself ever needing all the other options the JDI has vs. ProDI.

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/produ...2&src=3SOSWXXA

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/produ...Box?sku=153915

Thanks for all the advice and help! I would do a seach but as you guys know anything under three characters, i.e. "D.I.", you can't search for.

[rockstarbassist]

I have a U5, and if you use IEM's, especially molded higher-end ones, the difference is definitely noticeable.
I used to have a Radial J48 (active) and used it a couple of times, and didn't like it at all through my IEM mix.
Now I have a U5 and yeah maybe I don't need that nice of a DI, but it's a nice investment and if you play different basses like me, the EQ and Tone Boost options are killer. Plus in my IEM's you can hear EVERYthing that you play, even the teeniest string noise, and that is pretty awesome.

[scotch]

This is a tricky question. Ultimately, you have to let your ears decide what sounds good to you. If a $30 RAPCO works for you & you can't tell the difference between it and the $100+ RADIAL, then by all means go with the RAPCO.
Often the difference in high-quality DI's is rather subtle. They are easier to detect studio environments, thus you see the costlier DI's used more in the studio! It might surprise you how much a track can change (with all the other instruments in the mix as well) when you change out a DI that you previously thought sounded just like the other! It can be hard to describe in words, but it is a reality.
When it comes to a live use DI - build quality & reliability are a big consideration. I can't tell you how many times I've seen the "cheapies" crap out during a show. It's embarassing, distracting, & unprofessional. Sure, the units were a couple of years old & gigged hard, but that's no excuse when people are paying (hopefully) to see you!
Just my 2-cents.

[jokerjkny]

Originally Posted by SBassman

What's a good example of a DI with tubey goodness - and low price?

a used aguilar tube di, demeter's show up every so often. course, we're talkin' in the $350 range.

[CrackBass]

i would disagree with most on this board about the behringer ultra di. (the big one with the rubber feet/armor on the sides, not the small square one.) i used one for well over a year of gigs. (i play quite a bit too, 4 gigs this week, ouch) no problems at all. of course i kept it inside my rack wedged between two layers of foam. however it performed quite well. i did not notice any extra or added noise either. i did a side by side comparison with my old swr350 through a small pa in my shop and it was quite suprising. i ran the di out of the swr and then with the behringer in line between the amps di and the board. the result? it sounded exactly the same. although the swr's di isn't considered the best on the market, it is what i would consider a quality di. it cannot take phantom power though, which is why i used the behringer as a buffer. for 35 bucks you can't go wrong.

it actually seems fairly robust in construction, and even though i kept mine shielded from harm, my buddy ran one for about as long doing the briefcase/gigbag/pedalboard thing. and he hasn't had any probs out of his either.

btw for the most part i hate behringer gear, and this is the only thing they make that i would recommend for anything other than practice.

[Stuggi]

I just got my Sansamp PBDR (BDDI with 3 prog. presets), and I totally digg it! It's a complete alternative for a pricey rig, gives you allmost any tone, and it's completely silent. And it's rocksolid.
Get one now!

[seanm]

Originally Posted by Juniorkimbrough

The only reason I'm asking these questions is because I got stuck with a cheap D.I. because I needed one that day and I had to buy a $30 DI from the local guitar shop.

What's the difference between these two Radials? I realize one has the Jensen transformer and the other doesn't, but I really don't see myself ever needing all the other options the JDI has vs. ProDI.

Deja vu! I bought the $45 DI for the same reason.

I went with the ProDI. While I have never A/Bed them live (since I didn't buy the JDI), I doubt you could tell the difference. And for the studio, well I would assume the studio would own some good DIs.

As far as I can tell, the main difference is in the transformer. The Jensen is very expensive. The case and build quality are the same.

[Buzz]

How about the Countryman Type 85 DI box?
If you look carefully on the net you can find a new one shipped for $129. Most ask $150 plus on average.