Genz Benz Shuttle DI quality?

[Lorenzini]

Hi all,

Does anyone have first hand experience of the quality of DI out of the Genz Benz Shuttle series of amps?

I currently am looking for an additional amp, already owning an Aguilar AG500SC, but I'd like it to have a high quality DI (as the Aguilar does).

Thanks in advance.

[JOE EDO]

I had a similiar question a time ago. Check this thread out....

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

[alexofc69]

yes, my shuttle 6.0 has a wonderful DI. I imagine my new Streamliner is the same. I will find out tomorrow in the studio.

[agedhorse]

Originally Posted by alexofc69

yes, my shuttle 6.0 has a wonderful DI. I imagine my new Streamliner is the same. I will find out tomorrow in the studio.

Correct. The basic circuit is identical. It's driven from different sources of course but the DI part is identical.

[MikeBass]

The Shuttle DI is clean like a Countryman.
The Streamliner sounds like a nice tube DI.

[Ryan L.]

The DI on my Max 9.2 sounds amazing through our FOH system. VERY pleased with the sound quality I'm getting with it.

[mark107]

I recently did some ultra-careful testing of the Shuttle 9.0 DI against my Countryman. I used a 1k tone @ 0dB to make sure my levels were exactly the same during the test (I am a recording engineer...). What I found was that the Countryman is better by a hair or two, but definitely better. However, this was when the Shuttle DI was set to PRE. When set to POST, there was a substantial amount of hiss, even with the eq set flat. If you are recording, don't even think of setting the DI to Post.

Also, if you want a noise floor as low as the Countryman (or any other decent DI box), make sure set the Shuttle DI to LINE LEVEL, not MIC Level. At line level (and set to PRE), it's pretty much as quiet as the Countryman. But when set to Mic Level, the noise floor comes up quite a bit. Not as bad as when set to POST, but still noticeable. (Mic level AND Post is some serious noise!) If the recording and/or FOH people can handle Line Level, you're golden. If not, and noise is a consideration, you'd best use a DI box.

So, if you are going for the best S/N (signal-to-noise ratio) out of the DI (a live recording perhaps), definitely DON'T use the Shuttle DI set to POST. Better yet, use a pro-level DI box. The Shuttle DI is very good, but not as quite as good as a Countryman or a Radial. For ordinary gigs, it won't matter though.

To be fair, I am willing to bet that most bass amps with built-in DI's will exhibit all or most of the above, though I haven't made those tests yet. But to say that the Shuttle DI is on par with the Countryman, without taking into account all of the above, would be naive.

[agedhorse]

Let me clarify a few things with Mark107's post above...

In pre, mic level, the S/N ratio is only a dB or two higher than the Countryman and still below the noise floor of most pro PA systems. At line level you are a couple dB quieter and absolutely on par with the Countryman... and note that there is considerable variation in noise floor with the Countryman (85) too. I measured 6 here and found there to be a range to the noise floor of a couple dB difference.

In post mode, you are adding in a fair amount of processing and the noise floor is about 3or 4dB higher than in post mode but if you are using the processing as part of your sound then that's part of the cost. The noise floor in post mode is as quiet as any amp on the market today, if the FOH guy doesn't have a problem with it then you are good to go. If you boost the highs by 3dB, of course any noise present will increase by 3dB as well. The same would apply if using the Countryman picking off the post signal from the amp.

I spent >25 years in pro audio, I have a pretty good idea of what is needed for good, reliable DI performance out in the real world for 99.99% of the touring applications you guys are likely to be lucky enough to score. I don't want you guys to get scared away from the on-board DI because of Mark's post, and think you have to spend a hundred bucks plus to get "better" DI performance.

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by agedhorse

In post mode, you are adding in a fair amount of processing and the noise floor is about 3or 4dB higher than in post mode but if you are using the processing as part of your sound then that's part of the cost. The noise floor in post mode is as quiet as any amp on the market today, if the FOH guy doesn't have a problem with it then you are good to go. If you boost the highs by 3dB, of course any noise present will increase by 3dB as well. The same would apply if using the Countryman picking off the post signal from the amp.

as someone who has done just that several times, i can attest that it's absolutely true.

[G-Unit 01]

I use the D.I on my Shuttle 3.0 Post EQ to F.O.H. Works really well, no complaints.