DI/Preamps which can drive a PA under 300$

[fede162162]

Hello everybody,

as the headline suggests I'm looking for a compact preamp which
in order of importance
0) has at least the XLR output
1) can drive a PA
2) has a great sound
3) is especially good on clean sounds
4) lays in the up to $300 zone
5) couples a 1/4'' output to the XLR one
6) is powered by both 9v battery and power supply

Of course I'm open to suggestions which don't satisfy all the points.

I don´t dislike warm tuby sounds.

so far I tought to the Sansamp Para Driver, but I'm afraid he won´t satisfy me on the slap(ultra clear sound), and to the BBE DI 1000,which seems to suit clean sound lovers like me!

Have you got any other suggestion?

[warwick.hoy]

Any of the Sansamp Bass Driver DIs for tubey. I like the three channel version myself.

Also check out the Sadowsky preamp.

[dannybuoy]

EBS Microbass, Aguilar Tone Hammer and MXR M-80 are worth checking out.

[Zooberwerx]

Seymour Duncan Paranormal might meet your needs. I've seen them used for well under $100.

http://www.seymourduncan.com/product...6_paranorma_2/

Riis

[bongomania]

I think the Sadowsky and the Tone Hammer are going to meet the most of your requirements.

[Mr_Sore_Fingerz]

Sansamp RPM, it has a mid-shift and 3-band EQ with all the other features except for being driven by a 9v. It's a rackmount but well worth it if you ask me. Get a shallow rack and stick in a compressor or tuner to fill up the rack.

[MNAirHead]

I've owned most..

Value = MXR M-80

Purist = Countryman 85

My Radial is questionable.

[bongomania]

Quick clarification: By "drive a PA", did you mean "drive a power amp" or did you mean "sends a balanced low-impedance connection to a PA mixer"?

[fede162162]

sorry guys!!

DRIVE A POWER AMP _(I have a Soundtech PS 802 power amp) = thus no Radial jci or Countryman

no rackmount pleasw, I need a compact preamp to handle easily in recording sessions as well as live sessions

so far we have..

BBE DI 1000
Sansamp Para Driver
Aguilar Tone Hammer
Sadowsky preamp
EBS microbass


any other suggestion?
which parameter I have to check in order to see which one is more suitable to drive a power amp? Output impedance?

[RickenBoogie]

That's a whoe 'nother thang, there.

[bongomania]

Check out the "preamps explained" link in my sig for a full explanation.

[fede162162]

Originally Posted by bongomania

Check out the "preamps explained" link in my sig for a full explanation.

great link!!

so,

my power amp has Imput sensitivity of +4db (1.23V) and imput impedance of 10khom

most of the manufacters don't put the output voltage, but they do specify the output impedance.

If I understood well I need to find preamps with very low output impedance.

For example EBS microbass and Sadowsky Pre have 10k ohms of impedance at the unbalanced output and rispectively 500 ohms and 600 ohms at the balanced output;thus their balanced output fit perfectly with the 10k ohms impedance imput of my power amp, don´t they?

[SwamiRob]

With the Sansamps don't you get a pretty much entirely clean uncoloured direct sound when you have the blend control all the way off? If so you can take down the blend or turn it off completely when you wanna use it for slap. Don't wanna whore sansamps too much cos I'm sure there's something a little more diverse since you wanna get a pretty wide variety of tones with yours it seems and there's probably something more fitting for that.

[Zooberwerx]

Since we're now talking preamps, I'll throw a vote in for the SansAmp RPM. The sweepable mids work beautifully IMO.

Riis

[Lync]

For a good value-the Hartke Bass Attack.

Just don't go overboard with the blend/drive. In fact, just using the shape and on-board eq gives a pretty good tone. It also runs off of phantom power if need be.

[bongomania]

Originally Posted by fede162162

my power amp has Imput sensitivity of +4db (1.23V) and imput impedance of 10khom

If I understood well I need to find preamps with very low output impedance.

For example EBS microbass and Sadowsky Pre have 10k ohms of impedance at the unbalanced output and rispectively 500 ohms and 600 ohms at the balanced output;thus their balanced output fit perfectly with the 10k ohms impedance imput of my power amp, don´t they?

Yes, all of that is correct. So the next question is their output level, which is rarely stated by the manufacturer--partly because the output level will change dramatically depending on the signal you feed it, and partly because manufacturers fail to realize how we bassists use these preamps, and how much we would benefit from some clear indication of the undistorted output range.

If you don't find this info in a web/TB search, then email the manufacturers and ask them whether their preamp will put out a +4dBu (note: not just "dB", which is a relative rating, but dBu, which is a fixed measurement) signal, or whether it can put out 1.25V with no clipping.

[fede162162]

I was looking the manual of the Summit TD-100 and I found this:

Maximum Output Level (Class A)
+24 dBu. The outputs are electronically balanced or
unbalanced. XLR type (pin 2 hot), 1/4” balanced TRS
(Neutrik)

Does it mean that this device can run my power amp magnifically??(24dbu!!)

[bongomania]

There may have been a typo in the manual, because the output is +4 dBu, not +24. I owned one of those. But even with the typo, it will still do a perfect job of driving your power amp.

[OldogNewTrick]

another option would be the Carl Martin 3-band para pre., if you prefer clean to coloured, that is.

[bongomania]

Yeah I'm actually expecting one of those in the mail any day now; I didn't suggest it because I haven't tried it in that application yet.