Best DI Box $200 and under?

[Spent]

Check out the MXR M80, it's $139 new. I bought one a few years ago (no idea why) and really like it. I've used Tech21, Radial, Demeter, Groove Tube Brick, etc., so I've tried a number of them. I didn't want to like the MXR as much as I do, based upon nothing more than the fact that it was cheap. It's not a true DI, it will color your sound at least a little, but the tones it produces are pretty impressive for both active and passive basses. Just my $0.02.

 

[mngnt]

JDI or a used Neve RNDI

 

[40Hz]

I've heard about the Countryman 85 but can't find any bass sample videos.

I think you'll find all your answers here:



My current personal preference is for the Neve RNDI ($270 street) followed by the Countryman 85 ($180 street).

There was some discussion of DIs recently in another thread. Find it here,

 

[sambass0124]

I'm using Aguilar Tone Hammer and tried Tech21 BDDI. You can do tone shaping with sweepable mid on TH. It has less color than BDDI. If you like the warm tube sound maybe you'll like BDDI better.

And you may also try MXR M81 Bass Preamp - it's incredibly small.

 

[Session1969]

I'm wanting good clean tone for a IEM gig that will keep me from taking any amp.

If you have an active bass, I bet any passive box will sound very good. I'd get a passive Radial.

 

[Gizmot]

Another vote for Radial - and they have several options including the Tonebone preamp / DIs. Very well designed and built

 

[4Mal]

In my sound co I provide countrymen type 85's and the passive Radial Pro DI's. Have an assortment of others that have cumulated but those are my bread and butter di's.

Others do include the Baggs Paracoustic (x2) but those I use on acoustic guitars, mandolins, banjos, etc... also a DBX DI-12 - active DI, easily in the Countryman / Radial arena. Great DI, derived of a BSS unit and it des the job nicely.

On my pedal board sits a Radial BassBone. I have often describe it as the least sexy, most useful box in my rig...

 

[Jazz Ad]

Wether of not it's justified, Jensen transformers are the industry standard when it comes to DI.
Anything equipped with one will be highly regarded. Radial JDI for example.

Now I've had luck with much cheaper products. Some like the MXR are exceptionally good and clear for the price.

 

[HiEnd Basses]

Brand new Ampeg SCR-DI retails for $199.00. Done.

 

[Jay Corwin]

The Countryman is an industry standard/classic. You probably won't find audio examples as it's notoriously clean. It only really does one thing - clean conversion of your signal. If your bass sounds good, the Countryman sounds good. I would choose one of these everytime. When it came time to pick up a DI box, this was the only one on my list.

Also - these things are indestructible. Very much like a Shure SM58 or SM57 mic or a Boss effect pedal - you can throw it down the street and run over it with a truck and it still works on the gig like new.

This if you don't need additional tone shaping.

 

[neddyrow]

countryman.

i have an Orchid mute/DI - pretty much same as countryman but with a mute.

i also have a simple HPF/LPF mute/DI that i got from josh broughton for around 200 bucks.

i have all three...all are so great that i have kept them all!

 

[Fabio_MIJ]

A countryman, by design, is going to color the tone very, very little. If you like the sound coming out of your bass, you're going to get almost exactly that coming out of the Countryman.

Please define "coming out of your bass" , you mean when it's unplugged or a passive DI or and flat-response amp...

 

[Bassworship1]

@Fabio_MIJ

He means if your bass has a good tone flat without any additional EQ or pedals. My basses sound amazing as is so I don't really need any other EQ other than it's built in EQ.

 

[Fabio_MIJ]

@Fabio_MIJ

He means if your bass has a good tone flat without any additional EQ or pedals. My basses sound amazing as is so I don't really need any other EQ other than it's built in EQ.

uhm.. ok, BUT, for example, I would say my jazz sounds pretty balanced and clean, I almost always use flat eq on the amps (I often use Markbass which is pretty transparent).
But it sounds much different in a simple DI box without pre stage: on the tech21 paradriver DI I use always flat EQ, but never the DI only.
So... flat EQ can be with or without pre- stage. I personally think a passive electric bass naturally goes with a pre (real, simulated or built-in), not a sole DI box. Motown people will be disappointed...

 

[eagle67]

Sansamp BDDI. You can use it as a preamp, or as a simple DI box. And almost every sound guy is familiar with Sansamp

 

[peterpalmieri]

Countryman Type 85 or Radial JDI

 

[bafonso]

While you can't go wrong with a radial JDI it is a stretch to think it does not color a bit. The Jensen transformer does color it slightly but always in a good way. The j48 powered by phantom power is a bit more transparent as just as indestructible and can also be used as a stereo to mono converter if you plug any stereo trs signals to it. Handy for keyboards or laptop on stage if you ever need that.

 

[Alan Ace Cooper]

At my church, due to its massive size, they prefer everything to be on Phantom power. It cuts down on the possibility for batteries or AC connections failing. I think $230 is a fair cut off amount for a good DI.

1) For church, I am using the Radial Stage Direct. Which is pretty much the Radial Pro 48 with a mute switch and shelving switches to slightly change the frequencies to avoid too much bass boom or to remove feedback for acoustic guitars.
2) Sadowsky Bass DI - Slurppy Smooth Goodness. I predominantly use it as a tone modifier and it feeds into the Stage Direct. When I'm not playing at church, it is the main DI I use for Rock gigs and other situations. It has a mute switch, so I'm head over heels about that option. Its also a plus for situations when I need to volume balance my 4 strings without preamps along with my 5 strings with preamps.
3) Aguilar Tone Hammer - Clean, Juicy and Phat!! I used this before I got the Stage Direct. Tonally my favorite of all of them. Unfortunately I have no use for the AGS feature and wish it was a mute switch. Since the AGS feeds off the mid control, its too much for me to think about from bass to bass. I try to avoid crouching down to tweak stuff during performances.
4) MXR Bass M81 Preamp - If I had to clear off and sell all the other stuff on my board, this would be the one I would own. And at $169 - $189 its a great deal!

 

[MNAirHead]

I own and record with tons of pedals...

They kind of mate differently with different basses when recording.

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For live sound, i'm of the camp that "people hear with their eyes".... I'm not convinced the audience can hear the difference between my countryman, jdi, reddi, whirlwind, rolls etc.

With all that said.. for a typical bassist playing tyipcal gigs... most can successfully use a MXR M80... about $65 used... tone shaping... the distortion is kind of silly.

 

[MNAirHead]

I'll also add... that I gig weekly in a mega church... we're all IEM and ampless.

That being said... I use a GK MB200 (or 500) and send the DI signal... amp turned down. When stuff goes out or goes bad.. I can always turn the sound on the amp....