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cheap DI vs. expensive DI

#21
Thanks for the response sean!

The studio we record at has VERY nice D.I.'s so I'm not worried about studio use at all.

I'm just now looking for DI's because I switched from a Sansamp RBI pre to a Demeter HBP-1 without the Jensen and I've already played a place or two that runs global phantom on their boards and it makes me VERY paranoid because of the issues I have heard with the Demeter D.I's and phantom power.
I also own a SABDDI but it's not what I would consider a passive DI box. I want something that doesnt' need a power supply or batteries.
 
#23
Juniorkimbrough said:
Thanks for the response sean!

The studio we record at has VERY nice D.I.'s so I'm not worried about studio use at all.

I'm just now looking for DI's because I switched from a Sansamp RBI pre to a Demeter HBP-1 without the Jensen and I've already played a place or two that runs global phantom on their boards and it makes me VERY paranoid because of the issues I have heard with the Demeter D.I's and phantom power.
I also own a SABDDI but it's not what I would consider a passive DI box. I want something that doesnt' need a power supply or batteries.
Click to expand...

I just ordered a transformer for $40 + $5 shipping from Andy.
Problem solved! :)

But aside from the U5, my rule is now active bass = passive DI and passive bass = active DI.
 
#30
rockstarbassist said:
I just ordered a transformer for $40 + $5 shipping from Andy.
Problem solved! :)
Click to expand...

hmmmm, seems like when I ordered mine it was like $200 more for the HBP with the jensen. it still baffles me why they don't just put the jensens in all of them especially since they KNOW there are problems with the other DI's and phantom power.
 
#31
I remember reading somewhere Lee Sklar saying that he thought that bass soloed in a track was one of the worst sounds that you can hear.. but when put back in the track it sounds great... im paraphrasing him.. i think it was from an old basslayer mag from about 1992 or so.
I almost have to agree with him at times... I hate the sound of my DI track direct..
So that sent me on a quest the past 2 weeks…But I met him at NAMM and he was saying that he really liked the Tube Works tube DI... they are pretty cheap if you can still fine them.. real basic unit.. about $120 on ebay.
Point is you do not have to spend allot of money to get a good sounding DI. Just one to transfer what you want to the mixer or inears.
Radial and Countryman are fine.. The countryman has been used on countless hit records... it is very direct though.. it takes your bass and sends it on without much variance at all..Lately I don’t like mine.. Im looking for fatness or that tubey kind of fullness.
Demeter and Aguilar make some nice tube DIs and then the REDDI, and the Brick by GT and SS Avalon,..
Then you have the real expensive stuff like the Gas Cooker and the Evil Twin that i just learned about from Tommixx this week. He almost got me to mortgage the house to get one. Hahah..
Then the real stupid expensive stuff with esoteric names… way out of my range for sure..
I have used the Radial stuff and it works well and even $50 cheapies that for some reason did the job too..
But I have been on a quest for a new tube DI lately.. I hope that what i just got cures my wants.. i got an UA 610 tube DI/Pre.. See I want something that has a sound to it. I want some extra tubey mojo... Where I can add gain to hopefully saturate the tube some. Not distort it but just some saturation..
Lately my countryman 85 is feeling too plain and kind of boring... I should break out the flame retardant suit because I may get slammed for this but I actually like the DI out of both my Tfunk and my Genz amps better than my Countryman or an Avalon that I have on loan from a friend for far too long…On the Tfunk I use the post DI and the Timbre knob a ckick to the left or the Benz head I like the tube pre with Post EQ DI.. I use flat EQ settings basically so I don’t kill the FOH guy… I hope.. well, he hasn’t said anything yet….

But whatever works for you is perfect.. I use in ears lately and the Countryman is bugging me with the too clean top end.. I hope the UA 610 will tame it some.. But some folks may just love all the perfect presence that something like the countryman delivers..

Someone said we need more discussion about this end of the rig.. the DI part. So I am glad you started this thread..
 
#32
Juniorkimbrough said:
hmmmm, seems like when I ordered mine it was like $200 more for the HBP with the jensen. it still baffles me why they don't just put the jensens in all of them especially since they KNOW there are problems with the other DI's and phantom power.
Click to expand...

You and me both man. It's not like the VTBP-201s doesn't have it or anything... And yeah if you send your preamp in and have Demeter mod it internally for you, it's ~$200. I just bought an external in-line transformer and a 1ft XLR cable and problem solved.
One of the best pre's on the market, especially w/ the para-EQ shaping ability, but still. Makes zero sense as to why it's not included. I'd honestly like an answer.
 
#33
svtb15 said:
I remember reading somewhere Lee Sklar saying that he thought that bass soloed in a track was one of the worst sounds that you can hear.. but when put back in the track it sounds great... im paraphrasing him.. i think it was from an old basslayer mag from about 1992 or so.
I almost have to agree with him at times... I hate the sound of my DI track direct..
So that sent me on a quest the past 2 weeks…But I met him at NAMM and he was saying that he really liked the Tube Works tube DI... they are pretty cheap if you can still fine them.. real basic unit.. about $120 on ebay.
Point is you do not have to spend allot of money to get a good sounding DI. Just one to transfer what you want to the mixer or inears.
Radial and Countryman are fine.. The countryman has been used on countless hit records... it is very direct though.. it takes your bass and sends it on without much variance at all..Lately I don’t like mine.. Im looking for fatness or that tubey kind of fullness.
Demeter and Aguilar make some nice tube DIs and then the REDDI, and the Brick by GT and SS Avalon,..
Then you have the real expensive stuff like the Gas Cooker and the Evil Twin that i just learned about from Tommixx this week. He almost got me to mortgage the house to get one. Hahah..
Then the real stupid expensive stuff with esoteric names… way out of my range for sure..
I have used the Radial stuff and it works well and even $50 cheapies that for some reason did the job too..
But I have been on a quest for a new tube DI lately.. I hope that what i just got cures my wants.. i got an UA 610 tube DI/Pre.. See I want something that has a sound to it. I want some extra tubey mojo... Where I can add gain to hopefully saturate the tube some. Not distort it but just some saturation..
Lately my countryman 85 is feeling too plain and kind of boring... I should break out the flame retardant suit because I may get slammed for this but I actually like the DI out of both my Tfunk and my Genz amps better than my Countryman or an Avalon that I have on loan from a friend for far too long…On the Tfunk I use the post DI and the Timbre knob a ckick to the left or the Benz head I like the tube pre with Post EQ DI.. I use flat EQ settings basically so I don’t kill the FOH guy… I hope.. well, he hasn’t said anything yet….

But whatever works for you is perfect.. I use in ears lately and the Countryman is bugging me with the too clean top end.. I hope the UA 610 will tame it some.. But some folks may just love all the perfect presence that something like the countryman delivers..

Someone said we need more discussion about this end of the rig.. the DI part. So I am glad you started this thread..
Click to expand...

Ha no flames from me! :) If I could use my Demeter 100% of the time as a DI as opposed to some little box or even the Avalon I would! Just makes FOH guys at times nervous, so. :) Yeah.
 
#34
svtb15 said:
I use in ears lately and the Countryman is bugging me with the too clean top end.. I hope the UA 610 will tame it some.. But some folks may just love all the perfect presence that something like the countryman delivers..
Click to expand...

That is the exact reason I changed from the Countryman to the Cable Factory DI-PRO P-1. It has a Lundahl transformer which is sooo smooth. As mentioned prior, with IEM's every little nuance is enhanced. The Countryman is a fine DI no doubt about it, but after doing an A/B with the Cable Factory, my choice was pretty easy.
 
#35
rockstarbassist said:
Ha no flames from me! :) If I could use my Demeter 100% of the time as a DI as opposed to some little box or even the Avalon I would! Just makes FOH guys at times nervous, so. :) Yeah.
Click to expand...
yes you are right.. it does freak out almost all FOH guys.. its like they have to have some huge control thing.. I ask them to just listen for a minute and see if they like it... i think everytime they do... but i guess they have in their heads a time when some players would EQ the poo out of their rigs and send Mud/Click to the house and then they are screwed.

The DI out of both of my amps are really very very good... every bit as good as a Countryman i feel// and better// IMHO
 
#36
FWIW I've still got (AND use) a Deane Jensen DB-E that I got from him in the mid '70's . . . it works fine, just the same as it did 30+ years ago!
Radial uses that same model in their JDI . . .

I've also used Countryman type 85 DI's for years . . .


But I PREFER using a GOOD dynamic mic (RE-20/PL-20, SM-7 or similar) as my main feed to the console. YMMV.
 
#37
Jerry Ziarko said:
That is the exact reason I changed from the Countryman to the Cable Factory DI-PRO P-1. It has a Lundahl transformer which is sooo smooth. As mentioned prior, with IEM's every little nuance is enhanced. The Countryman is a fine DI no doubt about it, but after doing an A/B with the Cable Factory, my choice was pretty easy.
Click to expand...
I have not heard of the Cable Factory DI-PRO P-1.. .I need to look into that one.. I know what you mean.. the countryman is real nice when heard back through speakers but through IEMs it is too much something up on top that is distracting.. then i need to turn my tone knob down then that muddies the house too.. I was using my PodXtpro for my ears for awhile and it was good... but still not right... cant wait to try the UA610
 
#38
deaf pea said:
FWIW I've still got (AND use) a Deane Jensen DB-E that I got from him in the mid '70's . . . it works fine, just the same as it did 30+ years ago!
Radial uses that same model in their JDI . . .

I've also used Countryman type 85 DI's for years . . .


But I PREFER using a GOOD dynamic mic (RE-20/PL-20, SM-7 or similar) as my main feed to the console. YMMV.
Click to expand...
the RE20 is one of my favorites...
 
#39
Just to toss in another option. Mark Hellinger offers these active DIs on his site. They appear very similar to the Countryman 85s. Consensus on the pro audio boards is that they are one heckuva DI. And...they are only fifty bucks.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Kim
 

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