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DHA DI-EQ Review - clips added

#22
Beauty...thanks for the clips...awesome...but side by side w/ a $600 tube DI...yikes...I'd love to see how our $299 VT1-EQ-Bass (tube) Pedal (w/ DI) would compare...send me a note if you want a go at this one...I'll give you a killa' deal on the VT1-EQ-Bass...


scotch said:
Another short, basic clip demonstrating the 'treble' eq range & lack of noise. Same signal path as above (eliminating athe Aguilar DI) and same methodology.

This time, I play a short passage with the treble knob at minimum. Then, as the note sustains, I max out the treble knob and play the same pattern & let it decay. No eq trickery or fades.
Click to expand...
 
#24
RosatoFamily said:
Beauty...thanks for the clips...awesome...but side by side w/ a $600 tube DI...yikes...I'd love to see how our $299 VT1-EQ-Bass (tube) Pedal (w/ DI) would compare...send me a note if you want a go at this one...I'll give you a killa' deal on the VT1-EQ-Bass...
Click to expand...

That's just it. It's not a fair comparison at all- but, the approx. $100 DHA DI actually stands up fairly well to the $600 Aguilar. There is certainly a perceptible difference, but the clips demonstrate how little it is!

I've been playing 3 shows a day all week with the DI-EQ. I'm very happy with it! This is such a "sleeper" product. With some marketing & perhaps some aesthetic options, I could see these DI's becoming very popular.
 
#26
scotch said:
That's just it. It's not a fair comparison at all- but, the approx. $100 DHA DI actually stands up fairly well to the $600 Aguilar. There is certainly a perceptible difference, but the clips demonstrate how little it is!

I've been playing 3 shows a day all week with the DI-EQ. I'm very happy with it! This is such a "sleeper" product. With some marketing & perhaps some aesthetic options, I could see these DI's becoming very popular.
Click to expand...

The VT1-EQ-Bass-Drive is our best seller at present which is the same EQ and DI circuit as in the DHA-DI-EQ but the VT1 also has a tube for "colour" from clean to medium overdrive, plus headphone amp, line in, etc.

The DHA-DI-EQ was always intended to be a non colouring device providing a very high quality balanced out and low noise DI for recording, driving desks and power amps. also useful as a back up if your stage amp fails so you can plug into the PA.
 
#27
***Update***

I hesitated a month or so about posting this update, but I decided it was in the best interest of the TB community. Let me 1st state that DHA's service was excellent & Dave worked hard to keep me happy with his product. That said, here's where I'm currently at with what used to be my favorite live use bass di (copied from a pm to another TB'er who asked if I was still using my DI-EQ):

scotch said:
Well, actually,... I had it break for the 3rd time recently. Dave at DHA had been great about fixing it for free, but I've more than paid for the di twice over in shipping charges! Dave thinks I must have an odd lemon & offered to send me a replacement over a month ago, but I haven't seen it or heard from Dave since.

Overall, it was a GREAT sounding di with an incredible feature set - especially for the price! It served me pretty well for a few years, but alas, mine just wasn't road worthy enough for my touring needs.

I suppose I should update my review?
Click to expand...

So,... review updated. I really loved this di, but as a professional, I cannot keep having the same piece of gear fail & continue to trust it.

For the record, Dave fixed the unit at no charge well after any warranty period. He was also great about sending me free replacement parts for me to install at his own cost. Shipping the unit to the UK is cost prohibitive. At least most of the components are easily serviceable- but mine just required service too often! A di should be bullet proof or close to it!

Hopefully, my di was just a lemon. Admittedly, I'm sure it was handled roughly from time to time, but normal handling for professional touring (busses, trucks, planes, roadies, etc.).

My DHA DI-EQ was a great sounding, even beloved, di with an amazing feature set perfect for my uses. I just wish it had held up.

Just wanted to keep everyone updated. I hope everyone else enjoys a longer life from their unit
(and I expect they probably will!). :)

In the meantime, I'm on the search for a similar compact di. Nothing bigger than a Tone Hammer, but with eq, xlr out, a pass through unaffected 1/4" out and a hot (line level at least) output. Not a sansamp fan (used the BDDI for years) & the MXR didnt sound great to me either. ?
 
#35
bassboysam said:
How about an Empress Para EQ and a JDI?
Click to expand...

That would almost be perfect! It wouldn't be as compact as I want (being 2 units) and there's no practical unaffected 1/4" out + the JDI is mic level out. I have rocked this exact setup before with my U-Bass (direct to house with in-ears) and it is amazing!

bongomania said:
Invalid Link Removed
If it's too large, he can probably make you a version with a couple fewer features in a smaller package.
Click to expand...

I may contact them. I just need unity (no gain preferably) on a 1/4" out and then an xlr with plenty of clean gain. Mids would be nice, but really not that important, I guess... Hmmm...

Pollinator95 said:
That's how I interpretated it too, but I guess he means it's expensive to ship in case of something being faulty.
Click to expand...

I'm not scared off of foreign built. I've definitely learned it can be rather inconvenient for service (post time as well as shipping costs). Still, a great di shouldn't 'ever' need service. Part of why I prefer an independent (not built into the amp) di is in case the amp goes down, you always have some sound going to the house!

Given how I want a reliable solution, it's probably smarter to go with something simple like a JDI, but I really like having gain and eq control for the odd range of venues I play. My SansAmp never broke in about 10 years of use... just don't like the tone. Maybe I should try a ParaDI? I'm just afraid it has the same 'hissy-fizzy' sound and lack of output volume that I hated about the BDDI (yes, the BDDI is a stalwart & many people get great tones out of it, I just don't dig it anymore - it's a fine product :)). If I don't want much 'drive', will the Para Driver still have great, quiet output volume to the xlr?
 
#39
scotch said:
***Update***

I hesitated a month or so about posting this update, but I decided it was in the best interest of the TB community. Let me 1st state that DHA's service was excellent & Dave worked hard to keep me happy with his product. That said, here's where I'm currently at with what used to be my favorite live use bass di (copied from a pm to another TB'er who asked if I was still using my DI-EQ):



So,... review updated. I really loved this di, but as a professional, I cannot keep having the same piece of gear fail & continue to trust it.

For the record, Dave fixed the unit at no charge well after any warranty period. He was also great about sending me free replacement parts for me to install at his own cost. Shipping the unit to the UK is cost prohibitive. At least most of the components are easily serviceable- but mine just required service too often! A di should be bullet proof or close to it!

Hopefully, my di was just a lemon. Admittedly, I'm sure it was handled roughly from time to time, but normal handling for professional touring (busses, trucks, planes, roadies, etc.).

My DHA DI-EQ was a great sounding, even beloved, di with an amazing feature set perfect for my uses. I just wish it had held up.

Just wanted to keep everyone updated. I hope everyone else enjoys a longer life from their unit
(and I expect they probably will!). :)

In the meantime, I'm on the search for a similar compact di. Nothing bigger than a Tone Hammer, but with eq, xlr out, a pass through unaffected 1/4" out and a hot (line level at least) output. Not a sansamp fan (used the BDDI for years) & the MXR didnt sound great to me either. ?
Click to expand...

Just for the record I have shipped a free replacement a few weeks ago given the problems seen with this unit. As I recall some of the issues where damaged pots, not much I can do about that.

Dave
 
#40
DHA said:
Just for the record I have shipped a free replacement a few weeks ago given the problems seen with this unit. As I recall some of the issues where damaged pots, not much I can do about that.

Dave
Click to expand...

I knew we had talked about a replacement back in February, but didnt know you sent one out Dave. Looking forward to giving the DHA another try! I would think it would arrive soon.

Great service, as previously stated. Dave obviously stands behind his stuff! I'll keep everyone posted on how the new unit performs & will do an in depth review on my website.
 

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