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DHA DI-EQ Review - clips added

#41
scotch said:
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.
Click to expand...

It should be with you by now, I will look at the tracking.

Its' the DHA-DI-EQ-Tuner, same as before but with a tuner mute.
 
#43
Well, sadly, the replacement didn't quite work out as I'd hoped. I'm copying my email to Dave at DHA. The pics are included as well.

Keep in mind Dave did tell me this was a demo unit. Still, I really can't use it for professional gigs. A little disappointed. :hmm:

Dave obviously went out of his way with the customer service. BIG points for that! :)


copied email & pics:

"Hi Dave.

Let me first say that I really appreciate your sending this replacement di free of charge. It is GREAT customer service & I've been sure to note that clearly on talkbass.

I received the DI-EQ-Tuner today and have been working with it the past hour or two.

Before plugging it in, I popped off the back to install a battery & instantly saw two problems (see pics). The battery snap was no longer soldered to the dc inlet & the di level-out pot was coming apart (uncrimped). Both of these things were an easy fix for me, so I fixed both in about 10 minutes. No bid deal & you did mention that this was a demo model.

I hooked up the new DHA DI-EQ-Tuner and was planning to run test clips in ProTools. Everything sounded fine at first, but the Treble and Mid pots were so scratchy/dirty sounding that the Mid control would even attenuate the volume! I turned them fully half a dozen times, but they obviously need a full cleaning. In order to do that, I have to spend probably 30 minutes disassembling the electronics to get good access to the pots. Again, not a big deal to me, but not everyone would want this inconvenience!

I tell you all this not to complain (never look a gift horse in the mouth, right?), but because I'm sure you'd want the feedback for your own quality control. Honestly, I'm disappointed because your DI's sound GREAT (when working properly) and have a feature set that is perfect for my needs! However, as a professional, I don't feel I can rely on either unit.

As regards the original unit I purchased (the green DI-EQ), it seems to be the dc inlet that is causing the problems. Any vibration causes loud 'popping' in the audio circuit and the output diminishes if the battery is low - even when using the dc adapter. Weird. I'm going to replace the dc inlet & keep the unit around as an emergency backup.

I'm going to ship the yellow DI-EQ-Tuner that you sent me back to you at my own expense. While a good pot cleaning and check-up on all the solder connections would probably restore it to 100% working order, I'm just not sure it's ready for rigorous travel.

Thanks again for your great service. You have been a pleasure to do business with & I do wish you further success with your products!

Sincerely,

Justin Oscar Cary"

20120409_095930.jpg


20120409_101330.jpg


20120409_102137.jpg
 
#44
scotch said:
Well, sadly, the replacement didn't quite work out as I'd hoped. I'm copying my email to Dave at DHA. The pics are included as well.

Keep in mind Dave did tell me this was a demo unit. Still, I really can't use it for professional gigs. A little disappointed. :hmm:

Dave obviously went out of his way with the customer service. BIG points for that! :)


copied email & pics:

"Hi Dave.

Let me first say that I really appreciate your sending this replacement di free of charge. It is GREAT customer service & I've been sure to note that clearly on talkbass.

I received the DI-EQ-Tuner today and have been working with it the past hour or two.

Before plugging it in, I popped off the back to install a battery & instantly saw two problems (see pics). The battery snap was no longer soldered to the dc inlet & the di level-out pot was coming apart (uncrimped). Both of these things were an easy fix for me, so I fixed both in about 10 minutes. No bid deal & you did mention that this was a demo model.

I hooked up the new DHA DI-EQ-Tuner and was planning to run test clips in ProTools. Everything sounded fine at first, but the Treble and Mid pots were so scratchy/dirty sounding that the Mid control would even attenuate the volume! I turned them fully half a dozen times, but they obviously need a full cleaning. In order to do that, I have to spend probably 30 minutes disassembling the electronics to get good access to the pots. Again, not a big deal to me, but not everyone would want this inconvenience!

I tell you all this not to complain (never look a gift horse in the mouth, right?), but because I'm sure you'd want the feedback for your own quality control. Honestly, I'm disappointed because your DI's sound GREAT (when working properly) and have a feature set that is perfect for my needs! However, as a professional, I don't feel I can rely on either unit.

As regards the original unit I purchased (the green DI-EQ), it seems to be the dc inlet that is causing the problems. Any vibration causes loud 'popping' in the audio circuit and the output diminishes if the battery is low - even when using the dc adapter. Weird. I'm going to replace the dc inlet & keep the unit around as an emergency backup.

I'm going to ship the yellow DI-EQ-Tuner that you sent me back to you at my own expense. While a good pot cleaning and check-up on all the solder connections would probably restore it to 100% working order, I'm just not sure it's ready for rigorous travel.

Thanks again for your great service. You have been a pleasure to do business with & I do wish you further success with your products!

Sincerely,

Justin Oscar Cary"

20120409_095930.jpg


20120409_101330.jpg


20120409_102137.jpg
Click to expand...

My reply to Justin......

Hi Justin,

Oh well I tried

can't understand the damage to the pot or the battery clip other than in the post or maybe customs opened it up. It was tested before leaving and non of the issues you speak of where present, once again either heavy handed post or it's been opened and damaged.

On your other pedal the power connector would explain all the issues you speak of as it's switched then if damaged or the wrong size power plug is used then the battery would come into play, so if its low then it would effect the sound as its powering the unit and not the power supply. The popping would happen if the power supply was in and out of circuit as the plug moved. May be just a worn or damage power socket or you have the wrong size power connector.
 
#45
Another update..

I decided to try and make my DI-EQ work. Learned a couple of things & now have a usable di again!

I figured out that the 1/4" jacks were a little out-of-tolerance & not gripping the cables plugged into it very well. I found that when the di moved (being on top of a loud amp or if the input cable got wiggled a little) that the power would cut out, thus producing a LOUD 'pop' in the outputs. The sleeve wasn't making good contact & the switching power scheme would turn the pedal off. The same problem happened with a variety of plug brands too - I tried G&G, Neutrik and Planet Waves. All of them exhibited the same problem with the stock jacks used in the DHA unit.

I replaced all of the 1/4" jacks with real switchcraft jacks and also replaced the dc inlet with a better quality unit. I also defeated the battery-saving stereo switching-jack so that power would stay on even if the cable was unplugged (of course, this makes using a battery impractical - but that's ok for me). Problem solved! The DI no longer loses power & 'pops' loudly when moved!

I also cleaned all of the pots with Deoxit. That made them sound much better & they also now turn much easier. Still, they seem prone to getting dirty. ? After a couple of weeks, I had to clean them out again. I eventually will replace the pots altogether with better quality ones - I'm not a fan of these plastic-shaft pots!

All-in-all, the DHA DI-EQ just has the features I want, making it hard for me to abandon. I just wish the components were of better quality - I don't think I would have had a problem if better ones were used. At least now I have a working di!
 
#46
Good news Scotch, glad to hear you are being able to use the box like you want. I have been running mine for a good while now and have had zero issues. Mine does live in a pedal flight case though with my other toys.
 
#48
scotch said:
.. 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?
Click to expand...

Hey Scotch, I've owned both and the Para Driver sounds like a BDDI with more mids (simplified review lol). Sold both. That being said the Para is better but not as nice sounding as the Empress Para EQ. I'm subscribed as I'm curious to see what you end up with. I am a fan of a Jensen DI (had a Demeter preamp) and would like a Radial Jensen but like you a gain/level thingy would rock. BTW, a little off topic but I wish I had the cash for the power Demeter, 800 watts with two Jensen transformers...
sounds like it would be a killer set up.
Alvaro
 
#49
#50
I really like my DHAdi but I will have it up for sale soon as I moved to the REDDI - which for my needs works the best for me. DHA is still a great box though.
 

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