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DI Box: how cheap is too cheap?

R

Robsco

Nov 5, 2017
71
46
#1
From £10 to £300, I'm struggling.

I'm planning on adding a DI box to my pedal board to send a feed to our mixer, separate to what goes to the amp.

It's an active bass, with overdrive on the board, so I'm inclined to go with a passive DI - are active DI's a problem anymore with a hot signal like that? Some say they are, others say not - maybe this was a historical issue?

Now I'm faced with the question of what to actually buy, and how much to spend, what "features" should I be looking for?
 
#2
I’m not an expert, but I use passive DIs with an active bass, and they seem to work fine. I think as long as they use a transformer, you should be fine.

I would start with a cheaper passive one and see how it goes. If for some reason it doesn’t work, then spend your money on something more expensive.
 
#4
For what you describe a Radial JDI would work perfect and sound great. If you want to save a few you’ll get great results with either their Pro DI or stage bug DI. Both are also very good quality. The JDI sounds a little better though. More organic high end to me anyway but it’s not night and day difference.

Active would also be ok and Radial J48 or Rupert Neve DI would be great choices. The active / passive DI thing matters most if it’s just straight bass into DI that’s where the input impedance can interact with your pickups. If you’re running after pedal chain then one of them is most likely already buffering your signal.
 
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#7
The transformer is more for signal isolation and hum elimination from different power sources (such as amp to board). It should do nothing to your tone, except possibly make it clearer if there are those types of problems.

There are situations it really is indispensable in, in others it isn’t necessary.

Start cheap, upgrade later, if your uses find it necessary.
 
#13
seamonkey said:
$35
Look for a ground lift.
Active or Passive is fine.
Examplea
Passive: Art zDirect $35
Active: As mentioned above active Behringer BDI21

Having a transformer is not necessary. Those that want one think it adds some kind of tone, it doesn't, but you're getting all you tone from your pedal board anyhow.
Click to expand...
If you want /need true ground lift isolation, you need a transformer. Generally, I wouldn't expect anything under $60 USD to be much in the way of quality.
 
#16
hbabels said:
For what you describe a Radial JDI would work perfect and sound great. If you want to save a few you’ll get great results with either their Pro DI or stage bug DI. Both are also very good quality. The JDI sounds a little better though. More organic high end to me anyway but it’s not night and day difference.

Active would also be ok and Radial J48 or Rupert Neve DI would be great choices. The active / passive DI thing matters most if it’s just straight bass into DI that’s where the input impedance can interact with your pickups. If you’re running after pedal chain then one of them is most likely already buffering your signal.
Click to expand...

Another vote for Radial JDI. You won’t be disappointed.

Radial Pro D2 is also another good choice.
 

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