DI Box vs Internal DI

[powmetalbassist]

So looking at a DI box from Radial (Passive DI). I have a bass amp with a DI out (GK mb500). What is your opinion of the internal DI in this amp or comparable amps, and is the external DI going to change anything (Its Radial and I expect quality from these units)

 

[Dave W]

Which Radial are we talking here?

 

[AlexBassMP]

Trust your ears. Usually good amps have a decent DI.

I've been using the XLR output of my Hartke HA3500 since I bought it. Studio, live... always. Nobody complained about it. I'm very satisfied with it.

I'm gonna buy a Preamp/DI just for getting another signal to send to FOH just in case my amp blows in the middle of the gig.

 

[10cc]

been using a JDI for about a year now and love it. never had much luck with the internals on any amp.

 

[peterpalmieri]

In all cases I say both. To me an external DI is the first backup plan when you have amp problems. Does the amp have a ground lift on the DI? If not it could help in that way as well. I prefer the countryman type 85 personally.

You may also come across a soundman that wants to take a direct signal from your instrument and may not trust that the internal DI is being run pre rather than post. Mostly they want to insure that your knob twiddling isn't going to effect them. Given that situation and they pull out a junk box you won't have to worry.

 

[fasto]

I have a bass amp with a DI out (GK mb500). What is your opinion of the internal DI in this amp

I´m using the GK MB500 Fusion, i guess the DI out is similar to your amp and i really love it.

 

[jumblemind]

So looking at a DI box from Radial (Passive DI). I have a bass amp with a DI out (GK mb500). What is your opinion of the internal DI in this amp or comparable amps, and is the external DI going to change anything (Its Radial and I expect quality from these units)

I´m using the GK MB500 Fusion, i guess the DI out is similar to your amp and i really love it.

A Radial is going to be better, especially if you spend a bit more and get the Jensen transformer in the JDI or similar. But your amp DI will be fine for the average bar gig. Most amp DIs aren't great, and some are downright terrible, but the GK MB heads have decent ones. I've owned an MB200 and an MBFusion and used the DI on both with no problems (the fusion is great because you are essentially running a tube DI when you select post-EQ). Your MB500 has the advantage of going post-EQ, as well, which means you can get tone shaping into the house mix. The disadvantage is that you have to keep your gain relatively low to keep a "standard" strength signal going through your DI out. On my MBFusion, anything past 10 o'clock on the gain gets the signal really hot. Also, post-EQ can drive a sound guy nuts if you keep tweaking the EQ for your onstage sound.

 

[Deadsound]

I've had good results with the DI on my GK mb500 and very good results with the DI on my Tone Hammer preamp pedal. I agree that it's a good thing to have both options available.

 

[powmetalbassist]

"Which Radial are we talking here?"

I'm looking at the Radial Pro DI.

 

[bluesdogblues]

Good amps usually have a decent DI. Good (stand alone) DI Boxes usually are better tho.

 

[DavC]

get a cheap external DI as a ' back-up ' just in case the amp blows ...

 

[Downunderwonder]

I use the one in my mb200 with no complaints, for backup I have BDDI.

 

[ambient space]

Any thoughts on the (SansAmp)Tech 21 Programmable bass DI, thinking about getting this one.

 

[Dave W]

"Which Radial are we talking here?"

I'm looking at the Radial Pro DI.

Search around for a JDI if you can. They pop up fairly often at the classifieds here for great prices. The Jensen transformer is worth the price hike.

 

[Humbled]

Search around for a JDI if you can. They pop up fairly often at the classifieds here for great prices. The Jensen transformer is worth the price hike.

I own both the Pro DI and the JDI, and the JDI is audibly better.

Use the direct out on your amp while you come up with the JDI.

GK amp Direct Outs aren't bad. They can be pretty hot output-wise IIRC though.