DI box vs. pre-amp vs. upgraded head

[BlindtheCarrier]

I have $150 to $200 to burn in order to upgrade my bass rig. I'm upgrading from a 400W Yorkville BM400H head running at around 300W through an 8 ohm 600W Ashdown ABM410H cab.

The two options I am currently considering are to add a sansamp bass driver DI or to sell my head and buy a peavey tour 700 head.

I like the sound of the tour and the extra headroom it will give me, but I've also heard good things about sansamp.

Opinions? Other potential options?

Edit: I should also mention that I play two different basses through it (active srx590 and a passive grind 5 string) and I would like to be able to switch basses without having to readjust my settings. (possibly two presets? Or play the active bass with the eq off?)

 

[dukeisdog]

I use the Peavey Tour 700 with my Avatar 212, and it's great. Tons of volume, but you will get no overdrive through the peavey. If you like a really clean tone, do it, you won't regret it.

 

[MNAirHead]

Whatever you get a useable onboard DI is always helpful.

Tim

 

[Gearhead17]

Radial Tone Bone - look that up for switching basses. What re you trying to improve on your tone?

 

[BlindtheCarrier]

Radial Tone Bone - look that up for switching basses. What re you trying to improve on your tone?

Looks like something I might be interested in any idea where to get one under $200?
As for my tone, I'd like smoother clean lows, right now the low B-D is somewhat muddy and hard to distinguish, so I'd like more tone but I don't want to lose the deep bass low

 

[MNAirHead]

Is your muddy low a head or a cab?

Heck a $5 port may solve your issue.

 

[BlindtheCarrier]

I have an ashdown cab and a yorkville head so I would be inclined to think it's the head.

It might just be the way the contour interacts...if I turn the contour off, everything is clear but it's not the tone I want.

 

[TrevorOfDoom]

how are you running your Gain and Master knobs? if you dime the Master and use the Gain as your volume, it'll give you all the clean headroom your amp can muster.
Try this before you decide your amp isn't clean enough.

 

[scotts42]

There are a couple for sale in the classifieds here.

Looks like something I might be interested in any idea where to get one under $200?
As for my tone, I'd like smoother clean lows, right now the low B-D is somewhat muddy and hard to distinguish, so I'd like more tone but I don't want to lose the deep bass low