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DI/Preamps which can drive a PA under 300$

Discussion in 'Effects [BG]' started by fede162162, Jul 25, 2009.

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  1. Jul 25, 2009 #1
    fede162162

    fede162162

    Apr 6, 2006
    Hello everybody,

    as the headline suggests I'm looking for a compact preamp which
    in order of importance
    0) has at least the XLR output
    1) can drive a PA
    2) has a great sound
    3) is especially good on clean sounds
    4) lays in the up to $300 zone
    5) couples a 1/4'' output to the XLR one
    6) is powered by both 9v battery and power supply

    Of course I'm open to suggestions which don't satisfy all the points.

    I don´t dislike warm tuby sounds.

    so far I tought to the Sansamp Para Driver, but I'm afraid he won´t satisfy me on the slap(ultra clear sound), and to the BBE DI 1000,which seems to suit clean sound lovers like me!

    Have you got any other suggestion?
     
  2. Jul 25, 2009 #2
    warwick.hoy

    warwick.hoy

    Aug 20, 2006
    Spokane, WA.
    Beta Tester: Source Audio.
    Any of the Sansamp Bass Driver DIs for tubey. I like the three channel version myself.

    Also check out the Sadowsky preamp.
     
  3. Jul 25, 2009 #3
    dannybuoy

    dannybuoy

    Aug 3, 2005
    Earth
    EBS Microbass, Aguilar Tone Hammer and MXR M-80 are worth checking out.
     
  4. Jul 25, 2009 #4
    Zooberwerx

    Zooberwerx Gold Supporting Member

    Dec 21, 2002
    Virginia Beach, VA
  5. Jul 25, 2009 #5
    bongomania

    bongomania Supporting Member Commercial User

    Oct 17, 2005
    PDX, OR
    owner, OVNIFX and OVNILabs
    I think the Sadowsky and the Tone Hammer are going to meet the most of your requirements.
     
  6. Jul 25, 2009 #6
    Mr_Sore_Fingerz

    Mr_Sore_Fingerz

    Oct 10, 2007
    Houston, Texas
    Sansamp RPM, it has a mid-shift and 3-band EQ with all the other features except for being driven by a 9v. It's a rackmount but well worth it if you ask me. Get a shallow rack and stick in a compressor or tuner to fill up the rack.
     
  7. Jul 25, 2009 #7
    MNAirHead

    MNAirHead

    Nov 22, 2008
    Minnesota - Twin Cities
    I've owned most..

    Value = MXR M-80

    Purist = Countryman 85

    My Radial is questionable.
     
  8. Jul 25, 2009 #8
    bongomania

    bongomania Supporting Member Commercial User

    Oct 17, 2005
    PDX, OR
    owner, OVNIFX and OVNILabs
    Quick clarification: By "drive a PA", did you mean "drive a power amp" or did you mean "sends a balanced low-impedance connection to a PA mixer"?
     
  9. Jul 26, 2009 #9
    fede162162

    fede162162

    Apr 6, 2006
    sorry guys!!

    DRIVE A POWER AMP _(I have a Soundtech PS 802 power amp) = thus no Radial jci or Countryman

    no rackmount pleasw, I need a compact preamp to handle easily in recording sessions as well as live sessions

    so far we have..

    BBE DI 1000
    Sansamp Para Driver
    Aguilar Tone Hammer
    Sadowsky preamp
    EBS microbass


    any other suggestion?
    which parameter I have to check in order to see which one is more suitable to drive a power amp? Output impedance?
     
  10. Jul 26, 2009 #10
    RickenBoogie

    RickenBoogie

    Jul 22, 2007
    Dallas, TX
    That's a whoe 'nother thang, there.
     
  11. Jul 26, 2009 #11
    bongomania

    bongomania Supporting Member Commercial User

    Oct 17, 2005
    PDX, OR
    owner, OVNIFX and OVNILabs
    Check out the "preamps explained" link in my sig for a full explanation.
     
  12. Jul 27, 2009 #12
    fede162162

    fede162162

    Apr 6, 2006

    great link!!

    so,

    my power amp has Imput sensitivity of +4db (1.23V) and imput impedance of 10khom

    most of the manufacters don't put the output voltage, but they do specify the output impedance.

    If I understood well I need to find preamps with very low output impedance.

    For example EBS microbass and Sadowsky Pre have 10k ohms of impedance at the unbalanced output and rispectively 500 ohms and 600 ohms at the balanced output;thus their balanced output fit perfectly with the 10k ohms impedance imput of my power amp, don´t they?
     
  13. Jul 27, 2009 #13
    SwamiRob

    SwamiRob

    Aug 23, 2007
    Ilkley ,W. Yorks, England
    With the Sansamps don't you get a pretty much entirely clean uncoloured direct sound when you have the blend control all the way off? If so you can take down the blend or turn it off completely when you wanna use it for slap. Don't wanna whore sansamps too much cos I'm sure there's something a little more diverse since you wanna get a pretty wide variety of tones with yours it seems and there's probably something more fitting for that.
     
  14. Jul 27, 2009 #14
    Zooberwerx

    Zooberwerx Gold Supporting Member

    Dec 21, 2002
    Virginia Beach, VA
    Since we're now talking preamps, I'll throw a vote in for the SansAmp RPM. The sweepable mids work beautifully IMO.

    Riis
     
  15. Jul 27, 2009 #15
    Lync

    Lync Supporting Member

    Apr 13, 2004
    NY
    For a good value-the Hartke Bass Attack.

    Just don't go overboard with the blend/drive. In fact, just using the shape and on-board eq gives a pretty good tone. It also runs off of phantom power if need be.
     
  16. Jul 27, 2009 #16
    bongomania

    bongomania Supporting Member Commercial User

    Oct 17, 2005
    PDX, OR
    owner, OVNIFX and OVNILabs
    Yes, all of that is correct. So the next question is their output level, which is rarely stated by the manufacturer--partly because the output level will change dramatically depending on the signal you feed it, and partly because manufacturers fail to realize how we bassists use these preamps, and how much we would benefit from some clear indication of the undistorted output range.

    If you don't find this info in a web/TB search, then email the manufacturers and ask them whether their preamp will put out a +4dBu (note: not just "dB", which is a relative rating, but dBu, which is a fixed measurement) signal, or whether it can put out 1.25V with no clipping.
     
  17. Jul 27, 2009 #17
    fede162162

    fede162162

    Apr 6, 2006
    I was looking the manual of the Summit TD-100 and I found this:

    Maximum Output Level (Class A)
    +24 dBu. The outputs are electronically balanced or
    unbalanced. XLR type (pin 2 hot), 1/4” balanced TRS
    (Neutrik)

    Does it mean that this device can run my power amp magnifically??(24dbu!!)
     
  18. Jul 27, 2009 #18
    bongomania

    bongomania Supporting Member Commercial User

    Oct 17, 2005
    PDX, OR
    owner, OVNIFX and OVNILabs
    There may have been a typo in the manual, because the output is +4 dBu, not +24. I owned one of those. But even with the typo, it will still do a perfect job of driving your power amp.
     
  19. Jul 28, 2009 #19
    OldogNewTrick

    OldogNewTrick

    Dec 28, 2004
    Germany, EU
  20. Jul 28, 2009 #20
    bongomania

    bongomania Supporting Member Commercial User

    Oct 17, 2005
    PDX, OR
    owner, OVNIFX and OVNILabs
    Yeah I'm actually expecting one of those in the mail any day now; I didn't suggest it because I haven't tried it in that application yet.
     
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