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Direct Box Selection

davio

davio

Minty Fresh
Nov 2, 2006
879
241
Boston, MA
#1
I've always had a head or preamp with a decent DI out so even the most finicky sound guys have either made it work or supplied their own direct boxes but I'm considering buying a new pre to testdrive and it does not have a DI out at all. This necessitates the purchase of a decent direct box to keep in my cable bag (which I've been meaning to do for some time anyway).

I've heard people rave over this box or that (ie. the Countryman, etc.) but I'm in bang-for-the-buck mode as I don't have that much to spend (who does?). What do I need to look for other than the proper ins and outs? Is there really that much of a difference between different direct boxes? Will the average soundman, the audience or I really care if I'm going through a Nady or Behringer $25 deal or a $700 REDDI?

Any input or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
 
#2
davio said:
Is there really that much of a difference between different direct boxes? Will the average soundman, the audience or I really care if I'm going through a Nady or Behringer $25 deal or a $700 REDDI?
Click to expand...

My experience is that once you get to a certain relatively low level (I would suggest a Countryman or a Radial as a minimum), most folks wouldn't notice a difference. I play one weekly gig where I supply all the DI's (Keyboard, acoustic guitar), simply because the Nady and Behringer ARE unacceptable to my ears. I also supply all the microphones for the gig because the cheap imitation Shures at the venue won't cut it. I don't feel that it's worth the improvement on that gig to bring any of the studio's great DI's (Reddi, Evil Twin, Millennia, etc.) out, since the Radial's do just fine. For that gig, I use the DI from my SWR Super Redhead.

Others may, of course, have different opinions. :hmm:
 
#7
If you have a passive bass, the higher input Independence of an active DI will not load up your PUP. With an active bass a passive box is fine.

That's the width and breadth of all the research I did on DI's.

(I went with CountryMan BTW.)
 
#9
#11
armywalaby said:
I think it only changes the sound if you hit the switch, buddy.
Click to expand...

I guess that's true to some extent. The "effect" or "model" only kicks in when you hit the button. I'll let others comment on whether or not it colors the sound when disengaged since I don't know well enough. However, for my purposes it would make more sense to spend the money on a Countryman or Radial JDI if I'm not going to use the effect.
 
#13
armywalaby said:
Well, in all fairness, I was kind of high-jacking your thread to find out about that pedal for myself.

:hiding:
Click to expand...
You should be able to get more information than you can absorb by using the search function on Talk Bass rather than trying to hijack this thread...
But personally, I'm NOT a fan of the SansAmp DI, and I think it colors the sound (in a way that doesn't make me happy) even when you don't step on the switch.
 
#14
Dave Martin said:
You should be able to get more information than you can absorb by using the search function on Talk Bass rather than trying to hijack this thread...
But personally, I'm NOT a fan of the SansAmp DI, and I think it colors the sound (in a way that doesn't make me happy) even when you don't step on the switch.
Click to expand...
+1. I never liked it either for the same reason.

My favorite basic not-too-expensive DI is by far the Countryman. I like Radial too, but some people have reported not getting enough signal from them so that's why I would get a Countryman. If it wasn't 10 lbs. and 14" long I'd get a REDDI in a heartbeat, though.
 
#15
JimmyM said:
I like Radial too, but some people have reported not getting enough signal from them so that's why I would get a Countryman. If it wasn't 10 lbs. and 14" long I'd get a REDDI in a heartbeat, though.
Click to expand...
That shouldn't be an issue (and certainly has not been one for me when using either active or passive Radials). Remember that with a few exceptions, the output of a DI is mic level, not line level. When the DI is plugged into the console, the preamp on the console delivers the necessary gain. The REDDI can put out close to line level, and Millennia's TD-1 can put out more than line level, as does the Eclair Engineering Evil Twin, my favorite DI
 
#16
Dave Martin said:
You should be able to get more information than you can absorb by using the search function on Talk Bass rather than trying to hijack this thread...
But personally, I'm NOT a fan of the SansAmp DI, and I think it colors the sound (in a way that doesn't make me happy) even when you don't step on the switch.
Click to expand...

+1 The DI in the SansAmp is high quality, but you had better like the tone of the SansAmp. Don't get me wrong, the SansAmp is great for certain things, but it does colour the tone IMHO.

The Countryman works really well with passive basses. Which makes, sense, it was designed to work with passives. And it can run off phantom power, which means you save on batteries.

I have heard the Countryman can be overloaded by hot active basses. A passive DI, like the Radial, can handle extremely hot active basses.
 
#17
Dave Martin said:
That shouldn't be an issue (and certainly has not been one for me when using either active or passive Radials). Remember that with a few exceptions, the output of a DI is mic level, not line level. When the DI is plugged into the console, the preamp on the console delivers the necessary gain. The REDDI can put out close to line level, and Millennia's TD-1 can put out more than line level, as does the Eclair Engineering Evil Twin, my favorite DI
Click to expand...
It's never been an issue for me when I've used a Radial, but some on here have reported output problems. Go figure. I don't know enough about them so I'll take your word for it.
 
#19
davio said:
So I keep reading "passive bass = Counrtyman" and "active bass = Radial"...but what about people like me who use passive AND active basses? Different tool for a different job and all that...
Click to expand...
On some gigs, I'll play a double bass, an active Music Man, a passive P Bass, and sometimes a Jazz with EMG's. I tend to use an active DI (Radial J48) unless it's a gig where the sound company has one they'd prefer, like a countryman.

I don't worry about the 'different tools' thing when it comes to live gigs and DI's; the instrument and the way I choose to play will far overpower the differences in di's.
 
#20
davio said:
So I keep reading "passive bass = Counrtyman" and "active bass = Radial"...but what about people like me who use passive AND active basses? Different tool for a different job and all that...
Click to expand...
I think it's a load of horse puckey. Why not use two different amps, too? And for that matter, why not use two different PA's?

I say get a good DI and forget about it.
 

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