Most of the DIs mentioned here feature some sort of tone sculpting, be that eq, amp emulation or sonic enhancement, and they all feature parallel outputs, both balanced (to send to a mixing desk) and unbalanced (which can go to your amp, thusly sending whatever sonic ecoutrements the device holds onto the preamp section of your amplifier).
Some DIs, such as the Countryman Type 85, although are active, feature no sonic "add ons" and simply change the high impedence output of your bass to a low impedence signal which can be managed by mixing boards. Others, like the ADL and Retrospec Juice Box are tube based, and carry the sonic "signatures" of the tube stage(s), but offer no other sound sculpting options.
Most amps do now feature balanced outputs, or DI outs. So what is the big deal? Amp makers usually add these on as a sort of "bells and whistles" gimmick to their amps. Consider: amps makers design amps not around what features musicians want and/or need, but rather around price points and profitability. A high quality DI(and here I am speaking of the coverted "studio quality" units) can cost from $400 to several thousand dollars (my ADL DI runs about $1700, the Avalon U5 is $595...I believe Manley makes a tube DI which runs around $5000.00).
Think about it, can an amp maker really aford to jack up the price pont of their amp that much to add a high quality DI to it's featurtes? The answer is no. This is why dedicated DIs are highly specialized and sought out. Most DIs which are on amps, like compressors on amps, are inferior designs with poor sound quality. Many of the "budget" DIS also use lower quality transformers or op amps in their design. Ceratinly, either of these are efficient enough for running a to a PA in a club where noise and signal integrity are not relevant factors, but in the studio running a DI from the back of one's amp is most certainly NOT the way to go.
Some DIs, like the SansAmp, impart their sonic signature on the signal in a rather obvious way, while others are more "transparent" (and usually much more expensive). Neither is "right" or "better" as many players get wonderful results thru SansAmps AND units such as the Evil Twin or Avalon U5. I know players who get great results using the same DI you have on your Eden amp, tho I personally have never felt that the Eden DI is either quiet nor particularly "studio-quality". The point is to find what works for you. If you gig a lot, find a DI which is sturdy and reliable (which is why the Countryman is an "industry standard"), and deliers the same sound night anfter night. If you have a home studio, you might want to lookl into some a bit more specialized.
I do a lot of studio work, and usually I rely on what the studio has, and what the engineer wants, for my bass tracks. Engineers, at least GOOD engineers, make their livlihood knowing about things such as this, and they have spent the time to find what works for them in their situation (as I have suggested for you to do in yours). Certainly I take my Avalon with me (tho most studos have these now), but if the engineer wants to run my signal thru some ancient RCA broadcast limiter as my DI, who am I to argue?
(btw, those ancient RCA broadcast limiters DO sound great with bass...but you could buy a new car for what they cost!!)
I have a Baggs ParaAcoustic DI and like it very much, I also have the Fishman Platinum Bass and like it very much also...and there are about 25 other DIs I own, and like and use for different purposes.....but before you go and drop your money on one, you should try it out and see if it is really what you might need. While you are at it, try a few different DIs by running into a "flat" PA or recording setup; then thru your amp. Find what is right for you. If you are looking for something to enhance your tone, perhaps a DI is not the ticket...maybe an EQ or Mic pre is....better yet, consider the source; if your bass sound needs enhancement, perhaps the tone off your bass is not all it could be. New PUs? New onboard electronics? New bass?
There are always those options to look at.
Hope that helps....
Max
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