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Just Got an Ampeg SVT-DI to try out

#121
iagtrplyr said:
From their website:

The Ampeg SCR-DI Bass DI with Scrambler™ Overdrive is a true Ampeg preamp, delivering a wide range of Ampeg tones perfect for the stage. The classic Ampeg EQ offers additional tonal control including Ultra-Hi and Ultra-Lo tone shaping. Plus, you can dial in tube-like grind with the all-new Bass Scrambler overdrive. The SCR-DI has all the connections to get Ampeg tone out of any rig and send it all to front-of-house to ensure the audience hears your tone. With a built-in headphone out and aux in for practicing along with backing tracks, the SCR-DI is also a fantastic practice tool that can fit right into your gig bag.

And it sounds good too! :hyper:
Click to expand...

That’s not the SVT-DI that this thread is about. The SCR-DI is completely different.
 
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#123
Kijuer said:
Help me understand. Is this DI particularly voiced like an Ampeg would or is it "just a DI" with the Ampeg logo on it?
Click to expand...

Depends how you define “voiced”. The SVT DI, to my ears, is pretty flat. You certainly get some color from the tube and/or transformer, but there’s no “preset EQ voicing” if that’s what you’re asking.

If you’re using a passive bass and compare with a passive DI, you’ll also hear a slight difference in frequency response as the tube buffers the signal.

Thing is though, again to my ears, an Ampeg tube head can also be pretty clean and flat, if you set the EQ flat and don’t push the gain. For example I tried playing my V4B into an EBS 410 before I sold my EBS rig - with neutral settings, the difference against the EBS Fafner was much less than I had expected.

To make it short, the SVT DI doesn’t have any “baked in EQ” but it has a bit of that tube/transformer flavor that their tube heads have. I think it’s absolutely great, and one of the best purchases I have made.
 
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#125
Hey, @JimmyM , after some years, what are your memories on AMPEG SVT-DI?
I would like to upgrade my live performing sound. (Currently I have Radial)

I'm searching for that Ampeg classic tube sound, looking in this direction:

- Noble DI
- RED DI
- Avalon U5
- Ampeg SVT DI

What would be your preference, it can be of course alsp something else, not just those.
 
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#127
Turok1928 said:
Hey, @JimmyM , after some years, what are your memories on AMPEG SVT-DI?
I would like to upgrade my live performing sound. (Currently I have Radial)

I'm searching for that Ampeg classic tube sound, looking in this direction:

- Noble DI
- RED DI
- Avalon U5
- Ampeg SVT DI

What would be your preference, it can be of course alsp something else, not just those.
Click to expand...
Reddi 1, Svtdi 2. Reddi is less compressed and flatter response. I like both a lot though.
 
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#128
I think my ears tell me that the Ampeg SVT DI has the nicest sound. Just my take though
The REDDI sounds really beautiful to. I don't think it's possible to have a internal DI like
the one in the PF50T sound as good as a box specifically built as a external DI with all the
filtering they poses. If you did the amp would have to be larger and bigger.
 
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#130
Hey, can anyone, who has Ampeg SVT DI, tell me, what output does he get with passive guitar (or active). If I set zero gain on my soundcard, I get -40db, which is the same as I get with passive DI, and it seems too low...Maybe something is wrong?
 
#131
Turok1928 said:
Hey, can anyone, who has Ampeg SVT DI, tell me, what output does he get with passive guitar (or active). If I set zero gain on my soundcard, I get -40db, which is the same as I get with passive DI, and it seems too low...Maybe something is wrong?
Click to expand...

Through the DI out? Most professional DIs do modify a line level signal to be mic-level, because consoles and mic preamps generally expect a mic-level signal at their mic-level inputs.
 
#133
Haven’t measured mine, but I’m getting a very typical mic level.

One thing to note: the “Direct” settings will bypass the (pre)amplification circuit, which makes it a passive DI. You can even use it without power, which is cool. But a consequence is that if you connect something to “Thru”, in “Direct” mode, you may lose a bit of signal level and a bit of treble on both outputs, even if the DI output is set to “Tube”.
It’s just the nature of passive electronics. But for that reason I always set both outputs to “Tube”.
 
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#134
Turok1928 said:
Through DI xlr out, yes.
Aha, ok, so this should be ok..
I checked the manual and it says xlr output level -14db and it was strange, why mine has -40db.
Click to expand...
Is that relative to the input or is that a dBu number?
I would expect -14dBu output level with rated input, if your input is lower, the rated output will be lower. -40dBu (absolute level) is mic level which is what I would expect from a mic level output.
 
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#136
Anyone had luck running one of these SVT DIs with a significant boost into the input? Using a passive bass with the pad disengaged and a roughly ~12dB clean boost will get it to break up slightly, but it's tough to say if there's any additional saturation happening before that point versus a much lower signal straight from a passive bass. Also concerned about putting undue stress on the 12AU7 with a really hot signal and potentially causing issues later.

Anyone have experience doing this on one of these or with a Reddi or Khan DI?
 
#139
Resurrecting this old thread....
Question about the tube: Did it come with a 12AX7 or a 12AU7?
Online I found several mentions bout be shipped with a 12AX7, other here mentionned the AU7.
Mine came <2used" with a AU7.

Asking because mine shows some "funny" behavior:
I have noticed that the respective Tube/Direct button (from Thru and Balanced out) also has an effect on the sound of the ‘other’ output.
This means that when I press the Tube/Direct button on the Thru box, for example, something also happens at the XLR output. The reverse is also true.
When both buttons are set to ‘Tube’, you get the tube-buffered signal at both outputs. However, if one of the two buttons is set to ‘Direct’, the signal becomes quieter and the phase is reversed (you can hear this when you have both signals on the mixing desk).

Never checked this because I always set both buttons to "Tube".

Has anyone experienced this as well?
 
#140
gillento said:
Did it come with a 12AX7 or a 12AU7?
Click to expand...
The schematic and OM do not specify. A Google search suggests the answer is yes.

gillento said:
Asking because mine shows some "funny" behavior:
I have noticed that the respective Tube/Direct button (from Thru and Balanced out) also has an effect on the sound of the ‘other’ output.
This means that when I press the Tube/Direct button on the Thru box, for example, something also happens at the XLR output. The reverse is also true.
Click to expand...
Based on the circuit, I think this is probably normal. In Direct mode, the Thru is taken straight off the bass. In Tube mode, the Thru is taken after the tube. So you would expect the sound at the Thru to change.

Here is the schematic (copied from: https://www.talkbass.com/threads/ampeg-svtdi-schematic.1395577/#post-22487707)
1765827394518.png



I believe toggling the Tube Direct button will impact the input impedance. This probably would not impact to tone of an active bass, but it might be noticeable with a passive bass. Meaning it may also change the sound at the XLR.

Explanation:
At the input jack there is a 3.32 meg resistor to ground. When the switch is set to tube with the pad off, I believe the input impedance is 3.32 meg. This is a fairly high impedance. When the switch is set to Direct, the 3.32 Meg resistor is placed in parallel with the Thru jack. The input impedance of whatever you plug the Thru into will be placed in parallel with the resistor. So if you plug the Thru into an amp with a 1 meg input impedance, the total load seen by the bass will be ~769K. This is still relatively high. However, if the amp has 220K input impedance, the resulting load seen by the pickups is 206.3K. This is pretty low and I believe it would have a noticeable impact on a passive bass.

I believe engaging the pad will lower the input impedance as well as attenuating the signal.
 
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