I recently bought a used MXR MX81 bass preamp. I bought it mainly to use as a DI, although I now plan to use it for some tone shaping, too- if I can overcome the hiss problem with the low-Z output. The DI is hissy. It doesn't matter where the ground lift is set (and that switch's phantom power function does work), or where any of the controls are set- including whether the pedal is on or off. I get a little hiss out of the hi-z output, but the low-z is much more noticeable. I found the hiss on stage subbing the MXR in for a SansAmp that was there. The latter is dead quiet, so it's not a cable issue. It held true at home into my mixer (trying multiple cables), as well. The internal switches (DIRECT OUT and BUFFER) are both on (factory defaults). Has anyone else run into this? Thanks!
Can't say that I have - my M81 is dead quiet in that regard, and I've gotten compliments from pro sound guys on the sends I've given them... I bought mine new, and A/B'd it with the other DIs I had at the time - a Countryman 85 and a Radial JDI - and the M81 compared well with them in sound quality and noise threshold as a DI... Most of the time, I just use it was a straight DI, with the option of additional EQ and/or gain if needed... {}
I had the same issue, which is why I no longer have an M81 and now have a Mesa Subway DI. The M81 seemed okay as long as you only use the XLR output, but I found using both the 1/4" and XLR at the same time was hiss city.
Hmmm - I use both all the time, and don't seem to get that at all - although I also typically play with a pick, so maybe I'm not boosting highs as much as you guys are...
Got me - I'm actually looking to upgrade from the M81, though - just posted in the Darkglass thread this morning...
I have all the controls centered. The XLR is hissy whether I use the 1/4" or not. It's pretty much a constant hiss no matter where the controls are set. When I have a chance to set the mixer up at home again I am going to play with the internal switches, but at this point I'm underwhelmed.
I tried again with the bottom open. Changing the internal switches changed functionality as expected, but did nothing for the hiss. I'm going to contact MXR.
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