Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
New, smaller-format DI from Rupert Neve Designs
- Thread starter smatanovic
- Start date
Ordered. Look forward to adding it to the stable, just another piece of the never ending puzzle!
Mine came in yesterday. Doesn’t feel quite as rugged as its big brother. Maybe don’t run over it with a truck.
But it’s not cheap feeling by any means. Ran an acoustic through it last night and it sounded lovely. The “warm but clear” thing is definitely there.
Will play around with it on bass today.
But it’s not cheap feeling by any means. Ran an acoustic through it last night and it sounded lovely. The “warm but clear” thing is definitely there.
Will play around with it on bass today.
Yeah, I hear you. In this respect, the layout of Broughton DIs seems to be the most practical for pedalboard use (all inputs/output on one side)
Mini Fridge Cab Sim | Broughton Audio
The Mini Fridge is an all analog speaker cabinet simulator, providing both a balanced and unbalanced output. Replicating the mighty SVT 810, this cab sim ensures you have a powerful bass tone for your sound engineer to use. Feed it with your favorite pedals and preamps and have the confidence...
www.broughtonaudio.com
Proto DI | Broughton Audio
The Proto DI is a no frills, studio quality passive direct box that can be used with active and passive instruments. With it's low profile, light weight, and one-sided jack placement, this DI can fit in tight spaces, and makes pedalboard wiring a breeze. The custom UK made Carnhill transformer...
www.broughtonaudio.com
High Pass Filter DI | Broughton Audio
This design is archived and is not in current production. For more information on archived pedals, click on the Archive link at the top of this page. The High Pass Filter DI is an active direct box that incorporates a variable high pass filter, gain control, and an input impedance selector. The...
www.broughtonaudio.com
Yeah I had the Proto DI for a while. It was really good. I miss the functionality for sureYeah, I hear you. In this respect, the layout of Broughton DIs seems to be the most practical for pedalboard use (all inputs/output on one side)
Mini Fridge Cab Sim | Broughton Audio
The Mini Fridge is an all analog speaker cabinet simulator, providing both a balanced and unbalanced output. Replicating the mighty SVT 810, this cab sim ensures you have a powerful bass tone for your sound engineer to use. Feed it with your favorite pedals and preamps and have the confidence...Proto DI | Broughton Audio
The Proto DI is a no frills, studio quality passive direct box that can be used with active and passive instruments. With it's low profile, light weight, and one-sided jack placement, this DI can fit in tight spaces, and makes pedalboard wiring a breeze. The custom UK made Carnhill transformer...High Pass Filter DI | Broughton Audio
This design is archived and is not in current production. For more information on archived pedals, click on the Archive link at the top of this page. The High Pass Filter DI is an active direct box that incorporates a variable high pass filter, gain control, and an input impedance selector. The...
When I swapped from a Radial DI to the Neve the first thing I noticed was how easy the Neve on the ears. I use in ears almost exclusively and the Neve is significantly less fatiguing.
I’m sure some expert on harmonics and saturation could explain to me why that is. But it’s nice.
+1 to the Grace Design M303 - I have one and really like it, although I've never used an RNDI so can't compare. I've recently come full circle on wanting just a very very clean DI without color, and the Grace is perfect for that. (If I am plugging into a Neve then my color can come from that, or if I'm bi-amping to an Ampeg that will give me dirt.) To me it sounds very open, clear, natural, punchy. It's also not that expensive, especially compared to all the much fancier DI/preamps on the market today.
I have owned and used the JDI, J48, Reddi, and Noble. They are all great (we have too many good options these days haha), but for the money, size, and sound the Grace is a winner IMO.
(also comparing to Reddi and Noble is pretty unfair as the Grace has a different intention, so no shade to those great products... but I like that it's cheaper and I can throw it in my gig bag and still have studio quality sound anywhere).
The question is, would you get rid of a J48 to replace with the m303 (or RNDI, etc.)? Or, would you spend the extra money on one of those when you already own a J48?
I've had a J48 for 15 years and every time I compare it to other DIs thinking I should "upgrade", I realize that it's hard to justify the additional expense when they are A/B'd together in my studio. IME, the only way to REALLY understand the DI is to use it against a mix. For me, that's usually playing along with a track and seeing how each DI sits. Not necessarily recording it and then playing back, but I use a A/B/Y box to switch back and forth while playing. That's where the nuances really stand out - more low end, smoother mids, high end clarity, etc. I've done the same with my Manley Tube DI, my Grace Felix, various amp DIs, etc. I also run multiple basses through it, including fretted, fretless, rounds, flats, actives, passives... I can't say the J48 sounds "best" on everything, but it's consistently very good across the board. The hardest part is getting the levels as close to identical as possible.
I did a track for an artist a few weeks go and multed my Manley and the J48. In the end we chose the J48 for how it sat on that particular song. Another song might've liked the Manley more. I used a Jazz Bass and the J48 had just a little more edge, whereas the Manley was smoother in the midrange and a tad more sparkly on top.
Last edited:
I would say the RNDI-M is a different flavor but similar quality to something like the J48. I like the harmonics and the color of the RNDI-M a bit better than a lot of the Radial boxes. It feels both more pleasant and more open, and it’s easy on the ears.
But since you already have a really solid active DI… I wouldn’t sweat it.
At this point, I'm keeping the J48 for life. I may still get an RNDI-M, though. I'm not opposed to lots of DI options for my studio use.
That said, I do have issues with my G&L L2500 in active series mode going through the J48 straight into my RME interface. I have to pad the J48 input to prevent overloading the interface, which does noticeably alter the sound to my ears. Most other instruments are totally fine. Unfortunately, the mic inputs on the RME don't have pads. It's a problem unique to the L2500/J48/RME combo.
I did end up selling my J48, but mostly because I didn't need to have both. I liked the m303 sound just a touch more (seemed very slightly more "open" sounding) and I liked the specs / transformer isolation. However, I also really liked the J48 and think it's a great box (it also had a hotter signal, but not by much). As with all of these things, the difference is very subtle, and at some point I felt like I was in a water-tasting competition and decided to keep the Grace and move on.
We are in a golden age of high quality DIs so honestly I'd say just pick one that isn't too expensive and move on to other things. I'd add the Grace to the "short list" of fantastic DIs to check out.
I have the original RNDI and it sits in our rehearsal studio so I can plug straight to the board. But I'm looking at your setups here... Most of them already had other DIs on them (HX Stomp, Tone Hammer, etc) but you still added the Neve. Why?
We like to spend money.
Also a few other things…
- I like to keep modulation and verb post drive. So I need a separate end of chain DI anyway.
- We record live a lot. So a decent DI from my live rig is warranted
- The Neve is smoother than the TH and easier on the ears. It makes a noticeable difference when listening to bass on IEMS for hours and hours a week.
