Radial JDI or J48 DI box???

[georgestrings]

I've had both and currently use the JDI as my backup to the Mesa rig. I like the J48 just fine but again, for some soundboards and venues, phantom power gets you :wat: looks so it's just the safest. If I were using a DI as my main signal I maybe would consider the J48 again but to me they're both great.

I had the JDI for awhile, and although it sounded great with all my actives, and *most* of my passives, a couple of my passives didn't work that well with it... I decided to take the Countryman 85 over the J48 because it can run without phantom power - and haven't regretted that decision... The Countryman sounds great with any of my basses - it's an industry standard for good reason, and virtually rider-proof...


- georgestrings

 

[georgestrings]

, and when I've used the JDI, sound techs sometimes complain about the signal being low (it's not actually that low... just not as hot as your usual active DI)

I used to run into that sometimes when I used a JDI, also...


- georgestrings

 

[TonyP-]

Thanks again basswave, yeah you give good point.
Well, actually like I said, as much as I like JDI, I'm affraid to use it onstage since I only like to use passive basses.

Well, ok, maybe I better forget JDI for that purpose and look only for active DIs.
Actually I like the REDDI too.

The REDDI is a 'whole nuther monsta'.

Some guys use it live and it can be used live but that its not it main use. I use mine for recording...The REDDI has a very sensitive gain that pretty powerful. You would have to probably reset that for every gig.

Talking about that the JDI to the REDDI is like a apple to kumquats comparison in almost all respects.

If you where willing to spend over $700 on a DI I would split the difference and get a JDV.

I’m sure the thought of spending just about $400 on DI that is not a tube unit, requires an external power source and is about the size of your average hard cover book does not thrill most players, especially the ones that feel that the XLR on their amp does just as well of a job.

I’m sure for most players the XLR out on your amps are fine.
However if You want no compromise in the actual sound of your bass “what so ever” then the Radial JDV is what you want it will give you all the good, the bad & the ugly. To do that it its uses a class-A feed-forward circuit design and high internal rail voltage (30).

Its pure of tone and been tested up to a 1000’ feet before any signal loss. Not to mention its a great re-amp tool as well.


Good Luck
Your local DI junky

 

[KingRazor]

IMO the J48 is the perfect DI. Unless you don't have phantom power.

 

[Phatbottom]

I love my J48!

Sounds great on bass, and is crystal on keyboards. If you wanna hear it i have a youtube video of just bass.

Its the J48 blended with a Neumann TLM 49 though a solo 610.

The DI provides the extreme low and high while the TLM gives the midrange detail.

Great DI!

Heres the link.
Invalid Link Removed

 

[patrick kilby]

question for the passive bass guys with the jdi.

have you tried using a buffered pedal (bosstu2) to help with output level?
does this work?

thanks pat

 

[grendle]

I told you guys I ended up getting the JDI....And I couldn't be happier! It took the sound guy about 30 seconds to sound check me individually. It just sounded that good coming out of the PA. My tone was so amazing, I had a cheese-eating grin on my face the whole night, LOL! Again, thanks you all for your input, much appreciated.

+1

I picked up a JDI myself recently and am finally happy with running direct to the foh. It's the best sounding di I have used.

 

[TimmyP]

You won't have any ground loop worries with the J48, either. The output is transformer isolated and has a ground lift.

So does the Pro48. And I've encountered a couple of bass rigs with which the DI could not be made hum free.

 

[grendle]

So does the Pro48. And I've encountered a couple of bass rigs with which the DI could not be made hum free.

Sounds like an issue with the bass.

 

[patrick kilby]

question for the passive bass guys with the jdi.

have you tried using a buffered pedal (bosstu2) to help with output level?
does this work?

thanks pat

ill answer my own question.

no

a preamp or boost type pedal (eq,comp) can though

 

[Munjibunga]

JDI because you can't count on a sound guy having or knowing about phantom power... some boards will send to all channels or none --- in 99% of instances I ban phantom use... it's risky to some gear..

Kinda defeats the purpose of having phantom power, doesn't it? Very few pieces of equipment designed to connect to a PA input will be sensitive to it, and the ones that do typically make that fact well-known in the literature. The only problem I've ever encountered with it is when I'm using a J48 or a condenser mic, and forget to turn on the phantom. That's easily remedied by the push of a button. I do prefer boards with separate phantom switches for each channel, though.

 

[georgestrings]

Kinda defeats the purpose of having phantom power, doesn't it? Very few pieces of equipment designed to connect to a PA input will be sensitive to it, and the ones that do typically make that fact well-known in the literature. The only problem I've ever encountered with it is when I'm using a J48 or a condenser mic, and forget to turn on the phantom. That's easily remedied by the push of a button. I do prefer boards with separate phantom switches for each channel, though.

Agreed - IME, condenser mics are commonly used on cymbals - which makes the idea of "banning phantom power" kind of funny...


- georgestrings

 

[AmericanFenderJazzMan]

how would one connect bass guitar and bass pedals up? bass+pedals+JDI+soundboard+ recorder? or ?

 

[walterw]

how would one connect bass guitar and bass pedals up? bass+pedals+JDI+soundboard+ recorder?

yep.

 

[dwade]

JDI because you can't count on a sound guy having or knowing about phantom power... some boards will send to all channels or none --- in 99% of instances I ban phantom use... it's risky to some gear..

I've never met a pro sound guy that didn't understand phantom power

 

[Zbysek]

This is what guys from Radial have to say about it:

DI Basics - Radial Engineering

 

[MNAirHead]

I've never met a pro sound guy that didn't understand phantom power

I have...

some Churches with volunteers & if it's not called out on the Rider... and they send out a basic board (small group etc)... many 6-12 channel boards do not have phantom

 

[dwade]

I have...

some Churches with volunteers & if it's not called out on the Rider... and they send out a basic board (small group etc)... many 6-12 channel boards do not have phantom

Ahhhhh......volunteers. Not necessarily pro engineers. Big difference there.

 

[tadawson]

I have...

some Churches with volunteers & if it's not called out on the Rider... and they send out a basic board (small group etc)... many 6-12 channel boards do not have phantom

That's not a "pro sound guy" that's a doofus . . . don't confuse the two . . . (And that's also not a case of "not understanding phantom power" but rather letting someone cheap the system to death . . .). Someone with a fully functional brain would *NEVER* spec a mixer for any live music event that didn't do phantom if they truly knew what they were doing ...

 

[mattattack187]

They say that active basses should use passive and passive basses should use active DI's etc....From my experience, it doesn't matter. Unless you're headlining arenas with long cable runs, the JDI would be plenty fine.