REDDI, I'm a bit confused

[JackANSI]

I thought the 'classic' category of divisiveness was the Double Bass/Bass Guitar divide.

DB's are more expensive for equal quality. So more like a natural extension.

Was actually referring to something else, so it must have went over your head.

 

[BurningSkies]

Those dudes must totally buy up all the REDDI's out there. It probably looks like one of those budget passive DI boxes that the guy at the club has a milk crate full of at the side of the stage to them.

 

[One Drop]

DB's are more expensive for equal quality. So more like a natural extension.

Was actually referring to something else, so it must have went over your head.

Yeah yeah we get it. Just not biting.

 

[staccatogrowl]

That always seems to be the last bastion part of the argument for pro-expensive things people.

Maybe. Personally, I do not favor expensive things for their sake of being expensive. As a working musician I have few expensive things. As my gear acquisition funds are limited, I also do not favor inexpensive things solely for their sake of being inexpensive.

I am willing to consider more expensive items when 1) I will use them daily or weekly in my practice and/or performance. 2) The item is durable, able to withstand constant use and/or travel, while still maintaining function. 3) The sound quality is evident, lasting far beyond the momentary thrill of purchase, reaching forward into years of enjoyment.

Crafts people across many arts usually delight in using quality tools as a means of producing their art. I enjoy using REDDI, do not begrudge its price, and am glad to support the artistry of A-Designs. They are a company that produces great audio gear, while offering excellent customer service.

I won't consider purchasing a knock-off of their design to save a small amount of money. I would be a simple thief, enabling a simple knock-off thief. The company I like would lose benefit of sale income, and benefit of their intellectual property.

While not being pro expensive or inexpensive, I am especially not pro "steal someone else's design, make me a counterfeit, for the least amount of money possible, (usually including) while giving me benefit of your labor for free, or less."

There are many competent DIs to be had for relatively little money. They become further discounted when used, offering better value. Buy the best DI that you can afford (maybe it's a REDDI, maybe not), and then be happy!

 

[Downunderwonder]

You're confused how $300 in parts from ten suppliers never turned into a Tube DI in a pretty wrapper under your Christmas tree? Santa's elves never studied tube electronics!

I blame the auto industry. A Corolla built up from spare parts might cost $250k in parts if you got the chassis for free.

 

[vlad335]

Received my used REDDI today. Noticed it looked different, no THRU jack.


Link Removed

Contacted Peter at A-designs, ( He answered my email in 2 minutes ) and he informed me that this is an older unit. At least 12 years old if not more. Also said these older ones are liked more.
"some people liked the sound of the older units cause we had to switch to Rohs (No Lead) back then"

Except for the pieces of tape it is in pristine condition. It lights up but I have no way to test it tonight. :Bummer:

I will get to see what this is all about this weekend at the gig. My triple driver, in-ear monitors tell no lies.

 

[BurningSkies]

Received my used REDDI today. Noticed it looked different, no THRU jack.


Link Removed

Contacted Peter at A-designs, ( He answered my email in 2 minutes ) and he informed me that this is an older unit. At least 12 years old if not more. Also said these older ones are liked more.
"some people liked the sound of the older units cause we had to switch to Rohs (No Lead) back then"

Except for the pieces of tape it is in pristine condition. It lights up but I have no way to test it tonight. :Bummer:

I will get to see what this is all about this weekend at the gig. My triple driver, in-ear monitors tell no lies.

Huh. I didn't know that. That's a great indication that this was really intended as a studio use device rather than a stage DI. As with a few other people I know 'in the industry', you make it and you never know how the players are going to use it.

 

[JimmyM]

Yes, Peter had to be dragged kicking and screaming into adding a 1/4" output, so the legend goes. He was shocked that anyone would want to use it outside of the studio at first. But he's grown used to the idea At least you're using it for an IEM setup, so I guess you don't really need the 1/4" out. Shouldn't be a big deal to add one in the future should you need it, though. It's strictly pass-thru from the input jack.

 

[vlad335]

Yes, Peter had to be dragged kicking and screaming into adding a 1/4" output, so the legend goes. He was shocked that anyone would want to use it outside of the studio at first. But he's grown used to the idea At least you're using it for an IEM setup, so I guess you don't really need the 1/4" out. Shouldn't be a big deal to add one in the future should you need it, though. It's strictly pass-thru from the input jack.

Yeah, the thru jack doesnt matter in the least right now.

 

[vlad335]

OK, I gigged with my REDDI yesterday. Regarding the OP asking if this unit is worth the money.

Link Removed
Link Removed

(This is my entire rig pictured.)

The answer is YES! My sound has been completely and utterly transformed! For the used price of $589! If something happened to this and I couldnt get it repaired I would honestly buy another one immediately! No question.

Warm, gooey tube goodness. Everything sounds amazing and matches the sound in my head of the perfect bass tone. The tone I have been chasing all my life. When I was sound checking, the guitar player immediately walked across the stage and said my bass sounded amazing. This is completely out of character for him. He heard of these before and I believe he is going to buy one now. Also, after the sound check I saw the FOH guy standing over my pedals looking at them. Unfortunately, I was way across the hall and didn't get to talk to him but I am certain this was positive. There was a total of 9 bands there yesterday and he is looking at my pedals?

OK. We started our short set (It was a showcase) with a song called Dibs where I play up high in the beginning. The notes ROARED off the fretboard, so warm and round and full. It actually startled me! I have played this song dozens of times and that part never sounded so good. Besides the sweet tone I noticed something else during our short set. I did not have to play as hard or as much, if that makes any sense. Every note had incredible authority and weight behind it. I have owned tube preamps before. Alembic F1x, Early Demeter, Summit, BMAX-T, as well as a U5 and none of them comes close to doing what this does IMO.

I have 9 basses and honestly wasn't completely happy with any of them. Fenders, USA and MIM, Warwick, Musicman. This opinion has changed. I want to try each one all over again. I love my modded BTB's playability and B string but something wasn't 100% right with the sound. Well, that has also literally changed now forever. It now sounds like a $5000 dollar bass to me. Love everything about it now.

Regrets? Number one is playing this long and never trying one of these. Another is recording in January without it. I am going to ask to redo my bass tracks now. Do I regret spending this much? Not a chance!

P15 vs REDDI, who cares. If the P15 sounds like this or even better, buy one. If you don't want to wait, get a REDDI.

 

[Jim C]

Question:
Let’s assume that the REDDI makes a bass guitar sound better than any other box that converts from high impedance to low impedance.
Let’s also assume that this improvement is due allowing the smallest amount of change possible to the original signal. I don’t think that is what players are hearing though.

Another assumption could be that the box imparts a change in the EQ of the signal, the dynamics, or a change to the wave form through some form of enriched harmonic content (by definition these elements would be considered distortion which is not a bad thing).

My question and perhaps something I’ve missed in this thread.
If you take the output of the REDDI, convert it to high impedance for a MI amplifier, does it sound much different / better than just using a cord?

In other words, does the enhanced sound from the REDDI only occur in a DI situation or can it improve the tone when used either in front of MI amp (or throughout the effects loop)?

 

[beans-on-toast]

There are boxes that serve as harmonic enhancers. Unity gain amps that make things sound better when a signal is passed through them. People find this with some recording gear, even when their primary function is turned off, the output sou ds better.

In this case, no question that the tube and output transformer impart an enhanced sonic signature.

I think that the way that most people use it is to split the input into the reddi and out to an amp's input with the balanced DI out going to the board. There are ways to take the balanced out and conditioning it to go into an amp's input. Not sure if I recall anyone using it that way.

 

[Mike Arnopol]

I heard the sonic farm about a year ago. One issue we saw was that is has a noise issue. The sound they get, is partly from the tube that they use. BUT that tube has serious noise issues. So it seems.. My Reddi doesn't have that issue.
After a quik tube replacement. this one still worked flawlessly.. Courtesy of Peter M.

View attachment 788199 View attachment 788200 View attachment 788201

Just to clarify----yes the EF86 tube is one of the big reasons the Sonic Farm sounds so good
You are correct that the EF86's can have noise issues. This is caused by physical and airborne vibration. Not noise in the tubes. They're dead quiet. We've had to work very hard to address this issue with the new amp. It will have very high end damping feet (used for top home hifi stuff.) These really tame any vibrations from the speakers through the chassis. Also---TBH--all tube pres and amps are negatively affected by transferred vibration. Fellow TB'er Brucephyllis (sp?) has come out with some nifty feet to put under tube gear---I don't caren if it's a 12axt, 6sl7, or an EF86---all will be affected to one degree or another by transferred vibration. If you're using tube gear---get some good isolation feet. Or don't put your pre on your speakers.

The other vibration of concern is sound transferred by air. I've been researching this like crazy. There is a whole guitar cult thing about amps based on the EF86. Lots of forums on tube damping. There will also be tube dampers. These clamp very lightly around the tubetop and bottom with silicone between the damper and the tube. Guys have been doing this for years with uber $$$ hifi stuff. They work really well and don't interfere with tube heat dissipation.

The other component is the tube itself. They are using very nice " Winged C " Ef86's. These are awesome in the studio but can be more microphonic than some other tubes. We'll be offering the option of a tube upgrade to some tubes that sound as good as the Winged C's but are MUCH less susceptible to microphonics. There are a bunch of guys out there using the 2di4 with the winged C's on top of bass cabs with no problems. But I compared the Winged C to the JJ (at the insistance of the guy from one of the big tube distributors---he's done EXTENSIVE comparisons of the various EF86's). The JJ was dead quiet when tapped. I had the pre sitting on top of one of my cabs (which vibrate like crazy) for a bunch of gigs. The JJ was dead quiet.

Fortunately for me, as I stated, there is a HUGE following in the guitar world of the EF86's and they've pretty much eliminated noise problems.

 

[coreyfyfe]

Question:
Let’s assume that the REDDI makes a bass guitar sound better than any other box that converts from high impedance to low impedance.
Let’s also assume that this improvement is due allowing the smallest amount of change possible to the original signal. I don’t think that is what players are hearing though.

Another assumption could be that the box imparts a change in the EQ of the signal, the dynamics, or a change to the wave form through some form of enriched harmonic content (by definition these elements would be considered distortion which is not a bad thing).

My question and perhaps something I’ve missed in this thread.
If you take the output of the REDDI, convert it to high impedance for a MI amplifier, does it sound much different / better than just using a cord?

In other words, does the enhanced sound from the REDDI only occur in a DI situation or can it improve the tone when used either in front of MI amp (or throughout the effects loop)?

I haven't tried it with a REDDI, but the SVT-DI I have has a tube/thru switch for both the DI and pass through signals. That nice little added warmth sounds great when added to the input of an otherwise okay amp.

I'd imagine with something like the REDDI which doesn't have that capability you'd need to add a reamp box or some other type of impedance matching device which adds its own layer of headache to the setup.

 

[Jim C]

I haven't tried it with a REDDI, but the SVT-DI I have has a tube/thru switch for both the DI and pass through signals. That nice little added warmth sounds great when added to the input of an otherwise okay amp.

I'd imagine with something like the REDDI which doesn't have that capability you'd need to add a reamp box or some other type of impedance matching device which adds its own layer of headache to the setup.

I think it would only take a transformer to go from low impedance DI output to high impedance MI input level.
Unless I’m worng..
Ever had a chance to compare the Ampeg vs. the Reddi?

 

[coreyfyfe]

I think it would only take a transformer to go from low impedance DI output to high impedance MI input level.
Unless I’m worng..
Ever had a chance to compare the Ampeg vs. the Reddi?

Not personally but there's a good YouTube video posted earlie (or easily searchable on Google) that demos both.

 

[Snaxster]

Just to clarify----yes the EF86 tube is one of the big reasons the Sonic Farm sounds so good
You are correct that the EF86's can have noise issues. This is caused by physical and airborne vibration. Not noise in the tubes. They're dead quiet. We've had to work very hard to address this issue with the new amp. It will have very high end damping feet (used for top home hifi stuff.) These really tame any vibrations from the speakers through the chassis. Also---TBH--all tube pres and amps are negatively affected by transferred vibration. Fellow TB'er Brucephyllis (sp?) has come out with some nifty feet to put under tube gear---I don't caren if it's a 12axt, 6sl7, or an EF86---all will be affected to one degree or another by transferred vibration. If you're using tube gear---get some good isolation feet. Or don't put your pre on your speakers.

The other vibration of concern is sound transferred by air. I've been researching this like crazy. There is a whole guitar cult thing about amps based on the EF86. Lots of forums on tube damping. There will also be tube dampers. These clamp very lightly around the tubetop and bottom with silicone between the damper and the tube. Guys have been doing this for years with uber $$$ hifi stuff. They work really well and don't interfere with tube heat dissipation.

The other component is the tube itself. They are using very nice " Winged C " Ef86's. These are awesome in the studio but can be more microphonic than some other tubes. We'll be offering the option of a tube upgrade to some tubes that sound as good as the Winged C's but are MUCH less susceptible to microphonics. There are a bunch of guys out there using the 2di4 with the winged C's on top of bass cabs with no problems. But I compared the Winged C to the JJ (at the insistance of the guy from one of the big tube distributors---he's done EXTENSIVE comparisons of the various EF86's). The JJ was dead quiet when tapped. I had the pre sitting on top of one of my cabs (which vibrate like crazy) for a bunch of gigs. The JJ was dead quiet.

Fortunately for me, as I stated, there is a HUGE following in the guitar world of the EF86's and they've pretty much eliminated noise problems.

Hello Mike. I would just like to recommend a damper maker based on my own experience: Invalid Link Removed.

For home stereo, guitar or bass amps, signal processors... anything for audio that characteristically may suffer from micro-vibration, Herbie's damping and decoupling products work as advertised. Add to that pricing far below typical "audiophile" products, and the fact that Steve Herbelin in a smart, cool and reasonable fellow.

My first tests of Herbie's tube dampers and speaker cabinet decouplers were almost ten years ago. I tried them in repeated A/B test trials in various applications, with unwavering results: they worked and the sound was aesthetic. (You can over-damp and make components sound lifeless, by the way. Steve comments on that in parts of his website. I learned that empirically in those trials.) Since then, I have used Herbie's products exclusively for damping.

 

[Jim C]

Hello Mike. I would just like to recommend a damper maker based on my own experience: Invalid Link Removed.

(You can over-damp and make components sound lifeless, by the way. Steve comments on that in parts of his website.

I was with you until we got to over dampened components.

We would have to have a damping spec from the manufacturer as well as test equipment to properly listen to an amp.
How much is too much vibration and how much is too little?
If you put the amp in an anechoic chamber and the speaker outside, would the amp deliver different audio than both being in the same room but separated by a 50’ speaker cable?

 

[Snaxster]

I was with you until we got to over dampened components.

We would have to have a damping spec from the manufacturer as well as test equipment to properly listen to an amp.
How much is too much vibration and how much is too little?
If you put the amp in an anechoic chamber and the speaker outside, would the amp deliver different audio than both being in the same room but separated by a 50’ speaker cable?

Hi Jim. My comment was only based on my own listening tests. I cannot speak about the theoretical. Among myriad audio applications, your experience may differ from mine categorically.

 

[Jim C]

Hi Jim. My comment was only based on my own listening tests. I cannot speak about the theoretical. Among myriad audio applications, your experience may differ from mine categorically.

Sorry, I didn’t mean to sound mean spirited toward you.
I am just confused by the concept.