REDDI, I'm a bit confused

[Scoops]

Yes...$300 in parts. Plus the cost of labour, plus the cost of the building they are made in, plus the cost of the property tax, plus the cost of maintenance of said building, plus the cost of utilities (water, electricity, heating) plus the cost of shipping the parts involved, plus the cost of employee benefits, plus the cost of...

I get what you are saying, but, If I am in a band, should I be charging for my taxes, my equipment, housing for my equipment, transportation, tax on my transportation, gas, food, insurance on my equipment, the cost of maintaining my transport and equipment, and so on, and then charge what I get at my day job per hour for my actual performance? Doesn't this amount to what most BANDS, not individuals, get paid for the night?

 

[Geri O]

I get what you are saying, but, If I am in a band, should I be charging for my taxes, my equipment, housing for my equipment, transportation, tax on my transportation, gas, food, insurance on my equipment, the cost of maintaining my transport and equipment, and so on, and then charge what I get at my day job per hour for my actual performance? Doesn't this amount to what most BANDS, not individuals, get paid for the night?

Okay, this is the point where these kinds of posts drive off into the weeds and get stuck in an endless loop of suppositions, hypotheticals, and plain out nonsensical round and rounds.

To the OP: If you dot n't the REDDI, it's fine. If you have a buddy that makes one that sounds twice as good for half the price, that's fine, except excuse me for being skeptical until I hear it for myself.

I doubt you will get a satisfactory answer to your query. I don't even care if you get the answer. I don't think you'll accept the answer if you did. And you know what? THere's absolutely nothing wrong with that.

I like the REDDI. It's my favorite. We have one at church and I'm saving to get my own. And nowhere is it written that I have to justify that attitude to you or anyone. Nor is it written that you have to understand/accept the whys and hows and and how much of the REDDI. Why we can't accept that we are different individuals and are not going to understand, get, or other appreciate the same things that other folks around us do?

This post isn't about what you think go the REDDI. It's about, with all the options out there, why the need to pose such a question? If I posted (much less cared) about the choices of basses, amps, strings, playing styles, effects, music styles that I don't get, I'd be in front of this stupid MacBook Pro all day.

Respectfully, and I mean that, ....

 

[Raf Seibert]

If you're in a band, you get paid what the traffic will bear. If your band is Led Zeppelin, you can charge a whole bunch of money, if your band is a relatively unknown local band, you get the going rate at the local bars regardless of your costs. There is no overarching authority making sure that what a player gets is "fair". Only the player can assess their expenses and determine whether they're making enough to compensate them.

Raf

 

[quickfix]

I get what you are saying, but, If I am in a band, should I be charging for my taxes, my equipment, housing for my equipment, transportation, tax on my transportation, gas, food, insurance on my equipment, the cost of maintaining my transport and equipment, and so on, and then charge what I get at my day job per hour for my actual performance? Doesn't this amount to what most BANDS, not individuals, get paid for the night?

Is it your business to play in a band? If so, then the answer is a resounding "YES!".

However, you have a day job. You work for someone else. I'll bet your employer takes all these things, and more, into account.

I'm sure the manufacturer of the DI in question isn't building these things as a hobby. It's a business. Everything must be taken into account, or the wife and children...

 

[quickfix]

I'd like to add that if your band doesn't command the sort of payment that will take all of these things into account...don't quit your day job.
I'd starve if I had to rely on my bands, and didn't have a steady means of income.

 

[beans-on-toast]

the REDDI sounds great, is simple, is reliable, and is re-sellable (important if you buy one for a project and plan to sell it when you're done).

A local place rents them, nice option to have.

 

[beans-on-toast]

I'll take a P-15 for almost 1/2 the price.

A problem with a product such as this one is that it has no regulatory agency approval. Without UL/CSA approval, in the event of a fire or medical liability, there will be insurance issues. It is an illegal product as far as they are concerned. This is one of the things that you pay for when you buy the more expensive products.

 

[Dave Hill]

A problem with a product such as this one is that it has no regulatory agency approval. Without UL/CSA approval, in the event of a fire or medical liability, there will be insurance issues. It is an illegal product as far as they are concerned. This is one of the things that you pay for when you buy the more expensive products.

I know doing so is a legit PIA and cost.

However, and I may be wrong, but, I'll bet most players, myself included, don't give two squirts about this if they hear something their hearts desire.

 

[stevensivak]

UL label- an interesting point for makers of electrical components...
You might not care, but should it burn down your house, you start
to care very quickly... Probably not an issue unless you own stuff
that burns...

 

[beans-on-toast]

I know doing so is a legit PIA and cost.

However, and I may be wrong, but, I'll bet most players, myself included, don't give two squirts about this if they hear something their hearts desire.

Right about that, most people don't care. Unless somehing happens...

 

[Session1969]

I better put on a helmet and bullet proof vest because I'm sure I'll catch a lot of flack for this.

So the question is what is the big deal with these? From my understanding this unit is a tube buffered DI with an above average transformer? Is that all this thing is? It just seems that $745 for an DI box seems a bit excessive doesn't it? Ive used them before, they are definitely an improvement from a generic DI tone but it just seems like they are getting away with murder charging what they do for what it is? If you part is out its less than $300 in parts and doesn't seem all that labor intensive? Am i the only one who doesn't get it ?

If the parts are $300, I'd say $745 (brand new) is on target. Some companies need a higher margin than that.

 

[alembicguy]

Not sure why everybody is taking the sarcastic ass/thoroughly condescending tack when responding to the OP, surely doesn't seem justified since the question was honest.

Is the REDDI superior to the standard unit? Absolutely. Could/should they charge less for the unit? As a consumer I want to say yes, but many folks seem satisfied paying the cost for the name and rep that comes with owning it. So in that sense, it's priced fairly.

That said, a local builder has made a DI unit which I think far outstrips the REDDI, and he is not asking anywhere near the same price. So, yes surely the parts in this particular unit don't add up to the actual cost, but since they seem to be selling a lot of DIs, I doubt we'll see the price come down any time soon.

Cause sadly this seems to be the norm nowadays.

 

[Bassmunnky]

Wow - lots of posts and yet no one has answered the question- a snarky question yes - but geez owners chime in

 

[Doner Designs]

I better put on a helmet and bullet proof vest because I'm sure I'll catch a lot of flack for this.

So the question is what is the big deal with these? From my understanding this unit is a tube buffered DI with an above average transformer? Is that all this thing is? It just seems that $745 for an DI box seems a bit excessive doesn't it? Ive used them before, they are definitely an improvement from a generic DI tone but it just seems like they are getting away with murder charging what they do for what it is? If you part is out its less than $300 in parts and doesn't seem all that labor intensive? Am i the only one who doesn't get it ?

Its a lot for a DI, but if there is really $300 in parts then the selling price is a bargain. Is the tone difference enough to make it worthwhile? Only you can decide. Kinda like going above $2000 for a bass. The improvements you get when going from $2000 to $5000 are nuances for sure.

 

[eyeballkid]

Come on guys.. yeah, its a bit funny to pile on with the jokes, but i can see where he's coming from. Im a bit of a tube sniffer for great tone for bass, but Ive kinda wondered too just what exactly is soo damn special about this little box that its worth $700+. I know there are alot of working guys who swear by them and I take their word and experience for it, but my amp has a tube fed DI on the back that has gotten numerous "HOT DAMN! That sounds AWESOME!"s from sound guys so I gotta wonder what is soooo special about that box that makes it worth almost as much as I paid for my used 300 watts of tubes. The Ampeg Tube DI was one of the last "must haves" and it was no where near that price.
Im not slagging the REDDI. In fact, if I had the spare bucks I would probably pick one up used just to answer my own questions about it, but Im just saying that someone wondering aloud what makes it worth $750 isnt THAT much of a stretch to take seriously as a question.

(Ill go put my flamesuit on too!)

 

[the yeti]

I better put on a helmet and bullet proof vest because I'm sure I'll catch a lot of flack for this.

So the question is what is the big deal with these? From my understanding this unit is a tube buffered DI with an above average transformer? Is that all this thing is? It just seems that $745 for an DI box seems a bit excessive doesn't it? Ive used them before, they are definitely an improvement from a generic DI tone but it just seems like they are getting away with murder charging what they do for what it is? If you part is out its less than $300 in parts and doesn't seem all that labor intensive? Am i the only one who doesn't get it ?

if there are $300 worth of parts in anything $750 is probably reasonable retail .

 

[odarellmc]

I have one of the DI's you are referencing on order. The REDDI is one of the reasons I went looking in his direction. However, I didn't buy it thinking it was a discount REDDI. It's an Ampeg B15 preamp circuit with a DI. His also doesn't use the same kind of transformer as the REDDI. They are two different beasts; apples and oranges that are only comparable in that they are both able to be used as a DI.

And who's this builder!?

 

[Geri O]

Wow - lots of posts and yet no one has answered the question- a snarky question yes - but geez owners chime in

How about a user that doesn't own the one he uses?

This question has turned into "if you have to ask the question, you either won't understand the answer or you won't believe the answer".

There is no answer for such a question.

 

[Daniel Piper]

I dont own one. i will never own one.

I completely understand why someone would own one. They think its worth it. We buy things we like, and we pay in relation to how much we want them.

.These threads.

 

[svtb15]

The FREQ response is wide and that helps eliminate in-band phase shift.. So the notes a clear and wide..and not mucky.
The REDDI is not a toy. It s in the PRO AUDIO line much like a NEVE . SSL or API, Quad 8 consoles are in the console world . In the console world NEVES etc are different than your run of the mill MAckie or Behringer consoles. NEVES are world class Pro audio.
The REDDI is in that caliber. The OP transformer ..made by Cinemag is a custom wound and designed .. It is NOT cheap.. Its very expensive as is are the other high grade parts. All those high end NEVE. API etc have transformer front ends and that is what gives them part of their sound.. The profit margin on an item like the REDDI is not as large as you may think .

I've told this story many times. I have been blessed to own so many top of the line DIs ..
When i got my first REDDI. i had a UA Solo 610, a Manley, Avalon, Demeter Tube. Aguilar Tube DI ,GT Brick, Brookes Siren, countryman, and a couple others. I had an Evil Twin at the end for a while ... I say my first because i bought another REDDI later on so that i could have one at my small home studio and one for Live gigs.
So at the time of reckoning about 2005 or 11 years ago , I brought my fave DI the UA Solo 610 and my new toy the REDDi on a session.
The engineer happened to be a grammy winning guy. He knows his stuff and has great ears. We A/B'd the two Di"s.. He said use that RED thing.. He was floored.. HE said to me to sell all the other stuff and just keep the REDDI. And if i wanted to work there again to Bring the REDDI the next time. LOL
He was right.. and i trusted his ears. I did sell all of the other tube DIs after that day He went out and bought one the next week for his studio. It has happened time and time again on sessions and gigs. After someone with ears heard it , they would buy one.

So i sold all of them kept the REDDI and bought a second Reddi..
May Not be for everyone.. but for years it was my secret weapon.. I think it got me gigs too. I really NOTICE the difference when on IEM gigs


REDDIs in action and studio

And a Place that i Frequent often .. My friends studio in Nashville. LOVE this control room.. Lattanzi South studio API, NEVE and SSL same room.. I was just there last month.. Killer LIVE room too

`

I better put on a helmet and bullet proof vest because I'm sure I'll catch a lot of flack for this.

So the question is what is the big deal with these? From my understanding this unit is a tube buffered DI with an above average transformer? Is that all this thing is? It just seems that $745 for an DI box seems a bit excessive doesn't it? Ive used them before, they are definitely an improvement from a generic DI tone but it just seems like they are getting away with murder charging what they do for what it is? If you part is out its less than $300 in parts and doesn't seem all that labor intensive? Am i the only one who doesn't get it ?