• 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.

REDDI Tube DI Mega-thread-III

#1,201
derrico1 said:
Has anyone here tried a REDDI to a power amp that has an XLR pass-through?
Click to expand...
I haven't but I'd be interested to hear what it sounded like. I suspect it would be the same story though as splitting the signal before the amp and some of the subtle beauty would get filtered. It took me a while and a few hundred bucks in the form of very high quality Radial mic splitter and re-amping boxes to realize what people (including Peter himself) were saying to me: it's not a preamp. My opinion now is the best use of a REDDI is instrument/REDDI/console. If you go back to the beginning of these threads it's interesting that it sounds so good to so many people this is a topic that continually comes up. Gear that consistently creates this much passion is pretty rare.
 
#1,202
Looks like that's the rackmount stereo REDDI. (from their facebook page)
10945506_916148395072573_5530434063034390525_n.jpg
 
  • Like
Reactions: JEDBass, JimmyM and mwbonsall
#1,203
That REDDI V2 is sick! You could do a clean/dirty thing, and would be less of an imposition than hauling two REDDIs around. KGB's seem very cool as well. Never a bad idea to have a really good solid state pre at your disposal, either.
 
#1,205
swat8426 said:
Hey,
I'm using REDDI with original tube!
Is there anyone who recommend about REDDI's Tube?
I want to change the REDDI'S sound better!!!
Click to expand...
Tried it once. Got these real nice 1965 6N1P's from Russia. Did a whole character change on the REDDI. Boosted levels by close to 4 db and increased the low mid response between 100-150 hz. I thought it was really cool at first, and our TB pal Greg from Rocket Bass store still uses it and loves it, but after about a month I thought it was a bit too much low mid for soundmen to deal with and I went back to the stock Sovtek. Still got 3 of them, only used one a few times, and I'll be happy to send you one for what I paid ($40 shipped...PM me if interested), but if anything ever happens to the stock Sovtek, I'll just replace it with another one. Svetlana also makes a 6N1P and Peter uses them when he's between Sovtek shipments, but it sounds so good with the Sovtek I figure why mess with perfection? OTOH, 6N1P's are cheap usually, so it doesn't cost a lot to experiment.
 
#1,206
JimmyM said:
Tried it once. Got these real nice 1965 6N1P's from Russia. Did a whole character change on the REDDI. Boosted levels by close to 4 db and increased the low mid response between 100-150 hz. I thought it was really cool at first, and our TB pal Greg from Rocket Bass store still uses it and loves it, but after about a month I thought it was a bit too much low mid for soundmen to deal with and I went back to the stock Sovtek. Still got 3 of them, only used one a few times, and I'll be happy to send you one for what I paid ($40 shipped...PM me if interested), but if anything ever happens to the stock Sovtek, I'll just replace it with another one. Svetlana also makes a 6N1P and Peter uses them when he's between Sovtek shipments, but it sounds so good with the Sovtek I figure why mess with perfection? OTOH, 6N1P's are cheap usually, so it doesn't cost a lot to experiment.
Click to expand...

Sorry, miss understanding.

So you recommend the 6N1P?

But my original tube is 6N1P.

is it the best?
 
#1,207
You should only use a 6N1P in it. A couple different companies make new 6N1P's, though...Sovtek and Svetlana. And there are older 6N1P's you can also get, although I would recommend just staying with what you have.
 
#1,208
I am using my REDDI with a 6N1P which I bought from Decware. Decware is a small IL-based company which designs and builds audiophile stereo gear and in most of the designs 6N1P is the input tube. The ones I buy from the company are the best ones I came across so far. At one point I was also planning to try a 6N2P, which has higher gain, but somehow the box sounded so good as is and I was too lazy to even give it a shot.

BTW, as far as I know 6N1P is a 6922 derivative. It might be worth checking a 6922 (even though there might be some plate voltage differences, etc.)...
 
  • Like
Reactions: JimmyM
#1,210
Hey Jimmy,

It has been quite some time that I heard the REDDI with the two different 6N1P's, the one I bought from Decware (Russian military grade 6N1P-EV's) and the stock Sovtek that came with the unit. I remember, though, the Decware tube providing a more open sound, better mids and trebles and a tighter yet punchy bass.

I might even try some Amperex Bugle Boy 6DJ8's at one point, but tube rolling takes so much time and effort (with all the tube stuff I have at home), I am kind of considering if it is really worth the time, as the REDDI sounds so great with the stock Sovtek!

Best,

Alper
 
  • Like
Reactions: JimmyM
#1,212
+1 to Mark...

Somehow, on some audiophile applications I have seen them used as substitutes, and despite some inefficiencies which you have mentioned, they seem to change the characteristic of the gear they are used on. For some people, that is quite desirable. For instance, on my Decware TABOO mkIII headphone amplifier, 6DJ8/6922, 6N1P and 6N2P's yield significantly different outcomes and they are all great in themselves. Even though I have not tried, it might have similar effect on the REDDI as well...

Mark Reccord said:
The 6DJ8/6922 and 6N1P are not 1:1 equivalents. Mu and transconductance are different which means gain and output impedance will be different. A 6922 will work and won't cause any harm but the operating point probably won't be ideal.
Click to expand...
 
#1,213
I have some 6N1P's here that I am experimenting with in other circuits.

I've seen tube data that states that the maximum plate voltage for the 6N1PEV is 250V vs 300V for the standard version, the heater tolerance is tighter, 6-6.6V vs 5.7-7V for the 6N1P. The EV is sold as a longer life version, 5000 vs 3000 hours. With the lower plate volte and tighter heater specs you would expect it to have a longer service life.

The EV is also built better which helps it be quieter. You see some people positioning their REDDI's on the floor in front of their speaker cabinets. I wonder if the sound waves coming out of the cabinet are picked up by the tube and translate to noise. In theory it is a possibility, in practice, maybe not. Still, perhaps it's a good idea to place the REDDI off to the side out of the direct line of fire.
 
Last edited:
#1,214
I have 2 REDDIs.. Both have stock tubes and both sound exactly the same..
My original one is about 8-9 years old now... ... It still has the original Tube in it and it is flawless..... It is a sovtek...

swat8426 said:
Hey,
I'm using REDDI with original tube!
Is there anyone who recommend about REDDI's Tube?
I want to change the REDDI'S sound better!!!
Click to expand...
 
#1,215
When I bought the Neve Portico 5032 preamp to use to mic my double bass live I knew it was going to be a great piece of gear I might find other uses for but I had no idea it could become a key component in my bass guitar rig. It's only got balanced inputs so using my REDDI to get a P Bass into it was kinda obvious (even though it took me a little while to actually get around to it) and I'll be damned if it isn't the sound I'd envisioned but given up on getting from the REDDI through my amp! The signal chain is bass to REDDI to line input on the 5032 and TRS from the buss out to power amp. That leaves the main XLR out for FOH. I haven't played with the EQ a whole lot but the setting in this pic with just a fairly broad Q low mid bump sounds pretty good through a Bag End S15-B here in my practice studio and something like that shouldn't be too radical for a FOH guy to deal with. I know it needs to be tried in the real world but I really think this might work. It's huge and rich but with beautiful clarity.....it really sounds like a million bucks. Since everything I have coming up is all double bass stuff I guess I should do some comparison recordings of this rig DI'd, miced and then just the REDDI for reference. Maybe Monday.

REDDI into 5032.JPG
 
  • Like
Reactions: svtb15 and beans-on-toast
#1,217
That is a pretty cool setup. Interesting that you are bumping the low mids with the BE cab. IME those cabinets tend to be pretty mid range oriented(though your EQ setting in the pic does look more like a bump in the upper bass which would probably be perfect). I bet that little rig would kill for small venues!
 
#1,218
beans-on-toast said:
Very nice Jeff. Combining a bit of tube warmth with an already good pre adds an extra dimension to the sound.

What mic are you using with your double bass into the Neve?
Click to expand...

DPA 4099B. Maybe not my first choice to record with but it's a lot better sounding than any pickup and the rejection is phenomenal. I'm getting almost as much volume with it as I can with a pickup. Being able to leave it mounted is pretty cool too. Lots of mics I'd like to try though.....a Schoeps CMC6/MK41 is high on my list.

AMJBASS said:
That is a pretty cool setup. Interesting that you are bumping the low mids with the BE cab. IME those cabinets tend to be pretty mid range oriented(though your EQ setting in the pic does look more like a bump in the upper bass which would probably be perfect). I bet that little rig would kill for small venues!
Click to expand...

I've been the stereotypical happy face EQ P Bass guy all my life. What impressed me I guess is that there's enough richness and complexity to the sound that even with a mid bump I could make it work well. I really need to get it out into some of the rooms I play to know though.
 
#1,219
Jeff Bonny said:
DPA 4099B. Maybe not my first choice to record with but it's a lot better sounding than any pickup and the rejection is phenomenal. I'm getting almost as much volume with it as I can with a pickup. Being able to leave it mounted is pretty cool too. Lots of mics I'd like to try though.....a Schoeps CMC6/MK41 is high on my list.
Click to expand...

Both look nice but the Schoeps is very interesting. I haven't been able to move away from large diaphragm condensers. I like the u87 and the AKG C414 XLS on acoustic instruments. Both are fairly large, not like a clip-on at all.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back