Has anyone played both of these simple DI’s? Wanted to know your impressions of them and if there is a noticeable difference tonally between them. Which one would you prefer?
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Rupert Neeve RNDI vs Radial JDI
- Thread starter Bassworship1
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- Apr 19, 2001
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We’ve used both at church for the past 6 years. Initially it was the Radial DI, then JDI, then the J48, now we’re all on RNDI’s at all our locations. They just give the bass a better sound.
We’ve even researched and rented a system of 8 channel devices that can handle drums as well (same as 8 RNDI’s basically) I forget what they were called.
I’ve moved my studio into RNDI as well. I had the Noble twice and I think the RNDI is just as good without the EQ and power options, but waaaay cheaper and smaller.
It’s hard to describe the tone, maybe I’ll make a comparison video at some point. But after years of going back and forth with the church’s RNDI’s and my noble and various DI’s I’ve brought in, I finally am a firm believer that the RNDI is a solid choice. It just sounds growlier and warmer, still transparent but just has a richness to it that kills in a mix
We’ve even researched and rented a system of 8 channel devices that can handle drums as well (same as 8 RNDI’s basically) I forget what they were called.
I’ve moved my studio into RNDI as well. I had the Noble twice and I think the RNDI is just as good without the EQ and power options, but waaaay cheaper and smaller.
It’s hard to describe the tone, maybe I’ll make a comparison video at some point. But after years of going back and forth with the church’s RNDI’s and my noble and various DI’s I’ve brought in, I finally am a firm believer that the RNDI is a solid choice. It just sounds growlier and warmer, still transparent but just has a richness to it that kills in a mix
You’ve got me wanting one now lol. Thank you for the feedback as this is exactly what I want it for all my church gigs.
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The RNDI is a superior piece of gear.
The JDI may be "flatter" or "less colored", but the RNDI adds depth and richness to any source you plug into it: very much in the Neve wheelhouse of sound.
Both are excellent choices but are completely different devices.
The Radial JDI [Jensen DI] is a passive DI using the Jensen transformer that has become the industry standard, it is not the only box that offers that transformer but it is the best known. Jensen, Switchcraft and several other manufacturers do offer DI boxes with that transformer.
The RNDI [Rupert Neve Direct Interface] is an evolution in active direct boxes using a proprietary transformer and Class A circuitry associated with their world class microphone preamps. IMO the result rivals that of other top end DI boxes including very expensive tube DI boxes at a much more affordable price. There is an enhancement of plugging your instrument into a great old mixing board that most bass players will never get to experience but with a RNDI you will get that experience!
The Radial JDI [Jensen DI] is a passive DI using the Jensen transformer that has become the industry standard, it is not the only box that offers that transformer but it is the best known. Jensen, Switchcraft and several other manufacturers do offer DI boxes with that transformer.
The RNDI [Rupert Neve Direct Interface] is an evolution in active direct boxes using a proprietary transformer and Class A circuitry associated with their world class microphone preamps. IMO the result rivals that of other top end DI boxes including very expensive tube DI boxes at a much more affordable price. There is an enhancement of plugging your instrument into a great old mixing board that most bass players will never get to experience but with a RNDI you will get that experience!
I am wondering about this as well. Let's say you're just playing a bass guitar through this piece of gear into an amp. Where does the phantom power come from if you're not using an XLR?
Huh? Why would you do that? Why not just plug your bass directly into the amp?
But to specifically answer your question, I don't think the parallel "thru" jack requires phantom power. (Can a RNDI owner please confirm?")
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It is phantom power only, no battery or other power option.
@Mushroo you are correct the thru should pass signal w/o power
@chuck3 there are stand alone phantom power supplies Rolls PB23 for about $45 from Amazon
@Mushroo you are correct the thru should pass signal w/o power
@chuck3 there are stand alone phantom power supplies Rolls PB23 for about $45 from Amazon
I can confirm. I do this regularly. I own the RNDI, JDI and the Noble in addition to a slew of pedal DI boxes. The RNDI is easily the best value DI out there. It sounds spectacular. The way it copes with high end frequencies is amazing. It makes fret noise sound "good".
Any issues with the RNDI and basses with preamps (referring to what we call "active basses") or using a preamp pedal into the RNDI? Since it is not a passive DI I'm wondering about noise.
I just received a RNDI last night. Played with it a little. I can tell you that a passive bass into the RNDI by itself is awesome. It just adds a Neve vibe and gives it an airy and slightly driven character, and seems to be very even all across the neck.
I can't tell you about actives, but I have a Trickfish Minnow pre that I can stick in front of it and try. I'll let you know.
When I put the LA-1A in front of it I don't like that combo quite as much but I haven't put much time into it yet. Seems to lose a little off the top.
Of course I don't get any real world experience until December sometime (maybe, if my church schedules me; my work schedule sucks), so it's just home trials at this point.
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I ran a Squier VMP5 into the LA-1A into a Trickfish Minnow Preamp, which they claim is low noise, and in my limited experience so far, it's pretty darned good, then into the RNDI to a Xenyx 1204 mixer into Sony MDR-7506 studio phones, and it sounds marvelous. (sorry about the run on sentence). Clean, tubey. a little Neve special sauce throughout.
I wouldn't expect you'd have any issues running active basses thru the RNDI whatsoever. I do think you'd probably like it.
Hello.
I play an active fodera stndard
which one do you recomend me for clean and brigth slap tone?
Thanks!!!
I play an active fodera stndard
which one do you recomend me for clean and brigth slap tone?
Thanks!!!
the RNDI is super quiet too . I compared it against a Avalon U5, and it was noticeably quieter (not that the U5 is noisy). the U5 has that massive low end that is super deep, the RNDI seems more "puts out whats put in" type DI.
the radial class A active DI is another excellent choice.
the radial class A active DI is another excellent choice.
Hello!
I own a clone of the Neve 1073 Preamp, the SoundSkulptor MP573 & EQ573 Custom (I spend a lot of money in upgrading electronic components on it).
I own a Radial JDI (passive), Radial JDV mk3 (active) and an Avalon U5.
What could offer me the RNDI compared with those DI’s or the Neve clone preamp?
Best!!
I own a clone of the Neve 1073 Preamp, the SoundSkulptor MP573 & EQ573 Custom (I spend a lot of money in upgrading electronic components on it).
I own a Radial JDI (passive), Radial JDV mk3 (active) and an Avalon U5.
What could offer me the RNDI compared with those DI’s or the Neve clone preamp?
Best!!
RNDI is active, JDI is passive. As a rule of thumb, active bass ? use passive DI. Passive bass ? use active DI. The difference between good DI's are pretty subtle - subtle enough that for live use it just isn't noticible out front. Unless of course they are 'color' machines which is sort of a different thing...
For live, for me nothing beats a Radial or a countryman... they all sound fine and are indestructible. In my sound co I carried a U5 for a couple of years, I about had to beg people to use it... sold it bought more JDI's...
and of course, my interest is up for trying an RNDI. I just don't expect it to stick...
For live, for me nothing beats a Radial or a countryman... they all sound fine and are indestructible. In my sound co I carried a U5 for a couple of years, I about had to beg people to use it... sold it bought more JDI's...
and of course, my interest is up for trying an RNDI. I just don't expect it to stick...
FWIW, I'm a happy RNDI owner. Use it to record active & passive basses alike, plus some direct guitar, piezo mic'd instruments, etc. Wish I had others against which to compare it, but I also feel very comfortably that my search is done.
@Bartok , I own a Black Lion B173, also a 1073 clone, and it's got a Hi-Z input essentially for DI. The thing is, that input bypasses the input transformer, and the RNDI lets me access it with superb sound and also deliver consistent DI in live recording/mix settings. Dunno if that sells it enough to warrant switching to it, but if you happened to end up with one, I'm certain you'd enjoy it.
@Bartok , I own a Black Lion B173, also a 1073 clone, and it's got a Hi-Z input essentially for DI. The thing is, that input bypasses the input transformer, and the RNDI lets me access it with superb sound and also deliver consistent DI in live recording/mix settings. Dunno if that sells it enough to warrant switching to it, but if you happened to end up with one, I'm certain you'd enjoy it.
