Subway+ Bass DI-Preamp II

[DJ Bebop]

A little bit of both.

The active/passive switch isn’t really necessary or as useful on this pedal because the input gain control has a wider range and the effects loop was eliminated to allow space for the aux in and headphone jacks on the back. Both are more useful functions for a greater number of players based on comments I have received.

Thanks, it makes sence!

 

[Nebadon2000]

A little bit of both.

The active/passive switch isn’t really necessary or as useful on this pedal because the input gain control has a wider range and the effects loop was eliminated to allow space for the aux in and headphone jacks on the back. Both are more useful functions for a greater number of players based on comments I have received.

Yes that was good/smart compromise/choice IMO

 

[needmorebasss]

I emailed Thomann. Gonna buy when in stock

 

[agedhorse]

Yes that was good/smart compromise/choice IMO

…and suggested by you guys as what would be preferred.

 

[GTHintz]

I never bother using the passive active toggle on mine. I just adjust the input volume as needed and don’t really think about it. Does this new version have a bypass signal or is it always on like the original version? I know the original has a pre and post eq for the di out. I use it often instead of having to unplug the mesa to try other pedals uncoloured by the subway.

 

[CamJazzBass]

I never bother using the passive active toggle on mine. I just adjust the input volume as needed and don’t really think about it. Does this new version have a bypass signal or is it always on like the original version? I know the original has a pre and post eq for the di out. I use it often instead of having to unplug the mesa to try other pedals uncoloured by the subway.

It is the same. No bypass. Does have the Pre/Post for XLR out.

 

[TonH]

It is the same thing I was saying only I said line out rather than effects send from the WD. We are saying the same thing

The A/B - Y switch just got delivered. And of course I had to try it.
It works perfect, I now can chose between the preamp of the WD800 (tube) or the D800+ preamp for a clean sound (with the bright switch on).
The A/B switch even works without 9V power (the power is only used for the LED's.

This is how I connected all the stuf:

No pictures, no proof, so:

 

[TomB]

A little bit of both.

The active/passive switch isn’t really necessary or as useful on this pedal because the input gain control has a wider range and the effects loop was eliminated to allow space for the aux in and headphone jacks on the back. Both are more useful functions for a greater number of players based on comments I have received.

Having this now as a 1-piece portable silent rehearsal tool is a real bonus!

 

[agedhorse]

I never bother using the passive active toggle on mine. I just adjust the input volume as needed and don’t really think about it. Does this new version have a bypass signal or is it always on like the original version? I know the original has a pre and post eq for the di out. I use it often instead of having to unplug the mesa to try other pedals uncoloured by the subway.

Always on, it's fundamental purpose is as a true preamp to provide a true line level balanced or unbalanced output to drive a power amp, provide the DI output to the console/interface and to act as THE main preamp in the system. It was not intended to be a "flavor of the month" instrument level preamp pedal that can't drive the line level outside world.

 

[DJ Bebop]

The A/B - Y switch just got delivered. And of course I had to try it.
It works perfect, I now can chose between the preamp of the WD800 (tube) or the D800+ preamp for a clean sound (with the bright switch on).
The A/B switch even works without 9V power (the power is only used for the LED's.

This is how I connected all the stuf:

View attachment 7478569

No pictures, no proof, so:
View attachment 7478570

View attachment 7478572

View attachment 7478573

Now, have you tried A plus B yet?

 

[kleinduimpje66]

A little bit of both.

The active/passive switch isn’t really necessary or as useful on this pedal because the input gain control has a wider range and the effects loop was eliminated to allow space for the aux in and headphone jacks on the back. Both are more useful functions for a greater number of players based on comments I have received.

Not to piss on an otherwise fantastic unit by the looks of it, but had the Aux In and Phones Out been mini jacks, an FX loop would maybe have fitted.
Mini jacks are arguably more standard for Aux and Phones these days anyway.
My Shiftline Olympic MkIIIs is smaller than the Subway (with a tube!) and it has these two mini jacks (and the XLR DI) on the left side, which is fine since the pre-amp/DI is usually the leftmost pedal on your board. The aux/phones are stereo on the Shiftline too.

I LOVE my Shiftline Olympic, sounds fantastic and is 100% quiet (same as the Genzler Magellan Pre), only downside is rather limited EQ. The EQ on the Subway PreDI MkII looks a lot more versatile.
At €199, it is a no brainer buy, I’m very curious how it stacks up to the Shiftline.

 

[Hoochie Coochie Man]

Now, have you tried A plus B yet?

I have no idea if it would be a good or bad idea but If you did do that it would be good to compare the polarity, (phase) of the A and B signals at the inputs to the AB/Y switch on an oscilloscope to see if they are coincident after passing through the various different amplifier stages in the two different signal paths. They may very well be coherent, but depending on the actual circuits, they may not be.

 

[agedhorse]

Not to piss on an otherwise fantastic unit by the looks of it, but had the Aux In and Phones Out been mini jacks, an FX loop would maybe have fitted.
Mini jacks are arguably more standard for Aux and Phones these days anyway.
My Shiftline Olympic MkIIIs is smaller than the Subway (with a tube!) and it has these two mini jacks (and the XLR DI) on the left side, which is fine since the pre-amp/DI is usually the leftmost pedal on your board. The aux/phones are stereo on the Shiftline too.

I LOVE my Shiftline Olympic, sounds fantastic and is 100% quiet (same as the Genzler Magellan Pre), only downside is rather limited EQ. The EQ on the Subway PreDI MkII looks a lot more versatile.
At €199, it is a no brainer buy, I’m very curious how it stacks up to the Shiftline.

IMO and IME, 1/8” mini jacks have no purpose on a product designed to be handled roughly on the road, especially at your feet. There’s reasons we can offer a 3 year warranty on a pedal, it’s built to handle the real world touring environment.

 

[DJ Bebop]

I have no idea if it would be a good or bad idea but If you did do that it would be good to compare the polarity, (phase) of the A and B signals at the inputs to the AB/Y switch on an oscilloscope to see if they are coincident after passing through the various different amplifier stages in the two different signal paths. They may very well be coherent, but depending on the actual circuits, they may not be.

Oh you could just listen to see how it sounds.

 

[Hoochie Coochie Man]

Oh you could just listen to see how it sounds.

Mr. Bebop. I have very poor eyesight so I can't "see" how anything sounds. I can only hear how something sounds.

 

[GTHintz]

It is the same. No bypass. Does have the Pre/Post for XLR out.

Always on, it's fundamental purpose is as a true preamp to provide a true line level balanced or unbalanced output to drive a power amp, provide the DI output to the console/interface and to act as THE main preamp in the system. It was not intended to be a "flavor of the month" instrument level preamp pedal that can't drive the line level outside world.

Thanks. And I will add that it does sound the best straight into the headphones or amp. It can blend with another preamp but it’s great as a stand alone preamp as it was engineered.

 

[TonH]

Now, have you tried A plus B yet?

Not yet, but I will try this en report back!

 

[TonH]

Now, have you tried A plus B yet?

So I did try A plus B.

I put the gain (input) on the WD800 preamp at a level that the tube gives a (over)drive.
I kept the gain (input) on the Preamp/DI so that it stays clean.

A&B together, the sound is mix of the clean sound and the overdrive sound but not to much distorion/drive on the high frequencies.
It sounds good, it reminds me of the sound of my GenzBenz GBE750 with both channels mixed.

 

[agedhorse]

So I did try A plus B.

It sounds good, it reminds me of the sound of my GenzBenz GBE750 with both channels mixed.

Not entirely surprising given the evolution of the DNA

 

[DJ Bebop]

So I did try A plus B.

I put the gain (input) on the WD800 preamp at a level that the tube gives a (over)drive.
I kept the gain (input) on the Preamp/DI so that it stays clean.

A&B together, the sound is mix of the clean sound and the overdrive sound but not to much distorion/drive on the high frequencies.
It sounds good, it reminds me of the sound of my GenzBenz GBE750 with both channels mixed.

So no phase or noise issues?

I thought about that afterwards thinking I/we might need something like the Mesa Switch Tracker with its additional noise reduction, isolation, and phase switching. I was hoping not as it is more than the preamp pedal itself