Sushibox FX - Finally v3 vs Neptunium

[Jae0]

I’m wondering if you fine folks can help me understand the main pros/cons of each of these tube preamp/DI’s.

For context, I’ve got an active bass, an empress compressor and a relatively transparent solid state amp. I’m looking for something to round out/warm up my sound in the mix (I’m not here for the overdrive), and act as my ampless DI when required.

In a general sense, these two units seem to perform a similar function, but I’m sure the devil is in the details. I’ve read those “details” on paper, so more curious about the “real world” benefits of each.

Both seem quite popular and well-praised in their own rights.

P. S. I’ve never used a Nobel or Nobelium.

Thanks in advance!

 

[J-Bass RMR]

Both are high-quality, (high voltage) tube-driven DIs.
Finally has a GAIN control in addition to its Level control and can be pushed to break up - Np will remain clean. - Level control only.
Both are "always-on" but if used in your signal chain, Finally has the option to pass a 1/4" dry signal, Np does not.
The current V3 of the finally has a variable HPF - the Np has a fixed HPF (at 90hz, I believe).

Of course, the Np is an "abbreviated" version of the Nobelium/"No" (corrected), which itself is a "clone" of the infamous Noble - all which have Bass & Treble controls that use a modified version of the Fender tone stack.

I've only recently fallen down the Sushi rabbit hole - there's much more info and detail in the Sushi thread (below).
(although it takes some time to sift through - you'll find most the info about these on more recent pages)
Sushi - Secret Society

EDIT:
The Finally, to my ears, has a gentle roll-off above ~2k-3k.
The Np is "flat" with bass & treble at "0", (and bass & treble are boost only).

 

[tidbits]

Of course, the Np is an "abbreviated" version of the Neptunium, which itself is a "clone" of the infamous Noble

Small correction- the Nobelium was the first clone, and the Neptunium is the smaller evolution.

A couple other details to include: the Np’s fixed HPF is a gentle slope at 6db/octave (same as older Finally’s), while the new Finally is a steeper 12db/octave (same on Broughton pedals) with an additional 12db/octave reduction below 30hz (like the fDeck).

Since the Finally is meant to have a little more character and can get dirty, you can also swap out tube to change how much breakup you’ll experience, not something you can do with the Np.

I’m auditioning the Neptunium on my main board while my guitarist is trying my Finally. I have plenty of EQ on my board already, and I think I’m missing that little extra tube breakup from my Finally (I was running a 12AY7). I’m thinking the Neptunium will likely live on a small “clean” focused board and be the main tone/EQ shaper.

 

[osogunner08]

I just got a Neptunium and it does what you want: round out and warm up, it sounds really really good, takes drives and distortion very well too. Can't say anything about the finally, but after trying this sushi box I'm ready to get more, superb quality and the customer service is incredible.

 

[iiipopes]

How much tone shaping does the OP want from a direct box? I say this because usually on an active bass the tone shaping is done on the bass and the DI simply is the link to the board with the clearest tone possible. "Warmth" can be very subjective. I am not discounting what a preamp tube, with its characteristic even order harmonics, can sound "warmer" than a solid-state preamp chip with its sharper clipping, what we perceive as "edgier." As more "warmth" and drive/distortion are added to a signal, the DI is functioning more as a preamp than as a DI, like a SansAmp or Line6 P.O.D. If you want an integrated approach, then yes, probably either of these two will function according to the OP's desires. Personally, in the band I am in, a 10-piece classic rock party band with horns, I need as clean a signal as possible, so I have EMG active pickups and a Behringer passive DI box to a passive digital board. At only @$22 at Sweetwater, and engineered to have as clean a tone and as low a noise floor as possible to match a digital board, everybody should have one of these as well as an option to assure the cleanest tone possible when that is what may be required by the track, the venue, the sound man, etc.

 

[tidbits]

Assuming you’re going to be running either of them clean I think it comes down to what else you have on your board.

Do you generally have EQ handled elsewhere? The Finally might be better - the more flexible HPF will let you dial in a tight low end and more easily adjust to rooms playing live. The gain also lets you control the amount of tube saturation and warmth you’re adding in a way the Neptunium can’t do.

The Neptunium has more tone shaping capability but the fixed HPF is more of an additional EQ option but not as powerful of a utility as the steeper filter. Boosting bass into the HPF really adds a roundness to the tone that the Finally can’t do.

Both will add a warmth and fullness to your sound. The Neptunium brings more roundness and EQ, while the Finally bring can bring more saturation and utility.

I’d probably be more likely to run ANY instrument through the Finally when recording (guitar, vocals, maybe electric piano or synth with a bit of breakup)

 

[andare]

I have a Finally V3 with a 12AX7 tube. The difference between it and my Rumble 100 is immense. My tone comes alive with the Finally. It's not just that it's louder, the so called tube warmth is there even at low gain settings. The tone is fatter. Can't say i hear a high end rolloff but I keep treble very low and play flats. There's definitely more treble as the gain goes up.

I don't have the other pedal nor a Noble but those will "only" give you tube warmth and simple EQ.

This video is very well made. You can hear a Noble, a Radial JDI and a $22 DI similar to the one mentioned by @iiipopes

I can definitely hear what people like about the Noble but it is a very subtle effect in videos. I wanted tube grit so Finally was the answer.

 

[tidbits]

I don't have the other pedal nor a Noble but those will "only" give you tube warmth and simple EQ.

Difference in Flat EQ on the Neptunium vs Gain Low on the Finally will be pretty subtle. Just depends on what else you’re hoping to add!

That’s a great little video btw.

 

[chiphaleonbass]

I have a Finally V3 with a 12AX7 tube. The difference between it and my Rumble 100 is immense. My tone comes alive with the Finally. It's not just that it's louder, the so called tube warmth is there even at low gain settings. The tone is fatter. Can't say i hear a high end rolloff but I keep treble very low and play flats. There's definitely more treble as the gain goes up.

I don't have the other pedal nor a Noble but those will "only" give you tube warmth and simple EQ.

This video is very well made. You can hear a Noble, a Radial JDI and a $22 DI similar to the one mentioned by @iiipopes

I can definitely hear what people like about the Noble but it is a very subtle effect in videos. I wanted tube grit so Finally was the answer.

This video convinced me to get a JDI, I now have a Neptunium would gig with either. I will say the feel of the Neptunium is really nice and that’s something you can’t necessarily hear

 

[Averell]

I made some time ago a quick (and dirty) video for comparing several Sushi Box preamps. You might find it useful. Here it is :
Peertube video

And also, a quick comparison between the Nobelium and the Grand Slampegg, here : Peerturbe Video, before I change the tube in the GS that was Microphonic (sound is much better now).

Hope this helps.

 

[oo.viper.oo]

it is a very subtle effect in videos

Judging effects such as these by videos generally does not work. What sounds subtle in video can be heard clearly at stage volume.

 

[mikeswals]

The beauty of Finally is you can swap lower gain tubes for nice wooly tone.

Yes a 12AX7 has got some crunch to it, and lees range of the gain knob.
A 12AU7 doesnt distort right way, has more useable range of the knobs, and its a great tube fullness character.

 

[wolffire99]

I think of the Finally as a preamp DI while the Neptunium is just a DI

Both do their thing well. I didn’t jive with the flavor of the Finally but the Neptunium is the best pedal sized DI you can buy.

 

[mikeswals]

I love my Finally. I have a weekly Wednesday bar gig, its ampless, so I built a small board just for this band. I usually play my Stingrays 99% of the time, so I have onbaord eq covered.

I do get a wild hair and bring my oldie passive Jazzes out from time to time, so I ordered a Neptunium to give it a try for the eq. I thought long and hard about just getting a Grand Slampegg, but I need the form factor size of the Finally/Np size pedal because I'm using an Nano board.

 

[logdrum]

MY favorite setup is a Source analog buffer/clean boost called the ZIO into an older Particle Accelerator into a Warm Audio DI with a cinemag transformer. My Nep is delayed. I hope it delivers as expected.

 

[Adjectives]

Weighing in as a huge fan of the Underground Accelerator. Not a di(no out) but it's an ideal tone shaper for me. I'm told it's based off the Alembic FX-1 preamp and the Fender tone stack. It gets really dirty but I just use it as not other "non overdriven" tone. It's the best!

 

[andare]

Judging effects such as these by videos generally does not work. What sounds subtle in video can be heard clearly at stage volume.

I did specify "in videos" but my Finally makes a difference at room volume already.
Anyway the people in the video listened through headphones.

 

[Parzival]

There is one right answer to Neptunium vs. Finally?

 

[cactusjuice]

Is the Neptunium worth having just in a 1/4” signal chain? Or is the magic solely in the XLR out?

 

[wolffire99]

Is the Neptunium worth having just in a 1/4” signal chain? Or is the magic solely in the XLR out?

Having owned both, I think the More pedal would be a better tone neutral tube pedal if you didn’t need the DI or EQ on the Neptunium. In the main sushi thread I posted a simultaneous recording of the 1/4” and xlr out on the Neptunium and the difference is very subtle.