The Great Bass Preamp/DI Comparison

[SteveC]

Radial site:

How much should I spend on a DI box?
We recommend that you follow the 5:1 rule: if you spend $1000 on an instrument, you should probably invest $200 in a direct box.

the same rationale probably goes for effect/DI boards.

 

[Dave Hill]

The awesomeness and simplicity of the REDDI is simply awesome. For recording and IEMs it can't be beat. Unless you have a P-15. Which I do.

 

[jacoby75]

The awesomeness and simplicity of the REDDI is simply awesome. For recording and IEMs it can't be beat. Unless you have a P-15. Which I do.

#HumbleBrag

 

[SteveC]

The awesomeness and simplicity of the REDDI is simply awesome. For recording and IEMs it can't be beat. Unless you have a P-15. Which I do.

#subtleflex

The P-15 Is a unicorn these days.

 

[CatOnTheBass]

Radial site:

How much should I spend on a DI box?
We recommend that you follow the 5:1 rule: if you spend $1000 on an instrument, you should probably invest $200 in a direct box.

the same rationale probably goes for effect/DI boards.

Seems backwards to me! A top-quality bass should sound great through anything, whereas a cheap piece of **** needs all the help it can get.

 

[monsterthompson]

Radial site:

How much should I spend on a DI box?
We recommend that you follow the 5:1 rule: if you spend $1000 on an instrument, you should probably invest $200 in a direct box.

the same rationale probably goes for effect/DI boards.

Weird. I'd imagine price points, and functionality, and user needs would be more important than a ratio of price vs some other piece of gear.

 

[ugly_bassplayer]

Radial site:

How much should I spend on a DI box?
We recommend that you follow the 5:1 rule: if you spend $1000 on an instrument, you should probably invest $200 in a direct box.

the same rationale probably goes for effect/DI boards.

So....if I get a 30 000$ Fodera I'll need a 6000$ DI.......???
Or a 100$ pawn shop beater....a 20$ DI.......??
This makes no sense. I dig Radial, but that statement is.....$%^%^

IMO....IME...YMMV.....etc....

 

[SteveC]

I just thought it was interesting. Keep in mind it's "advice" on a site that sells DI's so...not that Radial makes crap. They make great stuff.

I viewed it as "justification" for me to get a $500+ DI.

 

[friend33]

I viewed it as "justification" for me to get a $500+ DI.

I think you could do it the other way too. If you pick up an $800 DI, then you will immediately need to get a $4000 bass, just to make sure things balance out properly...

 

[Bassist30]

I have a Useful Arts BF-S and Khan DI inbound...Khan arriving today, and UA next week. Looking forward to comparing the two—they both have tube-effected 1/4" outs.

Ruled out the REDDI, because of the 1/4" out—no tube effect, afaik...

Looking forward. Like to hear about the useful arts BF DI.. Thats the big boy. Heard some clips of the useful arts against the reddi and other big names on youtube.

 

[kevk]

.......I've done a lot of listening to sound clips comparing all sorts of pedals and combinations recently, and essentially I think the "tube stacking" we are doing does get to a point where it has a negative affect. The attack on the front of the note softens more and more and becomes too much. Too much of a good thing......

I agree that you c-a-n go overboard with too much tube stacking, at least for my taste.

Just received my Khan DI, and tried the 1/4" out between my pb and Vanderkley Spartan...

Outstanding—noticeably fatter than the LA alone (and attack wasn't overboard/too soft)...

I'll get to the DI side of things with my PA system later...

 

[Turn Em Loose]

Devices like the Noble and Bass Box and Oracle have onboard HPF type functions and I tend to keep them at end of chain.

Are you referring to the Atomic Bass Box, @scubaduba? Inquiring minds as I scanned the manual and didn't see a HPF mentioned. Did I miss something?

 

[SteveC]

The Khan looks cool. Sound clips are great. The REDDI is a tank. Kind of torn between these two.

 

[scubaduba]

The Khan looks cool. Sound clips are great. The REDDI is a tank. Kind of torn between these two.

Aside from looks and build construction it matters most which one sounds better to you.

 

[SteveC]

Not sure. They are so close. I'm sure either one would be awesome.

 

[scubaduba]

Are you referring to the Atomic Bass Box, @scubaduba? Inquiring minds as I scanned the manual and didn't see a HPF mentioned. Did I miss something?

I was thinking in the editor but I am wrong. Sorry.

 

[Low Down Brown]

I've done a lot of listening to sound clips comparing all sorts of pedals and combinations recently, and essentially I think the "tube stacking" we are doing does get to a point where it has a negative affect. The attack on the front of the note softens more and more and becomes too much. Too much of a good thing.

I agree that you c-a-n go overboard with too much tube stacking, at least for my taste.

I've also been thinking about this again recently. I've noticed some of the configurations I've used seem to become a little too saturated with that tubey goodness we all love. Sometimes too many tubes seems to create a dark, blankety...almost muffled tone. Of course, it depends on the compressor, eq, D.I or amp with all combinations and variations of gain, connectivity, and placement. Oh, and in no way am I implying that running an LA-1A > Oracle > Khan, Reddi, etc. doesn't sound absolutely glorious, cause I'm sure it does. I'm just stating what I observed with my own gear.

 

[SteveC]

I know the 3 tubes in my LA-1A are probably enough so a non-tube DI isn't a deal breaker.

 

[Turn Em Loose]

I was thinking in the editor but I am wrong. Sorry.

Thanks!!

 

[scubaduba]

Giving the REDDI a run this morning.