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The Great Bass Preamp/DI Comparison

#4,601
scubaduba said:
I think this is pretty interesting.

The audio sample here is played with a Sadowsky Jazz (pickups centered) with tone control 50% and EQ dials all the way counterclockwise (off). Sample is played into looper so the exact same clip is repeated. Please use quality earphones, not Apple or Android ear buds or cheap computer speakers.



Clip 1: Sadowsky into passive Rapco DBBLOX. This is a small, cheap passive DI box.
Clip 2: Sadowsky into Lightning Boy TI Box (passive box) with phase switch in out position
Clip 3: Sadowsky into Lighting Boy TI Box (passive box) with phase switch pressed in
Clip 5: Sadowsky into active RNDI powered by 48 volt phantom power

What do you think?

Remember, the DBBLOX and Lighting Boy TI Box are totally passive and require no power.

View attachment 3962815
Click to expand...

Ti Box sounds pretty good. THe RNDI is smoother. both in the initial attack on the front of the note and in the upper registers. Phase switch should make no difference what so ever but the clip ewith the phase switch in sounded a little bigger in the lows maybe? not sure.

What I need help understanding with the TI Box is with the Impedance matching. I watching the yT clip you posted when you said you were getting one of these and it talked about how impedance matching works with old school mic preamps etc, and that this box would thicken tone using that principal. If you have pedals between your bass and the TI box, does that mean the impedance could be different going into the box and therefore it can't thicken your tone as outlined?
 
#4,604
Just had the opportunity to order TWO preamps so that i can compare them side by side!! ordered the new and improved Mesa Subway preamp +DI (the one with all the knobs lol) and the Darkglass Microtubes B7K ultra (squid spec. edition). I will hopefully find the clean full sound i am looking for with a low noise floor. I will report back with my results. supposed to arrive wednesday Sep. 2.
 
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#4,605
misterCRUSH said:
Just had the opportunity to order TWO preamps so that i can compare them side by side!! ordered the new and improved Mesa Subway preamp +DI (the one with all the knobs lol) and the Darkglass Microtubes B7K ultra (squid spec. edition). I will hopefully find the clean full sound i am looking for with a low noise floor. I will report back with my results. supposed to arrive wednesday Sep. 2.
Click to expand...
Out of the numerous solid state preamps I've used the mesa subway was the best I've used to date I think you will love it. The darkglass is good too if you want that modern high gain sound theres really no better choice imho all youd need left is something to get you that vintage tube warmth or grit and you'd be able to get pretty much any tone you'd want.
 
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#4,606
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#4,609
Ethereal Thorn said:
Out of the numerous solid state preamps I've used the mesa subway was the best I've used to date I think you will love it. The darkglass is good too if you want that modern high gain sound theres really no better choice imho all youd need left is something to get you that vintage tube warmth or grit and you'd be able to get pretty much any tone you'd want.
Click to expand...

The Mesa definitely has more of the features i am looking for. some i won't use right away but could forsee myself using them down the road.
 
#4,610
Nordstrand Audio Starlifter Has Arrived!

Picked up a Starlifter used off Reverb for a SUBSTANTIAL discount over buying a new one. Initial impressions of the unit were positive from the moment I picked up the box. It's heavy! You expect it to be a hollow box like most pedals, but this sucker is packed full of something that probably includes a transformer for the DI. It's not a lightweight at all.

So I am still playing with it and promise to get some sound clips up soon. I've put it behind the LA-1A and the Becos and it sounds good with both of them. I will say that the Starlifter being solid state really does show off how good the LA-1A. You can hear the tube goodness through it much more so than you can the Oracle which has a tube of its own.

Since I only have $50 more in the Starlifter than the NuX, it may unseat the NuX from the budget board. So far, just the DI performance alone is superior to the NuX. The Starlifter has a really nice DI that adds some heft even when the EQ isn't engaged. I'm still playing with EQ settings, particularly the mid frequency, and I've goofed with the "Contour" switch a bit. I am a vintage buff, but the "Vintage" setting seems to act like sort of a vintage cab sim...it just rolls out the top end and boosts the bottom. The "Modern" is simply a mid scoop. So far I like it off best.

As with everything Carey does, this thing is top notch. The quality is second to none.

More to come in a few days when I get some more play time with it. I've also agreed to ship it to @scubaduba so he can evaluate it as well. So you'll get two rounds of reviews.
 
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#4,614
chadhargis said:
Nordstrand Audio Starlifter Has Arrived!

Picked up a Starlifter used off Reverb for a SUBSTANTIAL discount over buying a new one. Initial impressions of the unit were positive from the moment I picked up the box. It's heavy! You expect it to be a hollow box like most pedals, but this sucker is packed full of something that probably includes a transformer for the DI. It's not a lightweight at all.

So I am still playing with it and promise to get some sound clips up soon. I've put it behind the LA-1A and the Becos and it sounds good with both of them. I will say that the Starlifter being solid state really does show off how good the LA-1A. You can hear the tube goodness through it much more so than you can the Oracle which has a tube of its own.

Since I only have $50 more in the Starlifter than the NuX, it may unseat the NuX from the budget board. So far, just the DI performance alone is superior to the NuX. The Starlifter has a really nice DI that adds some heft even when the EQ isn't engaged. I'm still playing with EQ settings, particularly the mid frequency, and I've goofed with the "Contour" switch a bit. I am a vintage buff, but the "Vintage" setting seems to act like sort of a vintage cab sim...it just rolls out the top end and boosts the bottom. The "Modern" is simply a mid scoop. So far I like it off best.

As with everything Carey does, this thing is top notch. The quality is second to none.

More to come in a few days when I get some more play time with it. I've also agreed to ship it to @scubaduba so he can evaluate it as well. So you'll get two rounds of reviews.
Click to expand...

excited to hear more thoughts

I'm in agreement about the la1a. When I ran it In line with the alix and bix. Just added that Tubiness that we all love
 
#4,616
jbhaugh said:
The HPF switchable, so I just leave it off. And it really sounds like 160 Hz, a 60 Hz cutoff with -3dB per octave would be usable - the Colour Box HPF is not usable for bass.
Click to expand...

Mate, you were damn right. Just got email reply from JHS:

"Thanks for the email. Sorry for the confusion on this.

The webpage is correct as it's 160Hz where it starts. I apologize that the info was wrong! We've updated our manual."

The above indeed, makes Colour Box unusuable for me in terms of HPF.

Disappointing but at narrows down the choice naturally :)
 

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