tube direct box == indirect box ?

[nonsqtr]

What's the deal with "tube direct boxes"? Doesn't a tube stage mean it becomes an "indirect" box? Is this only so you can EQ the feed to the board, or is there something more to it?

 

[complexprocess]

Many direct boxes include a preamp, so that you can get a pleasing tone by actually plugging your bass directly into the box, and then go to the board. I know that is a twisting of the name, but it might help to think of it that way. This includes boxes like the sansamp bass driver DI and I'm guessing the tube DIs. A true DI (afaik) just cleans up the electrical signal and sets it to the right level to go into a mixing board or recorder.