Its a very nice clean solid state DI. I have not actually used it as a DI often since I think of that pedal more as an EQ/mute/tune stomp box ... but that may change soon, since it does sound very good.
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What is your favorite DI for live use?
- Thread starter pickles
- Start date
Its a very nice clean solid state DI. I have not actually used it as a DI often since I think of that pedal more as an EQ/mute/tune stomp box ... but that may change soon, since it does sound very good.
Thats what I was expecting, but it just occurred to me that it might not be the case with all the boxes I'm looking at.
Hey nice ... Todd goes over all the features on his you tube vids!
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=basstasters&search=tag
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=basstasters&search=tag
Out of my price range, but does the REDDI have an unaffected through? I thought it did not.
I just did a quick shootout of all my DIs ... heads, pres, etc ... through a power amp and my SWR Triad (which is somewhat like a PA cab in sound).
The sadowsky sounds the best by far. Thats a nice little DI. But I can't help thinking some tubes in the path would help warm it up a bit ... so I'm thinking brick/demeter/td-100 thoughts.
The sadowsky sounds the best by far. Thats a nice little DI. But I can't help thinking some tubes in the path would help warm it up a bit ... so I'm thinking brick/demeter/td-100 thoughts.
- Dec 18, 2000
- 13,201
- 340
- Disclosures
- greenboy designs: fEARful, bassic, dually, crazy88 etc
Active: Radial J48, Countryman Type 85
Passive: Radial JDI
I didn't include the Avalon U5 because it's a little cumbersome for routine stage use, but it certainly is the cream of the crop.
Does anyone have experience + or- with the newer ART Tube MP's?
I've been using an older one that has issues with ground loops for FOH sends, but I think they fixed that in the newer ones. Pickles listed some great units, but they are expensive and large. I'm looking for something smaller, but with a tube to go in my Walter Woods shoulder bag pocket.
Comments?
I've been using an older one that has issues with ground loops for FOH sends, but I think they fixed that in the newer ones. Pickles listed some great units, but they are expensive and large. I'm looking for something smaller, but with a tube to go in my Walter Woods shoulder bag pocket.
Comments?
I've been doing a bit more research and found out that at least one of these units (the demeter) can do something wonderful in addition to its DI capability. It buffers the unbalanced out so you can run a long cable to the amp without tone suck!
This would allow me to put the DI at the end of my pedal board to buffer the effect of the second cable (which is significant), or use the DI up by a vocal mic to buffer the long cable run to the backline. Sweet!
I have an email in to Aguilar to see if the 900 does the same.
And on form factor, I've decided that I very much prefer the hardy Demeter/Aguilar form factor to the various half rack style boxes, and particularly to the brick. For the way I intend to use it, the brick seemed like it would be too easy to kick the gain knob. I also don't really want as much gain as it offers or the variability. I don't need a mic pre.
So I think I'm down to the Demeter and the Aguilar (depending on the answer to that question).
In the meantime, I think I'll try my sadowsky with the pre "on" but flat ... which should do roughly the same thing.
This would allow me to put the DI at the end of my pedal board to buffer the effect of the second cable (which is significant), or use the DI up by a vocal mic to buffer the long cable run to the backline. Sweet!
I have an email in to Aguilar to see if the 900 does the same.
And on form factor, I've decided that I very much prefer the hardy Demeter/Aguilar form factor to the various half rack style boxes, and particularly to the brick. For the way I intend to use it, the brick seemed like it would be too easy to kick the gain knob. I also don't really want as much gain as it offers or the variability. I don't need a mic pre.
So I think I'm down to the Demeter and the Aguilar (depending on the answer to that question).
In the meantime, I think I'll try my sadowsky with the pre "on" but flat ... which should do roughly the same thing.
maxvalentino
Endorsing Artist Godin Guitars/ Thomastik-Infeld
AFAIK, the Demeter is the only tube DI which sends a tube buffered signal to the parallel unbal. line out as well as the bal. xlr out. The Brick only uses the tube stage for the bal. line (the parallel out is simply a "thru"), and I believe the REDDI does the same. Yet, that being said, the REDDI has much more of a tube/amp sound at its' output.
I also believe, but may be wrong, that DB900's unbal. output is not buffered by the tube stage (altho, that design is somewhat copied from the Demeter VTDB).
I have tried the ART stuff...and while some folks do rave about the "tube warmth" (geez, what an overused term there...) these impart, I have found that while there is some tube character it is minimal. The tube recieves very little voltage, is placed down the signal path (following a bunch of ICs, and followed by a bunch more), and the unitys are, for my ears, too noisy.
The U5 is SS.....and one of the finer SS devices you will find. It is clean, warm, and exceptionally high quality. Unfortanately, it is also big and bulky...and hence mine stays at home.
I am VERY happy with the Demeter. With a 27 megOhm input impedence, there is NO loading or compromising of the signal whatsoever. The unit is dead quiet (the VTDB is my studio rig....), rich, warm and detailed sound from both the bal. and unbal outs. Built like a tank as well. I have changed out to different tubes a few times in mine. One (I have two of these...one an old model from the late 80s and one a new model...sound the same, same components and build quality) now sports a NOS Mullard while the other has a NOS JAN GE Large Plate.....
I actually use one as an input buffer for piezo equipped basses (Turner Rens). works wonders with a rich and detailed tube sound.
They are pricey, but well worth it. Quite comparable in quality...not tone...to a U5, ADL, Manley but loads more portable!
If price is no object, tho.....look into an Evil Twin by Eclair Engineering.
And, after trying one, I am very interested in a REDDI.
Max
I also believe, but may be wrong, that DB900's unbal. output is not buffered by the tube stage (altho, that design is somewhat copied from the Demeter VTDB).
I have tried the ART stuff...and while some folks do rave about the "tube warmth" (geez, what an overused term there...) these impart, I have found that while there is some tube character it is minimal. The tube recieves very little voltage, is placed down the signal path (following a bunch of ICs, and followed by a bunch more), and the unitys are, for my ears, too noisy.
The U5 is SS.....and one of the finer SS devices you will find. It is clean, warm, and exceptionally high quality. Unfortanately, it is also big and bulky...and hence mine stays at home.
I am VERY happy with the Demeter. With a 27 megOhm input impedence, there is NO loading or compromising of the signal whatsoever. The unit is dead quiet (the VTDB is my studio rig....), rich, warm and detailed sound from both the bal. and unbal outs. Built like a tank as well. I have changed out to different tubes a few times in mine. One (I have two of these...one an old model from the late 80s and one a new model...sound the same, same components and build quality) now sports a NOS Mullard while the other has a NOS JAN GE Large Plate.....
I actually use one as an input buffer for piezo equipped basses (Turner Rens). works wonders with a rich and detailed tube sound.
They are pricey, but well worth it. Quite comparable in quality...not tone...to a U5, ADL, Manley but loads more portable!
If price is no object, tho.....look into an Evil Twin by Eclair Engineering.
And, after trying one, I am very interested in a REDDI.
Max
+1 to all the above.... Radial to me is the way to go for pure, clean, quiet DI in a moderately priced and small unit. They are also built like tanks.
I've actually heard some quite mixed reviews on that expensive tube Aguilar DI.... a little too wide... some say it extends the low end of a bass too far into the bass drum area. However, that's just second hand. The U5 is amazing as a DI, but is big, expensive, and doesn't seem to sound significantly better to my ear than the small JDI if you are just looking for a quiet, relatively 'flat' dump to the board. IMO.
I'd like to have the Radials... I have a paid-for Countryman that works well.. with caveats.
Mine sounds like crap when running from battery. I run it from +48v phantom, and it sounds great with passive basses or other low power devices. It doesn't do so well with hot active basses.
My problem with using phantom for the Countryman surfaces when there are other DI boxes in use. For example, I did sound for a band with four DI connections from their amps (bass, cello, keyboard, and acoustic guitar). One of their DIs crapped out, so they wanted to use mine. My VLZ Pro 24.4 console puts +48v phantom on all channels, or none. This would expose their SWR amp DI circuits to phantom power, which I will not do. They couldn't use my DI box (nor a Radial J48 either). I don't carry passive DI boxes, so they were stuck.
IMO, the Radial boxes are the ones to have.
Mine sounds like crap when running from battery. I run it from +48v phantom, and it sounds great with passive basses or other low power devices. It doesn't do so well with hot active basses.
My problem with using phantom for the Countryman surfaces when there are other DI boxes in use. For example, I did sound for a band with four DI connections from their amps (bass, cello, keyboard, and acoustic guitar). One of their DIs crapped out, so they wanted to use mine. My VLZ Pro 24.4 console puts +48v phantom on all channels, or none. This would expose their SWR amp DI circuits to phantom power, which I will not do. They couldn't use my DI box (nor a Radial J48 either). I don't carry passive DI boxes, so they were stuck.
IMO, the Radial boxes are the ones to have.
bongomania
Commercial User
The REDDI's through jack is uneffected. I got into an exchange of posts over on Gearslutz with Peter at A-Designs a few months ago. I was trying like heck to communicate to him that I wished the thru had the effected tone of the DI, or that the unit could have an effected line-level output in addition to the DI, and got nowhere with him.
The tube-effected line-level out of the Summit is one feature that makes it significantly more useful to me than the REDDI would be; the REDDI's tone may be slightly "better" in the studio, but live on stage that subtlety would be completely lost anyway. And the Summit is smaller and more easily rackable.
That said, the recent posts here have me GASsing for a Demeter DI!
Hey, get in line suckah!
There was one on ebay yesterday with a BIN of $450. Sold the same day it was listed. I almost did it but hesitated waiting to hear about the db 900 (which sounds like it won't be the ticket)
The summit is cool but looks a little bit fragile for my intended use.
I've used "the Brick" and a demeter tube preamp in the studios here in Nashville several times and they are solid. I haven't used them in a live situation, but they work well in the studio. those are the only two of the ones you've listed that I have direct dealings with that I can attest to.
However, I now use the True-Voice preamp as a DI in the studio and live which works very well.
However, I now use the True-Voice preamp as a DI in the studio and live which works very well.
