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Post by Omicron9 on Oct 8, 2020 8:47:44 GMT -6
Greetings.
I've been using DI boxes for years. I have a few Whirlwinds (Director, Direct2). They've been just about bulletproof. However, lately I've been wondering about active DI boxes. I know they're supposed to have higher headroom than passive. The Radials look interesting, for example.
So... for those of you having experience with passive and active DIs, which do you prefer and why? Brand loyalties?
TIA, -09
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Post by svart on Oct 8, 2020 9:04:12 GMT -6
I've had a number of no-name actives and passives as well as a few Countryman 85's, a Redeye 3D and now an Avalon U5.
Comparing A/B, I guess you can hear a difference. Just using them.. Not so much.
I think the actives have a lot more detail to offer since they are typically higher impedance inputs, so some instruments can change their tones, while others won't sound any different. I might swap them around a bit to make sure none of them sound strange with the instrument plugged in, but overall I'm not too concerned and haven't had any real problems.
If I had to choose one, it'd probably be the Little Labs Redeye 3D since it's also a reamp box, and I've used it for that a lot. The countryman 85's used to be super cheap on the used market a while ago and I picked up a handful for 30-50$ a piece but overall I find them to be a little strident sounding on some guitars. The Avalon is great but it's expensive. You can get three RedEyes for what they are going for. I was looking for a particular tone and use-case for it and one came up for a good price and that's really the only reason I bought it, but on the other hand if you bought one specifically for DI you'd never have to wonder if anything was better.
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Post by EmRR on Oct 8, 2020 9:23:17 GMT -6
Yeah it depends what you’re doing with them
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Post by Ward on Oct 8, 2020 9:23:37 GMT -6
Countryman type 85 is absolutely the best for me. The built-in DIs on many preamps are fantastic also, so don't discount them. But I understand with long cable runs and the bass or other DI'ed instrument out in one of your live rooms or booths, you have to use a DI on the other end of the chain. Most active DIs have a bit of hiss that gets exaggerated along the way and really drives me. The countryman doesn't. The Traverse Mass DI (M1, Vintage King) is very very similar and just as quiet. The REDDI is also pretty click - my old high school buddy runs audio at Disney Anaheim and they have OODLES of them and love them. And as svart said, The Redeye is a con-tend-ah. Avalon U5 is my favorite on bass just going straight into a compressor in the control room. The tone-shaping is awesome. the 12 step gain is magnificent. Passive DIs are more prone to electrical interference, and well, all other kinds of interference also. Just my findings. Hope that helps.
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Post by Omicron9 on Oct 8, 2020 9:34:13 GMT -6
Countryman type 85 is absolutely the best for me. The built-in DIs on many preamps are fantastic also, so don't discount them. But I understand with long cable runs and the bass or other DI'ed instrument out in one of your live rooms or booths, you have to use a DI on the other end of the chain. Most active DIs have a bit of hiss that gets exaggerated along the way and really drives me. The countryman doesn't. The Traverse Mass DI (M1, Vintage King) is very very similar and just as quiet. The REDDI is also pretty click - my old high school buddy runs audio at Disney Anaheim and they have OODLES of them and love them. And as svart said, The Redeye is a con-tend-ah. Avalon U5 is my favorite on bass just going straight into a compressor in the control room. The tone-shaping is awesome. the 12 step gain is magnificent. Passive DIs are more prone to electrical interference, and well, all other kinds of interference also. Just my findings. Hope that helps. Ward, thank you. I have had some RFI and ground loop issues that I've traced back to the DI boxes. Since they're passive, that all kinda makes sense now.
And thank you to everyone else that responded; super helpful and appreciated.
Regards, -09
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Post by drbill on Oct 8, 2020 9:52:23 GMT -6
Love the DI's in my 512b's for Bass. Lean and Mean. Used to have the Avalon - didn't wow me so I moved to the ZOD's and am happy as a clam. They suit me. I've got a pair, but nowadays, they mostly sit on my mix buss with pads on the front end. Plenty of gain. The Chroma + has a very nice and versatile pair of DI's on it that I use when I don't want the size of the ZOD's. No need for floor boxes here other than the ZODs (if you can even call those floor boxes.... ) as I have a ton of pre's with DI's on them.
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Post by plainofjars on Oct 8, 2020 11:22:55 GMT -6
I also like the redeye 3D which allows you to use it passively or actively, as well as reamp through it. But I primarily like it for the sound. I also use an old tab instrument input box that I really love. I know monkeyxx is an advocate of bucking the conventional wisdom and going passive bass>passive di.
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Post by Omicron9 on Oct 8, 2020 12:11:30 GMT -6
Any experience with the Radial J48?
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ericn
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Post by ericn on Oct 8, 2020 12:19:31 GMT -6
DI’s are like mic pre’s don’t get caught up in topology, ask what sonics it brings to the party. That said for the most part active like the Countryman Old BSS, OLD KT are probably the most versatile. Always avoid dirt cheap passives. Opened up many only to find a resistor. Passives are all about the Transformer.
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Post by svart on Oct 8, 2020 12:20:30 GMT -6
Any experience with the Radial J48? I used one at another studio. Perfectly fine. Sounded fine, worked as it should. I was going to buy one but ended up with the RedEye because I didn't want to buy a separate reamp box. I don't think anyone could go wrong with that one or any of the other suggestions in this thread.
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Post by jcoutu1 on Oct 8, 2020 13:09:36 GMT -6
Any experience with the Radial J48? Solid as a rock. I need to pick up a few more DI's to have available in my live room and will probably grab a few of these.
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Post by nudwig on Oct 8, 2020 13:11:29 GMT -6
Pueblo OLLA can be either passive or active, sounds great both ways. Even doubles/triples as a reamp and you can place it between your amp and cab and grab a DI from there, all around great sounding and bulletproof, I love my pair. Then again I also love my ZOD and the Wolfbox I got from Dan.
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Post by Quint on Oct 8, 2020 13:41:19 GMT -6
I have multiple Redeye 3D boxes. It's hard to beat those for flexibility and transparency of sound. If clean and quiet is what you're going for, I'd recommend those.
If color is what you're looking for, there are a bunch of options. To each their own on that whole thing.
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Post by hadaja on Oct 8, 2020 14:31:48 GMT -6
Any experience with the Radial J48? As a bass player radial j48 did not work for me as much as the passive radial units but i use an active bass. i think there is quite a bit of detailed info out there on the www about active vs passive DI’s on active and passive instruments. I think someone already mentioned it but it could have something to do with matching impedence levels.
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Post by mcirish on Oct 8, 2020 15:04:48 GMT -6
For me, if the source (guitar, bass) is passive, I'd always use an active DI with at least a 1M Ohm input. If the source is active, I don't think it matters much.
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Post by Guitar on Oct 8, 2020 15:33:54 GMT -6
As a few people know I sometimes build these passive direct boxes, Wolfboxes, with Triad transformers. I use them here with passive instruments all the time. This is also how they were probably used at Motown or any other place with a fender bass and a transformer direct box. It's a great sound. I don't worry too much about "correct techinque" in an electrical sense, more the sound.
I've also used the Jensen direct boxes the same way, with passive instruments. It can be pretty aggressive sounding if you are after that, the Jensen parts have a pretty bright tone.
If you need all that high end and fast clear transient response, yeah something like a Countryman or J48 is excellent for that. I have those here too. As well as a Bo Hansen. If your instrument needs to sparkle in that specific way they are a good reach. Maybe for a 6 string guitar I would go in this direction.
I also find that my active instruments still sound just as "mojo-y" into the wolfboxes as any of my passive ones. The transformer still puts its heavy stamp on the sound, even when "properly loaded" by an active instrument.
Haven't used my preamp front panel DI's in a while, not with these nice things here. But I have always enjoyed the 312 front panel DI, kind of tight and punchy sounding. The API DI is certainly one of the good ones.
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Post by stormymondays on Oct 8, 2020 16:18:47 GMT -6
Redeye 3D is great, and reamping with it sounds perfect.
Surprisingly enough, the lowly Klark Teknik DIs sound fantastic to my ears. Somehow they did right with their transformers. And they have a ton of versatility.
I have two stereo and one mono. In the studio I only use the stereo ones for keyboards because I have other options.
The mono one is on my live rig for acoustic guitar, after beating my trusty LR Baggs para EQ. I like heavy handed, percussive rhythm playing, and the KT has better transient response and headroom. Go figure!
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Post by tasteliketape on Oct 8, 2020 18:53:43 GMT -6
You might want to check Audioscape Saturday evening. Jus sayin
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Post by hadaja on Oct 8, 2020 20:08:02 GMT -6
You might want to check Audioscape Saturday evening. Jus sayin Yeah there new DI looks like an intersting addition i might have to make to the collection.
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Post by plainofjars on Oct 8, 2020 20:22:28 GMT -6
Are there any demos of the audioscape di yet? I tend to think most DIs sound very similar, including the Zod, I’m afraid.
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Post by mulmany on Oct 8, 2020 20:32:47 GMT -6
Jeff's DI is great too. Nice and warm... I did a little simple shoot out on here somewhere 😊.
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Post by nick8801 on Oct 9, 2020 4:30:05 GMT -6
I have the little solid state fearn di. I believe it’s a Jensen based design. The thing I like about passive di’s is that I can run them into different preamps for different flavors. I almost always run that into my useful arts tube pre. It’s a killer match! I also love my bae 312 di inputs. Tight and punchy like others have mentioned. I also have an old modded Ampex pre/di that sounds phat and old school. It’s nice to have different flavors.
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kcatthedog
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Post by kcatthedog on Oct 9, 2020 4:39:03 GMT -6
Audioscape releases a new di , special price, $299?) likely killer!
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Post by Ward on Oct 9, 2020 7:35:48 GMT -6
The variable load feature on the audioscape DI is going to be fun to play with! #ASAF
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Post by plainofjars on Oct 9, 2020 8:39:53 GMT -6
As a few people know I sometimes build these passive direct boxes, Wolfboxes, with Triad transformers. I use them here with passive instruments all the time. This is also how they were probably used at Motown or any other place with a fender bass and a transformer direct box. It's a great sound. I don't worry too much about "correct techinque" in an electrical sense, more the sound. I've also used the Jensen direct boxes the same way, with passive instruments. It can be pretty aggressive sounding if you are after that, the Jensen parts have a pretty bright tone. If you need all that high end and fast clear transient response, yeah something like a Countryman or J48 is excellent for that. I have those here too. As well as a Bo Hansen. If your instrument needs to sparkle in that specific way they are a good reach. Maybe for a 6 string guitar I would go in this direction. I also find that my active instruments still sound just as "mojo-y" into the wolfboxes as any of my passive ones. The transformer still puts its heavy stamp on the sound, even when "properly loaded" by an active instrument. Haven't used my preamp front panel DI's in a while, not with these nice things here. But I have always enjoyed the 312 front panel DI, kind of tight and punchy sounding. The API DI is certainly one of the good ones. Would you say your DI box sounds notably different from say the Acme Wolfbox?
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