Radial J48 MK2 vs. Radial JDI

[heisleyamor]

I am looking into getting a DI mainly for bass and also for my keyboard. Which would be better for me? My bass pick-ups are not active by the way.

- Jeff

[warhead]

The J48 is a phantom powered pre-amp essentially, the JDI is a passive high quality Jensen transformer box. The J48 will output hotter and drive longer distances better, is clean, but relies less on your preamp for level. The JDI will require more preamp makeup gain, is clean also, but I find it to be a somewhat more musical sounding DI by comparison. I chose the JDI after comparing the two for a while. It's not a "colored" sounding transformer for the most part, but has a slightly enhanced sound to it that I just dig in the studio.

War

[crogersmod]

I have both and use the JDI much more often, especially for bass and keys.

[heisleyamor]

and I use a firepod with it...which one would sound better with the firepod? the pres on it aren't too great

[deve]

for bass I prefer jdi, Prodi will is also very musical.

[heisleyamor]

If anyone has any other comments on the JDI or J48 let me know...I'm still a little stuck between the 2. I have the option of getting a used J48 for 130 including shipping. I can't find any JDI cheaper than 180 right now. I need to make a decision soon. I'm using a Jazz bass, firepod, keyboard, and trying to get a DI that will improve my bass sound mostly instead of going straight into the firepod.

[rghose]

I have a J48 but would probably go for the JDI if I had to choose again. Don't get me wrong, the J48 is a very nice DI. But I often find it too clean and it can clip pretty easily...especially with active basses. Most of the time I'd probably prefer the Jensen transformer.

[Lee Knight]

Originally Posted by rghose

I have a J48 but would probably go for the JDI if I had to choose again. Don't get me wrong, the J48 is a very nice DI. But I often find it too clean and it can clip pretty easily...especially with active basses. Most of the time I'd probably prefer the Jensen transformer.

That's interesting. I like my J48 for the very fact that it can take active basses nicely. Anyway... the J48 is very nice in that, in my experience at least, it takes whatever I plug into it without "choking". I love it for guitar DI as well for later reamping. Same with bass actually... DI with the J48 and reamp into a rig out in the room later.

[skiroy]

does anyone have any comparison clips of each DI, they could share for a passive bass and a guitar?

Thankx