Countryman 85 vs. Radial JDI

[writethis]

Needing to add a couple of direct boxes specifically for routing analog and digital keyboards through mic input xformers. Musical style will always be rock of some sort, my pres at this point are old Neve & Trident, and overall the sounds I chase tend to be vibey rather than pristine. Budget limitations (and the need for RealTraps) have me looking at these two options.

Thanks in advance for any light shed...

[Zarathustra]

The Countryman is your man, so to speak. It's got a long proven track record on bass, keys, and guitar. Very big pleasant sound (for a FET), indestructible build quality. Mine have been at the center of the Bass/Keyboard universe for a decade now, I have yet to hear anything sound better through a DI. Closest second was an Avalon U5. Radials belong on cars....

Z

[shikawkee]

I dunno', I dig the Countryman but I don't find it as useful as the Radial's.
The Radial line is about the most accurate and best sounding in its category. YMMV.

[TER]

Radial JDV (active DI) and JDI (passive) are very different animals. The JDV should be compared to the Countryman, as both are active. The JDI has a killer Jensen transformer in it, and sounds great. The JDV is a class a active di (phantom trickle charges internal rechargeable batteries), sounds great on everything I've tried them on, with the caveat that the pad is mandatory when used with active basses and high output keyboards. I've got a couple of each. The J48 is pretty nice, too (runs from phantom, no battery). The Countryman DIs always sound a little dull to me...a little blah. For something that you want to be a little dark, the Countryman can be nice (electric guitar di if needed, and too bright keys), and then the JDI sounds a little more open, and the JDV is another step towards a wide/clear sound (great for analog synths). I think the original packaging for the Radials was better than the new packaging. The orginals were really heavy solid box chassis surrounding a "tray" that carried all the guts, the new ones have the guts in a lighter box that's wrapped on three sides with a light metal clamshell. A good drop can cosmetically tweak the new ones, the old ones would just dent the floor. The new ones, however, can be pulled from the clamshell and racked eight to a frame...which can be useful. As always, your results/preferences may vary.

-tom

[GPl]

Originally Posted by shikawkee

I dunno', I dig the Countryman but I don't find it as useful as the Radial's.
The Radial line is about the most accurate and best sounding in its category. YMMV.

I'd have to agree also. I have the J48(recent) the 85, and the "B" ultra DI(used as a paper weight most of the time, but likes a Les Paulw/dimarzios). I lke the accuracy of the lowend on the J48, but I feel the 85 does has more detail up top. So you can see where both can come in handy.

Oh yeh, the "B" ultra makes a good door stop when ya need a little fresh air

[writethis]

thank you for sharing your experience/wisdom/perspectives.

michael

[Steffmo]

maybe i'm just tired of it....I've used the Countryman's for twenty years...but I really find mtself drawn to the Radials....and I'm using The Brick on bass.