I’m buying a DI, please help me!

insomnio · 26th September 2005

Hello:
I’m buying a DI for bass and guitars direct (mostly bass) and also keyboards. I think the menu would be:
Tab V71
REDDI
Avalon U5
Radial JDI

Last time I did this exercise in here I ended up very happy with what I bought.
Please help me to decide.

___________________________
Insomnio

Rezman · 26th September 2005

You should add the Buzz DI to the list as well. Tim makes some great stuff.

http://www.buzzaudio.com/products/mia1.0.htm

Soldier777c · 26th September 2005

How is the rest of the Buzz Audio product line?

tINY · 26th September 2005

BSS had some nice active DI's years back. I donno if they still make them, but you might find a used one.....

-tINY

Tetness · 26th September 2005

I'm in the same boat you're in. I'm going for the v71. I'll let you know how it is when I get it.

bobbito · 26th September 2005

I just bought the Radial JDI, it's pretty slick but this is also my first dedicated DI so I have nothing to compare it to. Perviously I was using my pre's as DI's with the instrument input.

natpub · 26th September 2005

We're goin for the Tab too, will report back.

goldphinga · 26th September 2005

avalon U5 user for over 2 years with no complaints.

-reliable
-sounds clean but punchy and upfront
-nice preset eq curves which are quite useful
-plenty of gain

It really comes into its own on bass and keys.

twilt · 26th September 2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by Soldier777c

How is the rest of the Buzz Audio product line?

i LOVE everything that i have heard..
as for th di question...the countryman fet 85 can be had used for about $100.00 and it is
great.

C/G · 26th September 2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tetness

I'm in the same boat you're in. I'm going for the v71. I'll let you know how it is when I get it.

thumbsup If I don't win the V71 I will buy a second. I really like the one i have.

Power Supply · 26th September 2005

Check out the Valvotronics boxes.
One comes with very useable EQ.

jomo1234 · 26th September 2005

Second that vote on the Valvotronics DI.....a gorgeous sounding box.

paterno · 26th September 2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by insomnio

Hello:
I’m buying a DI for bass and guitars direct (mostly bass) and also keyboards. I think the menu would be:
Tab V71
REDDI
Avalon U5
Radial JDI

Last time I did this exercise in here I ended up very happy with what I bought.
Please help me to decide.

___________________________
Insomnio

you might want to add the Little Labs MultiZ or an IBP to the list...

John

insomnio · 26th September 2005

Thanks folks. Keep going please.

_____________________
Insomnio

James Lehmann · 26th September 2005

LittleLabs Redeye here which is a great passive DI and a whole lot more besides (ie re-amper etc). Mainly using it on keyboards and can confirm the bass end is wide and smooth, which bodes well for the bass-playing fraternity. Much too nice a box to throw on the floor at gigs but a superb studio tool.

Brad McGowan · 26th September 2005

I would vote for the REDDI...it's huge and musical sounding. I also own a Little Labs IBP that I really like. I keep coming back to the DI on my Great River ME1NV mic pre too!

Brad

Country Boy · 26th September 2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by jomo1234

Second that vote on the Valvotronics DI.....a gorgeous sounding box.

Would someone in the know be kind enough to check this one for sale and let me know if this is the DI from Valvotronics.

I've been wanting to check one out for about the last year but keep forgetting because I never see them and they are mentioned infrequently. But like the EvilTwin they are highly regarded.

I was about to just order a new one about two months ago but another poster here was describing a DI with an EQ that was a collaboration with the Valvotronics people. So I'm not sure if this is the one or not.

This one says it's in town so that is something I would feel OK bidding on.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Valvotronics-Tub...QQcmdZViewItem

Power Supply · 26th September 2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by Country Boy

Would someone in the know be kind enough to check this one for sale and let me know if this is the DI from Valvotronics.

I've been wanting to check one out for about the last year but keep forgetting because I never see them and they are mentioned infrequently. But like the EvilTwin they are highly regarded.

I was about to just order a new one about two months ago but another poster here was describing a DI with an EQ that was a collaboration with the Valvotronics people. So I'm not sure if this is the one or not.

This one says it's in town so that is something I would feel OK bidding on.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Valvotronics-Tub...QQcmdZViewItem

Yeah, that's the regular Valvo box.
They also have a solid-state box w/EQ called the Coil EQ.

www.valvotronics.com

or here:

http://www.edpettersen.com/edpettersen/Coileq.html

Hope this helps.

Rep · 26th September 2005

I find that I really like the Avalon U5 for punchy base.
IMO

blackbox · 27th September 2005

the vintech x73 is the best damn di box for bass i've ever used.
i've got some of the radial stuff as well. it rocks too but the vintech is really awesome.

Country Boy · 27th September 2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by Power Supply

Yeah, that's the regular Valvo box.
They also have a solid-state box w/EQ called the Coil EQ.

www.valvotronics.com

or here:

http://www.edpettersen.com/edpettersen/Coileq.html

Hope this helps.

Thanks. I was looking for that past thread and could not locate it. Now I know how to search.

And I now remember what left me so confused. I never got the message that "the Coil" EQ also is a DI. Thought it was EQ only.

Think I wasnt the regular version to try.

rlnyc · 27th September 2005

the little labs IBP is deep. crystal clear direct box great for bass and guitars and whatever, plus it is a phase tool, plus, works as a re-amper. i used it today as a matter of fact, for two out of three of those uses.

good luck with whatever you end up getting.

regards,
rlnyc

Playback · 27th September 2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by tINY

BSS had some nice active DI's years back. I donno if they still make them, but you might find a used one.....

-tINY

No doubt about it The BSS AR-133 is still around great for GTR and Keyz!
And for Bass use the Aguilar DB900 it Smoke all of the DI's on this List!!!!!!!

or the Avalon very Clean Tube.

insomnio · 27th September 2005

There are so many.

Waiting for the new V71 owners to report here…

________________________
Insomnio

squeegybug · 27th September 2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by Playback

No doubt about it The BSS AR-133 is still around great for GTR and Keyz!

Hey! I just posted one of those guys FS in the classifieds. Brand new....

Steve

insomnio · 27th September 2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by Playback

or the Avalon very Clean Tube.

Avalon U5 has tubes?

___________________
I

Power Supply · 27th September 2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by insomnio

There are so many.

Waiting for the new V71 owners to report here…

________________________
Insomnio

It was cool but I had better DI's already so I sent it back.
Great for electric guitar though. YMMV.

Playback · 27th September 2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by insomnio

Avalon U5 has tubes?

___________________
I

No the u5 does not have tubes Sorry I was day dreaming about the DI on My 737.
To quote Fletcher on the U5:
"Avalon microphone preamplifiers have been in use around the world since 1986. All preamplifiers share the combined technologies of low ratio transformer balanced inputs coupled with high-voltage cascode FET twin bipolar discrete class A amplifiers."

RoundBadge · 27th September 2005

thumbsup thumbsup thumbsup
Reddi- Big /Warm
IBP - Big & clean
This combo just rules over everything I've used..no contest.

Used a ton of DI's.. including custom tube stuff
I've got many pre's for DI's in's as well..Neve,Chandler,Wunder,Aurora GTQ
and nothing beats the Reddi/IBP combo

Avalon U-5[sold] just paled next to these two for size,punch and clarity.

paul mckenna · 27th September 2005

If you get a chance to try an Evil Twin, i think you might want one, Great bottem end, line level out. they are sold by Eclair Engineering in Massachusetts
thumbsup thumbsup thumbsup thumbsup

26th September 2005	#1
insomnio Lives for gear Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 1,209 Thread Starter	I’m buying a DI, please help me! Hello: I’m buying a DI for bass and guitars direct (mostly bass) and also keyboards. I think the menu would be: Tab V71 REDDI Avalon U5 Radial JDI Last time I did this exercise in here I ended up very happy with what I bought. Please help me to decide. ___________________________ Insomnio

26th September 2005	#15
James Lehmann Lives for gear Joined: Jul 2003 Location: Europe Posts: 2,428	LittleLabs Redeye here which is a great passive DI and a whole lot more besides (ie re-amper etc). Mainly using it on keyboards and can confirm the bass end is wide and smooth, which bodes well for the bass-playing fraternity. Much too nice a box to throw on the floor at gigs but a superb studio tool. __________________ James Lehmann Voice-Over Artist - Project Studio Jockey www.jameslehmann.net · Use your real name - keep Gearslutz authoritative, accountable and courteous. · Stop the superlatives madness - just say no to gear threads with the word 'best' in the title. · Words or WAVs? The former are interesting, the latter are convincing.

27th September 2005	#30
paul mckenna Gear nut Joined: Jan 2005 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 136	DI If you get a chance to try an Evil Twin, i think you might want one, Great bottem end, line level out. they are sold by Eclair Engineering in Massachusetts thumbsup thumbsup thumbsup thumbsup

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26th September 2005	#2
Rezman Gear Head Joined: Mar 2004 Location: Auckland, New Zealand Posts: 62	You should add the Buzz DI to the list as well. Tim makes some great stuff. http://www.buzzaudio.com/products/mia1.0.htm

26th September 2005	#3
Soldier777c Lives for gear Joined: Jun 2005 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 1,133	How is the rest of the Buzz Audio product line?

26th September 2005	#4
tINY Gear Guru Joined: Jul 2004 Location: Orygun Posts: 10,234	BSS had some nice active DI's years back. I donno if they still make them, but you might find a used one..... -tINY

26th September 2005	#5
Tetness Lives for gear Joined: Jan 2004 Location: Hollywood Posts: 1,573	I'm in the same boat you're in. I'm going for the v71. I'll let you know how it is when I get it.

26th September 2005	#6
bobbito Gear interested Joined: Sep 2005 Posts: 9	I just bought the Radial JDI, it's pretty slick but this is also my first dedicated DI so I have nothing to compare it to. Perviously I was using my pre's as DI's with the instrument input.

26th September 2005	#7
natpub More cowbell! Joined: Nov 2003 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 2,171 2 Reviews written	We're goin for the Tab too, will report back.

26th September 2005	#8
goldphinga Lives for gear Joined: Mar 2005 Posts: 1,383	avalon U5 user for over 2 years with no complaints. -reliable -sounds clean but punchy and upfront -nice preset eq curves which are quite useful -plenty of gain It really comes into its own on bass and keys.

26th September 2005	#11
Power Supply Gear addict Joined: Jul 2004 Location: Music City Posts: 392	Check out the Valvotronics boxes. One comes with very useable EQ.

26th September 2005	#12
jomo1234 Lives for gear Joined: May 2005 Location: NYC Posts: 1,375	Second that vote on the Valvotronics DI.....a gorgeous sounding box.

26th September 2005	#16
Brad McGowan Lives for gear Joined: Jan 2003 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 5,582	I would vote for the REDDI...it's huge and musical sounding. I also own a Little Labs IBP that I really like. I keep coming back to the DI on my Great River ME1NV mic pre too! Brad

26th September 2005	#19
Rep Lives for gear Joined: Dec 2003 Location: So-Cal Posts: 1,778	I find that I really like the Avalon U5 for punchy base. IMO

27th September 2005	#20
blackbox Gear maniac Joined: Aug 2004 Posts: 200	the vintech x73 is the best damn di box for bass i've ever used. i've got some of the radial stuff as well. it rocks too but the vintech is really awesome.

27th September 2005	#22
rlnyc Gear addict Joined: Dec 2002 Location: NY Posts: 346	the little labs IBP is deep. crystal clear direct box great for bass and guitars and whatever, plus it is a phase tool, plus, works as a re-amper. i used it today as a matter of fact, for two out of three of those uses. good luck with whatever you end up getting. regards, rlnyc

27th September 2005	#24
insomnio Lives for gear Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 1,209 Thread Starter	There are so many. Waiting for the new V71 owners to report here… ________________________ Insomnio

27th September 2005	#29
RoundBadge Lives for gear Joined: May 2004 Location: Los Angeles ,Ca. Posts: 8,854	thumbsup thumbsup thumbsup Reddi- Big /Warm IBP - Big & clean This combo just rules over everything I've used..no contest. Used a ton of DI's.. including custom tube stuff I've got many pre's for DI's in's as well..Neve,Chandler,Wunder,Aurora GTQ and nothing beats the Reddi/IBP combo Avalon U-5[sold] just paled next to these two for size,punch and clarity.