DI box for Telefunken V76 mic pre

[Sugarman]

I am used to just plug in my bass, guitar, synth or whatever directly into my 002R. But I just bought a pair of old tube V76 mic pres, and of course I want to record EVERYTHING through these beasts!
So I need a DI box, right...? Tell me if there is another way around this...
A jack cable with an xlr in the end will not do the job?
Why should I pay $$$ just to go from jack to xlr?

I am looking at these:

Martech MSS-01
Manley Tube DI
Little Labs (model???)
Radial (model???)
Avalon U5

After reading Flecthers oppinion in another thread I am leading towards the MSS-01 (have both active and passive inputs), but any suggestions are most welcome!
Another thing... I live in Denmark wich uses 220V - is that a problem if I buy a DI box from USA??

And, can anyone explain when to use active DI and when to use passive?

Lot of questions, I know... Hope someone can help me out. Thanks

[Sugarman]

...?

[RoundBadge]

Originally Posted by Sugarman

I am used to just plug in my bass, guitar, synth or whatever directly into my 002R. But I just bought a pair of old tube V76 mic pres, and of course I want to record EVERYTHING through these beasts!
So I need a DI box, right...? Tell me if there is another way around this...
A jack cable with an xlr in the end will not do the job?
Why should I pay $$$ just to go from jack to xlr?

I am looking at these:

Martech MSS-01
Manley Tube DI
Little Labs (model???)
Radial (model???)
Avalon U5

After reading Flecthers oppinion in another thread I am leading towards the MSS-01 (have both active and passive inputs), but any suggestions are most welcome!
Another thing... I live in Denmark wich uses 220V - is that a problem if I buy a DI box from USA??

And, can anyone explain when to use active DI and when to use passive?





Lot of questions, I know... Hope someone can help me out. Thanks

Littlelabs IBP works fabby with V76's..plus the phase tool bonusthumbsup

[Sugarman]

Is that an active or a passive box? And does it matter?

[Sugarman]

please... anyone???

Help me a bit here...

When to use active DI? When to use passive DI?

Best boxes for uncolored sound??

And is 220V a problem if buying from USA dealer???

[toolskid]

Originally Posted by Sugarman

please... anyone???



And is 220V a problem if buying from USA dealer???

most gear will have a V switch or jumpers.. ask the dealer!

[nosebleedaudio]

I would start with a really good DI, one with a Jensen transformer for example.
They out perform some of the best active DI's, and IM not referring to a Pre amp such as the Avalon.

[Sugarman]

Thank you, but...
why start with a passive DI?
Still don't get when you need wich.... Someone explain please.
Wich DI boxes use Jensen transformers?

[nosebleedaudio]

You ask for a suggestion, all I can say is a good passive adds very little to the color.
The DI I've built for years contains a Jensen, so does several others.
Which is the best is like which is the best Mic, or Mic Pre ect...

[Sugarman]

Originally Posted by nosebleedaudio

You ask for a suggestion, all I can say is a good passive adds very little to the color.
The DI I've built for years contains a Jensen, so does several others.
Which is the best is like which is the best Mic, or Mic Pre ect...

Well, then tell me what's the name of YOUR box - if for sale.
I think the purpose of this great forum is the fact that you can get indications and suggestions and experiences and recomendations from recording-interested people around the globe. Why? Because I don't have the opportunity to actuallty try a Neve 1073, SSL, Great River, Tube Tech, V72, V76, V77, V78 etc etc etc...... Neither do I have the opportunity to personally try out the Little Labs, Countryman, Radial JDV, Radial JVI, Martech MSS-01 or whatever againt each other.
I need YOU!

So please.... Stop teeling me the usual "you can't say wich one is best, it's like comparing bla bla to bla bla".......

I just want suggestions. Guiding. YOUR thoughts on what YOU think is the BEST (yes "BEST"!) DI box for this and that situation.
Active vs. passive etc....

....please.......

[C/G]

Originally Posted by Sugarman

Thank you, but...
why start with a passive DI?
Still don't get when you need wich.... Someone explain please.
Wich DI boxes use Jensen transformers?

Radial Engineering makes a great DI with a Jensen transformer. The JDI.

http://www.radialeng.com/di-jdi.htm

I personally use and suggest the Tab-Funkenwerk V-71 tube DI box. I have used the JDI and it is a great DI box and much cheaper than the V-71, but the V-71 has girth that others I own do not, and that includes Little Labs, and all the DI inputs in my pres like Chandler, UA, ect.

http://www.mercenaryaudio.com/tabfunkenwerk.html

[nosebleedaudio]

The reason I didn't list mine is some feel I would only do that to SELL one of mine.
But I get $158.00 for a single DI with the Jensen or Bauer Transfomer.
Its a basic DI.
But will add that I would also suggest a good pre amp that takes the place of both units, the Mic Pre and the DI.
In most cases the pre amp will be better, its not going thru the roller coaster in signal level. Meaning high impedence to low impedence to high impedence...
This also includes Mic Pres with a high Imp. input will do the same thing.

[C/G]

Originally Posted by nosebleedaudio

The reason I didn't list mine is some feel I would only do that to SELL one of mine.
But I get $158.00 for a single DI with the Jensen or Bauer Transfomer.
Its a basic DI.

I'll ask about it to make it legit.

Hey Nosebleed, tell me about the DI box you make, and be specific.

[nosebleedaudio]

OK, now its OK...
If you can get the Radial gear in your area I would do that.
I don't even have it on my web site...

[insomnio]

Go for the Radial JDI.
Don't spend more than $200 in a DI, there are more relevant elements to care about.


Insomnio

[Sugarman]

Originally Posted by insomnio

Go for the Radial JDI.
Don't spend more than $200 in a DI, there are more relevant elements to care about.


Insomnio

Hey, thanks for the replies

Insomnio, the JDI is a passive DI. Why not get the active JDV? Some say it is better for passive pick-ups...

[GPl]

Originally Posted by Sugarman

Hey, thanks for the replies

Insomnio, the JDI is a passive DI. Why not get the active JDV? Some say it is better for passive pick-ups...

If you want active, get the J48. The JDV has lots of options, so that would be a good choice also. I personally have the the JDI and J48.

[Sugarman]

Originally Posted by GPl

If you want active, get the J48. The JDV has lots of options, so that would be a good choice also. I personally have the the JDI and J48.

But...... I don't know if I "want" active... That's the whole issue...
Please tell me what is good for what...

[Snatchman]

I have the Radial Duplex ( passive).If your source ( guitar, Bass, synth, etc.) has a hot output, the passive is fine. If the source has a weak output, active works better as in not having to turn the pre-amp up (increase noise). The Radial sounds good. But as I stated, if your source is weak at the output, you have to turn the pre-amp gain up higher ( than my active DI's), hence leading to more noise going to disk,tape, whateva..! YMMV........

[cdog]

Radial JDV

[seriousfun]

Originally Posted by Sugarman

...
Active vs. passive etc....

....please.......

A passive DI is essentially a transformer. When put between an active device like a microphone preamplifier, this transformer will interact with the instrument's passive electronics. The pickups are an inductor, the tone controls have capacitors, and the volume control is a potentiometer; these will have a certain sound with any DI transformer, and this sound will change as you switch pickups, change tone, raise or lower volume, etc.

An active DI uses an amplifier to change the high-output high-impedance instrument signal to low-output (mic level) low-impedance for the mic pre. A well-designed active DI will present a very high input impedance so the passive instrument is not loaded - the DI's sound won't change as you change the controls on a guitar.

An active instrument - a bass with active pickups, or a vintage synthesizer for example - still might need a DI to properly feed a mic pre, and a passive DI will do just fine for that.

The Martech MSS-10 contains both an active (powered by phantom power from the mic pre) and a passive DI in one box.