Cheap DI boxes

Aridstarling

Just a quick question on DI boxes at the lower end of the scale. Is there that much difference? I've been looking at three different ones recently and I don't really know if theres any real difference between any of them.

First there is the Palmer Pan 01: http://www.thomann.de/ie/palmer_pan_01.htm

I know Palmer make good boxes that are a good bit more expensive but does this quality translate to the more simple beasts?

Next is there Behringer DI1000: http://www.thomann.de/ie/behringer_di100_ultra_di.htm

This one is active and I've used it live several times, seems to be decent enough in that situation but would it work in the studio?

And lastly we have the ART ZDirect: http://www.thomann.de/ie/art_zdirect.htm

Another passive one, never used it or have any experience with the company, does anyone have any opinions on it?

If anyone could shed any light on the subject that would be great,

Cheers,

Ian

Savman

The Behringer's are the be all and the end all for cheap DI's tbh.
You could spend more on a Radial/Countryman/BSS/KT but you're looking at 4-5 times the price for what won't necessarily be 4-5 times 'better'.

godfrey

Savman wrote: »

The Behringer's are the be all and the end all for cheap DI's tbh.
You could spend more on a Radial/Countryman/BSS/KT but you're looking at 4-5 times the price for what won't necessarily be 4-5 times 'better'.

I have to passionatly disagree I'm afraid. Behringer DI's produce huge amounts of distortion (not always noticable on first listen) and have terrible phase response. I would choose a cheap passive DI over them any time. I have seen SMAART analysis of them to back up my statement.

I hope this is helpful to you in your choice...

g

PaulBrewer

godfrey wrote: »

I have to passionatly disagree I'm afraid. Behringer DI's produce huge amounts of distortion (not always noticable on first listen) and have terrible phase response. I would choose a cheap passive DI over them any time. I have seen SMAART analysis of them to back up my statement.

I hope this is helpful to you in your choice...

g

What's SMAART analysis God ? Do post it please .....

Also can you run it over some of the forum's recent posts, Thanks ...;)

Aridstarling

I'd love to see that info too Godfrey.

Any opinions yourself Paul, I know its not really your deal but I'm sure you must've come across one of two of this ilk?

PaulBrewer

I don't really know as I've not done A/Bs.

My hunch would be a cheap passive box might sound better than a cheap active one .... but I'd only be guessing.

Aridstarling

Thought the same myself, but again, far from sure about it. I'll carry on thinking, be a couple of weeks before I go and get one anyway.

Ronan Murphy

Not sure how these things price out in the EU, but check into Radial DI boxes. They cost a bit more than the super low end stuff but are really good, especially the JDI. I use some more expensive options in my work, but the Radial stuff is pretty darn good and something I consider a non compromise option.

kfoltman

PaulBrewer wrote: »

My hunch would be a cheap passive box might sound better than a cheap active one .... but I'd only be guessing.

Why? Because less components means less opportunity to screw up?

PaulBrewer

kfoltman wrote: »

Why? Because less components means less opportunity to screw up?

Kind of ! A passive Di is essentially just a transformer, one component in a box with connectors ....

Norris-wf

Hey, I know I'm new on here so hey to everyone. I just thought I'd mention my experience. I've used the behringer pro rack DIs and I recently just switched to a Radial engineering ProDI. There was a hug difference to the sound. Bass sounded very cardboardy and lifeless through the behringer, huge difference in the Radail. I guess a single channel radial over a 4 channed behringer at the same price you'll get what you pay for, So I would say chech out radial engineering for sure!

Savman

godfrey wrote: »

I have to passionatly disagree I'm afraid. Behringer DI's produce huge amounts of distortion (not always noticable on first listen) and have terrible phase response. I would choose a cheap passive DI over them any time. I have seen SMAART analysis of them to back up my statement.

See, the OP specifically mentioned DI's "at the lower end of the scale". I'd say he's light years away from SMAART :rolleyes:

FYI I'm a Radial user myself, but as creamy as they are I would not be putting them near any amateur rock band night, so for bog standard DI boxes you can't really beat the B*hringer for the price. Age old argument, this.

madtheory

That's great lads... to answer the OP's question though...!

IMO, the Behringer's are a waste of money. As has been mentioned, distortion, and not nice distortion either. The ART is quite nice sounding, but the input impedance is a bit low if I remember rightly.

Two other budget DIs that are good- Tapco and naiant.

Now to return to off topic- never tried a Radial, but the Countryman is rather brilliant. Currently very good value for money (less than a Radial).

studiorat

All the DI boxes mentioned are in the region of what? €40. Cheapest Radial is €88. Personally I'd hang on and go for the Radial.

Buy cheap/Buy twice as my mate used to say.

PaulBrewer

studiorat wrote: »

Buy cheap/Buy twice as my mate used to say.

madtheory

studiorat wrote: »

Cheapest Radial is €88.

Ah right, I didn't know that. That'd be the Pro DI, the passive one, right? Only problem I think is it's got a low input impedance, so not so good for passive bass guitar etc.

Aridstarling

studiorat wrote: »

All the DI boxes mentioned are in the region of what? €40. Cheapest Radial is €88. Personally I'd hang on and go for the Radial.

Buy cheap/Buy twice as my mate used to say.

Might just do that, consensus seems to be the Radial is a way above the rest. I'll check out Countryman too, I've seen them mentioned a couple of times.

Thanks for all your opinions lads.:D

madtheory

A/B tests are very revealing! I tested the naiant MDI (no longer made) the Tapco DB-1A and the EBS Micro Bass II. Tested them in pairs so I could take a parallel out from one box to feed the other.

I used my surprisingly good sounding Westfield precision copy, passive. Paralleling probably changes the tone of the bass a bit, although all the DIs are at least 1 Megohm input, so it probably doesn't change it much. Not sure how to test for that without recording different performances. I could make up a passive splitter but that's a PITA. Any other suggestions are welcome.

So the EBS is the best sounding, closely followed by the Tapco. The naiant lacks a little bottom and is noisier. The Tapco is out of phase! If I hadn't been doing an A/B test I wouldn't have discovered that. The EBS has a "tube drive" which makes bass sound fatter. It's a very nice sounding box. I'll borrow a few more boxes (BSS, Countryman and a few others) and do more tests. This will include getting someone else to randomise which recording is playing back, to make a blind A/B test.

If there's enough interest, I'll also post recordings of my low grade bass playing

Aridstarling

Please do! Let us know how you get on, tis Heaven's work you're doing!

Rockshamrover

Aridstarling wrote: »

Please do! Let us know how you get on, tis Heaven's work you're doing!

+1