Inexpensive but effective DI box

[ljguitar]

Hi all

As for passive (or active) DI boxes for transforming signals and pass through, I've not found the over $100 units any better, quieter, nor kinder to the sound over the $25-35 Passive DI boxes built by numerous companies.

I carry 2-4 of the inexpensive DI boxes with us (depending on the gig) if we are running sound to provide connection to the mains and amps simultaneously.

I'm not operating a sound company, nor using mine 100 gigs a year, but I do have units which I bought for $25 back-in-the-day (more than 35 years ago) which are still functioning well today after hundreds (or thousands) of gigs. Just figuring they went to church with me over 50 times a year, for over 30 years, and didn't fail…I consider that a good test.

If you feel you need the 'reliability' of $150 units, then they are certainly available. But the simple $25-35 units do the same job, just a quietly, without affecting tone in the house or amp.

[ricdoug]

Originally Posted by RustyAxe

Ah ... but unless it's really expensive, and made of unobtainium it simply can't be any good. Or so the collective says.

My personal go to is the LR Baggs Para Acoustic DI, Rusty Axe.
Mine is old and barely shows signs of wear. I own dozens of passive and active preamp DI boxes and Behringer ADI21, GDI21 and BDI21 (several of each) and more battery powered amplification than anyone else I know for both large, small and multiple stadium venues. There is no bottom line in sound reinforcement. Punctual reliability and sound quality are paramount. I've fired myself from exactly one gig in my entire life and that was with my late friend Ike Turner as a session guitarist and backup vocalist at his house/studio in San Marcos, California 4 miles from my home in Vista about a year before he passed. Crank and Coke made him near almost impossible to work with without putting my USMC skills to work. Despite what journalists publish about Ike, he was truly a sweetheart of a man during the few periods he was clean and sober. I chose not to beat him down and was there in the last days. Ric

[ricdoug]

Originally Posted by ljguitar

Hi all

As for passive (or active) DI boxes for transforming signals and pass through, I've not found the over $100 units any better, quieter, nor kinder to the sound over the $25-35 Passive DI boxes built by numerous companies.

I carry 2-4 of the inexpensive DI boxes with us (depending on the gig) if we are running sound to provide connection to the mains and amps simultaneously.

I'm not operating a sound company, nor using mine 100 gigs a year, but I do have units which I bought for $25 back-in-the-day (more than 35 years ago) which are still functioning well today after hundreds (or thousands) of gigs. Just figuring they went to church with me over 50 times a year, for over 30 years, and didn't fail…I consider that a good test.

If you feel you need the 'reliability' of $150 units, then they are certainly available. But the simple $25-35 units do the same job, just a quietly, without affecting tone in the house or amp.

This is FACT!

[KevWind]

Some great suggestions so far and pretty cost reasonable, so for general info , I will just throw out the other end of the cost spectrum and arguably one of best DI's available The A Designs REDDI tube DI but at $745 not a cheap unit.
Has become very popular for pro bass players, but is also a top flight guitar DI

http://adesignsaudio.com/reddi-all-tube-direct-box

[earri]

a third on the Orchid