K&K pure mini users - best 35.00 you'll ever spend....

[fitness1]

if you are running the pickup straight into a board right now.

I just got this a couple hours ago, and it takes a lot to make go "WOW" these days, but this difference is night and day.

I'm extremely picky about my plugged in sound, and have always used a good quality external condensor with any pickup system, but this made such a huge difference I'd have no problem gigging mic-less when using it.

If you have a board that has 3 band EQ on each channel, and onboard 7 or 9 band EQ (I use a Mackie Profx8), there is no need for spending the money on the Pure XLR with this little guy.

Got one from an Ebay seller for 35.00 shipped - built like a tank, phantom powered (no need for batteries) Pretty incredible....

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Behringe...74115050363.gc

Here's the seller I got mine from brand new and very quickly...

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Behringer-Ul...72.m2749.l2649

[J Patrick]

...yup...those Behringer DI's are one of the best kept secrets in affordable sound reinforcement....i've used them along side of spendy Radials Di's and they definitely pulled their weight...

[fitness1]

Originally Posted by J Patrick

...yup...those Behringer DI's are one of the best kept secrets in affordable sound reinforcement....i've used them along side of spendy Radials Di's and they definitely pulled their weight...

What's strange is that I wasn't even aware of them until about a week ago......I normally have my ear to the ground a little better than that regarding gear

[Ms16]

How does it compare to a Baggs Para Acoustic DI?

[fitness1]

Originally Posted by Ms16

How does it compare to a Baggs Para Acoustic DI?

I've never used the Para DI with a K&K because the impedance doesn't match.

I have used the XLR pure a lot and as I said above, if your board has midrange and gain control (each channel) and and onboard (all channel) EQ, I think this Behringer DI is as good or better sound.

[ljguitar]

Originally Posted by Ms16

How does it compare to a Baggs Para Acoustic DI?

Hi Ms16

The Behringer DI-100 is only a direct box, not a preamp. So it's not going to change the tone of a guitar like a ParaDI. It will just impedance match the output to the amp and/or PA system, and bring signal attenuation, pass through, ground lift, punch-in/out and simultaneous ¼" and XLR output.

They are aluminum housed and strong enough (tough enough) to elevate and angle heavy monitors (I've done it). They are phantom or battery powered, but they bring no advantage to the signal/sound that their passive models for $10 USD less bring to the party (we use both). They are truly road-worthy.

You can also plug up to 3000 Watts of amplifier output into any Behringer direct box and convert it to a balanced line feed to send to a PA system. This is sometimes handy on a stage where you can pull a speaker-out feed off an electric amplifier when the ability to mic it doesn't exist. It has replaced the 'RedBox' of old in that capacity (for any of you old enough to remember RedBox DIs)

They also make a GI-100 model which is for electrics, and does have a 4X12" cabinet simulator built in (moderately good). I still prefer to mic electric cabinets.

Hope this adds to the discussion…

[ljguitar]

Originally Posted by fitness1

I've never used the Para DI with a K&K because the impedance doesn't match.

I have used the XLR pure a lot and as I said above, if your board has midrange and gain control (each channel) and and onboard (all channel) EQ, I think this Behringer DI is as good or better sound.

Hi f1

We use ParaDIs with K&K all the time, and the alleged impedance mis-match doesn't make a bit of difference in the live mix, for solo guitar or ensemble play in our systems.

[fitness1]

All I know is that it's the best my K&K equipped instruments have sounded for very little money additionally. If you have proper EQ on your board, I see no reason at all to spend 100-140 more for a PARA DI or Pure XLR. I wasn't expecting a simple active DI to make such a difference.

[ljguitar]

Originally Posted by fitness1

All I know is that it's the best my K&K equipped instruments have sounded for very little money additionally. If you have proper EQ on your board, I see no reason at all to spend 100-140 more for a PARA DI or Pure XLR. I wasn't expecting a simple active DI to make such a difference.

Hi f1

When people are looking for advice (after hearing my K&K dual source systems) I always recommend they get a passive DI and go without a preamp, or internal mic, until such a time as they begin to want to improve the amplified sound beyond where it is initially.

And carrying a simple DI box is going to help you interface seamlessly with PA systems anywhere/everywhere.

Some upgrade and others are perfectly happy with the non-preamplified K&K Pure Mini through their amp/PA.

[SalFromChatham]

I think the impedance match is important.

I have a FireEye, which works great, but here is another tip. The Boss TU-3w chromatic tuner. Most people need a tuner on stage anyways. Makes the K&k sound better than just straight in.

I have played with my k&k equipped guitars straight into this tuner, and out to both PA and Bose on separate occasions.

[troggg]

p.s. These work fantastically for recording Fender bass, even better in my opinion than esoteric studio solutions (like the DI sections of top shelf mic preamps) which cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars. It's one of the most useful products Behringer ever made and has been around at least since the late nineties.