Behringer ADi21 ~ Not bad for $29 bucks

[JakeStone]

So I was cleaning up my home studio and discovered a little maroon colored box in my "junk" drawer.
Oh yeah, I remember buying this!

Plugged in my Gibson J35 with Baggs M80 ...
Direct Into the (EQ-less) Bose L1C.

Cranked the Blend knob and tweaked the EQ...
Dang, really not too shabby...

Anyone else ?

[tdq]

I got one of these as I use a clip on mic, which has a 1/4 jack but is low-impedance so the unit essentially is a glorified 1/4-XLR converter. Still, since it's there I do use the EQ a little, but don't use the blend at all. I'm pretty low end though, just use it for the occasional open mic or home recording. What I really want is a fishman platinum pro but this was a super cheap buy off gumtree.

[Scootch]

It’s actually very functional. Very ugly, but it works well when I use it.

[Wooly]

I've been using one and it's a great unit. I have recently upgraded to a BBE Acoustimax. I have a K&K Pure XLR preamp also but if I had to choose between the K&K or the ADI21, I'd use the ADI21. I'll likely sell the K&K. Sweepable mids are an important feature. K&K doesn't have that option.

[Mandobart]

I gigged with the Behringer ADI21 for a couple years. I use a RedEye now, but always pack the Behringer as a backup.

[lkingston]

They’re Tech21 knockoffs, and they do sound almost as good. One thing to watch for is that the new ones have dropped the 20db pad switch. This isn’t important unless you have some sort of Mackie mixer (Reach, DLM, ProDX, etc.) in which case, the 20db pad will compensate for the silly “wide Z” inputs perfectly.

[TheSaint]

Incredible value for money and sounds great. It's built like a tank so no problems when it gets kicked around on stage. What more can you ask...?

I use it when I need a simple set up such as an impromptu rehearsal with friends but it has held its own a a gig.

[Marek]

I had one in the past and used it with K&K equipped guitar.
It is definitely good value for the money but I was not satisfied with overall sound quality so I sold it.
For my ears, it added noise and reduced clarity with eq set flat compared to active di-box.
I found blend function rather unusable with K&K type soundboard transducers - maybe it works better with piezo undersaddles.
Interesting fact - when it is in "bypass mode" (led is not lit), it still functions as a DI-BOX/impedance buffer (XLR output). Most of the time I used it that way and set eq on Soundcraft power mixer with better results.

[MrErikJ]

This was my first preamp/DI and I used it for years. I was recently doing some spring cleaning and came across it in a box and I relocated it to my current pedal/preamp collection. After having it for more than a decade, why part with it now? You never know when it may come in handy.

[JakeStone]

Originally Posted by lkingston

They’re Tech21 knockoffs, and they do sound almost as good. One thing to watch for is that the new ones have dropped the 20db pad switch. This isn’t important unless you have some sort of Mackie mixer (Reach, DLM, ProDX, etc.) in which case, the 20db pad will compensate for the silly “wide Z” inputs perfectly.

Looks like the pad is still there on the newer ones..
On same switch as ground lift.

[roylor4]

Both my wife and I use these. Work well and great value.

[troggg]

So, Jake, something's telling me that your T1 Tonematch is not a device that will need to be pried from your cold, dead, fingertips ...

[JakeStone]

Ha... I'd play through a tin can if I can get my tone!

[troggg]

Originally Posted by JakeStone

Ha... I'd play through a tin can if I can get my tone!

And your rankings for Bose T1, TC Play Acoustic, and Berry ADi12 as front end into Bose L1C would be?

[JakeStone]

Originally Posted by troggg

And your rankings for Bose T1, TC Play Acoustic, and Berry ADi12 as front end into Bose L1C would be?

Hmm... I did pull the ADI21 out of my "junk" drawer...