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Title: New DI purchasing advice
Post by: Kristian Stevenson on May 04, 2014, 10:39:51 PM
Hello all. We are needing to purchase new DI's this summer to replace a large (10+) inventory of old/broken Countryman Type 85's. These have been repaired multiple times and continue to fail. They are used 3 times a week but only go from the work-box (stored in a closet) to the stage. Needless to say, I am not happy about the durability and reliability of the Countryman's.

What I'm looking for is a durable, universal, and quality sounding DI. We are looking at Radials as I've heard good things and am leaning towards the J-DI. We are also considering the Whirlwind IMP JT. We have a large inventory of Whirlwind IMP-2's for small system events and rarely have any problems out of those.

Are there any other DI's I should consider? Any experience with the ones mentioned above?
Thanks guys!
Title: Re: New DI purchasing advice
Post by: Richard Turner on May 04, 2014, 11:50:06 PM

+1 on the JDI built like a tank, does what it promises to do.  Just as most any Canadian engineered thing should

also the jdi duplex is basically 2 of them in one chassis but I've seen quite a few pairs of JDI twinned using gaffer tape.

have a look at the stage direct active DI as well from Radial. has a tuner loop/mute, noiseless switching 2 stage low cut and phase flip on the through to amp,  pad and the mute can be triggered by a regular momentary remote switch as well if you want to hide it  for a super clean on stage look (it has 2 led's on it mute and phantom power)

cable factory might be another brand to look at, I've not experienced them personally but reviews are favorable
http://www.cablefactory.com/catalogue/CF-Catalogue-devices.pdf

I've also seen quite a few of these LRbaggs para accoustic DI's but you may or may not want to allow that much control on the lip of the satage.

http://www.lrbaggs.com/preamps/para-di-acoustic-preamp
Title: Re: New DI purchasing advice
Post by: Tim Perry on May 05, 2014, 12:27:45 AM
If you are having that much trouble with DI failures it would be a safe bet its due to abuse.

Might as well get cheapies and keep replacing them when they get trashed.

Rapcos seem to hold up just fine for me.
Title: Re: New DI purchasing advice
Post by: Samuel Rees on May 05, 2014, 12:55:24 AM
Countryman DI seem pretty durable to me. So do the radials of course, but I'd be surprised if you found them to be of a dramatically different build quality.
Title: Re: New DI purchasing advice
Post by: Dave Dermont on May 05, 2014, 01:13:27 AM
Hello all. We are needing to purchase new DI's this summer to replace a large (10+) inventory of old/broken Countryman Type 85's. These have been repaired multiple times and continue to fail. They are used 3 times a week but only go from the work-box (stored in a closet) to the stage. Needless to say, I am not happy about the durability and reliability of the Countryman's.

What I'm looking for is a durable, universal, and quality sounding DI. We are looking at Radials as I've heard good things and am leaning towards the J-DI. We are also considering the Whirlwind IMP JT. We have a large inventory of Whirlwind IMP-2's for small system events and rarely have any problems out of those.

Are there any other DI's I should consider? Any experience with the ones mentioned above?
Thanks guys!

I have to say that the Countryman is on my personal Reliable/Universal list of DI boxes. How old are the ones you are replacing? I suppose nothing lasts forever.

That said, the Radial JDI would be a good choice.
Title: Re: New DI purchasing advice
Post by: Steve M Smith on May 05, 2014, 04:00:26 AM
Another option if you know of any electronic hobbyists or engineers is to gut out the insides and have a new circuit built.

It's not rocket science and is what I would do.

It is my opinion that the majority of DIs are too big.  I plan to see if I can make a phantom powered only version which will fit in an XLR barrel so it will be the same size as an XLR to jack convertor.


Steve.
Title: Re: New DI purchasing advice
Post by: Bill Schnake on May 05, 2014, 07:40:07 AM
Hello all. We are needing to purchase new DI's this summer to replace a large (10+) inventory of old/broken Countryman Type 85's. These have been repaired multiple times and continue to fail. They are used 3 times a week but only go from the work-box (stored in a closet) to the stage. Needless to say, I am not happy about the durability and reliability of the Countryman's.

What I'm looking for is a durable, universal, and quality sounding DI. We are looking at Radials as I've heard good things and am leaning towards the J-DI. We are also considering the Whirlwind IMP JT. We have a large inventory of Whirlwind IMP-2's for small system events and rarely have any problems out of those.

Are there any other DI's I should consider? Any experience with the ones mentioned above?
Thanks guys!
+1 on the Radials.  We have been using them for about 5 years with no issues.  For an in-expensive DI we keep several of the Rapco/Horizon DB-1 DIs.  They work fine for acoustic guitar and piano, however they don't have a pad on them.

Bill 
Title: Re: New DI purchasing advice
Post by: jason misterka on May 05, 2014, 07:44:07 AM
Countryman DI seem pretty durable to me. So do the radials of course, but I'd be surprised if you found them to be of a dramatically different build quality.

They look durable but don't act durable. We stopped using them as well due to a 100% failure rate. 3/3. Some multiple times.

Jason
Title: Re: New DI purchasing advice
Post by: Lyle Williams on May 05, 2014, 07:45:49 AM
Another option if you know of any electronic hobbyists or engineers is to gut out the insides and have a new circuit built.

It's not rocket science and is what I would do.

It is my opinion that the majority of DIs are too big.  I plan to see if I can make a phantom powered only version which will fit in an XLR barrel so it will be the same size as an XLR to jack convertor.


Steve.

They need to be about the size they are to house decent transformers.

The ones that don't have decent transformers are still trying to look like they do.
Title: Re: New DI purchasing advice
Post by: David Sturzenbecher on May 05, 2014, 07:58:02 AM
The best

http://lbpinc.com/DI.html 


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Title: Re: New DI purchasing advice
Post by: Steve M Smith on May 05, 2014, 09:42:28 AM
They need to be about the size they are to house decent transformers.

The ones that don't have decent transformers are still trying to look like they do.

I was thinking of an active one with phantom power.  That doesn't need to be very big.


Steve.
Title: Re: New DI purchasing advice
Post by: Geoff Doane on May 05, 2014, 09:54:03 AM
The best

http://lbpinc.com/DI.html 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

The LBP, JDI and Whirlwind IMP2-JT all use the the Jensen JT-DBE transformer, so the performance ought to be identical.  It really comes down to which form factor you prefer.  I've owned half a dozen that I built 20 years ago, also using the JT-DBE transformer, and they've always done the job for me.  To eliminate any switches, I put in two XLRs instead.  One has the ground connected, and the other has it lifted (with an RF bypass cap), so nothing can get changed inadvertently after I plug things in.

While the DIs mentioned above are first choice general purpose boxes, I think it's a good idea to have the option of an active box available when you had to interface a piezo pickup and I like the Radial Pro48 for that.  The performance is the same or better than the J48, but it is smaller, the power LED stays on all the time, there are fewer switches to get put in the wrong position, and at about $100, it's quite affordable.  It doesn't have the merge and polarity switches like the J48, but those are some of the switches I consider superfluous.

There are probably other active DIs you should consider, but except for the J48s, I don't have much experience with them.

GTD
Title: Re: New DI purchasing advice
Post by: John Roberts {JR} on May 05, 2014, 09:59:20 AM
Another option if you know of any electronic hobbyists or engineers is to gut out the insides and have a new circuit built.

It's not rocket science and is what I would do.

It is my opinion that the majority of DIs are too big.  I plan to see if I can make a phantom powered only version which will fit in an XLR barrel so it will be the same size as an XLR to jack convertor.


Steve.
Back in the '80s I built a DIC (DI cord) where I built a pair of discrete JFETs into the barrel of a 1/4" plug. It used phantom power and put out a mic level signal.

I only built one for a friend, but yes using modern SMD technology an active DI (without transformer) could easily fit inside a very compact package.
 
JR
Title: Re: New DI purchasing advice
Post by: Steve M Smith on May 05, 2014, 10:19:51 AM
Back in the '80s I built a DIC (DI cord) where I built a pair of discrete JFETs into the barrel of a 1/4" plug. It used phantom power and put out a mic level signal.

You can do it with a single transistor with equal value resistors in the collector and emitter connections.  Similar to the phase splitters in cheaper valve/tube guitar amplifiers.

I have used this configuration together with a mini electret microphone to make some phantom powered boundary mics.


Steve.
Title: Re: New DI purchasing advice
Post by: John Roberts {JR} on May 05, 2014, 10:22:27 AM
You can do it with a single transistor with equal value resistors in the collector and emitter connections.  Similar to the phase splitters in cheaper valve/tube guitar amplifiers.

I have used this configuration together with a mini electret microphone to make some phantom powered boundary mics.


Steve.

Mine was for studio use so was completely balanced, and padded the hot guitar level signals down to mic level.

JR
Title: Re: New DI purchasing advice
Post by: John Halliburton on May 05, 2014, 10:58:07 AM
The best

http://lbpinc.com/DI.html 


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

A negative for me on these is the top mounted I/O.  Much prefer the Radial/Countryman/99% of the rest of the DIs out there where it's on the ends.

FYI, I've had one out of four Countrymans break down in the 12 years I've owned them.  They fixed it n/c.

Best regards,

John
Title: Re: New DI purchasing advice
Post by: Tim McCulloch on May 05, 2014, 11:14:07 AM
A negative for me on these is the top mounted I/O.  Much prefer the Radial/Countryman/99% of the rest of the DIs out there where it's on the ends.

FYI, I've had one out of four Countrymans break down in the 12 years I've owned them.  They fixed it n/c.

Best regards,

John

I have 6 FET85 of my own that I'm sending to Countryman.  They've accumulated over the last several years and some have obvious problems that I could probably fix myself, but I'd rather have the mothership inspect and repair.

FWIW, the last time my employer sent FET85s back, Carl Countryman said "don't leave dead batteries in them and quit buying cheap mic cables; there's not a damn thing wrong with any of units you sent back."
Title: Re: New DI purchasing advice
Post by: Samuel Rees on May 05, 2014, 11:23:03 AM
My countryman hasn't failed me yet. Used plenty of functioning old ones at venues.
Title: Re: New DI purchasing advice
Post by: Chuck Simon on May 05, 2014, 11:38:09 AM
FWIW, the last time my employer sent FET85s back, Carl Countryman said "don't leave dead batteries in them and quit buying cheap mic cables; there's not a damn thing wrong with any of units you sent back."

That's right!  Even when using phantom power  the Countryman's won't function with dead batteries in them.  You are better off removing the batteries if you don't need them.  I have two that have been trouble free for probably 15 years.
Title: Re: New DI purchasing advice
Post by: TJ (Tom) Cornish on May 05, 2014, 11:54:52 AM
That's right!  Even when using phantom power  the Countryman's won't function with dead batteries in them.  You are better off removing the batteries if you don't need them.  I have two that have been trouble free for probably 15 years.
I own one 85 that I bought around 2001 or so.  It recently went intermittent (epoxy block developed a crack).  Countryman was good enough to repair it for me free of charge, which is a heck of a warranty, but the box failed due to age, not due to abuse, dead batteries, or overuse (I probably used it 5 times per year).

I have had good luck with my Radials, other than the paint peeling off from gaff tape.
Title: Re: New DI purchasing advice
Post by: Brian Adams on May 05, 2014, 12:00:46 PM
I have a dozen Radial Pro48's. I chose them over the J48 because I think they have too many switches. I also have quite a few ProD2's, AV1's, and AV2's. They sound great, and I haven't had a single failure yet.
Title: Re: New DI purchasing advice
Post by: Tim McCulloch on May 05, 2014, 12:47:12 PM
The performance is the same or better than the J48, but it is smaller, the power LED stays on all the time, there are fewer switches to get put in the wrong position, and at about $100, it's quite affordable.  It doesn't have the merge and polarity switches like the J48, but those are some of the switches I consider superfluous.

The merge function, polarity switch, etc are exactly the reasons I bought 8 J48.  For me they are needed features, not superfluous switches.  Your mileage (or kilometerage) seems to vary with mine... ;)
Title: Re: New DI purchasing advice
Post by: John Halliburton on May 05, 2014, 02:15:19 PM
I have 6 FET85 of my own that I'm sending to Countryman.  They've accumulated over the last several years and some have obvious problems that I could probably fix myself, but I'd rather have the mothership inspect and repair.

FWIW, the last time my employer sent FET85s back, Carl Countryman said "don't leave dead batteries in them and quit buying cheap mic cables; there's not a damn thing wrong with any of units you sent back."

He makes a damn fine point.  The one I sent back had a crack on the molded plastic chassis that pretty much fills the interior, and probably a connection to the battery was corrupted from the damage.

Best regards,

John
Title: Re: New DI purchasing advice
Post by: Geoff Doane on May 05, 2014, 03:47:03 PM
  Your mileage (or kilometerage) seems to vary with mine... ;)

To each his own.  :)

Perhaps I'm still bitter after fumbling around in the dark underneath some keyboard players rig, trying to get all the switches on two stereo feeds to match.  I know, I shouldn't be using active boxes for that, but it wasn't my choice.

GTD
Title: Re: New DI purchasing advice
Post by: Bill Schnake on May 05, 2014, 05:11:34 PM
FWIW, the last time my employer sent FET85s back, Carl Countryman said "don't leave dead batteries in them and quit buying cheap mic cables; there's not a damn thing wrong with any of units you sent back."

People actually use batteries instead of phantom...we don't even have batteries for our active DIs. 

Bill  :o
Title: Re: New DI purchasing advice
Post by: Nate Armstrong on May 05, 2014, 05:21:20 PM
Also take a look at klark technic DN200 active stereo DI box   or DN100 for mono
Title: Re: New DI purchasing advice
Post by: Kristian Stevenson on May 05, 2014, 06:35:52 PM
Wow. What a quick response!

I'm not sure how old the Countryman's are but I know they are long before my time working at the university (2010). We've had every kind of failure out of them: plastic XLR connector breaking apart, super small ribbon cable breaking/coming un-soldered, and some that appear cosmetically OK but don't pass signal or a have a nasty buzz. I don't think we've ever used batteries in them and we use all Neutrik X series connectors on Clark MINK4 cable for XLR's. Apart from being used 3 times a week, they are not abused by any means. We take good care of our gear.

I like the idea of having a few active DI's on hand for certain applications and for the Radials, the JDI and J48 are at the same price point. I also like how the Pro48 has a phantom power indicator light (speeds up troubleshooting). Apart from the extra features on the J series Radials, are they basically the same sound as the Pro series (passive and active)?

Thank you for all the responses!
Title: Re: New DI purchasing advice
Post by: Hanno Meingast on May 05, 2014, 11:11:23 PM


Are there any other DI's I should consider?

For an active DI, check out the Avenson line.  Recently did a mini shootout with a passive piezo on a travel guitar, and the Avenson clearly came out ahead.
Title: Re: New DI purchasing advice
Post by: Tim McCulloch on May 05, 2014, 11:35:02 PM
People actually use batteries instead of phantom...we don't even have batteries for our active DIs. 

Bill  :o

I think some of them were old enough that they'd gone out with mixers that lacked phantom supply, or an expedient fix to a snake channel without a pin 1 connection was to put a battery in the DI, where it was forgotten about.
Title: Re: New DI purchasing advice
Post by: Chris Eddison on May 06, 2014, 06:06:17 AM
I'm using LA Audio Active DI's and really quite like them. Nice and simple steel enclosures. Nothing too fancy but everything you need. Price is good compared to others and they sound absolutely fine. Not sure if they're rider friendly sadly.
Title: Re: New DI purchasing advice
Post by: Alec Spence on May 06, 2014, 09:17:48 AM
It is my opinion that the majority of DIs are too big.  I plan to see if I can make a phantom powered only version which will fit in an XLR barrel so it will be the same size as an XLR to jack convertor.

Not so good for folk from the US, but Orchid Electronics in the UK (well regarded by many including me for their cheap but good DIs) make the Micro DI (http://www.orchid-electronics.co.uk/micro.htm) which is simple (just jack in, XLR out) and great for those times where you don't need a link out.  A good price too!
Title: Re: New DI purchasing advice
Post by: Frank DeWitt on May 06, 2014, 10:10:29 AM
A negative for me on these is the top mounted I/O.  Much prefer the Radial/Countryman/99% of the rest of the DIs out there where it's on the ends.

Best regards,

John

The LBP DI is very small and light.  therefor as soon as you plug in a XLR and 1/3 in plug it will tip over on it's side. 

In use it is always on it's side with both cables coming out in the same direction so it takes up less room then a conventional layout with cables coming out each end.
http://lbpinc.com/both-DIs.jpg (http://lbpinc.com/both-DIs.jpg)

I'm the guy who makes them
Title: Re: New DI purchasing advice
Post by: Steve M Smith on May 06, 2014, 10:27:13 AM
Not so good for folk from the US, but Orchid Electronics in the UK (well regarded by many including me for their cheap but good DIs) make the Micro DI (http://www.orchid-electronics.co.uk/micro.htm) which is simple (just jack in, XLR out) and great for those times where you don't need a link out.  A good price too!

That's more like it.  No need to be any bigger than that.  And it's a good price... and I'm in the UK so I might buy one!


Steve.
Title: Re: New DI purchasing advice
Post by: Rich Grisier on May 07, 2014, 01:18:38 AM
Hello all. We are needing to purchase new DI's this summer to replace a large (10+) inventory of old/broken Countryman Type 85's. These have been repaired multiple times and continue to fail. They are used 3 times a week but only go from the work-box (stored in a closet) to the stage. Needless to say, I am not happy about the durability and reliability of the Countryman's.

What I'm looking for is a durable, universal, and quality sounding DI. We are looking at Radials as I've heard good things and am leaning towards the J-DI. We are also considering the Whirlwind IMP JT. We have a large inventory of Whirlwind IMP-2's for small system events and rarely have any problems out of those.

Are there any other DI's I should consider? Any experience with the ones mentioned above?
Thanks guys!

I haven't tried them before, but I've heard good things about the EWI LDB-101 (http://www.audiopile.net/products/DI_Boxes/LDB-101/LDB-101_cutsheet.shtml).  I've heard they are on par sound wise with the Countryman.

I have a Countryman in my emergency bag.  Never had a problem with it.  Always there when I need it... which was usually when the bass player's rig broke down.  Of all things, I have one of those Behringer dual channel DI's I use for our drummer's trigger module.  I'd been using it for 9+ years without a single problem.
Title: Re: New DI purchasing advice
Post by: kendallhadden on May 08, 2014, 12:45:00 PM
I've had great service out of these too.  They are relatively cheap too.
Live-Wire-PDI-Double-Shielded Heavy Duty Passive Direct Box
Title: Re: New DI purchasing advice
Post by: Matt Vivlamore on May 08, 2014, 02:08:14 PM
as a Lounge guy... you can't beat the EWI/Audiopile DI's...

I'm a user of:
FDB-101
FDB-202
LDB-101
DBRC-2A