Avalon U5 Direct Box

[wes480]

well, I got the Sansamp Bass Drive DI, and after swapping out two units, and spending time on the phone with Tech21 - the thing just isn't working for me.

i don't know if I got in on a bad batch of them or what, but..whatever..I don't really care.

I returned it, got my 180 bucks back.

So, I was doing more research - for $550 dollars from Mercenary I can get the Avalon U5 Direct Box.

Anyone have any experience with this thing? If it is great for guitars etc too...

basically, if I can spend 300 dollars more than I did on the Sansamp, and get a "world class" DI, that will last me 25 years...then why not.

-wes

[Wide Awake]

Many pros are using them, probably a very good unit. If a clean DI is the sound you want. If you play jazz and pop and country it may be a good choice, but if you want an overdriven sound for rock, fusion, and metal then buy something that offers amp modeling and distortion. Bass POD and Johnson J-Station.

I have the Bass POD and a cheap mono PA system (single cabinet). It's an unbelievable sounding set-up for not a whole lot of money.

Anyway, I wouldn't hesitate buying the Avalon for a 30-day trial. Aguilar, Demeter, and Summit make some good tube and solid-state direct boxes too.

[Henri Devill]

I've got one and its really great on bass guit..The sound is very clear and full..I don't think that you can go wrong with it as a DI choice...If you get to use and return , your prob not gonna return it.....Good luck



Don

[wes480]

thanks guys.

henri - do you think it would be ok for rock music?

like, would there be anyway to get a little "dirtier" sound but still have it sound really good?

one thing i read about this unit compared to cheaper DIs is that it has more "headroom"

confused on what they mean by that...i mean, i understand headroom...

maybe they mean you can get a good tone with this at a lower volume?

[Henri Devill]

Thats the stuff I do mostly{rock}..You can DI off the amp or split the sig. so you can get alot of edge{dirtier} off the amp..Or compress the st@* outta it..But the bottom line is you are going to get the full range of the {tone}instrument no matter if its a 8 string or 4 string or bari guit..I think on the "Headroom", it will take alot of input before it pukes and the sig to noise rat. is excellent..Besides a lot of level{hot} you have a rotary multi position EQ switch...It would prob. kill on certain keyboard tracks {I havent had the chance yet} Good luck


Don