Avalon u5

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KingstonRock

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I've been looking at dedicated direct boxes and found this avalon box. Now it's only like $540, while all the other "good ones" are around $350.

Maybe I'm being childish, but this is AVALON, isn't it pretty sick to have some avalon gear in your rack, $540 isn't bad. There's also that manley one for about $510. Who would'n't want MANLEY in the rack right?

How are these two boxes, are they much better than say the groove tubes one for about $350?

Eric
 
What about a countryman? I think they're around 200 (pulling prices out of my ass) and they're a standard in most studios. I've heard lots of great things about them.
 
The countryman is class A active direct box--not a preamp/di like the avalon. In my honest opinion, the countryman is a far better choice because you can use it with any preamp.

Why not get a real avalon preamp? Single channel runs about 1400 bucks.

A 500 dollar direct box is really not worth the money.
 
The countryman is only $180 on sweetwater.com. Let's see if i understand you correctly, the countryman brings me up to lo-z or mic level, and then I also need a pre-amp to get to line level while the avalon goes right from instrument to line-level?

I've been thinking about an avalon pre. If the avalon pre has a hi-z input than i dont really need the countryman do I?

Eric
 
You need to stop thinking about brand names and focus on the sound you are looking for. Just because it says Manley or Avalon on the front plate doesn't mean you necessarily want it in your rig. Tube DI's are going to sound different than solid state, and even tube and solid state DI's are going to sound different from different manufacturers.

I work with a bass player that doesn't like the Manley but loves the sound of my Groove Tubes DITTO, which I loaned him for comparison.

A few other DI's to consider: Radial Engineering JDVmkIII, Aguilar DB900, ADL 300G.

I should note that I own a pair of the Groove Tubes DITTO boxes and am quite happy with them. I also own a couple channels of Jensen DI's that sound great. It is amazing how much the DI effects the tone of the instruments running through them.
 
Kingston. I own an Avalon AD2022, which is basically 2 M-5's. I believe the same DI circuitry is used for the U-5, the M-5, and the AD2022. I got my AS2022 for $2100 at GC, For that, you get one kickass dual pre, and 2 of the best DI channels money can buy.-Richie
P.S. All but one =bass track on the current project was run through the 2022, and it simply kicks ass.
 
I assisted for a session at my school and the bass player brought in a U5 and the thing sounded amazing. He did have a good bass which obviously helps but still I was so happy with it. We also have had a lot of success with the countryman. Good Luck.
 
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