Preamp with no dedicated DI input

  • Thread starter Thread starter jsavisalo
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jsavisalo

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I'm very interested in the DAV Electronics' BG1 preamp; great reviews, raving user opinions, not bad price...
Just one thing I'd like to ask. I'm recording mostly acoustic instruments but also electric bass and some keyboards. The BG1 doesn't have any dedicated DI inputs, only XLR ins. Mick Hinton, the designer and owner of DAV, tells me that all you have to do is to use a simple XLR to jack socket.
Well, I don't doubt his words, but I would still like to hear some opinions. Is it OK to use this kind of preamp for bass using a socket? Does it sound good? If someone has experience with this particular pre, that would be great, but any other opinions are also welcome.

Thanks. J
 
you know, i am not sure on that, however i do believe stuff like the brent averil (sp) stuff we have (312 and 1272) use a really simple arrangement to put the DI on theirs...like, it does not have a dedicated transformer for the DI...

hopefully someone will chime in...i'd be interested to know as well.

Mike
 
Just plugged a bass into both my Phoenix and my John Hardy and it worked great. I used a TRS (cuz that's all I have) out of the bass into a mic cable and it had plenty of clean signal.
 
Try a simple passive DI box in between the instrument and the preamp.
 
Hmmm

What I'd do is hack into the unit and wire in a jack after the first gain stage. I'd use a transformer if I needed it balanced in.
 
I would say throw a DI in there and you're fine. Look at Radial's Jensen equipped line: The JDI is passive and the J48 is active. I prefer passive cause it doesn't introduce and interferance accidentally...it's just one less circuit to worry about...

Jacob
 
Big Kenny said:
Just plugged a bass into both my Phoenix and my John Hardy and it worked great. I used a TRS (cuz that's all I have) out of the bass into a mic cable and it had plenty of clean signal.
Click to expand...

hm...i'm trying that on my hardy! :eek:

Mike
 
Thanks for your comments everyone!

Big Kenny, so you plugged your bass into your Hardy's mic input without any DI box in between and it worked fine; that's quite promising.

How about you Mike, did you try that too?

What would you say about a product like this Cordial CIW 1: http://www.cordial-gmbh.de/en/produkte.php?kat=78 ? A "DI box" built in the connector itself, looks like a handy little thing. Would that be better than going in with just a simple TRS-XLR cable? Would it still be better to use a "real" DI box like the Radial JDI, which Jacob suggests?

Juha
 
hey - i'll try it tonight or this weekend.

it would be proper to use a DI. i'd wager the superior transformer on the front end of the hardy allows some things which aren't necessarily proper...but it's always best to DI...that's what they're there for.

Mike
 
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