Members Drummer44 Posted December 21, 2015 Members Share Posted December 21, 2015 I'd like to get one or two spares to have around, in case someone forgets to bring their own, etc. Only interested in passive models -- so no external power source is required -- aimed at instrument cable (guitar, keyboard, etc.) input and both 1/4" and XLR output, ground lift, etc. (A TS/TRS output would be for if/when we run out of XLR inputs on the mixer, ideally never, or at least only occasionally.) Can folks hum a few bars about good quality models, perhaps some where budget isn't an issue (although not the "add an arm and a leg" versions), and some where features and quality suggest good bang for the buck? Top three or four? IOW, get me in the ballpark and tell me what's important so I can shop better? I see models with filters, can't tell if useful or not; comments welcome. Thanks, -D44 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members dedmeet Posted December 21, 2015 Members Share Posted December 21, 2015 Simple, rugged, reliable, and works well: http://www.audiopile.net/FDB-101 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CMS Author Craig Vecchione Posted December 21, 2015 CMS Author Share Posted December 21, 2015 Indeed, I've never read an ill word about Audiopile's passive boxes. Sounds like a solid value. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Tomm Williams Posted December 21, 2015 Members Share Posted December 21, 2015 What they said^^^^^^^ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Vito Corleone Posted December 21, 2015 Members Share Posted December 21, 2015 I use Radial DIs. Pricey compared to that EWI shown above so maybe I've overpaid, but built like a tank and never a problem. http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/ProDI/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members dbMontana Posted December 21, 2015 Members Share Posted December 21, 2015 I have four from Audiopile and one Radial Pro-DI. I can't hear any difference. All seem durable and have been utterly reliable. Wish I could say the same about everything.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Mike M Posted December 21, 2015 Members Share Posted December 21, 2015 I have two of these:http://www.amazon.com/Rapco-Horizon-STL-1-Stereoline-Passive/dp/B0002H03I0amongst others. I use them regularly and have not a negative issue with their operation over their 8+ years of use. They are good units. Mike M Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Drummer44 Posted December 22, 2015 Author Members Share Posted December 22, 2015 Thanks, this is getting me started. Radial's design for protected jacks and switches seems useful. As do metal fittings instead of plastic? But at slightly more than 3x the cost? Do the ground lift switches on these function for both XLR and 1/4" outputs? Other options? -D44 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Mike M Posted December 22, 2015 Members Share Posted December 22, 2015 Do the ground lift switches on these function for both XLR and 1/4" outputs? Other options? -D44 To be truthful I have never engaged the ground-lift switch on any of my DI's in live band / DJ scenarios... I've just never had the need to, however, I did loan one of my DI's to a DJ that had been having "hum/buzz" trouble integrating his mixer/gear into a club's installed PA. He engaged the ground-lift thus eliminating the noise... He said that it worked like a charm. Mike M Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Drummer44 Posted December 23, 2015 Author Members Share Posted December 23, 2015 I'm thinking ahead to times when we may occasionally need to exceed the XLR input channels on our normal mixer... But I'm guessing if the ground lift switches don't work on the 1/4" DI outlets I could conceivably use an XLR-to-TRS converter cable or adapter or whatever... Ideally not critical if we've not having any noise issues anyway... -D44 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members agedhorse Posted December 24, 2015 Members Share Posted December 24, 2015 The direct out is the only out that's transformer isolated, and the only output that's affected by the ground lift switch. You can not ground lift an unbalanced signal (with any kind of success, plus the potential for introduction of RF). Marks are a very good value, and I would challenge anybody to tell the difference between it and a Radial under normal applications. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Drummer44 Posted December 24, 2015 Author Members Share Posted December 24, 2015 The direct out is the only out that's transformer isolated, and the only output that's affected by the ground lift switch. You can not ground lift an unbalanced signal (with any kind of success, plus the potential for introduction of RF). Got it, thanks. Happy to say I was (I think) beginning to twig on to the theory behind that, as I was gradually beginning to understand the reason behind the 1/4" "thru" output jack (feed an amp, not a mic channel on a mixer)... and it's very useful to hear your confirmation! -D44 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Dogoth Posted December 25, 2015 Members Share Posted December 25, 2015 I've used a lot of Rapco, Whirlwind directors (both around $100) but would have to recommend the EWI Audiopile boxes as best bang for the buck. I own a couple for lite use in a studio but a good friend (who uses the snot out of them) bought 8 or so a few years back and still sings their praises. Really love the Radials (especially the Jensen transformer ones) but those are in the arm and leg territory (and really not warranted unless the circumstances are extreme). my .02 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members abzurd Posted December 25, 2015 Members Share Posted December 25, 2015 My band has used 3 EWI models (FDB-101, FDB-202 and FDB-404) every show for the last 10+ years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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