Is there a DI box project available somewhere?

S

Steve973

Member
I would like to build a DI box, since the ones I'd prefer to buy are all pretty expensive. I don't see one here on PedalPCB, but I would love to build one that is as good as the higher-end models I see online. It would be great to build a splitter that has a balanced XLR output (Neutrik XLR/Phono combo jack). I'm just not sure how I should go about it; I am not an EE, nor do I design circuits.
 
Upvote 2
How expensive is expensive? A good quality DI isn't cheap to build either, the transformers I use for mine are right around $80 a piece. You can obviously use cheaper transformers, but cheap transformers make a cheap-sounding DI.

An alternative is an active DI box, using the circuit to match impedance instead of a transformer. In my opinion a quality transformer will sound better than an active DI, but an active DI will still sound better than a cheap transformer.
 
vigilante398 said:
How expensive is expensive? A good quality DI isn't cheap to build either, the transformers I use for mine are right around $80 a piece. You can obviously use cheaper transformers, but cheap transformers make a cheap-sounding DI.

An alternative is an active DI box, using the circuit to match impedance instead of a transformer. In my opinion a quality transformer will sound better than an active DI, but an active DI will still sound better than a cheap transformer.
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If I am going to build one, I don't really care how expensive it gets. Somehow, I feel better about spending more money if it is a project that I can research, source the parts for, build, and then use. With regard to passive vs active, regarding the transformer, is it entirely an either/or proposition? I thought that I had seen active DI boxes that utilized a transformer. Bumblebee comes to mind: https://www.bumblebeepro.com/shop/bb-d2-discrete-op-amp-di-diy-kit/ but I'd prefer to just get a pcb and choose the components myself so that I can learn more.

Edit: Oops, it looks like the bumblebee is passive!
Edit #2: It has phantom 48v power.
 
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I have an old Pyle PDC21, and I am thinking about removing the transformer and putting something good in there. Although I'm not sure what to pick. I am a bass player (if that matters with regard to the transformer). I see cinemag and jensen everywhere. Probably can't go wrong with either of those, but I also have no idea what the differences are between them. So much to learn.
 
Steve973 said:
I have an old Pyle PDC21, and I am thinking about removing the transformer and putting something good in there. Although I'm not sure what to pick. I am a bass player (if that matters with regard to the transformer). I see cinemag and jensen everywhere. Probably can't go wrong with either of those, but I also have no idea what the differences are between them. So much to learn.
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Jensen and Cinemag are both quality transformers, but I personally find Jensen a lot easier to communicate with then Cinemag. I build mostly for bassists, and Jensen and Lightning Boy are both highly regarded for bass.
 
vigilante398 said:
Jensen and Cinemag are both quality transformers, but I personally find Jensen a lot easier to communicate with then Cinemag. I build mostly for bassists, and Jensen and Lightning Boy are both highly regarded for bass.
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I notice that both the Jensen and Lightning Boy transformers have two rows of four pins. This Pyle PDC21 has one row of four pins, and the second row only has two pins (with the other two missing in the middle of that row, if that makes sense). Will I have to get a different "form factor" transformer?
 
Steve973 said:
I notice that both the Jensen and Lightning Boy transformers have two rows of four pins. This Pyle PDC21 has one row of four pins, and the second row only has two pins (with the other two missing in the middle of that row, if that makes sense). Will I have to get a different "form factor" transformer?
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You'll definitely need to find out what the pinout is and probably do some creative wiring to get it in there. There unfortunately isn't a "standard" pinout for DI transformers. I designed a daughter board that can handle Lightning Boy or Jensen on the same board, but both the size and the pinouts are completely different between the two.
 
A @PedalPCB stand-alone DI would be grand. Don’t mind getting a decent transformer.

I’ve got the Sunndering, plan on getting the MB bass sandsample, and I looked into getting the Bumblebee and I’ve seen the DIYRE…
Oh, and for a hot minute I looked at THCustom’s DI offering but can’t remember why I cooled on it.


A good DI is de rigueur on bass.
 
I use the Radial PZed-pre for my DB. Had to tighten a jack once, but overall it’s been bulletproof for a decade or so.

Radial’s penchant for 15v is a *@%#^ PITA, though. WTFudgsicle is wrong with a more standard PSU-friendly 18v?
 
Feral Feline said:
A @PedalPCB stand-alone DI would be grand. Don’t mind getting a decent transformer.

I’ve got the Sunndering, plan on getting the MB bass sandsample, and I looked into getting the Bumblebee and I’ve seen the DIYRE…
Oh, and for a hot minute I looked at THCustom’s DI offering but can’t remember why I cooled on it.


A good DI is de rigueur on bass.
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I would love to combine it with a splitter, even if I have to go up to the next larger box. Along those lines, imagine being able to select modules to build a multi-featured utility box!
 
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