Look at this guy, asked one question and never returned. No answer so I can't blame him. Its a good question so I did some research since I was interested and these popped up:

• Aguilar DB 900 Tube Direct Box ($529),
• AMB Tube-Buffered Direct-Injection Box ($595),
• Anthony DeMaria Labs ADL 100-G ($599),
• Demeter VTDB-2b Tube Direct ($599),
• D.W. Fearn VT-I/F Vacuum Tube Instrument Interface D.I. ($1,500; 2-channel),
• Manley Tube Direct Interface ($575);
• Tube Works 4001 Real Tube Direct Input ($219),
• Uncle Albert's VTD-2A Vacuum Tube Direct ($450).

To test the units, I recorded electric guitar (a 1962 Fender Stratocaster), bass (Kramer Pioneer), and synthesizer (Roland Juno 106 set to a raspy pad) through all nine boxes and then compared the tracks. Each instrument/preamp combination was recorded to separate ADAT tracks against backing tracks of drum set and acoustic guitar. The guitar, bass, and synth tracks were recorded through each DI in turn, with the output of the DI routed through a Millennia Media HV-3 mic preamp. I chose the HV-3 for its neutrality and solid-state design I wanted as little coloration as possible from the preamp so as to better hear the tube characteristics of the DI box. I decided against recording any of the instruments through an amp because every amp colors the sound so severely that no viable conclusions could be drawn.

is what I found in this extremely well written topic FYI:

[[url=http://[/URL]="http://www.demetera…"]Demeter Amplification - Reviews[/]="http://www.demetera…"]Demeter Amplification - Reviews[/]

In case anyone wants a slightly cheaper option: the [[url=http://[/URL]="http://www.bssaudio…"]BSS AR133[/]="http://www.bssaudio…"]BSS AR133[/] is industry standard for live use. Phantom power or batteries.

nice and priced at $166 . I wonder how clean it is for studio work though?

Very clean in my experience. Its quite unusual to see any other models on stage these days, apart from the odd Radial now and then (or cheap copies of the BSS at the budget end). I use one of the older AR116 models in the studio, and it always gets the job done.

They won't add any warmth or colour like (I'm guessing) the units in your list above, but they will load your guitar pickups with a nice high impedance, and you can always plug them into a colourful pre.

Ah, that sounds like the ticket! Personally I wouldn't want a DI to add colour to anything. Sounds like a redonkulous concept but an interesting topic indeed..

audiokid, post: 355741 wrote: Personally I wouldn't want a DI to add colour to anything.

I guess you never heard one of [[url=http://[/URL]="http://www.ridgefar…"]these[/]="http://www.ridgefar…"]these[/] then..?

:biggrin:

yikes! more to drool over just when I thought I have it under control. I guess its all about intelligent combination's isn't it? Too much of one thing makes for a boring and/or congested sound. Its what we're all going crazy over and why the newbies can't get a handle on what to believe. More and more track count, less colour makes a tighter mix. Less track count you have, more colour makes less boring and manageable mix. The balance between clean and colour...

Keep em coming!

Love the name. "The Gas Cooker" mic pre. Anything Dirk Brauner sells, should be excellent. How does it sound as a mic pre? 1350.00 USD is reasonably priced for a 2 channel value pre.