Avalon U5 Class A DI Preamp-EQ

Customer Comments:

Feature:
This category is hard for me to rate. The U5 is intended to be used as a DI. Accordingly, the controls are minimal. Don't forget that many DI's offer no control at all. Using it as preamp, I find myself wishing for a parametric EQ and perhaps a compressor, but it's a little unfair to expect these on a DI. That said, there are advantages to a simple control layout, and the U5 manages to produce good tone in almost all situation eve without the EQ or compression that a true preamp unit might offer.

Quality:
The U5 is (like all Avalon products) a top quality unit. Tough as nails-- I don't hesitate to travel with it and have used (and abused!) mine extensively with no problems.

Value:
As Di's go, this a pretty pricey one, and not cheap even when compared with preamps. That said, sometimes you *do* get what you pay for. The Avalon delivers good sound, is tough enough for live work, and is very easy to use.

Sound:
I use it as a preamp and DI for bass guitar in live situations. It produces a clear, deep tone with little coloration, allowing the true sound of the instrument to come through.

Support:
No experience on this.