Shop Keyboard Deals, Financing, and More

Avalon U5 Class A Active Instrument DI and Preamp Demo

Single-channel High-voltage Instrument DI Preamp
23 Write review Item ID: U5d1

Demo Savings!

Save $93.60 when you buy this demo! What is a demo?

The price below reflects your savings.

$842.40
Demo Savings: $93.60

New for $936.00

Condition Notes:

This item is in good condition and perfect working order. Product includes all original accessories. This item ships in its original factory packaging.

This item was thoroughly inspected by our factory-authorized service team and is backed by Sweetwater's exclusive 2-year warranty. The images shown do not necessarily represent the condition of this particular item.

Earn $43 back in Bonus Bucks† OR pay $36/month with 24 month financing*

Free
Shipping
Tech Support

Free Sweetwater
Support

Free 2-year
Warranty
Only 1 Left!

Notify me about deals

Ask An Expert

Our expertly trained Sales Engineers are ready to help!

(800) 222-4700
What is a Sales Engineer?

Most Popular Accessories & Related Items

Avalon U5 Class A Active Instrument DI and Preamp
Only 1 Left!
$842.40
Back to navigation

Vibrant, Powerful Sound!

With the U5 high-voltage DI Preamplifier you can conjure the sweet, vivid sounds your recordings deserve. A unique combination of passive tone selector and variable gain preamp and filter, the U5 accepts a wide variety of signal levels and instruments, everything from acoustic guitars to active bass guitars and keyboards. You'll be astounded at the magic you'll be able to work with the U5 in your studio. Tons of sonic character!

Related Videos: U5 Class A Active Instrument DI and Preamp

Features:
  • 100% discrete, pure Class A mode
  • Variable gain preamp to +30dB
  • High input impedance 3 meg.
  • Very low noise -100dB
  • Dual mic and line level outputs
  • Six tone bank selections
  • High headroom +30dB output
  • HF cut switch eliminates noise
  • High level 400 w speaker input

What is Demo Gear?

At Sweetwater, we're so picky that what we call a "demo" is actually better than what most music retailers sell as "new" gear! Our gear hasn't endured hundreds of people a week plunking away at all the keyboards, fumbling through Stairway to Heaven on every guitar or playing with every fader and knob on a mixer or control surface.

What demo means to us is that we've had it out of the box, or maybe it was in a customer's hands for a few days and isn't "factory fresh" as a result. Every demo item we sell has Sweetwater's 2-year Total Confidence Coverage™ warranty, and has been tested and verified up to "new" specs by our factory-authorized technicians to make sure it's in perfect working order before we ship it to you.

When you buy a Demo item at Sweetwater, you get:
  • 2-year Total Confidence Coverage Warranty™!
  • Products inspected and tested by our factory-authorized techs, guaranteed to function like new (or better)!
  • FREE shipping on most items
  • Equipment that will MEET or EXCEED your expectations!

Click HERE to browse our current inventory of Demo equipment. Purchasing demo gear from Sweetwater is a smart and safe way to save!

Additional Media

Product Manual
Studio Preamp Buying Guide
U5 Spec Sheet

Warranty Info

Sweetwater's FREE 2-Year Total Confidence Coverage Warranty

Extra peace of mind at no extra cost.

  • Save money with FREE parts and labor
  • Get back to making music with the industry's fastest turnaround time
  • Fix it the first time with our award-winning, factory-certified Service Department
Learn More about Total Confidence Coverage
2 Year Total Confidence Coverage
$104.00
FREE!

Free 2-year Warranty

Sweetwater's 2-year Total Confidence Coverage™ Warranty gives you extra peace of mind at no extra cost.

Learn More about Total Confidence Coverage
Tools Icon

Save money with free parts & labor!

Fast Icon

Get back to making music with the industry's fastest turnaround time.

Award Icon

Fix it the first time with our award-winning, factory-certified Service Department.

Back to navigation

Tech Specs

  • Type: DI Preamp
  • Channels: 1
  • Ground Lift: Yes
  • Inputs: 1 x Instrument, 1 x TS speaker
  • Outputs: 2 x XLR
  • Power Source: Standard IEC power supply
  • Height: 3.5"
  • Depth: 12"
  • Width: 8.5"
  • Weight: 12 lbs.
  • Manufacturer Part Number: U5

What Makes Our Sales Engineers Great?

Sweetwater Sales Engineers are a world-class team of experts dedicated to you. Hand selected from across the globe, each brings a wealth of experience and expertise in the world of music gear to provide you with unparalleled service completely free of charge. Friendly relationships, real trust, and the right gear are only a call or a click away!

(800) 222-4700
Contact Your Sales Engineer
Back to navigation

Customer Reviews

0.0 out of 5

Customer Added Media

This product doesn't have any review media yet!

Write your review

Professional Grade Tone

The Avalon U5 is an industry standard in the professional touring and studio world. It delivers warm punchy tone that always sets extremely well in the mix.

"I wasn't aware that the Avalon U5 was not a tube DI until I purchased one. I couldn't believe it. It has ALL of the punchy and warm characteristics of a tube DI or amp. It's phenomenal! The class A circuitry has that Nashville/LA studio grade quality which is why so many A List session players and studios use it. I went through so many of the top DI units but this one gave me the tone I'd searched for. I really don't know why I didn't buy one sooner. I've done a number of arena/stadium/theater tours and Nashville sessions with the U5. I have been cab-less/amp-less for a few years now and finally found the piece of gear to fill that hole and give me every bit of clarity and punch on stage. This is a must have piece of gear for touring and/or session bass players"
—Brandon Wrinn~ Tim Dugger, Lauren Alaina, sessions, clinician
by Brandon Wrinn on
Music background: Touring/Studio Bassist Tim Dugger, Lauren Alaina, Sessions, Clinician

This Thing is So Good

Ive almost never given a review 5 stars but I gave the U5 five stars because the one thing I dont like about it doesnt even matter because of how awsome this unit is! So Ill start with the one thing I dont like. It has no power swith, so I either leave it on, or just unplug it! Now the good! This Di adds such a nice weight and clarity to the signal. It also has so much gain on tap. Obviously depends how much gain(if any) you use on your preamp/interface, but for instance going from a U5 right into an interface , I would turn all the gain off on the interface and get all the gain from the U5, and if i was going into a nice preamp before the interface, i experement with how much signal I want from either! If I wanted the colour of my preamp, I would drive the preamp hard and have the U5 very low on the gain, or vice-versa, or a mix of both, you get the picture. Now for the Tone knob! I like it because you can bypass it, or engage it and you have 6 very useable and useful eq curves! I wont get into which tones are better or worse, ill just say they are all useful, and what I like is depending on the bass, pickups, preamp, the song, and the mix, experimenting with the tones can really help you chase down the tone you need for the record, and you just have to experiment, use your ears! When you engage the tone knob the output volume seems to drop a few db so I find myself making up the lost signal when engaging the tone, and volume varies slightly between tones aswell so keep in mind one may sound different but also be louder. if your really trying to find the best tone for a studio recording I reccoment level matching! Now other than being a badass preamp/DI/EQ , this is really useful for studio and live because of the THRU! Go out of the THRU to your amp input, and then you can record your DI track and mic the bass to record the amp! For stage, send Di to front of house, and use the THRU to go to your amp so the sound guy can mic your cab and blend the signals! Havent used the speaker jack but Im gunna that this week! Its not a load box as your amp needs to go to a load still(if its tube) but you can use the speaker jack to go from the amp, Into the speaker input, and then into your preamp/interface to record the bass amp signal direct and use cab sims! Cool! Also you can use the U5 as a front end for your amp and get the weight and clarity form this unit, and use the eq aswell!
by Plan4Studios on
Music background: Recording and Mixing Engineer, Musician, Producer

The U5 Not only for Bass

I have the 15th anniversary U5 ( Black ) this is by far the best DI out there for any instrument I use it as a front end for recording electric acoustic guitars vocals and keyboards, maybe it wasn't intended for all these inputs but you gotta be creative it excels in all of the above Avalon Design ROCK !!!

I always like to thank my 11-year and counting rep Austin Moss for his recommendations and support
Sweewater is the place to get your musical appetite and craving satisfied go for it and thank you
by Bashar Arafat from Palos Verdes California on
Music background: Hobbyist

BEST BASS DI!!!

This is BY FAR my favorite bass DI. I have engineered and produced in multiple pro studios in Nashville and this is the ONLY bass DI I ever use when recording! You absolutely can't go wrong with this DI.

5 Stars all the way with this one!!!
by Tanner Lenox from Nashville, TN on
Music background: Producer, Engineer, Musician

Awesome in, awesome out.

I've had one of these for over a decade, and the reviews are spot on. It kicks all kinds of ***. The speaker input needs mention, as it does work as awesome as everything else. It isn't a load box, so you need to run a cab with it, and then some kind of speaker sim or impulse response (ownhammer IR's rule here), and it is just pure magic. Great when you need to record live with a band, but need to cut out any bleed. Only downside is cost, but that's only cause I want half a dozen.
by Glynn from Fresno, CA on

Hear from a Sales Engineer

What Do Our In-house Gear Experts Think?

Brad Every

I use the U5 when I want to extract every detail and nuance from a bass or acoustic/electric guitar. It can also be used to warm up keyboards and drum machines.
See also: Direct Input Boxes, Avalon, Avalon Preamps, Avalon Direct Boxes
Close Close $2,000 Pick Your PRS Giveaway -- input your email address below to enter or click here to learn more.

See giveaway details & rules or check out our past winners!

Enter Now

Success!

Your email, has been entered to win this giveaway. Good Luck!