I have been using a Radial JDI for the past year with great results. Prior to that I was using a Countryman type 85. Both units were used on either bass guitar or keys. The Radial sounded better on bass. The Countryman sounded better on keys. I have also a/b the Radial with some inexpensive passive ...

Oh, and I'm thinking abouthooking up some speakers to use as microphones through the 1/4" inputs on my board. Is there any way this could hurt by board? i have seen and used this on a few occasions. most often with the woofer from a yamha NS-10 placed an inch or 2 from the outer head of a kick drum...

on the low end I would recomend something from Roland like the SDE 1000.
on the higher end a Lexicon PCM 42 or a TC 2290.

. The speaker soak has a knob or switch that re-routes some or all of the power to some sort of device to safely absorb the power. The marshall and other main manufacturer who I can't recall right now use what are basically big resistors. another device, perhaps the one you are thinking of is the H...