🦨 Active Bass Vs Passive Bass
Two Groups. The rule of thumb is that for a high-output bass that already has a built-in buffer, a passive direct box will likely do a great job—the bass will produce the drive. On the other hand, for a low-output passive bass, an active DI will leave the bass sound unaffected while generating the drive for the PA system.
Active VS Passive. The jazz bass is an active bass, while the precision bass is passive. This means a couple of things. Most notably, jazz basses have a battery, whereas passive basses do not. If the battery of the jazz bass gets drained, it will not be able to produce an amplified sound until the battery is switched.
I started on a P bass. Then I went for years playing active basses (several Carvin basses, an Ibanez BTB or two, a Warwick, etc.). On a whim a bought a Roscoe Beck Signature Fender 5 string some years back. Loved the passive tone and the Swiss Army Knife aspects to that bass. Got used to how it felt so I wanted a backup that looked and felt
Passive Radiators vs Bass Reflex Speakers Bass reflex speakers, also known as ported speakers, are a type of speaker that uses a port or vent to enhance low-frequency response. Like passive radiators, they use a resonant cavity to achieve a deeper, more powerful bass sound.
The passive bass operating into the passive input will present the same amount of signal to the preamp as the active bass into the active amp input. So using the correct input with the correct bass, and all other things being equal there should be no increase in the noise floor created by the amp.
To understand why passive basses seem to sit in the mix better, you have to understand why a passive bass sounds like it does. Passive instruments use the same type magnetic pickups as active basses. Assuming all other factors are the same, why is there a belief that passive instruments "sit better" in the mix?
Merely because passive X-overs have their limitations in sound reinforcement and active X-overs are generally better for PAs installed in large venues (which is true) does not mean that active X-overs are not good for certain home HiFi applications. Ergo, apples and canoes. Both handy but not interchangeable.
Additionally, for my intended use I prefer the V7's active mode. I mostly play in passive mode and like to switch to active with some bass and treble boost for a rare slapping. And while I really like the look of the V5, the V7 Vintage in nature has that classic MM vibe, so hard to decide
It is certainly possible to either remove the preamp altogether or to add a bypass switch. On your bass as is it might take more than simply adding a switch to get the passive sounds you want as you would not have any tone control. That could be added or a preamp with that feature like Sadowsky put in. Mar 9, 2016 #3.
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active bass vs passive bass