Amp is louder in passive then active

[slaphappywoman]

I have Acoustic 200 head running through
an Acoustic 15 cabinet.
I play a Yamaha Motion B bass with Active Emg pickups.
When I plug into the passive input it is twice as loud
as the active input.
The active input is so quiet I have to crank the amp
up to get loud enough.
I have fresh batteries, the proper chords and everything
hooked up correctly.
Any ideas why this happens?

[namraj]

The active inputs on many amps will reduce the input volume because active basses have a higher input volume, the idea I believe is so that the passive input with a passive bass has the same volume with out too much adjustment as the active bass in the active input.

[namraj]

Also believe there maybe some techno mumbo jumbo regarding impeidence

[DWBass]

Many amps are setup this way as many active basses have higher output than a passive bass so they add a padded active input. Sometimes you'll find a 'quiet' active bass and you'll have to use the passive input. I did it all the time when I owned my Tobias bass. It was active but extremely quiet!

Note though that many of the new micro amps utilize an input gain knob in place of an extra padded input.

[René_Julien]

unless I miss something, this is very logic to me
the active input reduces the signal so the preamp works better with a hotter signal (on some amps this is a button, for example labelled "-14db")

if the passive input works better with your active bass, just keep using that

I don't know that amp, I am not sure if anything is wrong with it.

[JustOpenYourMind]

It's normal,

Always plug in the passive input, even if you have an active bass, if the signal of your bass is so hot that it overdrives your amp, then use the active input.

The active input on amplifiers is in fact a padded input with less gain meant to prevent pushing your amp to distortion when it's unwanted.

[Floyd Eye]

Active inputs are supposed to be lower output. That's the point.

[slaphappywoman]

If I plug another chord into the passive input while my bass is plugged into the active input, it gets really loud.
I guess my bass is a quiet active bass like you say.
I haven't had this amp long so I am still figuring it out.
My old amp only had one input. Just plug the damn thing
in and play already. hahahaha.

[slaphappywoman]

Thanks.
You guys are good and quick with responses.
I just started playing again last year after
about 15 years off so I'm not too sure about
techno, mamba jo hamba.
Got a lot of catching up to do.

[zeroncali]

Like stated above, just use the active input unless you are driving your amp too hard. (i.e. getting unwanted distortion or clipping)

[Floyd Eye]

Try changing the battery in your bass. As the battery gets weaker the volume will diminish.

[slaphappywoman]

Originally Posted by zeroncali

Like stated above, just use the active input unless you are driving your amp too hard. (i.e. getting unwanted distortion or clipping)

Do you mean the Passive?



And battery is brand new.

[oyobass]

Originally Posted by Floyd Eye

Try changing the battery in your bass. As the battery gets weaker the volume will diminish.

Good idea. If the volume or sound of your bass doesn't change after the battery swap, it wasn't the battery, but a fresh one is always good for peace of mind.
oyo

[billfitzmaurice]

Originally Posted by slaphappywoman

When I plug into the passive input it is twice as loud
as the active input.

It's supposed to be. RTM. The entire point of an active input is lower gain in case your pickups are too hot for the passive input. If they aren't then no worries.

[Lync]

I've only ever had to use the active switch with a few basses (out of over 50). I much prefer a gain knob to get the hottest signal without clipping possible, but many amps just have a switch (or sometimes both).

When in doubt, use the passive setting. If you hear distortion that you don't like, then flip the active switch on.

[Burlington]

Plug it in "Passive", even if your bass is active. If it clips or distorts, then us the "Active" input.

[slaphappywoman]

Got it.
Thank you all!

[BassmanPaul]

Originally Posted by slaphappywoman

I have Acoustic 200 head running through
an Acoustic 15 cabinet.
I play a Yamaha Motion B bass with Active Emg pickups.
When I plug into the passive input it is twice as loud
as the active input.
The active input is so quiet I have to crank the amp
up to get loud enough.
I have fresh batteries, the proper chords and everything
hooked up correctly.
Any ideas why this happens?

It's the way the amps were designed and it's quite normal. With my active basses I can sidestep the electronic packages by pulling the volume knob up. I trimmed the basses so they were as loud active as they were passive. I just play though the normal input.

Paul

[Marco A. Mayer]

If you have to crank the amp up to get enough you should raise the height of the pickups.