Hartke Hydrive/Kickback Active/Passive '15 volt' input - designed for line level?

topo morto · #1 04-25-2011, 05:41 AM

The kickback/hydrive combos have a single input socket that is supposed to work with actives and passives...

From the kickback 15 manual, it says it has...

A feedback-type input that accommodates a broad range of input levels (up to 15 volts), so that you can use the HS1200 with pretty much any kind of bass, from passive models to those with active circuitry.

Many questions...

Does this mean I should be able to plug straight in with a line out from a mixer / compressor / fx unit?

How does it work? what does "feedback-type input" mean? I ask because I tried plugging my rack compressor straight into it, and it wasn't happy (I could hear a distorted signal, even with the amp volume on minimum...)... I tried again, and it is fine. Is there any kind of 'detection' going on?

Is 15V really right, or is that a typo? I read that +4 dBu line level is about 1.2V RMS, so 15 seems a lot...

The hydrive combos seem to have a similar trick, though the manual words it differently.

Electricblue · #2 04-25-2011, 06:35 AM

Is there a clip/peak light on the amp?

topo morto · #3 04-25-2011, 06:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Electricblue

Is there a clip/peak light on the amp?

Not on the kickback I have.... just flying by ears.

Electricblue · #4 04-25-2011, 06:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by topo morto

Not on the kickback I have.... just flying by ears.

Well, I guess you could try plug any MONO source into it. But never, ever from a speaker-out jack.

If you hear a bit of distortion, just turn the source down.

topo morto · #5 04-25-2011, 07:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Electricblue

Well, I guess you could try plug any MONO source into it.
If you hear a bit of distortion, just turn the source down.

To be honest the volume control on the amp becomes useless (i.e. stuck at the bottom) before you hear any clipping, so I guess it's doing what they say it does.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Electricblue

But never, ever from a speaker-out jack.

I did wonder about that 15V though - that's more like what I think of as a power amp output level...

Electricblue · #6 04-25-2011, 07:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by topo morto

To be honest the volume control on the amp becomes useless (i.e. stuck at the bottom) before you hear any clipping, so I guess it's doing what they say it does.

I did wonder about that 15V though - that's more like what I think of as a power amp output level...

Just dont, you WILL wreck your source amp, your amp's input, or something.

Does your amp have a gain control?

topo morto · #7 04-25-2011, 07:47 AM

The Hartke has a good ol' 'Volume' control. Here he is. No reference to the preamp / power amp stages. Partly why I was wondering if this "feedback-type input" does something to regulate the preamp gain.

I'm really just trying to understand if i'd be better off with an amp with a dedicated 'preamp in' (i.e. bypassing the onboard preamp) or if this can effectively do the same job.

lbwdog · #8 04-25-2011, 08:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by topo morto

I tried plugging my rack compressor straight into it, and it wasn't happy (I could hear a distorted signal, even with the amp volume on minimum...)... I tried again, and it is fine. Is there any kind of 'detection' going on?

Apparently, the amp is designed to handle a wide range of "instrument" input levels, not any old electronic signal you can dream up. If distortion occurs, you are swamping the input of the amp.

Instead of reducing the amp's volume, you should try reducing the compressor's output level to minimize overload distortion. Might be good, might not.

So many on this forum don't seem to realize that swamping the input will cause distortion. That's basically how "overdrive" works.

topo morto · #9 04-25-2011, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lbwdog

Instead of reducing the amp's volume, you should try reducing the compressor's output level to minimize overload distortion.

Of course - but what seemed to happen is that I ran line level into it, i heard clipping, and then I 'rebooted' the amp and it was fine. Hence my question on whether this particular design does anything clever to detect the input level.

Quote:

Originally Posted by lbwdog

Apparently, the amp is designed to handle a wide range of "instrument" input levels, not any old electronic signal you can dream up

The manual makes more ambitious claims - The kickback manual mentions 15V, while the hydrive manual boasts "It is almost impossible to overload the input of an Hydrive Combos bass amplifier"... Just wondering if anyone has any more insight on the specs of this 'magic' input.

In any case, is there really a difference beween an active bass output and line level?