Aguilar OBP-3 9v or 18v?

[Bajosintrastos]

Hi there,
I have tried to ask Aguilar directly but no answer yet.
I've got two OBP-3 installed in two very different basses.
Does anyone know if there is a noticeable "more room" (volume output) if I add another battery to my basses? Mayoness Jabba with Norstrad Pickups, and Yamaha BB3000 with the original passive ones.
Both have a quite low volume ouput with the controls flat.
Should I do it? I don't mind to modify the bass to add another battery compartment but I just was wondering if the volume output change doing this. Thanks!

[line6man]

The volume shouldn't change. Operating voltage has more to do with headroom.

[bongostealth]

Modifying a 9v to an 18v is very easy to do, but it is unnecessary if you are not clipping. Clipping happens when you are trying to pass too much output through a limited amount of gain. It could lead to distortion of the signal or possible damage to your amp. This usually happens when you have either high output pickups or a high output onboard preamp or both together. Think of it as tall person walking through a short hallway. Increasing the volts from 9v to 18v will give you more "headroom", such as a tall person walking through a taller hallway...he won't be bumping his head on the ceiling.

However, increasing to 18v will not give you more volume. I don't even think you will notice a difference in tone either. Some people who have done this modification on EMG circuits claim to have heard a considerable improvement in tone, but I myself have never done it. I know that I have done this same modification to other basses that I've owned and it has never given me more volume or better tone.

Therefore, unless you are clipping, there is no need to do it.

[mmbongo]

Volume won't change.

My Spector NS-5 has the OPB-3 running at 9 volts. The thing has earth shattering output, so I'd look more at pickups than the preamp.

[robthebassplaye]

Originally Posted by Bajosintrastos

Hi there,
I have tried to ask Aguilar directly but no answer yet.
I've got two OBP-3 installed in two very different basses.
Does anyone know if there is a noticeable "more room" (volume output) if I add another battery to my basses? Mayoness Jabba with Norstrad Pickups, and Yamaha BB3000 with the original passive ones.
Both have a quite low volume ouput with the controls flat.
Should I do it? I don't mind to modify the bass to add another battery compartment but I just was wondering if the volume output change doing this. Thanks!

Hey- I have several of their preamps. my professional opinion is that there is no noticable audio difference in the performance. 9V vs 18V, the headroom is very theoritical, and not perceivable in my opinoin.

Anyone have any other thoughts. measurements or observations?

Rob

[Bajosintrastos]

Thanks guys.

[Bajosintrastos]

Here is the reply directly from Aguilar:
"There are a few variables here that could be why you are hearing the volume difference: different pickups, different style of basses design, etc.
If you go with 18V, you will get a bit more headroom and an additional 6 dB of output."
So there IS a volume difference. 6dB is very noticeable.
I will go with 18v for sure!

[bongostealth]

Originally Posted by Bajosintrastos

Here is the reply directly from Aguilar:
"There are a few variables here that could be why you are hearing the volume difference: different pickups, different style of basses design, etc.
If you go with 18V, you will get a bit more headroom and an additional 6 dB of output."
So there IS a volume difference. 6dB is very noticeable.
I will go with 18v for sure!

Cool! Then go for it!

[Arthur U. Poon]

The OBP-3 in my Lull is 18 volt, the OBP-3 in my Ristola is 9 volt, and to be honest, I can't tell any difference.