active is quieter than passive

[WholeGrainBass]

I just recently got my new Hartke LH500 head and hooked my 97 Ibanez sr1200 up to it. I plugged it into the active input and noticed it was rather quiet. The volume knob was full throttle on the bass. I plugged it into the passive input and was much louder than the active input. Yes the Ibanez has active inputs. Why is this?

 

[bassteban]

I believe the amp's active input is attenuated, to account for an active bass' hotter output. This way a passive bass and active will be close to the same volume.

 

[JimmyM]

It's working right. That's the function of an active input...to quiet down the signal from a too-loud active bass if it's overdriving the gain at any setting. Personally though, I think active inputs are useless. I've never seen a bass completely overdrive the gain on any amp ever unless it was by choice. I use active basses all the time with loud EMG pickups and the times I've used the active input on any amp is 0.

 

[B-string]

Yep supposed to be that way. If you have an active bass that overloads the input of the amp, you use the active input instead.

 

[WholeGrainBass]

oh ok good. i was worried either the bass or my new amp was messed up

 

[Stephent28]

Active inputs are usually padded.

 

[WholeGrainBass]

how would i know the bass is overloading the input of the amp?

 

[arai]

It would sound distorted. Some active basses are quieter there some passive basses too.

 

[WhoDidTheElf]

My p bass with 1/4 pounders in it is the hottest bass I've ever used and it's
Passive. My ray with the 3 band eq is pretty hot and same with the 18v preamp on my schecter but neither touches that p bass