What went wrong with the One Spot voltage doubler cable?
I’m supposed to buy a couple.
Thanks.
I’m supposed to buy a couple.
Thanks.
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Diamond is BACK baby!!
- Thread starter mmbongo
- Start date
I’m waiting for my Diamond and doubler cable to be shipped. This 18V issue really should be addressed by Diamond.
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Deleted member 368008
Guest
I have yet to try my doubler cable with the Diamond, as I have not received it yet. But I think with all other pedals, that can take 18v I have compared that one to proper 18v wall warts, provided the wall warts are pristine, i e stabilized, isolated, and gives ample amount of current (mA) too. The doubler cable provides a large chunk, when switching on and off certain pedals, and actually exacerbates noise. I tried to use it on my Silver Lining pedal, but found out that 9v works considerably better. Borrowed my firends mondo Voodoo Labs power supply and tried the 18v output there, and it was much better than the cable...The cable has a dongle attached to it which ramps it up (it contains a charge pump), and is not two wires (combiner) from 2 9v outputs on the powe supply. It causes high end whining and noise in SOME pedals, especially Strymons if placed after the 18v unit. And the cable can handle only 100mA. A dedicated wall wart or output from - say - Voodo can supply 200mA etc.
Splitters, voltage and current doublers – what’s all that about? – stinkfoot.se
quote:
"Either way, I don’t recommend running two outputs in parallel unless they are the same voltage and capacity. To me, it seems like the cleanest and quietest way to run things."
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Deleted member 368008
Guest
So this:
Or this:
Are way better than this one, which I own and use, sometimes:
Or this:
Are way better than this one, which I own and use, sometimes:
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Your first photo is a voltage splitter, no? The voltage doubler should be similar but with the ends reversed, ie 2 center tips ins to 1 female out to the pedal, right? And yet they are referred to doubler or splitter as in your photo. I find these really confusing.
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Another option is the GigRig Doubler, which I've used often and haven't had an issue. Probably costs a bit more than the 1Spot though.
No problem with the Dunlop 18V wall wart that I originally bought with my BCP-1. Never had a noise issue, regardless of venue.
It’s been a constant presence on my boards ever since I bought it- can’t remember when, but it’s got to be at least 5 years.
It’s been a constant presence on my boards ever since I bought it- can’t remember when, but it’s got to be at least 5 years.
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Deleted member 368008
Guest
Yes, go to the stinkfoot link I provided and you'll see the difference between a current double cable and a voltage doubler cable. The 1 spot double cable is made with a charge pump inside just to not take up 2 outputs (9 v) on your power supply. They find that a waste and cumbersome setup.
The current doubler can't be done like the 1 spot with any dongle with something built in in it:
Do you see the diff?
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Deleted member 368008
Guest
And split cables for daisy chaining pedals, an altogether different matter, as it requires you to watch out very carefully "what you wish for":
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Deleted member 368008
Guest
NOW! Since the resurrection of this famed pedal, there are numerous videos on YouTube that demonstrates it, but not anyone demostrates the difference of the same unit on 9v versus 18v operation.
Anyone?
Anyone?
I think that’s the type of experiences that only come from real world users (pairing the pedal with existing board, potentially with 9v only. Or people with experience from the previous versions and the effect of voltage on the sound, as documented in scuba’s and ovnilab’s reviews.
I have not tested the new bass comp because I have the previous BCjr on my board, with 18v power to accommodate the output of g&l basses, and don’t intend to change.
However this thread being about diamond in general, anyone having experience with the other reissues?
I got hold of the new tremolo about two weeks ago, and my oh my, it’s near perfect. The tap tempo is a neat feature and the wild cards when momentary pressing the footswiches are very interesting.
I actually look forward for them to reissue or reinterpret other staples of old Diamond lines
I have not tested the new bass comp because I have the previous BCjr on my board, with 18v power to accommodate the output of g&l basses, and don’t intend to change.
However this thread being about diamond in general, anyone having experience with the other reissues?
I got hold of the new tremolo about two weeks ago, and my oh my, it’s near perfect. The tap tempo is a neat feature and the wild cards when momentary pressing the footswiches are very interesting.
I actually look forward for them to reissue or reinterpret other staples of old Diamond lines
As a former EMG fan, my experience was always that 18V didn’t make much difference until you needed it.
The low B was more authoritative when I dug into it my 35” 5-string. The rest of the time, I didn’t really hear a noticeable difference.
But that can also vary circuit by circuit- for instance, some gain stages will benefit from the extra headroom.
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Deleted member 368008
Guest
No ok, the moniker was Diamond is BACK but the first pic (by the OP) was really that of the famous iconic Bass compressor, so I thought I'll keep it to that. But nevertheless they makes other pedals just as suitable for bass too. No, I haven't had experience with the other reissues.
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Deleted member 368008
Guest
Here's at least a good attempt on comparing 9v to 18v at the same settings. A little generic playing but she's not demonstrating herself, she's demoing the pedal.
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Deleted member 368008
Guest
Now, the little yellow mellow fellow arrived today. Along with a 18v 500 mA Dunlop wall wart adapter, and a Voodo Labs voltage doubler cable. I got immediately different results from 9v and 18v. Especially at low B's at peak when leaning in. No active basses used. Now I had the time to noise and headroom test all 18v variants for this pedal only. 18v variants, see above. There are a difference in background noise from the 1Spot double cable with built in charge pump. I recorded a waveform at 192 Khz which reveals some "peaks" from that one above 20 Khz, but the Dunlop wall wart and Voodo Labs doubler cable didn't show much over that. All of them showed some "noise" way way above human range at 80 Khz which only bats may complain about...
1. 9 volt cable on Bass Comp. The hill of wavewform to the left is my playing bass, rest is above human hearing range when bass is silent and not playing (even vol on bass turned down).
2. 18v One Spot voltage doubler with charge pump built in:
... can you see those slight spikes? Tell tale it's a charge pump.
3. 18v Doubler cable from Voodoo labs:
4. 18v Dunlop wall wart adapter:
Oh I forgot. RME soundcard, Modtone powersupply with ring transformer, yes old school. BTW the pedal works a charm, but others might as well be just as good. However, the icing on the cake is that EQ tilt. Very very useful. And that's what sets this apart from many other bass compressors. Easy to set and forget to have a "sweet spot" and it curbs my funk finger playing. It has a set 3:1 ratio all of the time. I do think it has the most "upper hand" on single coil passive pickups a la Jazz Bass or similar. Music Mans may sound monster on them though, but I have not tried that at all.
I got a more clean and louder peak on low B when leaning in on 18v than on 9v, but the rest was an even wash, methinks. Slightly more dynamic but subtle.
1. 9 volt cable on Bass Comp. The hill of wavewform to the left is my playing bass, rest is above human hearing range when bass is silent and not playing (even vol on bass turned down).
2. 18v One Spot voltage doubler with charge pump built in:
... can you see those slight spikes? Tell tale it's a charge pump.
3. 18v Doubler cable from Voodoo labs:
4. 18v Dunlop wall wart adapter:
Oh I forgot. RME soundcard, Modtone powersupply with ring transformer, yes old school. BTW the pedal works a charm, but others might as well be just as good. However, the icing on the cake is that EQ tilt. Very very useful. And that's what sets this apart from many other bass compressors. Easy to set and forget to have a "sweet spot" and it curbs my funk finger playing. It has a set 3:1 ratio all of the time. I do think it has the most "upper hand" on single coil passive pickups a la Jazz Bass or similar. Music Mans may sound monster on them though, but I have not tried that at all.
I got a more clean and louder peak on low B when leaning in on 18v than on 9v, but the rest was an even wash, methinks. Slightly more dynamic but subtle.
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If by “generic” you mean totally tight, tasteful, and practically flawless, I agree.
FYI, I was directed to the 500mA Dunlop wall wart when I originally bought my first-gen BCP-1.
Not sure of the exact date, but I think it was probably around 2006 to 2009?
Still rolling along, rock-solid.
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Deleted member 368008
Guest
Yes, I tested all these 18v variants on my other pedal, aimed at guitarists, the DSM/Humboldt Silver Linings which can take 18v too, but it's more silent on 9v. However, with the 1spot doubler it hummed when activated (a lot), and it did that too with the voltage doubler cables from Voodo Labs. Only the 500mA Dunlop wall wart did not hum on the Silver Linings pedal. And yet the Dunlop was connected to the Modtone Power supplies "courtesy outlet" for just using extra wall warts. So it came from the same source so to speak. Silver Linings is my go to guinea pig for testing 18v then. From now on. It's a dirt pedal, but the settings where not that extreme at all, all knobs way below 10 o'clock on the pedal. Very mild overdrive. Even when dis-engaged the clear and clean sound was considerably louder.
So this wall wart Dunlop 500mA 18v will be my go to if I only need one pedal to bring out, The Diamond Bass Comp/EQ or the Silver Linings. The wall wart costs a lot more than similar others, but well worth the dime.
I have numerous other wall wart of both switched and old style, even Boss, that has been mothballed, and fits the current and voltage perfectly for Silver Linings, but they all cause havoc hum and noise when just connecting them to the Silver Linings. This one makes the Silver Linings more silent than five Finns in a sauna.
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Deleted member 368008
Guest
The 1Spot doubler cable will be mothballed or sold at bargain price to someone that doesn't care that much...
