Edit-- Gremson, I posted this in response to your post expressing displeasure with MR PC's post. It seems that you've deleted your post.
Sometimes it's not what you say, but how you say it. While I wouldn't choose the same approach that MR PC did, there is, perhaps, some merit in what he said. Before going any further, I want to state emphatically that there is no arguing with an individual's preference. You choose whatever sound you like, whether or not it conforms to what others think is near-ideal or not. To each his own and all of that.
Still, it is a fact that we all learn to make finer discriminations as we are exposed to new dimensions. As we do, our preferences often shift in terms of what we target. You've posted that you're new to the DB. Now, for all I know, you could be very seasoned in terms of your experience listening to the DB-- so much so that you've developed preferences based on years of listening to different exemplars in different musical contexts. That would be unusual. For most who are new to the DB, or any other instrument, or, for that matter, a drill press, or a car, or a clock, or loudspeakers, or art-- an understanding of what others regard as the prototypical desired characteristics along with an understanding of the dimensions of the differences develops with time and exposure to different exemplars. There have been many teenage newbies who have posted here who declare their $1500-DBs to be fantastic instruments that are better than those costing 3x that amount. We cannot argue with their opinions, but we can take note of their experience (or lack thereof) and wonder over what range of exposure their opinions are based. We can note that we would not likely hold the same opinion of their $1500 basses. We can wonder whether, over time and with exposure to other DBs, they will change their opinions. I'd say that in most cases, that will, indeed, happen.
I'm fairly confident that, ignoring "voicing" as I mentioned earlier, I'd prefer the sound of your pickup through the fdeck, given what I know to occur when a typical piezo is loaded by 470k ohms. I'd go so far as to say that most here would have that preference as well. Again-- all that matters is what you prefer. Still, I think it's likely that we would have different preferences because many here have had years of exposure to those exemplars. They have a very good working "template" of the sound of a DB and understand that that sound is more closely achieved (certainly not in an ideal fashion) when a piezo is "properly" loaded. They've learned to make that discrimination.
So, will you end up shifting toward the more usual preferences? No way to tell. If I had to bet, I'd say you will. For right now, it would be silly for anyone to suggest that you choose an arrangement of equipment that conforms, not to your own preferences, but to those of others. Of course, go with the sound that you prefer. It may change, it may not.
I'll end with one or two examples. It's very well-known among audiophiles that one (perhaps, sneaky) way to sell equipment to those with little to no listening experience is to exaggerate the low and high end, either via design or via adjustments of the tone controls. People find that sound impressive. It's like ear-candy. Flatten the response and they'll say that they prefer the exaggerated response. Then they take the equipment home and, often, they realize after weeks or months that real music doesn't sound like that. Over time, they become dissatisfied. The same is true for TVs. Did you ever notice that new TVs have a "retail" and a "home" setting? A "retail" setting? Yes, indeed. It produces a very bright picture with extreme contrast and over-saturated color. It draws your attention in the store. Then you get it home and realize that you can't really see the details of shading in objects. Then you go for the adjustments. Now had the TVs with the more natural setting been right next to ones with the "retail" setting in the store, almost no one would buy them. Personal preferences? Yes, but ones based on limited samples.
I am not suggesting that your preferences are, necessarily, based on limited experience. I made that clear earlier. I am suggesting that, with experience, your preferences might just change as MR PC suggested. They may not. Whatever is your preference at whatever time, go with it and enjoy.
I hope you don't find any condescension in this. None was intended. Now, re-read MR PC's post and you may view it in a different light.
