I have that bass. The active pickups are a bit livelier than passive ones. By that I mean they are slightly louder and have richer tonal response across the spectrum, say than Peavey's classic passive (and well-regarded) super-ferrite pups. The active EQ gives you a greater flexibility of tones. You can boost OR cut highs, mids and lows. With the pickup blend you can get pretty much any tone you want from this bass. The pups shouldn't overpower your amp in any way, though you might want to cut your input trim a little to compensate for their greater power.
This is an 18v bass and uses two batteries. I have to change mine every two months or so with regular use of the bass. You have to unscrew the battery compartment lid as Peavey still hasn't adopted pop open lids.
The new Millenniums BXP ACs are basswood with a maple top, according to Peavey, though I'm willing to bet it's really a maple veneer, not a full top. Mine is a 2005 model which is agathis with the veneer.
I really like the bass. It feels fabulous: Quick neck, lightweight and tremendously well-balanced. It practically floats on my body. It sounds really good.
Construction overall is good, but I did have to replace the input jack soon after I got mine and the posts for the pots are a little flimsy and tend to get crackly (a little compressed air to clean the dust usually cures that). There are also two small places on the neck where the thin satin finish wasn't applied or was smeared off before it dried. For the money (heck, for twice the money) it's a GREAT bass.
