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PHX 5 string bass, 3 band EQ, noise on Treble 8KHz and 16KHz

Discussion in 'Pickups & Electronics [BG]' started by Piperfoxy, Jun 27, 2020.

  1. Jun 27, 2020 #1
    Piperfoxy

    Piperfoxy

    Jun 27, 2020
    Hi guys, been using my bass for 2 to 3 years now, bought it from Aliexpress, has 3 band EQ Bass, mid, treble, 1 volume knob and 1 blend knob. I've played with it and recorded a few songs with okay results. One of my nuisance on this active bass is the treble knob frequencies 7.9-8Khz and 16Khz, I usually roll off the treble knob to keep the noise down and EQ that frequency in DAW and other DAW plugins like gates, etc. After that it sits okay on the mix.

    The stock onboard preamp Xinqi XQ-2 3 Band EQ had always sounded like this from the start. Now thinking ways to do some mods to eliminate that noise, or replace and upgrade the pre-amp altogether. I only have 1 passive PJ bass and this active bass, hence really do not know if this noise on treble is normal on active bass guitars (then maybe I can accept to live with it)

    Here is a sample of the noise, Treble flat, cut and the noisy treble boost

    Recorded Direct to DAW. the noise is consistent in amps plugged in on wall socket, in multi-effects Korg PX4D on battery power
     
  2. Apr 17, 2021 #2
    emosms

    emosms

    Dec 15, 2016
    I thing the noise is normal.
    I have PHX 5 bass and Sire M5 bass (twice as expensive).

    The active EQ on Sire is more complex (parametric mid EQ) and it uses two 9v batteries, but it makes more noise than the PHX.
    I guess, the treble has more boost, hence we have more noise here.
    In general, this would apply for high end basses. The point is rather NOT to boost the treble that much.
    You should have decent treble tone from the bass - strings/ wood/ pickups.

    F.ex. I changed the pickups on the PHX bass (some ceramic poopie) with handmade alnico V pups. The treble is not stronger, but sits better and more natural.
    You can also use stainless steel strings/ new strings and that's pretty much all to improve.
     
  3. Apr 17, 2021 #3
    Crater

    Crater

    Oct 12, 2011
    Dallas, TX area
    Those two very noticeable "spikes" on the spectrum graph, as well as the high frequency "whine" noise is NOT normal. Either the preamp is oscillating internally, or your bass is picking that noise from the environment, maybe a lighting dimmer, lighting ballast, switching power supply or something similar.

    Many onboard preamps will give off a noticeable white noise "hiss" sound when the treble is boosted all the way, and this is often more noticeable when recording direct because when playing through an amp & cabinet, most bass cabs (without tweeters) don't reproduce those really high frequencies, so the hiss isn't as big a problem. But the noise I'm hearing on your recordings isn't white noise. Something is wrong.

    Does the noise change in intensity (loudness) as you move about, or is it constant, based on the amount of treble boost? If the noise is constant, then my guess is the preamp is defective.