Having done a substantial amount of DBT/ABX testing of audio gear, I'm not surprised at all. And speakers being transducers, are far less linear than the majority of amplifiers.
This, and the low output impedance of the pre vs a passive.
Below is a list of all the times that a battery has failed at any inconvenient time since I got my first active bass in 83.
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My SS Jag was very neck heavy due to the huge, long scale sized headstock and those depleted uranium tuners. It also sounded meh. Lasted a week before I swapped it for another 4 string.
I agree the LS will have even worse balance.
All the reviews have been pretty consistently good, not even because it's inexpensive.
I thought about getting one, even though it's an FSO, but I really don't need another 6.
Lovely bass, enjoy.
There's one of these just a little too far away from me to drive to (1600km round), but it does look nice. I need another SR 5 (or 6) like a need a hole in the head.