Moog Music Forum

I'm in the market for a Voyager. The one I was able to test was an Electric blue model. However, I will only buy the Performer edition. Is there any difference in quality? Will the knobs still have that solid feel etc?

The quality is just as high on the Performer edition. The panels, pots and all circuit boards are exactly the same (except for the different-colored LEDs).

The early Signature/Performer editions had better quality knobs, more like Model D. My friend has an early Performer and when he did the hardware upgrade to reduce noise the service tech somehow damaged four of the knobs. The metal face on top of the knobs where missing when he got it back.
Of course my friend complained and they replaced the knobs with new one. The problem is that they are not exactly the same… The new don’t have the screw on the side of the knob, the same knobs I have on my Anniversary Edition.

But do they feel cheap? or are they still solid with some nice weight to the turn?

That's also true of the MF pedals.

They merely switched to a knob that presses onto the pot shaft as opposed to those using set screws. The former is quicker in assembly time. They are still Cosmo knobs with no difference in quality.

Twenty years later, the vintage market will pitch early Voyagers as those using knobs with "set screws" which makes them sound better

So, they feel the same...meaning definite quality?

I have MF pedals with both styles. They feel the same.

I have a Performer edition. I don't know if this is common with all models, but I've been told by a retailer that any version that has lights and a brightness knob on it will emit a high pitched whining sound the brighter you turn up the lights. I had one for a brief time--which I returned because of this--and I found it very annoying to have to choose between lights and noise. The last thing I want in my studio while I'm working is a high pittched whine. To avoid it, the lights have to be practically turned off. Obviously not everyone cares that much about this, or it would have been a big topic of discussion. I personally find it totally unacceptable, though I totally LOVE my PE, and wouldn't be without it. So, just that extra word of caution. Be sure to check that out before you buy any Voyager with lights.

Unfortunately, the whine is an unavoidable fact. It is inherent in the design and I trust that Bob Moog, being the amazing engineer he was, did everything he could to minimize it. This makes the light strictly a performance feature, for the stage only (and to wow your friends). Luckily it does not come throught the audio outputs.

i cant believe you returned ann electric blue becuase of the noise from the light control. its not like yours was any different to anyone elses! turn the lights off in the studio or have them on low. On stage its a lifesaver and you'll never hear the noise.

On my EB it's not noticeable until after about the 10 O'clock position.

And to hear it at 12 o'clock position I had to bump the Carver up 12db above my normal listening level before it really became much of an annoyance.

But, at least on my rig, there's really not much need to go past 9 o'clock position to get bright enough to see things clearly.

Heck, I'm kinda impressed that I can still hear something that high-pitched.

marc-1 wrote:I have a Performer edition. I don't know if this is common with all models, but I've been told by a retailer that any version that has lights and a brightness knob on it will emit a high pitched whining sound the brighter you turn up the lights. I had one for a brief time--which I returned because of this--and I found it very annoying to have to choose between lights and noise. The last thing I want in my studio while I'm working is a high pittched whine. To avoid it, the lights have to be practically turned off. Obviously not everyone cares that much about this, or it would have been a big topic of discussion. I personally find it totally unacceptable, though I totally LOVE my PE, and wouldn't be without it. So, just that extra word of caution. Be sure to check that out before you buy any Voyager with lights.

Are the lights very important on stage? I could turn them on a lil bit, just for sseing what I'm doing and not distorting the sound.