Best setup for $1000. Cast your votes.

[Ric Vice]

DURB,
Well, these are both excellent choices. Here are some differences between the two that may or may not help you make your decision.

Speaker Cabinet Differences
The Whizzy is a Transmission Line design with the exit in the front of the cabinet. 12 Speaker with a whizzer cone.

The Acme Low B-1 has a side port so there needs to be some space between the port and any surrounding walls. 3 way Speaker

Amplifier Design.

The Whizzy is only avalible as a single channel amp, but it
has an excellent preamp section, aditionally it acording to EA the Whizzy is a "digital amp" with an A/B Power Supply (that correct?) so strictly speaking it's not a class D Switching Power supply. This is one thing that contributes to the heigher weight in the Whizzy Combo. (44 lbs)

http://www.euphonicaudio.com/2005/technology/faqs.htm

The Acoustic Image uses a digital power supply. Class D Power supplies are ligher in weight therfore the both the Focus and the Clarus are very light. I think the "Class D" debate will go on forever but it does contribute to a significant weight reduction.

Preamp

The EA has a"wonderful preamp" it's about as close to the Walter
Woods as I've played through. Very responsive tone controls.

The Acoustic Image also has a wonderful preamp. It has several distinct advantages from the EA. First, the input is optimized for
a piezo pickup, second you have a notch filter/high pass filter to
control feedback. This is a very useful item. The new amp also has the new dual use jacks that accept either a 1/4" guitar connector or the 3 pin cannon plug.

Customer Service
Both EA and AI are very good.

Ric

[hdiddy]

If you already have an old contra, I would also consider taking the screws off and divorcing the head from the cab. That way you can match it up easier with a Acme, LDS, or Wizzy Cab. If it were me, that's what I'd do and save some money at the same time. Sure the Series III sounds a little better than an older clarus, but would that warrant the $$ for a new head?!?

[hdiddy]

Don't forget to consider weight and bulk as well. You'll prob be sub-30 lbs with an AI rig. Wizzy Combo is like 44 lbs and more bulky. Also, the Wizzy Combo only gives you 200 watts @ 4 ohms. A Clarus gives you 50 more watts of headroom. Series III gives you an extra 100 watts over the Wizzy head. However, you get a parametric EQ with the EA and you get some basic tone controls with the AI.

I don't have any experience with AI gear but from my reading of old threads, the AI is more suited for normal DB playing application-wise: no distortion/fx/etc. I would think the EA stuff is more versatile and more suitable for EB as well.

I went with an iAmp500 a while back but now I'm very tempted to drop it for a Focus power unit and a solstice pre-amp. In a couple weeks I'll get to try a friends Focus 2R with my cab and maybe I can do an A/B test post my opinions.

[robgrow]

Originally Posted by Ric Vice

Amplifier Design.

The Whizzy is only avalible as a single channel amp, but it
has an excellent preamp section, aditionally it acording to EA the Whizzy is a "digital amp" with an A/B Power Supply (that correct?) so strictly speaking it's not a class D Switching Power supply. This is one thing that contributes to the heigher weight in the Whizzy Combo. (44 lbs)

http://www.euphonicaudio.com/2005/technology/faqs.htm

The Acoustic Image uses a digital power supply. Class D Power supplies are ligher in weight therfore the both the Focus and the Clarus are very light. I think the "Class D" debate will go on forever but it does contribute to a significant weight reduction.

Ric,

Just about any audio amplifier, be it Class AB or Class D, can be used with a conventional linear power supply (transformer, rectifier bridge, and large filter capacitors) or a switching type power supply.

For example, the Acoustic Image Clarus uses a linear power supply, while the AI Focus uses a switching type power supply. Both are Class D amplifiers.

It is the design of the amplifier circuit that determines if it's Class A, AB or D (or whatever), not the power supply.

BTW, the main advantage of Class D is better efficiency vs. Class A or AB, but I'll bet you already knew that.

[tombowlus]

Originally Posted by DRURB

First of all, thanks to all of you for the great information. After hours and hours of consideration, I have narrowed the field to two choices. These are based on my particular tastes coupled with this group's fine descriptions. My goal is to produce, to the extent possible, the acoustic sound of my bass, but bigger! This goal is tempered by the practical requirement that I must be able to cut through the mix of guitar and sax. I tend not to like excessive fingerboard and string noise. All things considered, here are the contenders:

1) AI Series III Clarus head, Acme B-1.

2) Wizzy iAMP 200 Combo

So, it's a runoff. I would be grateful if you'd weigh in on which of these two you believe would better fit the bill.

Do you prefer deep lows or more present mids?

Tom.

[Tbeers]

I played through a wizzy once. The word that comes to mind is "warm."

[Freddels]

I just noticed there's an iAmp 800 combo in the FS section for $1400.

[Ric Vice]

Originally Posted by robgrow

Ric,

Just about any audio amplifier, be it Class AB or Class D, can be used with a conventional linear power supply (transformer, rectifier bridge, and large filter capacitors) or a switching type power supply.

For example, the Acoustic Image Clarus uses a linear power supply, while the AI Focus uses a switching type power supply. Both are Class D amplifiers.

It is the design of the amplifier circuit that determines if it's Class A, AB or D (or whatever), not the power supply.

BTW, the main advantage of Class D is better efficiency vs. Class A or AB, but I'll bet you already knew that.

Thanks Rob, that clears up this Class D thing quite nicely.

[jmain]

There's an iamp800 on the 'bay with no bids at $825, and at a BIN price of $900.

[Phil Smith]

Originally Posted by DRURB

First of all, thanks to all of you for the great information. After hours and hours of consideration, I have narrowed the field to two choices. These are based on my particular tastes coupled with this group's fine descriptions. My goal is to produce, to the extent possible, the acoustic sound of my bass, but bigger! This goal is tempered by the practical requirement that I must be able to cut through the mix of guitar and sax. I tend not to like excessive fingerboard and string noise. All things considered, here are the contenders:

1) AI Series III Clarus head, Acme B-1.

2) Wizzy iAMP 200 Combo

So, it's a runoff. I would be grateful if you'd weigh in on which of these two you believe would better fit the bill.

The only way you're going to find out what's going to work for you is to get out there and hear them for yourself. Nobody has the same ears that you have and you also need to get up close and personal with the gear to see if indeed it's going to work for you sound wise and travel wise.

[Freddels]

ROADTRIP!!! I think/believe/no scientific proof that you need to make a trip to the Joisey shore to see/spend time with/stand in awe of A.H.B.

That will be the only way to make the final decision.

[drurb]

Originally Posted by Freddels

ROADTRIP!!! I think/believe/no scientific proof that you need to make a trip to the Joisey shore to see/spend time with/stand in awe of A.H.B.

That will be the only way to make the final decision.

In awe? Yeesh! I get the point though. BG doesn't have the Acme though.

[Freddels]

Maybe somebody in the area can loan one to you or to Bob for the day. Or maybe there's a return policy for the B-1 . . . hmmm

Or maybe you might like the clarus with the wizzy cab . . .

[Tbeers]

Now that I live in NJ, I should get down to his place some time... of course it's rather far, but I'm sure well worth the trek.

[T-Bal]

Yeah, I was going to suggest the Clarus with wizzy cab, too.
BO DIDDLY:

I went with an iAmp500 a while back but now I'm very tempted to drop it for a Focus power unit and a solstice pre-amp. In a couple weeks I'll get to try a friends Focus 2R with my cab and maybe I can do an A/B test post my opinions.

I don't see the advantage of the Solstice/Focus power unit over the new Focus2 (series III) which looks to be the same thing but in one box. What am I missing?

[hdiddy]

Originally Posted by T-Bal

I don't see the advantage of the Solstice/Focus power unit over the new Focus2 (series III) which looks to be the same thing but in one box. What am I missing?

Hmmm... you're probably right. I was just thinking about the ability to use the pre-amp of your choice and didn't remember that the solstice's controls are rather "basic".

[bolo]

DRURB, I’m sure both of the two options you outlined are excellent choices.

My experience is that I have used the iAMP 200 C Wizzy combo almost exclusively now for over a year. My gigs are for the most part jazz trios & quartets on upright. Before that I used (and still own) a Series I Contra w/ extension cab.

I really, really enjoy playing my bass through the Wizzy. Like you’ve already heard, it can get a very warm sound. To me this means there’s a certain type of pleasing depth and low to low-mid definition in the sound – kind of a 3-D quality.

But I also hear a great deal of precision in its sound too. I think this is especially evident in the EA combos like the Wizzy because the pairing of the EA driver with the accuracy of the EA preamp.

When I say it’s a precise sound, I can try to elaborate. It’s not trebly or harsh. It’s definitely in the mids.

Honestly, mid-range used to have negative connotations to me, and I could never get a bass amp’s mid-range EQ to do anything besides mess up the sound. But not so with the Wizzy combo – it helped teach my ears what mid-range on an acoustic (and electric) bass are all about. As I’m sure you know, that’s where so many of the important sonic details are for double bass. And the Wizzy combo presents them in a kind of forward yet musical way. When you said you might need to be heard alongside saxes and guitars, this is what I thought of.

Anyway, even with all that flexibility, I run the EQ on the Wizzy flat, like many other iAMP users.

I also have the Revolution SOLO pickup, and really dig it. So I guess the only variance between what I have and your option (2) is that I have a DTAR Solstice preamp. To my ears, the Solstice definitely adds a degree of warmth to the sound of the RS going into the Wizzy, even with the Solstice preamp set flat.

[drurb]

Originally Posted by bolo

DRURB, I’m sure both of the two options you outlined are excellent choices.

My experience is that I have used the iAMP 200 C Wizzy combo almost exclusively now for almost a year. My gigs are for the most part jazz trios & quartets on upright. Before that I used (and still own) a Series I Contra w/ extension cab.

I really, really enjoy playing my bass through the Wizzy. Like you’ve already heard, it can get a very warm sound. To me this means there’s a certain type of pleasing depth and low to low-mid definition in the sound – kind of a 3-D quality.

But I also hear a great deal of precision in its sound too. I think this is especially evident in the EA combos like the Wizzy because the pairing of the EA driver with the accuracy of the EA preamp.

When I say it’s a precise sound, I can try to elaborate. It’s not trebly or harsh. It’s definitely in the mids.

Honestly, mid-range used to have negative connotations to me, and I could never get a bass amp’s mid-range EQ to do anything besides mess up the sound. But not so with the Wizzy combo – it helped teach my ears what mid-range on an acoustic (and electric) bass are all about. As I’m sure you know, that’s where so many of the important sonic details are for double bass. And the Wizzy combo presents them in a kind of forward yet musical way. When you said you might need to be heard alongside saxes and guitars, this is what I thought of.

Anyway, even with all that flexibility, I run the EQ on the Wizzy flat, like many other iAMP users.

I also have the Revolution SOLO pickup, and really dig it. So I guess the only variance between what I have and your option (2) is that I have a DTAR Solstice preamp. To my ears, the Solstice definitely adds a degree of warmth to the sound of the RS going into the Wizzy, even with the Solstice preamp set flat.

Thanks! This is enormously helpful!

[Marc Piane]

Originally Posted by Phil Smith

The only way you're going to find out what's going to work for you is to get out there and hear them for yourself. Nobody has the same ears that you have and you also need to get up close and personal with the gear to see if indeed it's going to work for you sound wise and travel wise.

I totally agree with this. I've tried all these amps and more and the one that works best for the tone in my head is the SWR WM12. Price aside, for my bass, my pickup, my tone, it as near as I've come to my 'ideal sound'. The trick is see if you can demo them at a gig. I was able to do that with several of the amps mentioned and it saved alot of headache.

[Ric Vice]

DURB,
I guess one of the questions is, are willing to accept the weight differential betwee the Whizzy (44 lbs) vs the Acoustic Image Series III ( "less than 20 lbs") ? That's a mighty big difference in what you are lugging around.

Ric