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Acoustic Image Focus 2R series III
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Recommended By
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Average Price
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Average Rating
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100% of reviewers
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$1,399.00
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9.5
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Description:
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Acoustic Image Focus series III
400W at 8 ohm
800W at 4 ohm
1000W at 2 ohm
extended frequency range, high fidelity sound
light weight (5 lbs), small size (10.2 x 8.2 x 3.5)
slanted front chassis with built-in handles on side rails
combo jack input (either 1/4" or XLR)
phantom power on XLR input
three-band EQ preamp section per channel
input and master level controls
effects loop with return level control per channel
switchable notch/low cut filter per channel
balanced direct out with ground lift
digital effects with 6 presets and level control
mute switch and pre/post EQ for direct out
stereo capable with external power amp
800 watt switch mode power amplifier
switchable dual voltage operation (115/230V)
dual speaker outputs via speakon connectors
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Author
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wiro
Registered User
Registered: December 2005
Location: Netherlands, Groningen
Posts: 544
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Review Date: Fri January 6, 2006
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Would you recommend the product? Yes |
Price you paid?: None indicated
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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warm and clear sound, 1M impedance input for DB, lots of power
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Cons:
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effect send/return jacks in front panel
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So small in size and jet so great in sound.
Speakers connected: Avatar SB112 Neo (300W, 8 ohm) and 2x12" cabinet 450 W build by a professional with celestion speakers (picture). The overall impedance in this setup is 2,6 ohm. So the output power will be somewhere around 900 W.
Was looking for something portable, for DB as well as BG.
Funny to find out that the jack input is 1M ohm (ideal for DB with piezo eg. Realist, no need for an additional pre-amp any more) and the XLR input is 600 ohm (balanced). So now I use a mic cable to connect the BG's. Although the jack input is also very usable for active BG.
The sound is very warm even with the EQ\'s flat. And jet every detail comes out of the cabinet. Because of the enormous amount of power (was used to a Trace RAH600SMX, but this one beats it) my fingers tend to pluck the strings tenderly. Somehow this gentle behaviour causes the music to become more dynamic.
My enhancer (Aphex 204) isn't so much needed any more. It still adds a bit but because of the crystal clear sound of this amp you can hear the vibrating wood of the bass itself. It seems to me that the Focus just amplifies what you put into it without colouring or 'forgetting' important bits. Even double tones and chords on the upright sound usable. Never experienced this before: They were too muddy to use until now.
Also my BG's hardly need EQ adjustments any more. The 4 string fretless Fame Baphomet (Warwick Thumb imitation) loves the ambient chorus effect. It's only possible to add more or less of the effect to the signal. Because the effects (hall, room, plate, delay, ambient chorus and flange) are well chosen any more parameters aren't nescesary.
The 6 string Samick (a cheap piece of wood, but with the enhancer it\'s quite usable) sounds more like a bass even on the high B string. The chords as well as the low B on this one are easy to handle for the Focus.
If I didn't know better I would swear I hear a bi-amp. And a very good one!
There's just one thing I don't like: Why are the effect send and return jacks on the front panel? I don't get this one. Acoustic Image clearly has thought over every aspect of this amp. Do I miss something here? But this is a little inconvenience and disappears next to all the advanteges.
This amp isn't cheap, but it's worth every penny (US $ 1399,--). I had in mind to use this one for rehearsels and smaller gigs. But now I know it suits the big jobs as well. So the Trace goes exit. The Focus is the only thing I need for everything I do: From jazz to crossover world music to heavy (sometimes symphonic) rock and anything inbetween.
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http://www.facebook.com/wirojacobs
Available for fretless bass jobs...
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bribass
Registered User
Registered: January 2006
Location: Northern NJ
Posts: 1273
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Review Date: Tue January 31, 2006
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Would you recommend the product? Yes |
Price you paid?: $1,399.00
| Rating: 9
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Pros:
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headroom, clear and accurate tone, powerful lows,Dual 1/4"/XLR inputs, mute button, extreme light weight and small size, send/return in/out, high pass/notch filters
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Cons:
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Not as warm as WW, un-differentiated control buttons, EQ and fx level controls, lack of channel switching control
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I just bought one right before the new year (tax deductable for '05 that way). There can't be too many out there yet 'cause mine has serial #0008. I'm liking it alot. First of all the added head room is great to have on louder gigs as I do a lot of doubling on DB and BG. When not using small combos I'm used to an old (c. mid -eighties) green light , 2 channel Walter Woods which is probably only pushing 225waits at best at 4ohms and a bunch less at 8ohms, so the 450 and 800-900watts of the Focus 2R III is very clean sounding and packs a punch. Clean is the operative word. Very flat uncolored response like they promise. All in a less than 5lbs. package.
I haven't messed that much w/ the HP and notch filters yet. I haven't really had to. I'm sure I'll love those for using a mic or problem rooms. Both channels BTW have the filters and both have 1/4" / XLR inputs. The mute button is very useful for tuning on louder stages while using send output connected to a small tuner.
So far I've tried it w/ my Prescott DB w/ Realist pu and Aguilar 112" w/horn, great! brings out it's complex mids that other amps miss. The MM Sterling BG and Eminence EUB sound great w/ the Flite cab loaded w/ 15" EV Proline. These axes need the warmer 15" and I do have to push the bass on the eq a bit, but when ya do, fabulous tone. When using two cabs together?, a 4ohm wall of tone w/ all the wattage! The chorus effect is usful too. Perhaps on outdoor gigs the reverbs may be handy esp. w/ a mic on the DB or some flange on funk lines. You could use this thing as a PA.
Complaints? Not many. EQ could be a bit more responsive. Ya have kinda crank them to get a big difference. Same goes for the level control on the FX. The controls also could be more differentiated. It's easy to hit the wrong little white button in the heat of battle. I wish the Focus had a WW style channel switcher; ch1, ch2 or both. Not just on/off for ch2.
Not quite as warm as the ol' WW, but this is better w/ a 15" or warmer cabs than my Aguilar and w/ all the headroom clarity in an incredibly small/light box, ya can't complain too much.
BG
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-Straight ahead and strive for tone
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daveant
Registered User
Registered: February 2006
Posts: 19
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Review Date: Mon July 10, 2006
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Would you recommend the product? Yes |
Price you paid?: $1,399.00
| Rating: 10
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Pros:
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purity of sound, headroom, straight ahead operation, portability
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Cons:
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none
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Really, the only amp I will ever need. Tons of headroom, ridiculously light weight, true sound not colored. I found there to be all the EQ I needed even for BG. Three bands on the amp (with extended highs) and 3 active on the instrument. It is 'it' for Acoustic Bass (without a doubt) and the phantom powered channels allow you to use pickup and mic. Highly recommended!
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...today is the tomorrow you worried about yesterday..
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Jazzdogg
Less barking, more wagging!
Registered: July 2006
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 6171
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Review Date: Sun December 2, 2012
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Would you recommend the product? Yes |
Price you paid?: None indicated
| Rating: 9
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Pros:
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Size, weight, sound
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Cons:
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Effects loop jacks on ft panel, bass control freq too high @ 250Hz
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I recently obtained one of these amps and I've been very happy with it, for the most part. It sounds very good, although I wish it had separate bass and low-mid frequency controls; the knob labeled "bass" has a frequency center of 250Hz (low-mids).
The mute switch is audible through my cabs when switched, and it doesn't mute the output completely; it functions more like a 10dB pad. Waiting for a reply from AI.
I'm using FDeck's HPF/Pre in front of the Focus because I like the way it sounds better than the on-board HPF.
I wish the buttons on the front panel were illuminated so I would see at a glance which controls were activated. Very small front panel markings, and a crowded front panel, make it very difficult to see while playing.
Overall, I'm very pleased with the sound, and realize that compromises are necessary when building a unit this small.
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Sanded-in oil finish tutorial: http://www.talkbass.com/forum/f57/sa...finish-384222/
http://www.talkbass.com/wiki/index.php/LinksForNoobs
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