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Double Bass Acoustic Image D.I. question

Vertigo Jones

Vertigo Jones

Guest
Jun 13, 2013
169
225
#1
Hello. I have a question that pertains to safely operating my amp. I have an Acoustic Image Focus amp and I was wondering if it would be safe to run the D.I. out into say, a recording interface with the speaker cabinet disconnected? Apologies if it seems like a stupid question, but I want to make sure I won't harm anything by doing this.....especially myself! Thanks.
 
#2
Not a stupid question. I did just that and then sent an email message to Rick Jones to find out whether I had done something I shouldn't have. He told me that if you want to run the amp through the DI with no speaker attached, make sure the master volume (for the amp section) is turned all the way down.
 
#3
I believe the problem with running amps without a load (no speaker attached) is more of a concern with tube amps because of a tendency to blow the output transformer. I have read on here that most solid state amps do not have output transformers and because of that, they are safe to run with no load. I'm not really familiar with the Acoustic Image, but because it's Acoustic, Id bet that it is solid state.

I guess the short answer is I think so but, maybe try to read any paperwork that came with the amp or track it down online if you don't have it first, just so you don't blow up your baby.

For what it's worth, I've used my Acoustic B200H with no load without any ill effects although I only used it for about 20 minutes
 
#5
Thanks for the replies everyone. Yes, it's an Acoustic Image Focus amp and yes it's solid state. I'm used to tube amps and how they operate, but this is a first for me. I wanted to see if I could use the A.I. as a pre-amp for direct recording without using the speaker cabinet, but wasn't sure if a speaker load was required on the amp. Obviously I don't want to blow up my amp.
 

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