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Double Bass Acoustic Image has some nice new pics

#21
Regardless of how the front faceplate looks, I found out last night how the new design would be a great improvement for me over my current Focus II: while playing a great sold out show at the Factory, my sound during the first set was great, but very funky and trebly at the first part of the second set. I kept adjusting the tone controls to no avail. Turns out I had inadvertently hit the little button that switches the filter from "high pass" to "notch" while powering down after the first set, and since the amp was on top of a stand mounted speaker, I couldn't see it while playing. If I'd had the new design, I could have looked up and seen the settings in about 5 seconds while playing and saved myself about half a set of "***????" in the process.

Looks like it's time to start selling stuff and saving pennies again. Those of you who already have the series III models, keep posting those reviews - especially if you can compare the sound to the series II models!
 
#22
I have a new Clarus mach III. I haven't used it on a gig yet, but it sure is a nice amp. Very intuitive to use. The mute button is a great feature. I'm running it through a new Bergantino HT112 and it has more clean volume than the GK MB150S I was using. With a second cab bringing it to four ohms it's very loud, but still clean.

JK
 
#23
I'm using a Focus SA III amp with a PodXT (for sale) and soon with a Programmable BDDI. The amp sounds great, is loud - as loud as my Bergie HT112 will go anyway - and so small and light. I love it!
 
#24
Chris Fitzgerald said:
Regardless of how the front faceplate looks, I found out last night how the new design would be a great improvement for me over my current Focus II: while playing a great sold out show at the Factory, my sound during the first set was great, but very funky and trebly at the first part of the second set. I kept adjusting the tone controls to no avail. Turns out I had inadvertently hit the little button that switches the filter from "high pass" to "notch" while powering down after the first set, and since the amp was on top of a stand mounted speaker, I couldn't see it while playing. If I'd had the new design, I could have looked up and seen the settings in about 5 seconds while playing and saved myself about half a set of "***????" in the process.

Looks like it's time to start selling stuff and saving pennies again. Those of you who already have the series III models, keep posting those reviews - especially if you can compare the sound to the series II models!
Click to expand...

I recently had a chance to compare the new Focus Series III amp to my Focus Series II. As AI states on their site, the sound is identical. I cranked them both but did not really hear any difference between the 800 and 600 watt versions. The primary difference is look and features... on the plus side for Series III.... mute switch, that cool mic/line combo input, and as pointed out above, the new white button switches are easier to see and operate (although they still feel somewhat 'cheap' to me). On the down side (IMO), the elimination of the brite control.

Very nice, but not different enough IMO to upgrade from the series II models unless you really don't like the upward facing controls. I would guess that many Focus users use small cabs that are low to the ground, so I actually prefer the upward facing controls versus the new, more traditional placement and angle of the Series III... however, that's a very minor point. Basically, the two series sound identical to me (note... the test was done with EB).
 
#25
KJung said:
I recently had a chance to compare the new Focus Series III amp to my Focus Series II. As AI states on their site, the sound is identical. I cranked them both but did not really hear any difference between the 800 and 600 watt versions. The primary difference is look and features... on the plus side for Series III.... mute switch, that cool mic/line combo input, and as pointed out above, the new white button switches are easier to see and operate (although they still feel somewhat 'cheap' to me). On the down side (IMO), the elimination of the brite control.

Very nice, but not different enough IMO to upgrade from the series II models unless you really don't like the upward facing controls.
Click to expand...

Thanks very much for the review. I'm not in a huge hurry to order a series III, but I think I'll eventually upgrade because of the feature set you mentioned plus the one feature which for me is the main selling point: the high pass filter on both channels. Since I mix a pickup and an AMT mic, my main beef with the series II has always been that only the pickup channel had a HP filter when it's the mic channel which would benefit from it most in higher volume live settings. I even contacted Rick at AI directly before buying my series II to see if I could have one modded that way...but it wasn't feasible. I won't miss the brite control one bit since I always roll it completely off anyway for DB, but I'm curious - what about the white switches feels "cheap"? Are they loose or flimsy in the frame?

Thanks again for the review.
 
#26
Chris Fitzgerald said:
Thanks very much for the review. I'm not in a huge hurry to order a series III, but I think I'll eventually upgrade because of the feature set you mentioned plus the one feature which for me is the main selling point: the high pass filter on both channels. Since I mix a pickup and an AMT mic, my main beef with the series II has always been that only the pickup channel had a HP filter when it's the mic channel which would benefit from it most in higher volume live settings. I even contacted Rick at AI directly before buying my series II to see if I could have one modded that way...but it wasn't feasible. I won't miss the brite control one bit since I always roll it completely off anyway for DB, but I'm curious - what about the white switches feels "cheap"? Are they loose or flimsy in the frame?

Thanks again for the review.
Click to expand...

They actually feel much better than the black rectangular push switches on the original AI amps.... but are still little plastic switches. I didn't mean to make this a major point, since many amp manufacturers use similar switches. They are actually an improvement over the originals used in the series I and II's. I like the solid feel of traditional metal 'baseball bat' switches like Mesa and Thunderfunk use, but again, not a big deal at all.
 
#28
mje said:
Having a 10M input impedance following 10' of coaxial cable and a hi-Z pickup isn't a very good solution; you end up getting a lot of noise from the coax. It's always better to put the preamp as close as possible to the transducer, and run a low-Z interconnect.

A perfect example is the typical condenser microphone, which has an extremely high input impedance and near-inifinite DC resistance (the actual transducer is two conductors seperated by air) followed by a vacuum tube or FET preamp and transformer to drop that to something in the 150-600 ohm range.
Click to expand...

Our knowledge springs from two fundamental sources of the
mind; the first is the capacity of receiving representations
(receptivity for impressions), the second is the power of know-
ing an object through these representations (spontaneity [in
the production] of concepts). Through the first an object is given
to us, through the second the object is thought in relation to
that [given] representation (which is a mere determination of
the mind). Intuition and concepts constitute, therefore, the ele-
ments of all our knowledge, so that neither concepts without an
intuition in some way corresponding to them, nor intuition with-
out concepts, can yield knowledge. Both may be either pure or
empirical. When they contain sensation (which presupposes the
actual presence of the object), they are empirical. When there is
no mingling of sensation with the representation,they are pure.
Sensation may be entitled the material of sensible knowledge.
Pure intuition, therefore, contains only the form under which
something is intuited; the pure concept only the form of the
thought of an object in general. Pure intuitions or pure con-
cepts alone are possible a priori, empirical intuitions and
empirical concepts only a posteriori.

I was thinking EXACTLY the same thing when I got lost on Giant Steps again :rolleyes: .
Is this a qoute from Bronowsky? Sounds like Jung? But whado I know? For all I know it could be Dick Butkis or Chris 'Caveman' Fitzgerald... Sorry to get off subject, but I LOVE my old IA Clarus AI & the hi pass filter makes a difference to my ear in different situations
 
#30
Chris Fitzgerald said:
Actually, it's from Kant's Critique of Pure Reason. Sorry, I just couldn't resist...that's what all techspeak reminds me of. :)
Click to expand...


...and it is all quite outdated with respect to the current thinking and understanding in sensory psychology.
 
#31
To sidestep the amp thing for a moment but keeping with impedance changes, I went from a Raven PMB-I to a Solstice which, I believe is a switch from 1 to 10 MOhm (on both channels). I did have to increase the input level a good bit but the quality of natural tone is much improved over the Raven(in both the upright and BG), so I think the switch was successful. I did have trouble with a noisy short in my ancient Underwood's jack cable. It might not have been as bad with the Raven but I just need to get it fixed anyway. The unit also has other features that make it a better unit for the road and for doubling, mixing, etc.

Ike
 
#32
Ike, not trying to be a jerk or question your judgment at all, but isn't it possible that the sonic differences you described between the Raven and the DTAR are due to factor(s) besides just the difference in input impedance?

I hear what you're sayin' about the Solstice. IMO, it is a great little unit, very thoughtfully designed, and well executed.
 
#34
RUBARB said:
...and it is all quite outdated with respect to the current thinking and understanding in sensory psychology.
Click to expand...

...which has absolutely no relation to the reason the quote was posted in the first place. It was simply the densest collection of gobbledygook babblespeak I could find quickly.
 
#35
Chris Fitzgerald said:
...which has absolutely no relation to the reason the quote was posted in the first place. It was simply the densest collection of gobbledygook babblespeak I could find quickly.
Click to expand...

But it was PERFECT in realtion to what we go thru to get the sound we want to hear! What 'KANT' I say about a beautiful solo you played? That's music/life put into words & that's not possible (IMO).
Ten years ago my equpiment got in my way. Today with great speakers & amps from AI (and others), that doesn't happen.
Some of the best money I EVER spent was on 'monster' or high end cables. They are worth every penny. Lifetime guarantee & solve any impedance/ noise that mje referred to. Matching impedance for our piezo pickups isn't rocket science. I haven't tried any of 'Sir UR Bob's' products, but he explains impedance matching very well.
I use a Sans-Amp Acoustic DI in front of my AI Clarus 300AI. The Acoustic DI has a higher mega ohm than the Bass Driver. And it has a parametric on the mid range. I can turn it off & use it as a direct DI for live sound also. Best DI/ Pre I've used.
Back to topic: I think the high pass filter is a nice feature on the IA, but I don't think I would miss it.
I'm also having a major GAS problem :) (& not from Christmas turkey!): I WANT the AI Focus (800w). I want to buy the Rabbath video's. I'm even looking at a new slab :help: . What's wrong with me? CURSE YOU TB! You've made me think, practice & spend money again! I LOVE it :crying: !
 
#36
Doesn't the fact that AI has eliminated the multiple impedence inputs suggest that the input impedence has very limited impact on the tone of the instrument (even a piezo equiped instrument)? I've A/B's my original Clarus low and high Z inputs with an EUB with an unbuffered piezo pickup and can only hear a very, very slight difference. To me, most unbuffered piezo's don't sound very good anyway, and once you buffer them, the input impedence of the amp is a moot point (or at least even less of an issue) anyway.
 
#37
KJung said:
Doesn't the fact that AI has eliminated the multiple impedence inputs suggest that the input impedence has very limited impact on the tone of the instrument (even a piezo equiped instrument)? I've A/B's my original Clarus low and high Z inputs with an EUB with an unbuffered piezo pickup and can only hear a very, very slight difference. To me, most unbuffered piezo's don't sound very good anyway, and once you buffer them, the input impedence of the amp is a moot point (or at least even less of an issue) anyway.
Click to expand...
I agree that it has limited impact & I wouldn't miss it, but I do use it. When I'm in a small room at low volume I put it on low & it makes my UB 'fit' the room. To my ears it's more than just adjusting volume & EQ'ing. It sounds like it blends the lows & mids more evenly to 'fit' into a small room. As you said: There is only a very slight difference. Either way, I'll be buying their next product!
 
#39
Larry Holloway said:
Hey KJung: Meant to ask you: Nice looking bass on your avatar. Which one is it?
Click to expand...

Thanks! That is a Celinder Update 5, made by Chris Celinder in Denmark. Chris is a Marcus Miller/Larry Graham fanatic, and basically makes very high quality, handmade 'Fender' clones. The Update is meant to cop the late 70's J Bass vibe. It's a great instrument, beautiful finish, lot's of birdseye maple, custom made pickups and hardwar, etc. Very nice! I'm an EB player, but enjoy the amp thread in the DB section since I've been a small amp and cab fanatic for many years... and you DB guys define the term 'small amp and cab fanatic'!

Edit: Just change my avatar to my Rob Allen MB-2 semi-hollow body fretless 5 string with buffered piezo and tapewound flats... seemed a little closer to the DB side anyway, since I enjoy the DB amp threads so much :)
 

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