Double Bass Acoustic Image Series III

[mje]

It's a dynamic world economy. Commodity items- and that can mean tube socks or PC assemblies- are made in countries that are labor-rich and capital and knowledge poor. And because it's a dynamic world, and not a static one, these people making these things get richer, and start to demand more luxury goods.

It wasn't that long ago that Japan was accused of paying "Coolie wages" to undercut the US. Then Japan starting building products in Korea.. and Korean got wealthy, too, and started outsourcing to Vietnam. Even India has finally caught on, opened its economy and is starting to get richer.

Trade makes everyone richer. If you don't believe that, it's awfully hard to explain the last 5,000 years ;-)

 

[Chris Fitzgerald]

Actually, I was hoping we would spend more time at Link Removed . Think we could give that one a click?

Um.

 

[MikeBarber]

Hey Chris, for my part, I'm sorry for wadding into this... I really just wanted to make a quick and simple point...

Ah, the slippery slope...

 

[Akami]

Anyone heard anything about these recently?
How about you Bob G?

I was able to pick up a flyer on them at the Musical Instrument Fair last week, but no amps.

 

[Bob Gollihur]

The amps will start being produced in 1-2 weeks, the combos after the first of the year.

 

[TroyK]

The official, final Clarus/Coda/Contra specs as received from Rick yesterday are:

250W @ 8 ohms, 400W @ 4 ohms, 500W @ 2 ohms

Bob or someone, I hate to look backwards, but could we post these same 8/4/2 ohm specs for the series II Clarus?

The specs are gone from the AI site and I wanted to see what the comparison was. I read this whole thread and saw mention of increases, but it wasn't clear to me for each load what the shift was.

Thanks in advance.

Troy

 

[Chris Fitzgerald]

Bob or someone, I hate to look backwards, but could we post these same 8/4/2 ohm specs for the series II Clarus?

The specs are gone from the AI site and I wanted to see what the comparison was.

Ask, and ye shall Link Removed.

 

[TroyK]

Sorry, I see the Series III specs on Bob's site, but not the Series II Specs. Am I missing them?

 

[Bob Gollihur]

Sorry, I see the Series III specs on Bob's site, but not the Series II Specs. Am I missing them?

Series II was 300-Watt Internal "Digital" Power Amplifier (300w @2 ohms, 200w @4 ohms, 120w @8 ohms)

FYI, update- the Clarus and Focus heads are now expected to start coming the week of 11/27.

 

[Chris Fitzgerald]

Sorry, I see the Series III specs on Bob's site, but not the Series II Specs. Am I missing them?

Ah, my bad. I've dicovered that reading goes quicker if you don't sweat comprehension...

 

[TroyK]

Series II was 300-Watt Internal "Digital" Power Amplifier (300w @2 ohms, 200w @4 ohms, 120w @8 ohms)

FYI, update- the Clarus and Focus heads are now expected to start coming the week of 11/27.

That's exactly what I was looking for, thanks Bob (All Heil!)

Ah, my bad. I've dicovered that reading goes quicker if you don't sweat conprehension...

Story of my life, Chris!

 

[drurb]

... Bob (All Heil!)

"Hail" maybe, but, please, not "Heil."

 

[TroyK]

"Hail" maybe, but, please, not "Heil."

Let's chalk that up to reading comprehension....

Maybe "Thanks Bob", is better still. It was my first "All Hail" and I screwed it up.

 

[myrick]

Wondering: has anyone (BobG, anyone) had a chance to play one of these IIs yet, even in protoype ?

It'll be interesting to see if it is still the same AI sound, or different in any way.

 

[Bob Gollihur]

Wondering: has anyone (BobG, anyone) had a chance to play one of these IIs yet, even in protoype ?

It'll be interesting to see if it is still the same AI sound, or different in any way.

I have not played any Series III models yet, but expect to have new heads shipping my way sometime next week, with at least one combo to follow shortly after.

My long experience with Rick at AI makes me confident that the results, if not the same, will be better. I was a little tense when the Series II first came out, but it proved to be an improvement over the originals, as was Series IIa.

 

[KJung]

The AI website has just been updated with real pictures and full specs on all the new models. Looks like they are now shipping.

 

[Bob Gollihur]

The AI website has just been updated with real pictures and full specs on all the new models. Looks like they are now shipping.

The first of my Focus and Clarus model orders are shipping today; the combos will not be available until after the first of the year.

 

[KJung]

Hello Bob,

We were discussing the Series III's over on the EB side a little this morning. I was quite surprised to finally see the specs and see that they dropped the 'bright' contol but still kept the shelving treble control at the unusually, extremely high start point of 10K (versus the more traditional 4 or 6K, etc.). MY buddy Ric Vice and I had his DB with David G. pickup, plugged into my Series II Focus and a Low Down Sound 3x8 with a tweeter, and the treble control had virtually no impact on the sound, even at extreme levels, while the bright contol seemed to have much more effect and to be voiced 'better' at either adding high end click and definition (or taking it out).

Just curious on your take on this... seems like a possible design blunder to me... but they obviously know what they ar are doing!

Ken

 

[Francois Blais]

Am I wrong to think the biggest difference between a Clarus 1 series II and III is that the latter has almost twice the power?
I suppose the series III is also more expensive?

Thanks,
François

 

[Wilbyman]

Hello Bob,

We were discussing the Series III's over on the EB side a little this morning. I was quite surprised to finally see the specs and see that they dropped the 'bright' contol but still kept the shelving treble control at the unusually, extremely high start point of 10K (versus the more traditional 4 or 6K, etc.). MY buddy Ric Vice and I had his DB with David G. pickup, plugged into my Series II Focus and a Low Down Sound 3x8 with a tweeter, and the treble control had virtually no impact on the sound, even at extreme levels, while the bright contol seemed to have much more effect and to be voiced 'better' at either adding high end click and definition (or taking it out).

Just curious on your take on this... seems like a possible design blunder to me... but they obviously know what they ar are doing!

Ken

I know this is a few months old, but I agree with Ken totally...I can't hear the treble control doing anything but the brite seemed to be very well voiced and usable. The guys at AI say the exact opposite...at least I know I'm totally out to lunch on the brite...