Acoustic Image Amplifiers

GH Services is an authorized Acoustic Image Dealer. We provide competitive pricing on Acoustic Image products in Canada and the United States. Acoustic Image amplifiers are hand-made in Raleigh, North Carolina, U.S.A.

Acoustic Image Series III Coda R combo

GH Services is located in the Niagara Region of Canada, near Toronto and the Canada-U.S. border. Owner Greg Holmes is a long-time bass player and studio musician, ready and able to help you with any questions you have. More about GH Services here.

High technology. Higher fidelity. For all instruments.

What's so unique about Acoustic Image?

• Switching power amplifier instead of traditional linear amp
  The switching amp (also known as a Class D amp) is smaller and more efficient than traditional linear amps. It has less weight because there are no heatsinks or cooling fans and it has a "warm" sound unlike traditional solid state amps because its output stage is radically different from the traditional amp.
• Unique speaker enclosure shape to improve portability and sonic performance
  With the enclosure shape, form follows function. A cylinder provides an inherently stiffer enclosure. There are no resonances in the enclosure walls which means less colouration in the sound. The stiffer enclosure allows the walls to be thinner, leading to lighter weight.

Acoustic Image Series II speaker cabinet bottom view showing the downwards-firing 10 inch woofer

• Downfiring low frequency driver
  The downfiring woofer makes a small driver sound bigger and allows a smaller enclosure for a given driver size. Its omnidirectional output means the performer is more easily heard on the bandstand. The cabinet design seems to break the inverse square law, because the sound seems to remain at the same level even as you get farther away.

Because of the sound quality and the small size, an Acoustic Image amplifier virtually disappears on stage, leaving the sound of the instrument being amplified, only louder. The amp is popular with Jazz guitar players and bassists, as well as horn players and vocalists. We use this amp as the reference amplifier for the BassLab instruments.

This is also an excellent amplifier for The Chapman Stick® since it reproduces the full range with sparkling clarity, and it has the two inputs for the Stick's stereo outputs. With a touch of the built-in reverb (on the "R" models), the Stick amplification is complete.

The Amplifiers

The Clarus (400 Watts into 4 Ohms) and Focus (800 Watts into 4 Ohms) models combine a one channel preamp or two channel preamp with digital effects, and a switch mode power amplifier in a compact book-sized package that weighs about 2 kilograms (4 pounds). It provides transparent, powerful, and accurate sound reproduction across the full frequency spectrum for acoustic and electric instruments.

Acoustic Image Series III Focus 2R and Clarus 1 amps

Each channel of the preamp section has a combo mic/line input connector, 3-band equalization, a parallel effects loop with return level control, and a selectable notch or low cut filter which is very effective for feedback or "boominess" elimination. There's also a master balanced direct out with ground lift to allow connection to a mixing board for PA augmentation or recording.

The switch mode power amp section drives loads as low as 2 Ohms, and has a switch for dual voltage operation (115/230V, 50/60 Hz) and a detachable power cord.

Unlike other solid state amps, the Clarus and Focus have a distinct, warm sound, more like a tube amp, and they are not "voiced" like many electronic instrument amps -- the frequency response is almost "ruler flat". The EQ is sufficient to overcome room acoustics or to shape your sound without adding noise to the signal, and the optional reverb adds fullness and presence. The amps were not designed to be driven hard to create distortion in the amp, but effects pedals can be used at the input or in the effects loop, and the fidelity of the amp lets the effect shine through.

Acoustic Image Series III Coda R combo

The Combos

The Contra (1 channel) and Coda R (2 channel with effects) are compact and powerful combo amplifiers for acoustic and electric instruments. Combining a 3-way speaker system with the Clarus amplifier in a compact 8 kilogram (20 pound) package, many noted players believe they achieve the world's best acoustic sound for bass, guitar, and keyboards.

In this context, "acoustic" means a comfortable volume level where the combo is effectively invisible, providing amplification without coloration.

The combos have a flat frequency response coupled with an extended, tight, well-controlled bass sound and clarity of reproduction. Omnidirectional output of frequencies below 800 Hz allows instruments amplified by the combos to be easily heard by other musicians across the bandstand.

The Series III combos have are the result of extensive redesign into a lighter and more compact format, The electronics, speakers, and sound are the same are previous models.

Using the lifter to tilt the cabinet

In order to have a compact enclosure while maintaining accurate reproduction across a broad spectrum of frequencies, a compromise was made in the absolute volume at which the combos and EX cabinet can play at the lowest frequencies. Generally, if the EQ is flat, and aggressive low notes on an electric bass guitar are played, the cabinets can handle the low frequencies up to the point where the preamp "Level" control and the "Master" control are at their 12-o'clock positions (about half way up).

We've found that we set both controls to their 10-o'clock positions for most restaurants and small clubs, leaving plenty of headroom. This is with the combo providing amplification for both guitar and bass simultaneously, and sometimes a microphone. A truly portable PA!

For some venues, a Contra EX extension cabinet can be added for more coverage, but in a higher volume situation you'll want a larger extension cabinet or augmentation by a house PA system. To peel the paint off the walls, we like to use the Acoustic Image amps with AccuGroove cabinets. The fidelity of this combination is amazing. The amps also work very well with the popular speaker cabinets (twin 15 bass cabinets, quad 10s, and so on) that some venues have on hand as "house cabinets".

A built-in lifter mechanism under the front of the combos and EX cabinet allows them to be tilted to better direct sound to the player's listening position. An optional padded gig bag with shoulder strap makes the combos convenient for the travelling musician.

Testimonials

Configurations and Prices

Order now! Contact us at ghservices.com@gmail.com or call our toll-free order line 1-866-666-7858.

The available configurations include the amplifier alone or in combination with a cabinet, in single channel or dual channel with reverb. The following table shows the possibilities, with prices in US and Canadian dollars. We sell directly to American locations!

Free shipping throughout Canada and the U.S. for amps, combos, and cabinets! The US$ prices given below are only for drop-shipping from the manufacturer to American locations, and the CA$ prices include the extra shipping and import costs into Canada, so they do not exactly match the exchange rate.

All amps (heads) come with a padded gig bag. Amps and Packages come with a 6-foot 14-gauge speaker cable (Speakon-to-Speakon or Speakon-to-1/4") for connection to cabinets. Alternate cables are available.

Acoustic Image products have a five year warranty. The warranty does not cover items that have been obviously damaged through misuse. Details can be found in the manual.

Order now! Contact us at ghservices.com@gmail.com or call our toll-free order line 1-866-666-7858.

No sales tax for American orders. GST/HST will be added for sales in Canada, and PST for Ontario. Preferred payment methods are, in order: e-mail money transfer, bank wire transfer, certified cheque, money order, PayPal, Visa (+3%), MasterCard (+3%). Credit card payments for non-Canadian customers are in CA$ with exchange rates chosen by the credit card companies, resulting in minor variations from the prices given here. It is usually possible to use PayPal even if you don't have a PayPal account.

Comparison of SII and SIII

Inputs and Channels

The 2 channel SII models have distinct channel strips: a mic channel and an instrument channel. The instrument channel has two 1/4" inputs: low impedance and high impedance. Thus, the 2 channel SII models actually have 3 front-end inputs.

The SIII models have one or two identical channel strips. Each channel strip has only 1 input, using a Neutrik combo connector (accepting either XLR or 1/4", but not at the same time). Thus, the 2 channel SIII models have 2 front-end inputs. The SIII has eliminated the distinction between mic and instrument channel - it's now a 2 channel amp, which accepts two mics, or two instruments, or one of each.

Note: The FX returns can also be used as inputs, but they are post EQ and expect line-level signals.

EQ Controls

SII has the "Brite" EQ (centered at 9khz). SIII omits it. The rest of the controls remain the same, with Bass (low pass at 60Hz), Mid (band pass at 650Kz), and Treble (high pass at 10kHz).

Reverb/Effects

The SII has 8 reverb settings (small hall, large hall, room 1, room 2, room 3, plate 1, plate 2, spring). SIII reduces the reverb choices, but adds chorus and delay. In both SII and SIII, only one of these selections can be active at a time.

On both Series, the digital reverb module (made by Alesis) runs in parallel to the main signal, so it's silent when you turn it down.

Power

The SIII models add about 30% more Watts compared to the SII. This is accomplished by a change in the circuit design, without affecting tone.

To support stereo capability, the SIII models allow channel 2 to be turned off from the main out. Then you can send the channel 2 signal to another power amp, while the channel 1 signal is handled by the built-in power amp.

SII combos have a short external cable connecting the amp portion with the internal speaker, so the cable can be removed to defeat the speaker. SIII combos have this connection inside and inaccessible, so the internal speaker can't be turned off.

Models

The SIII line only has "lite" models (1 channel WITHOUT FX) or "loaded" models (2 channel WITH FX). It's a simpler line, so there are no 1 channel models with FX and no 2 channel models without FX.

There have been physical changes as well. The SIII combos and EX cab use a new moulded poly (plastic) shell, which makes them lighter by several pounds.

For more details about Series II, take a look at this page.

Features and Specs

Features for the Clarus and Focus models

Neutrik Speakon speaker connector

• Extended frequency range, balanced, high-fidelity sound
• Compact powder-coated enclosure (10x9x2.5 inches)
• Light weight (about 4lbs)
• Integrated preamp and power amp
• One or two channel preamp (with mic/instrument combo input)
• Phantom power for mic or outboard preamp
• Three-band EQ for each channel
• Input and master level controls
• Effects loop in each channel, with level control on effects return
• Switchable notch or low cut filter
• Optional 6-preset digital effect and level control
• Balanced direct out via XLR connector
• Ground lift switch on direct out
• 400 or 800 Watt switch mode power amplifier
• Dual speaker outputs via Neutrik Speakon connectors
• Switchable dual voltage operation (115/230V)
• Detachable AC power cord
• Comes with padded case, 6 foot power cable

Features for the Contra and Coda Combos

All of the feature of the Clarus, plus:

• Three-way sealed speaker system
• 10" downfiring woofer
• 5" midrange driver
• 1" tweeter with on/off switch
• Lightweight and durable enclosure (about 8 kilograms or 20 pounds)

Technical Specifications

Controls and Connections

For all enquiries, contact ghservices.com@gmail.com.