Ashdown Acoustic Radiator 2 Acoustic Amplifier (160 Watts, 2x8 in.)

The Ashdown Acoustic Radiator 2 takes a new and innovative approach to acoustic instrument amplification, setting new standards for clarity, projection and the elimination of feedback.

Central to the design is a hi-fi quality, 160 Watts RMS bridged power output section, providing massive headroom and a perfect response throughout the frequency range. An advanced twin channel preamplifier features inputs for active and piezo pick-ups on channel 1, and both jack and balanced XLR (with switchable phantom power) low impedance inputs on channel 2, facilitating the connection of a wide combination of pick-ups and instrument micings. Phase switches assist in the elimination of standing wave feedback and a trademark Ashdown VU meter enables optimum input level matching. For the first time in an acoustic instrument amplifier, a dual triode vacuum tube under variable control is used to introduce a wonderful sweetness and presence to the sound, while sophisticated tone shaping facilities are provided by rotary bass, mid and treble controls delivering 20dB of cut and boost at 60Hz, 660Hz and 10kHz, supplemented by four sliders giving 15dB of cut and boost at 160Hz, 320Hz, 1.2kHz and 3.5kHz. As acoustic instruments generally feedback at two frequencies: a low end howl and a mid-range whine, dual notch filters are employed, with individually variable frequencies and Qs, enabling the user to precisely remove feedback without affecting the overall balance of the sound.

An Alesis digital reverb… read more with 16 reverb and delay settings is footswitchable, and can be applied to either or both channels via front panel switches, with individual level controls for each channel. The overall output level control is mutable for tuner use during performance, either from the front panel or a footswitch, and rear panel facilities include a balanced DI output with both pre and post Eq switching, a footswitchable FX loop, a line input with level control and a line / link output.

Another area of significant innovation is the speakers. The Acoustic Radiator 2 uses a pair of powerful 8 in. driver with dual, polymer diaphragm tweeter arrays, to deliver a wide frequency range and exceptional sound dispersion. read less