Martin DX1 k&k pure mini and ACUS amp - do I need preamp?
 

Hi! I'm a user of Martin DX1 with k&k pure mini installed. On live gigs I use it with ACUS 8" combo. It sounds absolutely fantastic at home. However in live situation I have always problems with quality of sound and volume.
1. Is it normal that I have so such different sound and so much quiter?
2. Do I need a preamp it this combination of equipment?
Thanks for any help!

Anyone? :)

Very unlikely. I have a K&K Pure Mini passive and didn't need one at all for a Mesa Rosette which is direct competition.

p.s. I might own an Acus One 8 right now too if there was a dealer within 1,000 miles. Really like the company demos. Not impressed with the US presence.

How's the amp working out for you? Do you sing? I should ask if you already have the amp and it seems like there's something missing which is why you asked your question?

Can't be sure. You have to ask them if the input impedance is over 1MOhm

Note that for the SR tech JAM 150 (its ancester) the answer is YES, because the input impedance is not high enough.

Cuki

According to the Acus website the impedance
of the line in 1/4” jack is 1 Megohm.
So no, you probably do not need a preamp.
There is a gain control so assuming there’s
a proper amount of gain available you should
be golden.

And you could always get a preamp later,
but looks doubtful you will need it.

_Roger

hi, in home amp works great. It sounds fantastic, very "true" (does not add any own characteristics). I don't sing, just play guitar. Suprisingly it fits ES175 better then any solid state amp I tried. Anyway in live conditions it seems to be to quiet...

Um, did you want it to sound "more fantastic?" :)

Yeah, I was all-in until I couldn't find even a whiff of one in Los Angeles. Seems to be a very capable amp with a very limited dealer network.

where you able to get away from the amp.
my aer in a live setting behind me is barely
audible but out in the audience it can be heard
like a bose. at home i can hear it fine.
I would certainly think a preamp could not
hurt. It will give you more headroom and
signal strength for your amp to work with.
i don't run kk without a pre .. just watch your gain staging.