TEST: AES Elite Acoustics D6 - 8

 The acoustic guitar seems to be the new electric guitar, at least when it comes to its amplification range. While the majority of newly released electric guitar amplifiers are in principle the completely exhausted concept only in terms of portability and “how close can I get to the sound of a high-end all-tube head with minimal production costs “ leveled out, several specialists in the acoustic guitar sector took off and in recent years have established a whole new species in terms of amplifier design. This segment also includes the Elite Acoustics D6-8 Acoustic Amplifier, although limiting its range of use to the acoustic guitar would be a big mistake.

The concept of the Elite Acoustics D6-8

Like many other acoustic guitar amplifiers, the Elite Acoustics D6-8 takes advantage of the fact that amplifying an acoustic guitar is all about amplifying a signal without distortion. Since this principle also applies to every other instrument apart from an electric guitar and possibly an electric bass, it would make a lot of sense to use the amplifier as a micro P.A. to feed in and amplify additional sound sources such as vocals, keyboards, MP3 sources and, as in this case, recordings via Bluetooth if necessary.

In order to give the user absolute freedom in terms of application, the Elite Acoustics D6-8 was equipped with a 5000 mA battery, which, according to the manufacturer, allows operation for up to 8 hours without a power supply, which will particularly delight street musicians or garden party fans. The user is informed about the charging status using a four-digit display on the back of the housing. To charge the system, the amplifier comes with a 12V DC power supply, a power cable and a DC cable for the car adapter.



The construction of the Elite Acoustics D6-8

“Designed, assembled and tested in California, USA” is emblazoned on the back of the case, which is surprising on the one hand, but also explains the retail price of €899 on the other. For a 40 watt multifunctional amplifier, it's not a price for gasp, but still significantly higher than the equivalent Chinese product. With dimensions of 27.7 cm x 26 cm x 41.7 cm, the upright cuboid is really very transportable, but the comparatively high weight of 12.7 kg due to the battery puts quite a strain on the metal bracket on which the product can be carried.

The signals are transmitted via the combination of an 8 inch bass speaker and a 1 inch silk dome tweeter. A 35 mm flange is also installed on the underside of the housing for high stand operation. In terms of workmanship, the housing, which is made of MDF and covered with black vinyl, is very clean and tastefully colored.

The Elite Acoustics D6-8 is a six-channel, portable mini PA, which also has Bluetooth and a digital mixer with a 1.5" LC color display. An internally installed FX device also provides noise effects if required Gate, Compressor, EQ, Reverb, Chorus and Delay. You can also save 10 different mixer settings, which can also be managed via the MIDI In/Out interface.

The following connections are available:

CH1 / CH2: Input Instrument (6.3 mm jack) - Line (6.3 mm stereo jack) - Mic (XLR)

CH3 / CH4: Line (6.3 mm stereo jack) - Mic (XLR)

CH5 / CH6: Left / Right Stereo Input (6.3 mm stereo jack) -

AUX In (3.5 mm stereo jack)

The first 4 channels can also be muted using a switch and have a PAD switch for very powerful signals. You can also see visually whether the channel has been muted via an LED next to the switch. The system also has 48 V phantom power for the first four channels, which can also be activated using a switch. For connecting additional power amplifiers or feeding into corresponding P.A. systems, the system also has the outputs Monitor Right Output (6.3 mm stereo jack), Direct Out Left/Right (XLR), AUX Send 1 and AUX Send 2 (6.3 mm stereo jack).

Due to the multiple inputs plus channels 5/6, Bluetooth and AUX via mini jack, there is hardly an instrument that the Elite Acoustics D6-8 cannot handle. What's more, if you can get by with a moderate volume, even a 3 - 4-piece acoustic band plus backing tracks could be managed via this multifunctional amp. External FX devices can also be controlled via the corresponding aux sends and if the volume is not sufficient, additional power amplifiers or active systems can easily be controlled via the corresponding main outs.

On the top of the case is the actual further development of the Elite Acoustics D6-8 compared to its predecessors. There are six switches, five rotary controls along with push functions and a 1.5-inch color display, all of which represent the control units of the internally installed digital mixer. Each channel can be edited, saved and accessed individually, which offers a comparatively high level of flexibility for a product in this category. The respective filter units are also hidden here, which are usually hidden next to the input section.

Managing the entire signal management on a display may initially be a bit confusing for some people, as most acoustic guitar amplifiers work in a classic analogue way. But once you have become familiar with the system, the actual setting work is very quick, especially since you now have to deal with it when it comes to menu navigation with every multi-effects device.

In principle, the Elite Acoustics D6-8 is designed as a stereo device, which is of course only used with one or more additional speakers. The corresponding A very sensible sound system would also be to use the Elite Acoustics D6-8 as a stage monitor and the actual amplification via 2 active speakers on the sides of the stage, so you can adapt the sound to any hall size.


The Elite Acoustics D6-8 in practice

The signal management procedure is in principle quite simple. Wire the amp, set the gain and check it on the display (-12 dB is a good base value), set the EQ and add effects if necessary, done. I admit that a perfect setting of the individual channels requires a lot of knowledge and experience, the parametric EQ alone will overwhelm around 90% of all users, but the management of the signals is actually just as clear as described in the first sentence. Once you have found the sound you want, you can adjust the overall sound a little via the master section using a three-band tone control.

After all the very flexible signal management, we now come to the crucial point: how does the amp sound? I want to put it diplomatically. While the signal management and concept of the Elite Acoustics D6-8 are impressive, the speaker area sounds rather average. The bass speaker delivers a comparatively high level of efficiency for an eight-inch model and is impressive, but the weak point is the tweeter.

As with its predecessors, the treble range sounds quite harsh and is reproduced with a subtle bite, which somewhat detracts from the overall sound of the amplifier. Even reducing the treble range cannot really defuse the basic sound. In order to avoid any misunderstandings, it's not that the amplifier sounds bad, but due to the very good concept you might have wished for a high-frequency sound like the one found in the amp. B. where Era 1 or 2 is offered by Hughes & Kettner.

With an output of 40 watts, the system naturally reached its load limit quite quickly. Mounted on a high stand for a small pub, the sound pressure should be sufficient for a discreet performance for a disciplined audience, provided that you do not transmit any backing tracks with a deep bass component, but rely primarily on the acoustic guitar and vocals. For club sound reinforcement, however, additional performance supports are required, which, as already mentioned, are excellently served by the Elite Acoustics D6-8.


Conclusion

With the Elite Acoustics D6-8, the American manufacturer combines an excellent concept with very flexible signal management in a clear housing. Almost every signal source can be processed and managed very practically thanks to the digital mixer.

If you can live with the harsh sound of the tweeter, you should definitely give the product a try.

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Additional Informations:

AES Elite Acoustics is a leading manufacturer of high-end audio equipment. The company was founded in 1995 by two audio engineers, Alex and Eric Smith. Alex and Eric were both passionate about audio and had a dream of creating their own company that would produce the best possible sounding audio equipment.

The company's first product was a line of high-end audio cables. The cables were a critical and commercial success, and they quickly established AES Elite Acoustics as a major player in the audio industry.

In the years that followed, AES Elite Acoustics expanded its product line to include a wide range of audio equipment, including speakers, amplifiers, and preamplifiers. The company's products have been praised by reviewers and audiophiles alike for their exceptional sound quality and build quality.

AES Elite Acoustics is a relatively small company, but it has a reputation for being one of the best audio manufacturers in the world. The company's products are used by professional audio engineers and audiophiles around the globe.

**The Early Years**

Alex and Eric Smith met in college while studying audio engineering. They quickly became friends and bonded over their shared passion for audio. After graduating, they both got jobs as audio engineers at a recording studio.

While working at the recording studio, Alex and Eric began to experiment with different ways of improving the sound of the recordings. They tried different types of microphones, cables, and recording equipment. They also experimented with different recording techniques.

After a few years of experimentation, Alex and Eric had developed a number of new audio techniques that they believed would significantly improve the sound of audio recordings. They decided to leave their jobs at the recording studio and start their own company to market their new audio techniques.

**The Founding of AES Elite Acoustics**

In 1995, Alex and Eric founded AES Elite Acoustics. The company's first product was a line of high-end audio cables. The cables were designed to improve the sound quality of audio recordings by reducing noise and distortion.

The cables were a critical and commercial success. They were praised by reviewers and audiophiles alike for their exceptional sound quality. The success of the cables quickly established AES Elite Acoustics as a major player in the audio industry.

**The Expansion of AES Elite Acoustics**

In the years that followed, AES Elite Acoustics expanded its product line to include a wide range of audio equipment, including speakers, amplifiers, and preamplifiers. The company's products have been praised by reviewers and audiophiles alike for their exceptional sound quality and build quality.

AES Elite Acoustics is a relatively small company, but it has a reputation for being one of the best audio manufacturers in the world. The company's products are used by professional audio engineers and audiophiles around the globe.

**The Future of AES Elite Acoustics**

AES Elite Acoustics is a company that is constantly innovating and looking for new ways to improve the sound of audio equipment. The company is committed to providing its customers with the best possible listening experience.

AES Elite Acoustics is a company that is on the rise. The company has a bright future ahead of it and is poised to become one of the leading audio manufacturers in the world.

**The AES Elite Acoustics Philosophy**

AES Elite Acoustics is a company that is founded on the belief that everyone deserves to hear music the way it was meant to be heard. The company's products are designed to reproduce the original sound of the music as accurately as possible.

AES Elite Acoustics believes that the best way to experience music is to listen to it on a high-quality audio system. The company's products are designed to provide the listener with the most accurate and enjoyable listening experience possible.

**The AES Elite Acoustics Commitment to Quality**

AES Elite Acoustics is a company that is committed to quality. The company's products are made with the highest quality materials and components. The company also has a rigorous quality control process that ensures that every product meets its high standards.

AES Elite Acoustics is a company that is confident in the quality of its products. The company offers a generous warranty on all of its products.

**The AES Elite Acoustics Customer**

AES Elite Acoustics is a company that is committed to its customers. The company offers a high level of customer service and support. AES Elite Acoustics is a company that is always willing to help its customers get the most out of their audio systems.

AES Elite Acoustics is a company that is dedicated to providing its customers with the best possible listening experience. The company is constantly innovating and looking for new ways to improve the sound of its products. AES Elite Acoustics is a company that is on the rise and is poised to become one of the leading audio manufacturers in the world.