DUO-POWER IIB
Power Series Balanced Active Transducer Systems For Violin and Viola
A Chinrest-mounted Duo-Power IIB Power Series Active Transducer System
The Skyinbow Pure Acoustic DUO-POWER IIB Power Series Balanced Active Transducer System For Violin and Viola is an easy-to-install, battery-free, piezo-based pickup system that features an electronically-balanced signal path that runs all the way from from the system’s handcrafted balanced piezo transducer to the balanced output of the system's Power Series miniature preamplifier. This balanced signal path has been designed to actively reject noise caused by external electrical interference. The combination of this active noise rejection and our highly-effective "Direct To Ground” system shielding topology means that the DUO-POWER IIB delivers a stronger, clearer, and more accurate sound quality than previous generations of Skyinbow Pure Acoustic Active Transducer Systems. This superior performance further enhances the microphone-like sonic accuracy and tonal fidelity that our Skyinbow Pure Acoustic Active Transducer Systems are renowned for.
The Skyinbow Pure Acoustic DUO-POWER IIB Power Series Balanced Active Transducer System For Violin and Viola is available either integrated into a custom-made Guarnerius-style chinrest or as a Split System. In a Split System, the handbuilt transducer can be mounted either in the custom-made chinrest or on a Carpenter-style Clamp Jack, and the miniature Power Series preamplifier is built into a guitar pedal format enclosure.
The Balanced Advantage
The DUO-POWER IIB’s balanced signal path allows you, the musician, to take full advantage of the benefits of this increase in performance when connecting the system directly to the balanced XLR microphone inputs of a mixing console, audio interface, acoustic amplifier etc. via a balanced stereo jack to XLR cable. When connected to a balanced input, the DUO-POWER IIB can be powered either by its onboard, battery-free, rechargeable power source, or by 48V phantom power from the microphone input itself, which the system will switch over to automatically.
Even when connected to the unbalanced input of a wireless transmitter, multi-effects pedal, looper etc. via a standard guitar lead, the partnership between the DUO-POWER IIB's balanced transducer to preamplifier connection and its "Direct To Ground” system shielding continues to reject external electrical interference. As a result, the DUO-POWER IIB delivers a significant increase in performance over unbalanced systems. When connected to an unbalanced input, the DUO-POWER IIB is powered by its onboard, battery-free, rechargeable power source.
To purchase a DUO-POWER IIB Balanced Active Transducer Split System for violin or viola, or any of our violin and viola-related products, you’ll find Paypal "Buy Now" buttons below through which you can pay by debit or credit card even if you do not have a Paypal account. If you would prefer to pay via bank transfer, please get in touch with us via the “Contact Us” page on this website and we will send you all the necessary information.
If you would like further information or have any questions, please do get in touch.
Skyinbow Pure Acoustic Handcrafted Transducers
Skyinbow Pure Acoustic Handcrafted Transducers for violin and viola are available separately, and can be supplied either built into a Guarnerius violin chinrest, fitted into a Carpenter-style Clamp Jack, or unterminated. This gives violinists, fiddlers and violists the opportunity to use Skyinbow Pure Acoustic’s renowned handcrafted piezo transducers with their own choice of preamplifiers from other manufacturers. The transducers are wired for balanced or unbalanced operation.
Skyinbow Pure Acoustic Power Series Preamplifiers
Skyinbow Pure Acoustic Power Series Preamplifiers are also available separately, and can be purchased mounted in a chinrest, or in either beltpack or guitar pedal formats. The preamplifiers are wired for balanced or unbalanced operation.
All Skyinbow Pure Acoustic products come with a limited 2-year parts and labour warranty.
UK RETAIL PRICE LIST
Tax-Free Export Prices for DUO-POWER IIB systems can be found on the Worldwide Webshop
All Skyinbow Pure Acoustic products come with a limited 2-year parts and labour warranty.
Skyinbow Pure Acoustic Duo-Power IIB Balanced Active Transducer Systems
A System Recharge Cable Is Included
A ¼” (6.35mm) TRS jack to XLR Male Cable is required for Balanced and 48V Phantom Power Operation
VIOLIN
Duo-Power IIB Balanced System for Violin (Chinrest Mounted) - £ 239.99
Duo-Power IIB Balanced Split System for Violin (Transducer In Chinrest) - £ 269.99
Duo-Power IIB Balanced Split System for Violin (Transducer In Clamp Jack) - £ 269.99
VIOLA
Duo-Power IIB Balanced System for Viola (Chinrest Mounted) - £ 239.99
Duo-Power IIB Balanced Split System for Viola (Transducer In Chinrest) - £ 269.99
Duo-Power IIB Balanced Split System for Viola (Transducer In Clamp Jack) - £ 269.99
Prices include UK VAT Postage and Packing
Skyinbow Pure Acoustic Handcrafted Transducers For Violin and Viola
All handbuilt transducers are supplied with 3-conductor jack sockets for both balanced and unbalanced operation. We recommend the use of either a Skyinbow Pure Acoustic or other high quality piezo preamplifier .
Handcrafted Violin/Viola Transducer With Custom Cable Length (Unterminated) - £89.99
VIOLIN
Chinrest Mounted Handcrafted Transducer for Violin - £119.99
Clamp Jack Mounted Handcrafted Transducer for Violin - £119.99
VIOLA
Chinrest Mounted Handcrafted Transducer for Viola - £119.99
Clamp Jack Mounted Handcrafted Transducer for Viola - £119.99
Prices include UK VAT Postage and Packing
A Skyinbow Pure Acoustic Handbuilt Transducer Mounted In A Carpenter-Style Clamp Jack
Skyinbow Pure Acoustic Power Series Preamplifiers
Guitar pedal format preamplifiers are fitted with 1/4” (6.35mm) input and output jacks wired for balanced or unbalanced operation. Chinrest mounted preamplifiers are supplied with a length of unterminated cable. We can also fit your own transducer into the chinrest provided that it has a minimum of 16cm of cable attached.
A System Recharge Cable Is Included
A ¼” (6.35mm) TRS jack to XLR Male Cable is required for Balanced and 48V Phantom Power Operation
Duo-Power IIB Piezo Preamplifier for Violin or Viola (Chinrest Mounted) - £149.99
Duo-Power IIB Piezo Preamplifier (Guitar Pedal Format) - £169.99
Prices include UK VAT, Postage and Packing
Skyinbow Pure Acoustic Power Series Accessories
Duo-Power System Recharge Cable - £14.99
Prices include UK VAT, Postage and Packing
Technical Notes
Skyinbow Pure Acoustic Handcrafted Balanced Piezo Transducer For Violin and Viola
A handcrafted, balanced piezo transducer is a pretty rare sight. The manufacturing process is labour intensive and time-consuming. However, when you connect that balanced transducer to a piezo preamplifier with a balanced input and output (such as the Power Series DUO-POWER IIB), you are rewarded with a strong, clear and accurate sound quality that makes the effort all worthwhile. Installation of the transducer on a violin or viola requires the drilling of a blind hole 3.2mm in diameter and 3.2mm deep at the back of your violin bridge at the top of its bass foot. We recommend that the transducer is installed by an experienced violin/viola repairer or luthier.
Skyinbow Pure Acoustic Power Series Balanced Piezo Preamplifier
Building on the multi-year design and development collaboration between an international team of designers and engineers that produced its predecessor, this latest Power Series preamplifier not only delivers an improved audio performance compared to all our earlier preamplifiers, but also allows musicians to choose between powering the new DUO-POWER IIB Power Series Active Transducer Systems from its rechargeable power source or 48V phantom power.
When powered from 48V phantom power - for example when plugged directly into a mixing console or audio interface - the Power Series preamplifier outputs a fully-balanced signal, which ensures maximum signal quality and integrity. When the on-board rechargeable power source is providing the power, the Power Series preamplifier again outputs a balanced signal when connected via a balanced cable to a balanced microphone input with phantom power disabled, and an unbalanced signal when connected via an unbalanced cable to an unbalanced input - for example an acoustic amplifier, wireless radio system, DI box, effects pedal etc.
Direct To Ground Shielding
Skyinbow Pure Acoustic’s Direct to Ground shielding topology helps prevent noise by ensuring that any externally-induced electrical charge or current in the shielding that encases all Power Series Active Transducer Systems has a direct path to ground that bypasses entirely the systems' audio circuitry.
Balanced Cables
Balanced cables - such as microphone leads - are made up of two conductors both of which carry identical copies the audio signal, one of which has its polarity reversed with respect to the other. When these two signals reach the preamplifier, the reversed signal has its original polarity restored.
Any electrical interference picked up in the cable will have the same polarity in both conductors, which means that, when the reversed signal has its original polarity restored, the polarity of the noise in that conductor is reversed in relation to the noise in the other conductor, which cancels out the noise and leaves the original signal intact.
A balanced 1/4” (6.35mm) “stereo" jackplug to male XLR (TRS* to XLR**) cable is required to make a balanced connection between the DUO-POWER IIB and a balanced XLR microphone input. This type of cable is readily available from bricks and mortar and on-line music retailers.
Unbalanced Cables
Unbalanced cables - such as standard guitar leads - are made up of a single conductor which carries the audio signal, and a woven or helically-wound copper wire screen. The screen acts as the ground reference for the audio signal and also, as its name implies. “screens" the audio signal from unwanted noises caused by including, for example, electrical and radio interference. However, the screen can also act as an antenna and pick up electrical and radio interference. Mains power cables, for example, are a common source of electrical noise and hum in unbalanced cables.
In the DUO-POWER IIB, the Direct to Ground shielding and the balanced connection between its transducer and its preamplifier combine to reject external electrical interference and help to prevent noise from entering the system’s audio circuitry.
Connecting a the 1/4” (6.35mm) jackplug of a standard jackp;ug to jackplug (TS*** to TS) guitar lead to the DUO-POWER IIB’s balanced output unbalances the output signal at the point at which it leaves the system, which allows direct connection to the unbalanced instrument input of a wireless transmitter, effects pedal, looper etc. Although an unbalanced connection is less resistant to external electrical interference than its balanced equivalent, the strength and clarity of the DUO-POWER IIB’s ourput signal means that this is unlikely to create a problem when using a good-quality guitar lead.
Onboard Rechargeable Power Source
The DUO-POWER IIB's lightweight Skyinbow Pure Acoustic rechargeable, on-board power source incorporates a unique application of the latest power sensing technology and power management techniques that were first developed within the computer industry.The use of a supercapacitor to store an electrical charge eliminates the need to use conventional (and weighty) alkaline or lithium-ion 9 volt batteries, which helps to reduce battery waste and environmental damage.
Charging the supercapacitor is simply a matter of connecting a 9V (PP3) battery to the supplied System Recharge cable and plugging that cable's output jackplug into the output socket of the DUO-POWER IIB Active Transducer System for between one and two minutes for a full charge. A fully-charged capacitor stores enough power to run the System for approximately 8 hours of playing time.
48V Phantom Power
The balanced microphone inputs of the vast majority of mixing consoles, audio interfaces, acoustic instrument amplifiers etc which are available these days are capable of supplying 48V phantom power. Originally developed to power condenser microphones, 48V phantom power is now often used as a convenient way of powering preamplifiers.
Footnotes
* Three conductor stereo jackplugs are made up of three sections - Tip, Ring and Sleeve - hence TRS.
** A fun piece of audio trivia is that the initials XLR stand for eXternal Line Return - not many people know that!
*** Two conductor mono jackplugs are made up of two sections - Tip and Sleeve - hence TS.
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Errors and Omissions Excepted. Prices and Specifications May Change Without Notice.
