20/08/25 - Activier One10 - UK

First of all, many thanks for sending me the Activier ahead of schedule. I’ve been waiting to give it a try in real life setting before getting back to you. 

This is going to be a tale of two halves and I am looking for some advice in all honesty! In my small office at home, I found that the Activier was really good, mounted on a PA stand it was giving a good sound and with a nice bass presence and was working well with HX Stomp with amp models and various effects such as chorus, octave and distortion. Tonight was the first time that I was able to play in a medium sized hall, with drummer and (a ridiculously loud) guitarist! The first thing I noticed was how responsive the Activier was - it responds to individual dynamics more than any other amp I have used. I am happier playing with my fingers but the Activier seems to love a plectrum as this gives a punchier sound and feel. However, I found that the Activier lost its presence and despite changing my amp model in HX Stomp and various effects, the Activier sounded (to me) very much in the middle range. Now, I appreciate the size of the cab and what I was asking it to do and I am recognising the physical limitations and I was pushing the Activier to it’s maximum level but the question I have is how do I get more presence from the Activier whilst also not driving it so hard. I guess that adding another One10 would allow for a bigger sound and more presence - do you have any other thoughts?

I know that so much is individual taster and that is very hard to diagnose in an email but if you could give that some thought and get back to me that would be appreciated.

Thanks

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Hi David,

A medium-sized hall and a ridiculously loud guitarist is an impossible job for a single One10 (and for most non-Barefaced cabs two or three times as large). Adding a second One10 or a Two10S will help a lot!

Best regards,

Alex