Frequently Asked Questions
Here are answers to the most frequently asked questions about BagAmp products. Don't see your question answered here? Send it to us by email at support@bagamp.com
Who manufactures these products?
These are products of Collins America, headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee, USA. They are designed and engineered by dedicated audio enthusiasts in the USA, and are built by one of the top professional music products factories in China.
What’s up with those odd speakers?
Those are patent pending Audio Piston flat face loudspeakers. And the BagAmp is the first product ever brought to market with this exciting new speaker technology. In a nutshell, the entire face of the speaker is the speaker. There are no frame, rubber surround, or other parts on the front of the driver that do not emit sound. The entire face emits sound. That lets our 3-inch speaker move as much air as a normal 4.5 to 5 inch speaker. Cool stuff.
Are the Audio Piston speakers delicate?
You should not directly impact the face of the speakers, or press on them with any force, because, yes, you could damage them. Light handling and casual gentle contact with the speaker faces is not an issue. However, as with any pro audio product, impact inflicted speaker damage is not covered by our warranty.
Why isn’t there a handle on the BagAmp?
We considered a handle. But, in testing the prototypes of BagAmp nobody had any problem lifting or handling its 20-pound weight without a handle. We saved a half pound and skipped the handle.
What is this ‘composite’ material used for the enclosure?
Actually, it is a new long glass-fibre polycarbonate/acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (PC/ABS) composite. ABS is generally a softer-denser plastic, and polycarbonate is generally a stiffer more rigid plastic. As a blend, the two complement each other with the best characteristics of each. This makes BagAmp’s enclosure both dense and rigid, highly resistant to acoustic frequency resonance, as well as highly resistant to damage from physical impact.
Do the BagAmp and Sub have international power supplies?
No. The power supplies and cords are region specific. Unless you specify differently you will be sent a product with the voltage and cord appropriate for the ship-to destination.
Where are the owners manuals?
We will post owners manuals for each of the products online prior to starting to accept live orders. The User Manual for the BagAmp portable amplifier system can be downloaded as a 600KB PDF from this link.
Can I buy any place other than online?
Yes. In the USA, Canada, and Europe BagAmp products are available through a growing group of exclusive BagAmp Showcase Site musical instrument retailers.
Can I become a reseller?
Yes. If you are the owner/manager of an independently owned music products retail location anywhere in the world where we have not already appointed an exclusive BagAmp Showcase Site reseller, we would like to send you our reseller kit. Just send us an email to info@bagamp.com
Can I buy at Sam Ash, Guitar Center, or other major retail chains?
No. BagAmp products are only available from one exclusive BagAmp Showcase Site reseller in each major market across the world.
How does the BagAmp compare to similar products from Bose and Fishman -- the L1 Compact and SoloAmp?
This is a hot question we do not intend to avoid. We think we have set an all-new standard for performance vs. price in this small line array PA category. We prefer for others to tell that story instead of tooting our own horn; however, we are planning a definitive 3-way product shootout video in the near future.
C’mon... Surely you can say something about the relative merits of BagAmp vs. the L1 Compact and SoloAmp?
Actually, there are some facts that we can share about the products that could draw some distinction in the technical approaches taken.
Total Effective Speaker Diaphragm Area: L1 Compact = about 36 square inches SoloAmp = about 42 square inches BagAmp = about 56 square inches
Total Amplifier Wattage (continuous rating) : L1 Compact = 200 Watts SoloAmp = 220 Watts BagAmp = 220 Watts
Total Amplifier Wattage Per Square Inch Of Speaker Diaphragm Area: L1 Compact = about 5.56 Watts per square inch SoloAmp = about 5.24 Watts per square inch BagAmp = about 3.93 Watts per square inch
The point of the above facts is that using our Audio Piston full face drivers gives us much more radiating diaphragm area, so that the power load as a function of speaker surface area is much lower. This translates into moving as much air as the other products, but with less diaphragm motion. And that, folks, translates into higher overall sound quality, less speaker distortion, and quicker transient response. In plain language, our speakers don’t have to work as hard to move the same amount of air.
Why won't you pay shipping on returns?
We offer some pretty pricey shipping options. And, we have no control over what a buyer selects for shipping. A lot of these will go out by FedEx Overnight or International Priority services, for example. We're not cheap, but, we have to draw the line somewhere on what we will pay and what the customer will pay. That line is at the "we don't pay shipping" point for us.
Why are ‘International’ prices higher than USA prices?
Frankly, it is much more expensive for us to conduct sales in international areas, our profit margin is already low, and, we cannot operate profitably -- providing the expected degree of long-range service and support -- in these remote areas without charging higher prices. Our choice was between (a) charging a little more, or (b) not selling our products there at all.