NUX AC-80 Stageman II acoustic amp

A powerful, battery-powered acoustic amplifier
The NUX Stageman II AC80 is the updated version of the popular, 80 watt acoustic amp from NUX.

With this amp, too, the development department at NUX uncompromisingly pursued one goal: to develop an amp that reproduces the sound of a recorded acoustic guitar unadulterated and yet offers maximum variability in terms of sound and application options.

The amplifier delivers a maximum of 80 watts of power, which, thanks to a rechargeable battery, guarantees a playing time of 4 hours even without being connected to the mains power supply.

Designed for clear, rich and dynamic sound reproduction, the Stageman II features a 6.5-inch speaker paired with a 1-inch tweeter. This combination results in a natural and inspiring playing feel that is suitable for both live and studio applications.

The AC-80 offers two independent channels, the first of which is designed for acoustic guitars (instrument jack input) and the second is optimized for vocals (XLR/jack combo microphone input). This is the ideal configuration for performing as an individual artist.

Each channel has a volume control, a 3-band EQ (bass, mid, treble), a reverb effect that can be mixed in, and a control to add effects (a variety of effects can be configured using the smartphone app).

In addition to a wide effects section, the Stageman II offers a lot of well thought-out presets, loops and small aids that make everyday life as a musician more pleasant. In the first channel, the basic sound of the amp can be optimized from band/duo to fingerpicking or strumming in no time using a three-stage selector switch.

In the second channel, the phase can be switched using a selector switch to avoid feedback when both inputs are used.

When it comes to connectivity, the AC-80 is equipped with numerous modern connections: It has a mini-jack AUX input that can be used to loop in external sound sources, playbacks or jam tracks. The signal can be fed to a mixer or sound system via a line out socket and an XLR DI out. The amplifier also has an effects loop to easily integrate effects pedals into the setup.

In addition, both effects and the drum machine/looper can be easily operated via two footswitch inputs and the included NMP-2 footswitch.

The smartphone app allows you to really exploit the amp’s potential

The Stageman II AC-80 has far more sounds than a conventional acoustic amplifier. Jam tracks or playbacks can be streamed to the amp in high quality without a cable via its Bluetooth connection, and immense additional sound potential can be exploited with the free smartphone app (for Android and Apple's iOS).

The app includes numerous effects, impulse responses (IRs), drum beats and looper functions that can be managed in real time using the app. You can access eight IRs of famous acoustic guitars via the mobile app, whose legendary sounds can be simulated on your own guitar track.

The effects section offers dozens of sounds that can be configured down to the last detail and whose order/routing can be easily changed via the app. Like the Mighty series and the Stageman AC-50, the amp also has an intuitive drum machine that provides beats from a wide variety of musical styles and can be used to create loops of up to 60 seconds in length.

An NMP-2 Stageman II includes a foot control that allows you to foot-enable or disable the effects on channel 1 or control the looper and drum machine functions.