The Caveman Audio AP1 Compact is a compact acoustic guitar preamp and DI pedal. Caveman Audio positions it as the pedalboard version of its AP1 Acoustic Preamp: the maker states that "The AP1 Compact sounds exactly like our renowned AP1 Acoustic Preamp," and calls it "the perfect Acoustic Preamp / D.I. for your pedalboard"1. For an acoustic player, it sits at the end of a pedalboard to shape the amplified tone and hand a balanced signal to the PA.
The unit provides a Hi-Z cable input for the guitar, a transformer-balanced gold-plated Neutrik XLR DI output for the front of house engineer, and a separate tuner output1. All Caveman Audio products come in road-ready, zinc-plated steel enclosures and carry a 10 year warranty1. The maker lists the AP1 Compact at a list price of 3.745,00 kr. (Danish krone)1.
Power and connections
The AP1 Compact is built for pedalboard use, with a compact footprint and a road-ready, zinc-plated steel enclosure1. It presents a 5MΩ input impedance and is designed to drive a D.I. output load of 2kΩ or more1. The unit measures 130 x 145 x 40/65 mm (WxHxD) and weighs 1 kg / 2 lbs. 3 oz.1, so it sits alongside standard-sized pedals without crowding the board.
On the connection side, the signal path is straightforward:
- Input: Hi-Z cable input for the guitar, with a 5MΩ input impedance1
- DI output: transformer-balanced, gold-plated Neutrik XLR, designed to drive a load of 2kΩ or more1
- Tuner output: a separate output for a tuner, so tuning stays out of the main signal path1
The 5MΩ input impedance is a high figure for a pedal input, which suits passive piezo pickups, the most common pickup type on acoustic guitars. The transformer-balanced XLR is the connection a PA engineer normally wants from an acoustic rig, and the maker describes the unit as offering "An amazing-sounding preamp, Tuner Out, and transformer-balanced DI Out for your FOH engineer"1.
How it differs from the AP1 and the ACC1
Caveman Audio's acoustic line includes the ACC1 Acoustic Preamp System, the AP1 as a basic version of it, and the AP1 Compact, which sits at the pedalboard end as a Compact Acoustic Preamp231.
| AP1 Compact | AP1 | ACC1 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Format | Compact pedal | Pedal | 2U 19-inch rack unit3 |
| Role | Acoustic preamp / DI for a pedalboard1 | Acoustic preamp, DI and tuner out with switchable boost, for small gigs and traveling2 | Flagship acoustic channel system3 |
| Power | 9 to 18V DC, 100mA, center negative1 | 100 to 240VAC, 47 to 63Hz2 | 100 to 240VAC, 47 to 63Hz3 |
| Outputs | Transformer-balanced XLR DI, tuner output1 | Transformer-balanced XLR DI, transformer-balanced tuner output2 | Transformer-balanced tuner output3 |
The relationships run downward from the flagship. The maker describes the AP1 as "a basic version of our flagship, the ACC1 Acoustic Preamp System"2, and the AP1 Compact as a compact version of the AP1's preamp1. The AP1 adds a switchable boost, unique RFI protection and silent switching, and a transformer-balanced Neutrik XLR radio/wireless input alongside its Hi-Z cable input2. The ACC1 is a different animal altogether: a 2U rack channel strip on mains power, whose single job, in the maker's words, is "To maintain every nuance of your acoustic guitar sound, making it spring to life even when amplified through a PA system"3.
The ACC1 sits alongside the AP1 Compact in the Caveman Audio range, and both share the same build approach: road-ready, zinc-plated steel enclosures across all of the maker's products13.
Power differs sharply across the range. The AP1 Compact runs on 9 to 18V DC like a standard pedal, while the AP1 and ACC1 run on mains power (100 to 240VAC, 47 to 63Hz), so they do not run off a pedalboard power supply132.
Where it fits among acoustic pedals
The AP1 Compact is a preamp pedal in the family of acoustic pedals, built for players who need to feed an acoustic guitar to a PA or mixer. Its 5MΩ input impedance is suited to piezo pickups, and its DI output handles an output load of 2kΩ or more1. The whole unit sits in a road-ready, zinc-plated steel enclosure weighing 1 kg / 2 lbs. 3 oz., at 130 x 145 x 40/65 mm (WxHxD)1.
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Questions
What is the difference between the AP1 Compact and the ACC1?
The ACC1 is Caveman Audio's flagship, a 2U 19-inch rack preamp and DI system that runs on mains power (100 to 240VAC). The AP1 Compact is a pedal-format preamp and DI that puts the company's AP1 preamp sound on a pedalboard and runs on 9 to 18V DC. Both offer a transformer-balanced output, but the ACC1 is a full channel system rather than a pedal.
Does the Caveman AP1 Compact have a tuner output?
Yes. The AP1 Compact has a dedicated Tuner Output alongside its transformer-balanced, gold-plated Neutrik XLR DI output. The tuner output lets you keep a tuner connected and out of the main signal path while the XLR feeds the front of house engineer.
What power supply does the AP1 Compact need?
The AP1 Compact accepts 9 to 18V DC at 100mA, center negative. That range covers standard 9V pedalboard power supplies as well as higher-voltage supplies, so it fits most isolated pedal power units without a special adapter.
Is the AP1 Compact power polarity center negative?
Yes. Caveman Audio specifies 9 to 18V DC at 100mA with center negative polarity, which is the standard arrangement for most modern effects pedals and pedalboard power supplies.
How long is the warranty on the Caveman AP1 Compact?
All Caveman Audio products, including the AP1 Compact, come with a 10 year warranty from the maker. The company also builds its products in road-ready, zinc-plated steel enclosures.
Sources (3)
- AP1 Compact, Caveman Audio, 2026-05-19
- AP1 Acoustic Preamp, Caveman Audio, 2025-06-02
- ACC1 acoustic channel, Caveman Audio, 2026-04-13
