Power soaks & attenuators

irish_admiral · Post by **irish_admiral** » Sun Jul 11, 2004 5:41 pm

What experience have people had with power soaks / power brakes / power killers / hot plates?

I'm looking into getting one, and have seen several different brands and types ranging from the cheap resistor-based Power Killers to Marshall Powerbrake, to Weber MASS, THD hotplate, Alessandro Muzzle & the best of the lot (apparently), the Magus 'Ultimate Attenuator'.

Are there any techs who know what will happen to output transformers if I put a resisitor-based power soak in between my amp and speakers? I've heard many urban myths, now i'm looking for a definitive response.

Don't tell me the best way, just tell me the cheapest way...

Post by **bclaire** » Sun Jul 11, 2004 8:56 pm

Add to that list the Marshall SE-100 speaker emulator and the Groove Tubes Speaker emulator- while they provide a direct out, they also attenuate the volume and even allow you to run the amp without speakers attached if you want.

They are excellent, too.

I'd be wary of some of those- the first, The Scholz Power Soak, was linked to some amp failures. It worked pretty well if you wanted to sound like the first Boston CD.

Billy

irish_admiral · Post by **irish_admiral** » Sun Jul 11, 2004 11:28 pm

What's the deal with the speaker emulators? Give it to me in Peter & Jane (ie. really simple) fashion.

Do they run between the amp and speakers, and can you have both speakers and direct out at the same time? If i'm not using PA, just the amp in a small venue, can I use the emulator to attenuate volume?

Don't tell me the best way, just tell me the cheapest way...

Post by **bclaire** » Mon Jul 12, 2004 12:56 am

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
What's the deal with the speaker emulators? Give it to me in Peter & Jane (ie. really simple) fashion.

Do they run between the amp and speakers, and can you have both speakers and direct out at the same time? If i'm not using PA, just the amp in a small venue, can I use the emulator to attenuate volume?
<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>

They are inserted between amp and cab and you can have both speaker and emulated signal OR just attenuate the signal without using the direct out.

OR no speaker and just direct.

Billy

irish_admiral · Post by **irish_admiral** » Mon Jul 12, 2004 8:15 am

Ok that's helpful thanks. Let me know if you see a 2nd hand one going anywhere!

Don't tell me the best way, just tell me the cheapest way...

Kurb2004 · Post by **Kurb2004** » Wed Aug 04, 2004 12:38 am

I'm after one for my Soundcity 120 mk4 i think?!! I have heard that it can put stress on the valves and output transformer. Am i safer getting my tech to do a master volume mod. It has a full set of mullards and i don't fancy blowing them or the partrige tranies.

Kev

www.kurb.org

Andy H. · Post by **Andy H.** » Wed Aug 04, 2004 7:04 am

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>I'm after one for my Soundcity 120 mk4 i think?!! I have heard that it can put stress on the valves and output transformer. Am i safer getting my tech to do a master volume mod. It has a full set of mullards and i don't fancy blowing them or the partrige tranies. <hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>The THD Hotplate is a good bet, being rated at 170watts power handling. You need to get one of the correct impedance though - they are not switchable. Check their website for info relating to stress involved in use, but basically it shouldn't cause any more problems then running the amp flat out would normally.
http://www.thdelectronics.com/products/hotplate.htm
Andy.

irish_admiral · Post by **irish_admiral** » Wed Aug 04, 2004 8:01 am

Apparently the Weber MASS or the Magus 'Ultimate Attenuator' are both better than the THD as they mimic the reaction of a speaker, so you get a better sound.

The UA is more pricey though.

Don't tell me the best way, just tell me the cheapest way...

Andy H. · Post by **Andy H.** » Wed Aug 04, 2004 9:30 am

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote> Apparently the Weber MASS or the Magus 'Ultimate Attenuator' are both better than the THD as they mimic the reaction of a speaker, so you get a better sound.<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>
I'm never quite sure what 'apparently' means. Other then that you heard someones opinion somewhere, which is fair enough.
I think it's true to say some amps and some attenuators probably get on better with each other then others. And personal taste comes into it. But I haven't seen everyone consistently favouring others over the THD, which seems well liked over many forums. Crucially though for an amp like the SS.120, the THD has better power handling then most available. It doesn't matter if something gets great reviews, if your amp just fries it! Remember we are talking 6 EL34s, and quality transformers here! The THD does get lots of great reviews though, especially used with Hiwatts, Voxes, Oranges, Sound City's...

Andy

Edited by - Andy H. on 04 Aug 2004 09:31:53

spoonie g · Post by **spoonie g** » Wed Aug 04, 2004 2:27 pm

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
Apparently the Weber MASS or the Magus 'Ultimate Attenuator' are both better than the THD as they mimic the reaction of a speaker, so you get a better sound.

The UA is more pricey though.

Don't tell me the best way, just tell me the cheapest way...
<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>

There was a pretty comprehensive test that I saw b/t the MASS and the THD and the THD had a pretty flat frequency response whereas the MASS was not as much so.

irish_admiral · Post by **irish_admiral** » Wed Aug 04, 2004 5:28 pm

A matter of preference I guess. The review I saw put the MASS above the hotplate.

The Magus UA hasn't run in any tests yet, but is reckoned to be the best of the lot by the guy who first reviewed it. Have a look for it on Google and see what you think.

Don't tell me the best way, just tell me the cheapest way...

Andy H. · Post by **Andy H.** » Thu Aug 05, 2004 12:36 pm

If I'm wrong on this correct me irish admiral, but as far as I could see the UA is only rated for 100 watts. (There may be higher rated ones now, but I haven't spotted them). I'm sure it's a very good attenuator too, but if it only takes that power level then it is useless for putting an amp conservatively rated at 120w RMS through. Sorry, I'm not trying to have the last word, or to say the THD is always better, anything like that. I was just trying to answer the question Kurb asked, which was what to recommend for a SS.120, yeah? <img src=icon_smile_blush.gif border=0 align=middle>

Andy.

deepspacenyne · Post by **deepspacenyne** » Thu Aug 05, 2004 2:04 pm

i researched this quite a bit and most people favoured the hotplate. i have one attached to my ad30.

on the hotplate you have a volume control that goes from silent (100% attenuation) to full blast (0% attenuation).

i havent touched the volume on my amp for ages and simply wouldnt own a valve amp without an attenuator. you get access to all those tones you otherwise couldnt its as simple as that.

best Ã‚Â£215 ive spent in ages

spoonie g · Post by **spoonie g** » Thu Aug 05, 2004 5:19 pm

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>
Apparently the Weber MASS or the Magus 'Ultimate Attenuator' are both better than the THD as they mimic the reaction of a speaker, so you get a better sound.

The UA is more pricey though.

Don't tell me the best way, just tell me the cheapest way...
<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>

There was a pretty comprehensive test that I saw b/t the MASS and the THD and the THD had a pretty flat frequency response whereas the MASS was not as much so.

<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote>

here it is: http://acapella.harmony-central.com/for ... did=641405

irish_admiral · Post by **irish_admiral** » Thu Aug 05, 2004 5:45 pm

Sure, think it only goes up to 100 watts. The other advantage it has though is you don't have to match it ohms-wise. So you can use it with whatever you want.

Just saying it might be handy if you don't use an amp over 100 watts! I'd missed kurb's question... just wondered if anyone had any experience with it: as I said, it got given good reviews.

Here's the review page. Take a look for yourselves.

http://www.legendarytones.com/UltAtt1.htm

Enjoy!

Don't tell me the best way, just tell me the cheapest way...

Power soaks & attenuators

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