Dr Tony Balls wrote: ↑Wed Mar 03, 2021 7:40 am2 x 6V6 OR/OD 120 clone with a pentode/triode switch would be 1) 15/7 watts and sound proper, and 2) awesome.
Yeah, that would be awesome, however, time and money would be too much.
Talk to me about Attenuators
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Snake Hips
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Re: Talk to me about Attenuators
Yeah, that would be awesome, however, time and money would be too much.
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stevemac100
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Re: Talk to me about Attenuators
I used a THD Hotplate for use with my 68 Princeton - it worked pretty well for bringing it down to bedroom levels and it was not expensive. Have since swapped the Princeton & Hotplate for a Tone Master Deluxe with no need for attenuation.
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Racing
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Re: Talk to me about Attenuators
Most attenuators out there are NOT made to turn a roar into a whisper.
Doing so is using them WRONG. They are NOT designed to handle this.
Yes, there are exceptions but they are few and far apart.
IMO if you can live with a MINOR difference in behavior what you need is for a tech to install a WELL DESIGNED so called PPIMV setup. It´ll always be there, that thing CAN turn a roar into a whisper and it adds no additional cost - apart from the install.
What´s more, attenuators.. "The light that burns twice as bright burns half as long". Simple fact.
That said i´ve by now installed hundreds of PPIMV´s and have yet to have someone come back and ask me to revert their amp.
PPIMV for Post Phase Inverter Master Volume.
Doing so is using them WRONG. They are NOT designed to handle this.
Yes, there are exceptions but they are few and far apart.
IMO if you can live with a MINOR difference in behavior what you need is for a tech to install a WELL DESIGNED so called PPIMV setup. It´ll always be there, that thing CAN turn a roar into a whisper and it adds no additional cost - apart from the install.
What´s more, attenuators.. "The light that burns twice as bright burns half as long". Simple fact.
That said i´ve by now installed hundreds of PPIMV´s and have yet to have someone come back and ask me to revert their amp.
PPIMV for Post Phase Inverter Master Volume.
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MrJagsquire
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Re: Talk to me about Attenuators
I use an attenuator on my Marshall SV20H (aka 20 watt Plexi) when I'm playing it at home, even in 5 watt mode into a 2x12 cab. This controls the level and still allows the power amp to distort. I don't care that it might shorten the life of the valves since it's not something I do on a daily basis. I also use the attenuator to control the overall level and still allow power amp distortion. It does slightly change the tone, but nothing that I can't adjust out using the presence control or the treble raised slightly.
Some owner use a volume control in the loop, but it's not the same sound as when the output valves distort, so I've not gone down that route myself. I think the key thing is (mostly) using the attenuator to slightly reduce levels rather than squashing them completely. It's a more extreme setting at home, but as said it's fairly rare (I tend to practice on another amp anyway).
You might have to chose an attenuator that matches your amplifier/speaker load too: I'm using a 16ohm Palmer model myself, so it means I can't use it on some of my other amps with 8ohm speakers/outputs.
Some owner use a volume control in the loop, but it's not the same sound as when the output valves distort, so I've not gone down that route myself. I think the key thing is (mostly) using the attenuator to slightly reduce levels rather than squashing them completely. It's a more extreme setting at home, but as said it's fairly rare (I tend to practice on another amp anyway).
You might have to chose an attenuator that matches your amplifier/speaker load too: I'm using a 16ohm Palmer model myself, so it means I can't use it on some of my other amps with 8ohm speakers/outputs.