Looking to purchase an attenuator

  • Thread starter Thread starter The Hoff
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The Hoff

The Hoff

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Any suggestions? I need it to handle at least 100 watts and also need it to switch ohm ratings (8 / 16).

I know there are a ton of different companies, I hear good things about weber and the ultimate attenuator but really don't know anything about them. Don't even know how to hook it up :dunno:

Thanks in advanced :D
 
Bro, save your cash. Turn your volume down. In a few weeks you'll look back and wonder why you ever wanted an attenuator.

If you absolutely must get one, get a used one. Any one will do, pretty much.
 
Attenuators are overrated and overpriced, speaker excursion is a large part of good sound. Are you looking to have the amp set at practice volume and then attenuate down to bedroom level, or something else?
 
My Hotplate was the single best investment I've ever made into my tone.
It's going to depend on the amp, some amps need a certain MV level to sound right, for some amps it's not as important.
 
I'm basically wanting to get the amp to have the push/tone of being cranked while still being at bedroom acceptable levels.
 
I got an Ultimate Attenuator and I got it from Ho Electronics in Canada. He's the original designer and it's less expensive than the guy in the US. I've used i it extensively for several years now. To me no amp sounds better than a cranked plexi. Without an attenuator there's not a whole lotta places you can do that. I do agree not all amps will work good with an atteunator - what amp you using it with?
 
The Hoff":1c4xn5pb said:
I'm basically wanting to get the amp to have the push/tone of being cranked while still being at bedroom acceptable levels.
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Ok, for this use it is recommended that if you are going to crank the amp and use the attenuator as the Master volume that the attenuator be rated at 3x the amp's rated wattage.
 
Really 3 times? Wow. Good to know.

I am going to use it mostly with my Naked but would like to use it with my Mark V as well. But ya-more concerned about using it with my Naked.
 
I can't remember exactly, it's either 2x or 3x, but I'm airing on the side of safe just because I don't want you to run into any problems. It's got to do with heat dissipation and how efficient the unit is at a. dissipating the energy as heat and b. keeping itself cool in the process.
 
The Hoff":2boyum95 said:
Really 3 times? Wow. Good to know.

I am going to use it mostly with my Naked but would like to use it with my Mark V as well. But ya-more concerned about using it with my Naked.
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I'm thinking the attenuator manufacturers take these things into consideration when they design the attenuators and give the wattage handling capacity. My 1st one from Ho was rated at 50 watts and he knew I was using a 50 watt NMV amp. Then I got a 1959 and he sent me a bigger heatsink type part to install so I could use the attenuator with a 100 watt head.
 
I've read good things about the Alex attenuator over on TGP...it's limited to one ohm load though.

FWIW, I've been thinking about running one with my Marsha to hit the sweet spot, but a couple guys said they preferred lowering the master vs the attenuator...thought I'd mention it since you have a Naked which I assume would be a similar quality mv.
 
Hands down the best is the Phaustine Phantom. But, unless you play a non-master amp, or your master volume really sucks, it's not really worth it. If you have a bunch of amp, and play more than just in your bedroom or garage, it might be worth it.

It's expensive though, about a grand.
 
for the Naked at low volumes, maybe just a boost of some sort instead of an attenuator.
 
dstroud":3m41p8f0 said:
for the Naked at low volumes, maybe just a boost of some sort instead of an attenuator.
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I am pretty happy with that but I've been looking for an attenuator nonetheless. Future amps, etc. That's why the multiple ohm ratings is a must for me. I think I'm leaning towards the ultimate attenuator but would really like to pick up a used one...anyone? :D
 
I had a Hotplate for awhile, but hated what it did to the tone.

So I never used it.

However.

I recently (at namm) used the new Rivera Rockcrusher, and I kind of liked it quite a bit better than the hotplate.

I would give it a try...

Call 'em up and see if they have any for you to check out...they are in Burbank
 
mightywarlock":x7laa2qv said:
I had a Hotplate for awhile, but hated what it did to the tone.

So I never used it.

However.

I recently (at namm) used the new Rivera Rockcrusher, and I kind of liked it quite a bit better than the hotplate.

I would give it a try...

Call 'em up and see if they have any for you to check out...they are in Burbank
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Hadn't heard anything about Rivera's attenuator. Might as well right, Burbank isn't too bad. Thanks man. :D
 
The Alex attenuator is a great alternative to the Faustine if you don't want to spend a lot of money. I still prefer my Faustine due to the extras, but if I needed another one, the Alex would do just fine.
 
http://www.rivera.com/products/power/rockcrusher.php

rockcrusher1.jpg
 
mightywarlock":4j4x4him said:
http://www.rivera.com/products/power/rockcrusher.php

rockcrusher1.jpg
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I've been intrigued by this one myself. Paul's amps aren't really my cup of tea but he's one heck of an engineer. He certainly has the skill set to design a good attenuator. To The Hoff, you might ask Dave about messing with the power amp section of your Naked. Pretty sure that the Naked is a Naylor Super Drive based preamp feeding a Marshall-ish power amp. The Naylors have a stupid good master volume for low volume shenanigans but it has a lot to do with the differences in the power amp, lots of negative feedback and tone shaping going on. It might suit you and it might not, it's certainly very different from a Marshall power amp. I'm sure Dave could inform you more as to whether or not it's a good idea for you and the sounds you like.
 
I have heard several Hot Plates on youtube, mostly from amp demos. They sound pretty darn good as far as anyone can tell from youtube. I do think they are overpriced.

Weber has a fair reputation, but I'm not sure I buy their whole 'speaker motor' attenuation. It looks as though they just jammed a voice coil for a speaker into their attenuator. I don't see how you could even build an attenuator that is not primarily resistors and pots/rheostats.

I think the 2x Wattage thing is standard, but you do have to be stressing the attenuator hard. That means it only has to be 2x if you are running your amp at near full bore, and you are attenuating it down really far.

I have also been in the market for an attenuator for a while, but I don't seem to be presented with any clear options. I am actually in the middle of building one, but I'm starting to not trust myself. I don't like the idea that if I might screw up a solder. If I have a resistor come loose at 50 W, yow! That is going to be the end of my output transformer and/or speakers.
 
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