Any Hot plate attenuator user? Question

[MKibanez]

Does it change the tone of the amp? I mean What is the best, play at low volume or push the amp and cut the volume on the hot plate?

Thanks guys

 

[Greazygeo]

I use one and it works fine. Most guys on here feel you need to spend a ton of money for one or they are no good.

Here's how to use it....turn your amp up to where it sound best to you. It might be halfway, all the way up or whatever. If the amp is too loud, start backing down the Hotplate till you get the level you need. There are eq switches you can play with, but I dont find them useful.



If your amp sounds bad cranked, it will sound bad cranked and attenuated.

 

[srommes]

I use a couple. It's gonna change the tone a bit the more you attenuate but I don't think it compromises the tone of the amp as much as some make it out to. I try to not go below 8db as I've noticed that's where the most change in the sound of the amp occurs.

 

[dulrich1227]

Funny i was pondering the exact same need... is THD the best to get?

 

[sled]

If you're hoping to get serious attenuation without significant tonal change, IMO you'll be disappointed. (8ohm Hot Plate)

-4db is Okay

-8db is borderline

anything more is

 

[TeleBlaster]

Best investment I've made in my tone, ever.
I use mine either at the -4 or -8 setting.

This device will not make your 100 watt amp a bedroom amp.
It will allow you to push your power amp into sweet tube bliss without the stage crew freaking out.

You can use it on the load setting and take the line out into a small powered speaker for bedroom use.

 

[blackba]

All attenuators change tone, its just a mater of if you can live with it. People thing Speaker cables change tone, an attenuator is much more than just going from a 16gauge speaker cable to a 12gauge speaker cable.

For the price of a new hotplate, I would just gent an Alex Attenuator, otherwise used the Hotplate is a good option....

 

[Meathead]

The Hotplate works well for what it does.

I remember someone a long time ago posting audio clips of his amp cranked up without a Hotplate and with a Hotplate. He posted them both with the levels in each clip matched. I don't think anyone could tell the difference.

A lot of the difference is that our ears hear things much differently when something is very loud vs very quiet.

 

[PsychoholicSlag]

I have a Power Soak and freak'n love it! I sold it awhile back ... missed it so much I picked up another!

 

[stephen sawall]

Does it change the tone of the amp? I mean What is the best, play at low volume or push the amp and cut the volume on the hot plate?

Thanks guys

For me it depends on the amp. Some amps I very much like it with the Hot Plate .... others I feel sound as good or better without it.

I also can get good results setting the attenuator to very low volumes .... but I need to adjust the amp ~ mostly EQ to get the best results.

Anything you add or subtract from your rig will effect the sound ..... anything.

As stated above less attenuation will give better results.

A other thing to be aware of is speaker breakup only comes with dB's (volume). You will get less speaker breakup as you lower the volume with the Hot Plate or any other way you reduce volume.

There is no magic trick that is going to make "bedroom volumes" sound great. Nothing does this .... if someone can figure that out that would be better than finding gold. As a ton of money could be made .....

I have tried most of the attenuators and like the THD Hot Plate best .... YMMV.

I got my Hot Plate about 10 years ago and find it to be one of the most useful tools I own.

 

[Jeremy]

I've had mine for 1 1/2 years (I think....) and it's been a very useful and almost neccesary tools. I find that upto -8 is fine but after that I find it does get fizzy sounding and I have to use the bass and treble switches.