PS-2 vs. 2/50/2

[maddnotez]

I have scoured the internet and the only thread I could find was on Fractal. The few posters said the PS2 compares very equal to the 2/50/2 but I was looking to see if others have compared these.

Still window shopping to finalize a couple of things and the PS2 is a contender. The things I have read are mostly positive but there were a few posts that scared me.

When replacing tubes or having tube issues: "You have to unscrew many screws. Take out every screw attached to the top half of the black case. Those are on the sides, on top, and two on the bottom where it wraps around under at the rear."

Comparing to the 2/50/2: "The Power Station doesn't compare to the full size Fryette power amps. It sounds thin, unmusical and small compared to the 2/50/2.

I believe this was the PS-1 so I don't know if something was changed with the second version."

In General: A couple of guys said that it is VERY flat sounding which makes me think I should just forget about this endeavor altogether.

So just a recap: How do these compare to the 2/50/2?

And a Bonus question to the owners of the PS2: Would you put one on your pedalboard? The biggest reason for me to get this (and not getting any info on this Mysterious Fortin 50w box) is that I have been using a pedalboard rig and I love it. Quilter 101 but I have been thinking TUBES!!!!!!

 

[Snave]

My understanding is the only difference between the PS-1 and PS-2 are the following items:

- Input Level sensitivity switch
- Low Pass Filter Bypass switch
- Balanced XLR Line Output

I could see the low pass filter bypass making the PS-2 sound less dead in the high end, but depending on where it is in the circuit it might not even be present if you're using the line input. I'm very skeptical of the PS-2 comparing to the 2/50/2 on any tonal measure.

The Power Station only has 11 screws to remove to access the tubes (versus the 2/50/2's 13 screws), so I guess it has that going for it.

 

[napalmdeath]

I have scoured the internet and the only thread I could find was on Fractal. The few posters said the PS2 compares very equal to the 2/50/2 but I was looking to see if others have compared these.

Still window shopping to finalize a couple of things and the PS2 is a contender. The things I have read are mostly positive but there were a few posts that scared me.

When replacing tubes or having tube issues: "You have to unscrew many screws. Take out every screw attached to the top half of the black case. Those are on the sides, on top, and two on the bottom where it wraps around under at the rear."

Comparing to the 2/50/2: "The Power Station doesn't compare to the full size Fryette power amps. It sounds thin, unmusical and small compared to the 2/50/2.

I believe this was the PS-1 so I don't know if something was changed with the second version."

In General: A couple of guys said that it is VERY flat sounding which makes me think I should just forget about this endeavor altogether.

So just a recap: How do these compare to the 2/50/2?

And a Bonus question to the owners of the PS2: Would you put one on your pedalboard? The biggest reason for me to get this (and not getting any info on this Mysterious Fortin 50w box) is that I have been using a pedalboard rig and I love it. Quilter 101 but I have been thinking TUBES!!!!!!

I'd consider the footprint, if you want compact. Keep the Quilter, call it a day.

If I wanted a clean, all-tube power amp, I'd want stereo. I'd probably look for a Carvin TS-100 on the cheap.

Here's what you DO get with a PS-2:
A) Best attenuator on the market.
B) Best attenuator on the market WITH an effects loop, (leaving a cleaner path on your amp, and allows you to go batshit crazy on buying whatever the hell you want)
C) Allows you to add beef and wattage to lower powered amps, (see B again).
Plus, other great features.

The getting to the tubes is a non-issue. It's not a tube-rolling science project. Don't fuck with them, unless one goes.

In a nutshell, comes down to what you're trying to accomplish. I just bought another PS-2. I plan to hang on to this one like grim death. It's literally a game-changer, on so many levels.

 

[steve_k]

Two totally different applications. If you need attenuation or an external FX loop, the PS2 is your guy. Get a PS2 and forget the older PS1. Much more EQ capability on the 2. If you need W/D slaved power amp or power amp to driver a preamp, go with the 2/50.

 

[maddnotez]

Two totally different applications. If you need attenuation or an external FX loop, the PS2 is your guy. Get a PS2 and forget the older PS1. Much more EQ capability on the 2. If you need W/D slaved power amp or power amp to driver a preamp, go with the 2/50.

Yeah the 2/50 seems better fit for the job. I just really like the smaller footprint the PS2 offers.

Guess the Quilter may be as good as it gets for this application.

 

[JerEvil]

Quilter is no joke. I will ALSWAYS have one in my stable.

 

[stratjacket]

I never owned the 2/50 but I had a PS2 for a couple of years. I think sound wise, they'd both sound great and do the job you want, probably splitting hairs on the sound. But I would not put the PS2 on a pedalboard. There are brackets for rack mounting it (that's what did) but it's heavy and I'd be always worried about busting a tube when moving the pedalboard around.

 

[ClintN667]

I have scoured the internet and the only thread I could find was on Fractal. The few posters said the PS2 compares very equal to the 2/50/2 but I was looking to see if others have compared these.

Still window shopping to finalize a couple of things and the PS2 is a contender. The things I have read are mostly positive but there were a few posts that scared me.

When replacing tubes or having tube issues: "You have to unscrew many screws. Take out every screw attached to the top half of the black case. Those are on the sides, on top, and two on the bottom where it wraps around under at the rear."

Comparing to the 2/50/2: "The Power Station doesn't compare to the full size Fryette power amps. It sounds thin, unmusical and small compared to the 2/50/2.

I believe this was the PS-1 so I don't know if something was changed with the second version."

In General: A couple of guys said that it is VERY flat sounding which makes me think I should just forget about this endeavor altogether.

So just a recap: How do these compare to the 2/50/2?

And a Bonus question to the owners of the PS2: Would you put one on your pedalboard? The biggest reason for me to get this (and not getting any info on this Mysterious Fortin 50w box) is that I have been using a pedalboard rig and I love it. Quilter 101 but I have been thinking TUBES!!!!!!

I'd consider the footprint, if you want compact. Keep the Quilter, call it a day.

If I wanted a clean, all-tube power amp, I'd want stereo. I'd probably look for a Carvin TS-100 on the cheap.

Here's what you DO get with a PS-2:
A) Best attenuator on the market.
B) Best attenuator on the market WITH an effects loop, (leaving a cleaner path on your amp, and allows you to go batshit crazy on buying whatever the hell you want)
C) Allows you to add beef and wattage to lower powered amps, (see B again).
Plus, other great features.

The getting to the tubes is a non-issue. It's not a tube-rolling science project. Don't fuck with them, unless one goes.

In a nutshell, comes down to what you're trying to accomplish. I just bought another PS-2. I plan to hang on to this one like grim death. It's literally a game-changer, on so many levels.

I just sold a Carvin TS-100 a few months ago. I was using it for my Kemper and absolutely loved it. I ended up selling it and FedEx lost it in transit. It just fell off the face of the earth in CT. I was disappointed for my customer and the fact that a good piece of gear was probably dropped off to some moron that had no clue what it was or worse that it was accidently destroyed.