Inexpensive Speaker Attenuator

[olddawg]

MCM actually has this on sale for $69 if you call and free shipping. Supposedly a 100 watt. I haven't tried one but it seems to be well built. Steel case and all that. You couldn't buy the parts for this. Probably could be used as a dummy load as well.

Pulse Power Attenuator | PMATT | Pulse

[Jazz P Bass]

It 'looks' as if it's well designed.

I found this feature original: "balanced XLR MicSim output that simulates a microphone in front of a speaker cabinet"

[olddawg]

It 'looks' as if it's well designed.

I found this feature original: "balanced XLR MicSim output that simulates a microphone in front of a speaker cabinet"

Yeah... I posted this because a lot of people are looking for attenuators and it seemed a really good deal. They don't have a schematic available so who knows if it's purely resistive. I use a Weber Mini Mass 50 Watt. It has a line out as well but it isn't balanced and hums like a bitch if I don't use an isolated active DI box, so I usually just mic the amp if necessary. But ... at $69 free shipping this cheap one won't break the bank for someone in need and it is supposedly a 100 Watt attenuator.

[drewl]

I've been tempted to buy one of the Pulse 15w tube heads they carry
I get stuff from MCM fairly often.

Anyway I built one into a computer power supply using an L-pad that mcm had on sale.

Sounds good.

[potatofarmer]

Those Pulse amps have been tempting me for a while; not a terrible price for a donor amp. Reviews say they only have one preamp tube though, so maybe the PT won't be able to handle a second or third.

There's also this tidbit in the sole review of the attenuator:

" The internal construction which can be seen through the vent slots on the sides looks to be very well done with nice heat-sinks on each of the 4, 8 and 16 Ohm internal loads.. "

[drewl]

I've built resistive ones mainly as dummy loads for fixing stuff, but plug one into the extra speaker jack of your Fender or Marshall and it knocks power down without altering tone.
Not much, but sometimes its just enough.