Power Attenuators

[seeker]

Heh all, beginning to look at power attenuators and wanted opinions if you have the time. 

I used to have a 1U rack unit, but sold it probably 20 years ago.  Can't even remember the name/brand and besides don't want a rack form factor anyway. Taking a quick look, you can go cheap (Bugera) with the top end units being pricey.  At this time, would probably want new, but if there are recent out of production units, that would probably work too. 

Looking at sound quality at higher attenuation levels, flexibility(4,8,16 ohms in one), # of attenuation settings, and then "other" options such as tmb, etc. 

Thoughts? 

 

 

[LucSulla]

Ironman II or a Fryette PS2 get my vote. I own both and have gigged the Ironman extensively. 

[stonge]

I have a Bugera and it's got a few limitations; it only handles 50 watts, and it cuts the volume about in half as soon as it is hooked up (the 100% setting is about half of the direct (amp-to-cab) connection and it gets quieter from there.  It's loaned out to Darc, so i can't comment on the tone change if any (hadn't used it for a while).

I'd recommend spending a little more to get something more flexible.

I did find an original Rockman Power Soak in the basement a while back, but I'm not sure i want to test it with my current amps lol.

[Dutchman]

I've been using the UA OX Box for a while now. The attenuator feature works better than any other I've used before. Keeps me under control and it's got a bunch of different speaker emulations to send to the FOH.

If they want it really quiet I put on a set of K240's. I can still hear every one else and my guitar is hot in my ears.

[Hackubus]

Fryette Power Station PS-100. Dual master volumes, fx loop, can tame a Superlead or turn a 5w champ into a 100w muthafukka.  

[stedge]

If you want a reamp thingy see above.  I want passive attenuation and use any of three - all are set w diff amps at random - an old kelley, a rockcrusher, and an aracom (nice for diff imp). 
all work. No favorite. 

[Disturber]

I come to find that some work better with Marshall's, some with Fender's.

The Rivers Rockcrusher is great. But if you are in a rock band the highest volume setting on the Rivera was often slightly lower in volume than what I wanted. I would love one more step on the dial. One louder. It also a bit polite when dampening a plexi. Removes some of the treble edge. But still a very good attenuator. Especially the Rockcrusher Recording.

I also have a Swedish built Masterplant attenuator. When it comes to keeping the tone and feel of your amp it's the absolute best that I've tried so far.

https://www.masterplant.com/

Stay away from Weber Mass units. No fun.

 

 

 

[Stike]

On 9/11/2025 at 10:05 PM, Hackubus said:

Fryette Power Station PS-100. Dual master volumes, fx loop, can tame a Superlead or turn a 5w champ into a 100w muthafukka.  

Friend of mine loves his 100, I'm perfectly happy with my PS-2A. I really like that aside from being a great attenuator it's also a great power amp, my Friedman preamps and UA Lion sound great through it into my 4x12.

[seeker]

Thanks all for your posts, they have been extremely helpful.  It was a difficult decision. 

I decided to get the Fryette P2A after watching vids and especislly one talking to him about the PS series. I'm a EE and why it has a tube power amp makes so much sense to me. PS100 seemed very cool, but more than I "needed". 

Unfortunately, I couldn't find any PS2As in stock at my usual haunts. I had just gotten an email from MF with a coupon code.  I thought "Surely it wouldn't apply to a Fryette".   It did. 

MF did have 5 PS100s in stock, so one is now inbound for just $60 more than a PS2A.

 

Thanks all!

[bruce919]

I've been using the Dr Z Air Brake & Brake lite for many years. The Air Brake has more options and a bedroom setting with its own control. I have a Boss Waza Tube expander as well. It does fine but I dig the simplicity of the Dr Z. 

[ZR]

3 hours ago, bruce919 said:

I've been using the Dr Z Air Brake & Brake lite for many years. The Air Brake has more options and a bedroom setting with its own control. I have a Boss Waza Tube expander as well. It does fine but I dig the simplicity of the Dr Z. 

I use the Dr Z Air Brake as well with my 60 watt Zinky MoFo Encore head and 2*12 cab. Works great! It doesn't have the newer connectivity features but does make it very straight forward to use.

I recently moved into another house which has a clean not quite a basement but a crawl space I can stand up in some areas where I thought about putting a insulated box to house various cabs and not use an attenuator but run full bore without the volume. Just the mixed signal brought into my DAW and monitors up in the house.

The Dr Z does attenuate the high frequencies somewhat so this would help that and bring the full high wattage speaker interaction into play for the most authentic sound, whatever that is. 

Or. I can avoid all that work and just use an IR like most sane people nowadays! 😁 

Edited September 17, 2025 by ZR

[topekatj]

I understand that most of the thread responses pertain to attenuators for higher wattage (50+) applications. I’m looking for something (less expensive) for amps of 20 watts or less, looked at the Dr.Z Air Brake, also looking at the Swart Night Light, which is $100- less than the Dr. Z. Anyone have experience with the Swart? Surprised there’s no YouTube on this unit.

https://swartamps.com/night_light_attenuator.htm

 

[Hbom]

Bad Cat Unleash works pretty well for me. Thanks to Jakeboy. 

But you can't replace the sound that comes from a good speaker pushing air. And you can't push air when you choke the sound with attenuation. 

[seeker]

Agreed, but I'm mostly looking to use it on amps pushed to power tube distortion, esp Trainwreck Express which I built. Which is freaking loud.  Can't do that unattenuated anymore.  Hearing aids and tinnitus from playing jn bands and shooting guns.  Nobody had a clue about hearing protection then. 

[Jakeboy]

I have found what works for me..,.Badcat Unleash v2 and an Ironman Mini. I also use a Weber MASS Lite on one amp because it sound great on that particular amp. I need to try a PS2. I also have a Phaez Brink which works well with my Valvetech in shaving off a few dbs. @Hbom is right, tho. There is no substitute for a raging, breathing tube amp moving air. It is a matter of physics. Everything is a bit of a trade off. Some more than others.

[Travis]

On 9/17/2025 at 10:07 AM, topekatj said:

I understand that most of the thread responses pertain to attenuators for higher wattage (50+) applications. I’m looking for something (less expensive) for amps of 20 watts or less, looked at the Dr.Z Air Brake, also looking at the Swart Night Light, which is $100- less than the Dr. Z. Anyone have experience with the Swart? Surprised there’s no YouTube on this unit.

https://swartamps.com/night_light_attenuator.htm

 

I’ve got the Swart Night Light. It works great with my lower wattage amps (Budda SD18, Friedman JJ Jr, and Marsh Princeton clone). It’s performed well for my purposes and I’ve been very pleased with it so far. 

[WiskiTangoFoxtrot]

I really like my Weber Mass 100.  Got it used 6-7 years ago and it’s been going strong since. Sounds great and the internal speaker coil (if I’m not mistaken) provides interaction with the output transformer. The high pass filter is nice to adjust for the highs loss an attenuator creates. Been wanting to get the bigger 200 version for a while. 

[Disturber]

5 hours ago, WiskiTangoFoxtrot said:

I really like my Weber Mass 100.  Got it used 6-7 years ago and it’s been going strong since. Sounds great ...

It sounds great until you compare it to an a reactive load attenuator (like the Rivera Rockcrusher). Huge difference in attenuated audio quality compared to a  resistive load attenuator like the Weber Mass.

[WiskiTangoFoxtrot]

Perhaps, but that doesn’t stop me from digging my Weber in actual use, I like it better than what I’ve tried even with speaker sims but I’m running my Weber to a full stack of Vintage 30’s and I have no complaints.

I certainly would try a Rockcrusher, almost bought a used one locally, but the demos I’ve seen of those don’t leave me scrambling to find one.

Correct me if I’m wrong:  Isn’t the mass motor inside these Weber Mass attenuators reactive?  The signal goes through a speaker driver motor that allows interaction to the amp output transformer which has a positive impact on the amp and tonal impact. 

Edited October 1, 2025 by WiskiTangoFoxtrot

[soli'd]

On 9/13/2025 at 9:15 AM, Stike said:

Friend of mine loves his 100, I'm perfectly happy with my PS-2A. I really like that aside from being a great attenuator it's also a great power amp, my Friedman preamps and UA Lion sound great through it into my 4x12.

Have you tried running your Friedman pres into the PS2A's FX return instead of the line input?  I used my PS2A as a power amp for some Kingsley preamp pedals for a while with great results.  Someone suggested to me to ignore the line input (and the manual instructions) and run straight into the FX return. I found it to be startlingly better. 

[Stike]

23 hours ago, soli'd said:

Have you tried running your Friedman pres into the PS2A's FX return instead of the line input?  I used my PS2A as a power amp for some Kingsley preamp pedals for a while with great results.  Someone suggested to me to ignore the line input (and the manual instructions) and run straight into the FX return. I found it to be startlingly better. 

Have not but will try.

[Stike]

On 10/1/2025 at 3:35 PM, soli'd said:

Have you tried running your Friedman pres into the PS2A's FX return instead of the line input?  I used my PS2A as a power amp for some Kingsley preamp pedals for a while with great results.  Someone suggested to me to ignore the line input (and the manual instructions) and run straight into the FX return. I found it to be startlingly better. 

Just did, goddamn!

[soli'd]

18 hours ago, Stike said:

Just did, goddamn!

Right? As far as I can tell, the only drawback is that you lose the use of the PS2A's FX loop, but if you're just using it as a power amp, you could put your time-based FX in line after your preamp and before hitting the PS2A, and you'd have the same functionality.

[Stike]

11 hours ago, soli'd said:

Right? As far as I can tell, the only drawback is that you lose the use of the PS2A's FX loop, but if you're just using it as a power amp, you could put your time-based FX in line after your preamp and before hitting the PS2A, and you'd have the same functionality.

Friedman IR preamp in the loop of a Line 6 HXFX so no problem.

Thanks for the tip, sounds great.

[cmatthes]

On 9/17/2025 at 11:07 AM, topekatj said:

I understand that most of the thread responses pertain to attenuators for higher wattage (50+) applications. I’m looking for something (less expensive) for amps of 20 watts or less, looked at the Dr.Z Air Brake, also looking at the Swart Night Light, which is $100- less than the Dr. Z. Anyone have experience with the Swart? Surprised there’s no YouTube on this unit.

https://swartamps.com/night_light_attenuator.htm

 

I've been using the Swart Night Light on my Boogie Studio 22+ for years.  That amp can be surprisingly loud, and although that's been great for good-sized rooms and outdoor gigs, it's a bit tough to control at home.  The Swart has been great for taming that one.