Difference between power soak & power brake?
- Thread starter 75lespaul
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75lespaul
New member
Re: Difference between power soak & power brake?
So the Weber is actually that much better than the Marshall, huh. I wouldn't touch the power soak after the horror stories I've heard, but eventually I want to pick something up.
I have no clue. Both units are too old and suck too much tone to be worth looking into anyway. I think I'll just stick with my Weber Mass 100.
So the Weber is actually that much better than the Marshall, huh. I wouldn't touch the power soak after the horror stories I've heard, but eventually I want to pick something up.
Gr8Scott
Wookieologist
Re: Difference between power soak & power brake?
The two front runners are the Weber Mass and the Hotplate. Both will suck tone when the volume is turned way down, but I think that they both do a remarkable job considering what they are dealing with. I can get the Edana down to less than ear-peircing levels with the Mass 100 and that's all you can ask. Part of why some folks say they suck tone is because they lower the volume going to the speakers and then the speakers aren't running at their designed volume and sound differently. I think that has far more to do with the perceived change in sound than the units themselves absorbing sounds that they shouldn't absorb.
The two front runners are the Weber Mass and the Hotplate. Both will suck tone when the volume is turned way down, but I think that they both do a remarkable job considering what they are dealing with. I can get the Edana down to less than ear-peircing levels with the Mass 100 and that's all you can ask. Part of why some folks say they suck tone is because they lower the volume going to the speakers and then the speakers aren't running at their designed volume and sound differently. I think that has far more to do with the perceived change in sound than the units themselves absorbing sounds that they shouldn't absorb.
Simon_F
Super Moderator
Re: Difference between power soak & power brake?
Wasn't the Scholz Power Soak the first marketed attenuator for guitar amps? Or if not, a very early one. It may have got a bad rep because it was an evolving technology, or something that people just didn't know how to use safely. :dunno:
I've read a few horror stories about the Marshall Power Brake having component failures/meltdown which in turn damaged the amp it was being used with. So I didn't buy one.
I bought a THD Hot Plate and have played lots of gigs with it with no problems. It's great for pushing a 50w amp but keeping the volume pub-friendly. I don't use it at bedroom volume. The only thing that frustrates me with it is that the attenuation is in big steps at higher volumes - 4dB, 8dB, 12dB, 16dB. From 16dB downwards it's fine-tunable. This can be tricky if you're gigging and want to up your volume slightly. Going from 8dB attenuation to 4dB attenuation is quite a big step.
I'm very tempted to try the Weber Mass as I believe it has finer control.
Wasn't the Scholz Power Soak the first marketed attenuator for guitar amps? Or if not, a very early one. It may have got a bad rep because it was an evolving technology, or something that people just didn't know how to use safely. :dunno:
I've read a few horror stories about the Marshall Power Brake having component failures/meltdown which in turn damaged the amp it was being used with. So I didn't buy one.
I bought a THD Hot Plate and have played lots of gigs with it with no problems. It's great for pushing a 50w amp but keeping the volume pub-friendly. I don't use it at bedroom volume. The only thing that frustrates me with it is that the attenuation is in big steps at higher volumes - 4dB, 8dB, 12dB, 16dB. From 16dB downwards it's fine-tunable. This can be tricky if you're gigging and want to up your volume slightly. Going from 8dB attenuation to 4dB attenuation is quite a big step.
I'm very tempted to try the Weber Mass as I believe it has finer control.
Gr8Scott
Wookieologist
Re: Difference between power soak & power brake?
It does have finer control. I can attest to that 100%. Not dissing the hotplate, but I'm happy with my purchase.
It does have finer control. I can attest to that 100%. Not dissing the hotplate, but I'm happy with my purchase.
