Power Attenuator or Speaker Emulator?

[No effects]

I'm quite familiar with power attenuators (Dr. Z Air Brake is the best one I've tried) but I also just read up on speaker emulators. I'm planning to buy one of the two in the near future, so any thoughts as to which is better? i.e., truest sound of a cranked plexi, ease of use, best features, etc.

 

[No effects]

Re: Power Attenuator or Speaker Emulator?

bump

 

[proxy]

Re: Power Attenuator or Speaker Emulator?

If I recall, speaker emulators go between a direct out and a pa, or recording gear. So IIRC, they are two different things for two different purposes.

 

[No effects]

Re: Power Attenuator or Speaker Emulator?

If I recall, speaker emulators go between a direct out and a pa, or recording gear. So IIRC, they are two different things for two different purposes.

I read that the Marshall one SE-II actually gives you a line out that you can send back to your cab while reducing volume by 25, 50 or 75%. The reviews on Harmony Central were very favorable toward this attenuation approach and of course, the emulator also allows you to send a signal to the PA/board or a another power amp and then through a cab (from what I've read this is EVH's approach, among others).

 

[drew_half_empty]

Re: Power Attenuator or Speaker Emulator?

i'd say it depends on how good your tubes sound when cranked

 

[aleclee]

Re: Power Attenuator or Speaker Emulator?

The Marshall you speak of is both a speaker simulator and attenuator.

Most speaker simulator are DI boxes that either take an output from your amp's line out or speaker out and process the signal so it sounds like a miked cabinet. They do not dissipate the amp's output power--that's what an attenuator does.

If you're trying to lower your volume, use an attenuator. If you're trying to get the sound of a miked cabinet without the mike or the cabinet, use a speaker simulator. For recording purposes, I'd suggest a good speaker simulator but YMMV.

 

[No effects]

Re: Power Attenuator or Speaker Emulator?

If you're trying to lower your volume, use an attenuator. If you're trying to get the sound of a miked cabinet without the mike or the cabinet, use a speaker simulator. For recording purposes, I'd suggest a good speaker simulator but YMMV.

That is definitely helpful 'cause I have a cab, I'm trying to lower my volume and we mike our amps both live and to record. Note that the dual purpose emulator/attenuator like the SE-II are also more expensive than regular attenuators.

P.S. what is "YMMV? thanks

 

[aleclee]

Re: Power Attenuator or Speaker Emulator?

what is "YMMV?

Your Mileage May Vary