Attenuator vs master volume?

[JohnH]

There's a whole spectrum of tonal colours available in a tube amp driven into the beginning of compression, or a bit further, that are described by vague subjective words such as 'dynamics' or 'feel'. It's the way the power amp responds interactively with the different signal levels and frequencies coming through from the guitar, via the pre amp.

Tone varies as you dig in, or as a note decays. These effects are hard to describe, but they can be a joy to hear, and IMO, they occur due to very clear technical reasons, related to the way impedance of a speaker varies with frequency, and real output impedance of a driven power amp varies as the signal level changes.

It's part of the magic. But out of all the various volume control options, only a properly designed reactive attenuator can present these effects at lower volume. That's what I'm talkin' about!

 

[Point 2 Point]

There's a whole spectrum of tonal colours available in a tube amp driven into the beginning of compression, or a bit further, that are described by vague subjective words such as 'dynamics' or 'feel'. It's the way the power amp responds interactively with the different signal levels and frequencies coming through from the guitar, via the pre amp.

Tone varies as you dig in, or as a note decays. These effects are hard to describe, but they can be a joy to hear, and IMO, they occur due to very clear technical reasons, related to the way impedance of a speaker varies with frequency, and real output impedance of a driven power amp varies as the signal level changes.

It's part of the magic. But out of all the various volume control options, only a properly designed reactive attenuator can present these effects at lower volume. That's what I'm talkin' about!

Informative and well put

 

[Georgiatec]

No one is going to like this, but, if you are faced with a situation where you cannot play at the volumes that even a 1w valve amp can deliver, then your solution is something like a Yamaha THR or Marshall Code....and possibly headphones.
Tone and low volume with a valve amp will always be a compromise. Whether it's master volume or attenuation makes no odds. Tone, feel and volume are intrinsically linked.

 

[79 2203]

I've been through it all. A well designed Master Volume is the best solution.
Obviously a PPIMV and/or a really good attenuator will be needed for a NMV amp.

Even a great attenuator is only good for knocking off the top 3 to 6 dB. Beyond that, might as well use digital modeling for at home mouse fart volume levels.

There are some ways to make a master volume a little less touchy and give a better, more progressive sweep, more like a good stereo system.

Good start? Try a 12au7 in the PI position. Doesn't always do the job. Depends on the circuit. But it's an inexpensive thing to try first.

Honestly, I think we all just crave at roaring box of speakers moving back & forth a bit pushing some air.
Commonly confused with 'Power amp distortion'.

Even my lowly Hotplate sounds great up to -12db. Granted, I’m using it with a stock 71 1987 halfstack with the bright vol on 6, so it’s still pretty loud.

 

[79 2203]

Well I like my stock 71 1987 with a Hotplate more than I liked my 98 Superlead with PPIMV, and I like the tone/feel of the 1987 with Hotplate a little more than my stock 79 2203.
So I guess I’m in the attenuator camp.

 

[Old Punker]

Well I like my stock 71 1987 with a Hotplate more than I liked my 98 Superlead with PPIMV, and I like the tone/feel of the 1987 with Hotplate a little more than my stock 79 2203.
So I guess I’m in the attenuator camp.

Okay, maybe I'll start using my Power Station a little more often, since it's sitting there anyway...