Power Attenuator
A power attenuator dissipates and diverts an amplifier’s excess or unneeded power to moderate the speaker’s volume, allowing you to enhance the quality and variety of sounds without taking away bright caps. Musicians like power attenuators because they allow them to keep the amp at the volume setting where tones sound the best, and independently adjust the speaker volume to a level that won’t cause hearing loss or speaker damage. At LAWK STAR Guitars, you’ll find power attenuators by Bad Cat and Tone King.
Power Attenuator Technologies
- Passive: A passive attenuator doesn’t use active electric circuits to reduce an amp’s signal; therefore, its circuit doesn’t need external power.
- Active: Active attenuators need an external DC or AC power source.
Load Types
Active and passive attenuators have reactive or non-reactive loads.
- Non-reactive: The attenuators have fixed resistance values, so they aren’t frequency-dependent.
- Reactive: The attenuators do not have fixed resistance values. They have impedance values, making the resistance value frequency-dependent.
When shopping for power attenuators, look for one that has a power rating that meets or exceeds the amplifier’s maximum power output. Because there are a number of variables to consider when purchasing an attenuator, we encourage you talk to a professional at LAWK STAR to help you find the best one for your needs.