I’m a new PS-100 owner. I have several combo amps that are too loud for most circumstances.
It would be super cool if there was a patch box I could install in the back a combo amp. Speaker out would ideally normalize through the box to speakers, but provide a pair of jacks for send and return to the attenuator. If this existed I would happily install them in the back 2 or 3 combo amps I have.
Patch bays are a thing that does this, but speaker level rules most (or all?) out…
Does anything like this exist? I’d love to hear about it if so…
Just to clarify, for this device, you would obviously be expecting full normalization so that plugging anything (including a PS-100 but maybe an external speaker, etc) into the Send jack would break the connection between the OT and the internal speaker. In the case of an attenuator, you could choose to send the output back to the return so that you are attenuating the output from the OT to the internal speaker. Right?
I am unaware of a device that does this in the form factor that you are looking for. But that’s a really good idea. What price point would you expect a device like this to come in at?
This could be done 100% passive with a box, some wire and 4 jacks (2 of which need a normalizing connection). Unless Analog Mike offers to build it for me, I’m leaning toward building a small batch myself. I shall name them the “Johnny Rocko” after my alter-ego.
Looks like Cliff CL1298A S4/BNB switched 1/4″ jacks are a good choice - rated 5A through the normalled path (30w at 4Ohms is 2.74A RMS - plenty for my old Bad Cat and Matchless amps). The normalled path will affect the amp/speakers only when the attenuator is not patched in.
Patching the send to the attenuator would break the normalled amp-to-speaker connection, dropping load from the speaker outputs of the amp. I’m OK with that - the attenuator patch point should be used only when the amp is off or on standby. And plugging cables into the attenuator first is the right plan
As for price…It’s “one of those things” - if I’m buying, it should be cheap, but if I’m selling it should be expensive . But the parts cost should be quite low unless one wanted to build in a safety load during patching.
I’m all ears if anybody has further ideas or suggestions.
. But the parts cost should be quite low unless one wanted to build in a safety load during patching.