Does the minimum and maximum volume differ based on the power of the amp used? For example, since the input is attenuated down to line level and then re-amped using the power section in the PS, would a 1W amp have the same range of volumes as a 100W amp if played through the same cab?
Welcome to the forum @dculley !
The Power Station was designed to boost tiny amps from the beginning. You will get a really usable setup using the Power Station here.
The short answer is yes, but it can be compensated by setting the front panel level push-button to LO and the front panel volume knob. The LO setting will let the most amount of signal from your amp into the Power Station’s output stage and will therefore give you the loudest possible output at the speaker.
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Ok very cool! Thanks for the quick reply!
So, in my specific circumstance, I’m looking to use my Super Reverb as my go-to amp and a 0.5w Zvex amp or a Strymon Iridium as a backup/alternate option. If I wanted to use these at the same volume as the Super Reverb, would it be better to go for the PS-100 or the PS2A? Also, (a bit of a departure) is the noise floor roughly the same for both models?
Hey there, just wanted to follow up and see if I could get a recommendation based on my last question
Hello,
To cover the fully volume range I would probably go with which ever one has the line out. This can drive the PS-100 to full 100W or the PS-2A to 50W. Probably the PS-2A is a good match to the Super Reverb in terms of power. Do you need the extra channel provided by the PS-100?
No, I think I just need the one channel, though the switchable fx loop is tempting. Do you think the PS-2 would be able to boost the 0.5w Zvex up to Super levels thru the Super’s cab? The Zvex would be my preference.
I don’t think you would reach the full headrooom driving the PowerStation with only 0.5W. Remember, the PS-2A needs to scale from 120W amps to lower power amps <50W. But 0.5W is putting it. The front panel HI/LO toggle button is probably not designed with such lower power in mind as 0.5W is preamp signal level power. The PS-2A it will make it louder, but probably in the range of 10W to 20W (this is an educated guess).
Oh ok. So the 100W in the PS-100 would probably get it up to like 20W-40W?
That is my guess; it’s probably more on the lower end. If you are basing a purchasing decision on that, then you might want to wait for Dave to comment.
It would be nice to know for planning purposes, but I guess the bottom line is that with the PS-100 there would be no question whether I would have enough headroom, no matter what amp I used. However, 50W is pretty flippin loud already and more than enough for most purposes, and tube saturation is always nice. I guess I can’t go wrong, really.
Thanks for all of your help, and I hope I haven’t been too much of a pain!
Yeah, there are diminishing returns with power vs. loudness. 100W is about 20% louder than 50W all things being equal. Yeah, it all depends on how you will use it, I guess.