Hello,
I have a question that might seem silly to you.
Until now, I’ve been using my PS2a as a simple power amp for my Synergy system. (I’m getting an LX II tomorrow!!!)
Today, I had fun using it as a simple power reducer and experimenting with a few amp heads.
First, as indicated in the manual, and it works great with a surprisingly neutral sound.
So, I connected it to amp in and speaker out, turned the PS2 on and put it on standby, and it worked.
Now, I was wondering if it could work passively without turning on the PS2, like with traditional load boxes. Since the signal passes through resistors (and the PS2 operates in passive mode in silent mode), I tried it, but there was no volume reduction, even when I engaged the standby mode.
A bit like a true bypass.
I think this is normal and that the device isn’t designed for this situation, but I still have my doubts given the number of possible connections and applications.
But is it possible?
There is a difference between a power reducing system and a load box. A load box is designed to make the amplifier see a “load”. A soak or attenuation box is a bit different. The load box allows you to safely use it in place of a speaker and in most cases will tap the signal as a line out. A soak or attenuator is reducing the output to the speakers by converting some of that power into heat. The more you turn down the level, more signal is sent for conversion.
With the Power Station, The incoming amplified signal is loaded down and a line level signal is sent into the remaining audio circuits. Line out, effects send, effects return, then the power section. The power section is re-amplifying the signal. This allows you to raise and lower the volume as you wish without losing any of the power section drive and goodness from the source amplifier.
So, the Power Station is not an “attenuator” in the normal sense. The Power Station is a re-amplification system with modern voicing tools and an amazing power amplification system.
This explanation is absolutely clear for a novice in the world of attenuators and load boxes, and it doesn’t detract from my satisfaction with this efficient and remarkably well-designed tool.
One more quick question:
Are the positions of the presence and depth potentiometers neutral at 7 o’clock or at 12 o’clock?
Is it the same in pure power amp and load box mode?
I’ll tell you what I believe is the secret to the presence and depth knobs. Turn them until it sounds correct. What may be neutral to me may be bright or wooly to you. With potentiometers, it’s about the taper.
When you’re setting the voicing switches, absolutely there is a neutral position. With the pots, I don’t know anyone that can feel their way to a perfect halfway point. It’s just going to be your ears on that one. That is just my opinion by the way. I’m sure there are a lot of people that “just know” where the halfway point is on every taper available.
With the LXII though, you can simply turn off the depth and presence and use FRFR mode.