Hey all,
First off, the PS-2a is just flat out fantastic. As much as I practice and focus on trying to improve my playing, I spend an equal amount of time finding gear, tones, gear configurations and ways to make everything cohesive. They feed into each other, of course.
So, I got my first kingsley preamp pedal and some other of his pedals and my power station at the same time. I understand the power station isn’t designed to be a 100% power amp. I got my power station to attenuate my amps and add post-output effects. I love it. It just so happened to arrive the same week as my preamp pedal and such.
Of course, I HAD TO try running my kingsley preamp into the line in, with some of his other tube pedal offerings… and of course, it sounds great.
Then I experimented running those same pedals into the fx return on my Mesa Boogie Mark V 90w combo. Which got me to thinking… I think in some way, I am probably missing out when using the Power Station in this way with the preamp pedals into the line in. There isn’t an output transformer and some sort of interaction between an amps output section and transformer that as a layman, I don’t fully understand.
So, I thought about it and by having to ignore the AMP IN on the power station, which includes its reactive load, I’m subtracting something good from the equation.
Then I discovered the powerstation’s “self-attenuation mode.” Apparently, I can use my line in like normal. Then, I can feed the speaker output back into the PS 2a amp input… then I can run the other speaker output to my cabinet. Thus, allowing me to use the PS 2a as a power amp with my preamp pedals but introduce a little of that reactive play back into the mix.
I’ve yet to try it because, even though I’ve read responses from the mods on here about how to do it correctly and safely, I’m afraid to mess it up.
So, I’m just positing to get a confirmation on the method and any insight as to why this may possibly be better for how I’m trying to use it with those preamp pedals or if it’s really not adding much at all. I’m sure that’s in the eye of the beholder but I’d sure love to hear it from the people who REALY know this stuff.
When using this self-attenuation method… it’d be, preamp out into the ps 2a line input. Now, since I’m trying to use an 8 ohm speaker load, I have to make sure and put the speaker output impedance switch on the 4 ohm setting, since I will be using both speaker jacks and they are wired in parallel. So, I ensure the speaker impedance is set to 4 ohms. Then, I take the speaker output from, let’s say, A, and run in back into the AMP INPUT on the power station. Then I take speaker B and run it into my cabinet.
Now, I’m interacting with the reactive load that, I believe, was probably designed to emulate the thing I feel like I might be missing by not using my amps fx return and it’s total package of its output section before the speaker output jack (and probably the interaction with the speaker as well).
Plus, I’m now able to use the switches on the front for a bit more shaping and feel, when running my preamp straight into the line input.
Am I correct on this order of connecting the cables to achieve this configuration, because I’m not risking cooking my unit until I’ve gotten the go ahead 
I will always use it for the reason I purchased it, to attenuate and add effects loop to all my amps (and make my little guys louder). But, the ps 2a is just so nice and compact and lightweight. That combined with a lightweight cabinet, with the self-attenuation config, could be great for running around and jamming or even just practicing at home and saving my amps longevity and such.
Thanks for your time and help. Always appreciate it!
All the best