Is there a difference in sound when using one? How does it sound compared to a cranked amp?
you can only hear the BIG difference when you are attenuating it really low.....like if you have a 100watt or 50watt amp and you attenutate it -12Db....its going to sound to bassy and colors the tone a lot. For me power scaling is soooo much better than attenuators....attenuators sucks tone. The higher you attenuate the different it sounds.....it's either it gets too bassy or too bright.
Which one do you have?
I like(d) mine -- a Dr Z Airbrake. It served its purpose since there's no way I could've blasted away late at night.
THD Hotplate...tried a Webber Mass too.
I bet your amp sounds differently without your attenuator with the volume set at 5 than same volume at amp then attenuated -8DB or more...you have to compensate with your EQ......which doesn't sound what the amp is suppose to sound.... I'm selling mine. Just doesn't do justice to an amp if you are going to attenuate the hell out of it.....for me the lowest would me -6Db.
...thank God for preamp volume with master volume equipped amps.
But wait!!! PRSMAN why are you using one with your ODS amp....it has the preamp volume and a master volume...no need to attenuate.
I play my ODS amp even late night and get really really nice tones.