Ceriatone Forum

Hey all!

My son's DC30 is so loud (even at 1/2 volume) that he really doesn't get to enjoy its capability at bedroom levels...

what type (brand) of attenuator do you recommend? (I've also sent an email to Nik) I was wondering what people use out there!

Thanks!

Being biased hot, I guess the use of an attenuator would eat tubes really faster than "regular", because you (he) will crank the amp and all of the tubes will wear faster. I did not try my DC30 with any attenuator, but I installed the Variable Voltage Regulator and it's been a winner since.  I posted about on this same forum. Maybe it is a good (and not expensive) way to try for you guys.

It basically reduces the voltage on the whole amp, allowing you to get crunch tones at lower levels (it reduces at 10% the amp full power). To me, it opened a whole new unexplored stage of this amp....

Regards

I tried my Hotplate with the Dc-30 and it was not good. It works OK with my OTS but not with the DC. I have Powerscaling fitted and that is far, far superior IMO.

There isn't one.  Plus, for the price of a decent attenuator you can buy a small SE amp. Valve Jr., Champ/Vibro Champ, etc.  IME attenuators are much better suited for taming stage volume on 20-100 watt amps.
Good Luck

I've been using a Koch Loadbox II with good results.

+1 may I correct!

Just bought a Dr Z Brake Lite.... I started a new topic about it.... Will post results there once I've tried it out! :)

I have VVR on my DZ30, and don't like it much. The master vol sounds better to me. Perhaps it depends how much you overdrive it, I like it to just break up a little.
However, the DZ30 is way too loud for a bedroom in a house where stage levels are not welcome (even 15w mode): best to get a 5w amp for that sort of domestic situation
1w to 5w amps sound better in a quiet house than a 30w amp that's quietened down.
My THD hotplate loses tone, and sounds poor below -4dB, which is not low enough for your needs (it's good for for tweaking loud levels, or giving a DI load, but -12dB or lower sounds poor). AFAIK all power soaks lose tone

Try an AC4 maybe? they are very cheap. I dislike the fact that most of the lower power amps have cheap tonestacks, but there are some with more, like the BH5.
A guy in the UK here takes the cheap Chinese amps (Epi VJ, BH5, etc), and does all the good mods around, fixes the buzzes and tweaks PSU, adds tube recitifier, etc.
His amps sounds really good at house-friendly levels for £250-£400, none of my 30w-100w ones can run that quiet and sound good, I've had an isolation box built for when I need to keep the loud amps quieter. Even my Vox AC15H1TV is too loud when it's late. The Marshall Class 5 sounds ok, but rattles like hell, it has a cheap chassis.

If he has a recording setup, an ISO box is another solution, Randall do one that sounds good, but does let some noise out. Then the DZ30 could run into that and use the monitors at whatever preferred level. This is the best solution I believe

Hooked up my Dr Z Brake Lite last night. Well impressed!
It didn't suck tone at all, and even at the highest setting -11db, it was very responsive.
I love the DC30 running at full power, also at the level of just beaking up a tiny bit, and the Dr Z Brake Lite has brought my volume down beautifully but kept the responsiveness I love at the 30W setting.
I'm hearing more and more good responses about the Brake Lite, and best of all, it screws into the inside of my combo with two screws.
They also make a Brake Lite SA (stand alone) for those who are running a head and cab setup. At $169, it's a winner.

sounds like I'll have to give that a try....where did you get it for such a good price?

From Mass Street Music. He shipped it quickly and packed it well too. Here's the link...
http://www.massstreetmusic.com/store/show_item/3249-Dr-Z-Brake-Lite-Attenuator
I'm keen to see what you think of it!
Cheers

Has anyone made and posted sound clips or videos?? :chairdance: