THD Hotplate vs Swart Nightlight

[traynor_garnet]

Anyone done a direct comparison on these two? Which one is more transparent? How do they compare to the Weber Micro Mass (attenunates the highs and low with separate knobs).

I owned a THD years ago and have owned just about everything else (Weber Mini Mass, Mass, Alex, Ho, Aracom). I just want something with a good DI that can also tame the amp a bit. For slight volume reductions, they all seem pretty good (the more expensive units do sound better a very high levels of attenuation).

I am (finally) moving into a house so I don't need to have ultra low,bedroom levels anymore (even with the really good expensive units, pedals still work better for really low volume). I just need something to tame my Marshall Class 5 a bit so that I am not absolutely blasting the neighbours.

TG

[traynor_garnet]

Nobody has heard these?

TG

[draelyc]

I love the Swart, but I haven't tried the THD, so I can't really help. Sorry...

Chris

[mbargav]

I'll tell you next week. I have a Hot Plate I use with my AC30, and have a Night Light en route to use with a different amp. I'll fill you in after I get it.

Dr. Z brakelite is good too. I have one in my Tophat, and I like it a lot.

[traynor_garnet]

Looking forward to your report. Please post here.

Do you prefer the Brakelite to the Hot Plate?

TG

Originally Posted by mbargav

I'll tell you next week. I have a Hot Plate I use with my AC30, and have a Night Light en route to use with a different amp. I'll fill you in after I get it.

Dr. Z brakelite is good too. I have one in my Tophat, and I like it a lot.

[mbargav]

Originally Posted by traynor_garnet

Looking forward to your report. Please post here.

Do you prefer the Brakelite to the Hot Plate?

TG

Truth be told, I find them both to be identical in terms of sound quality. The convenience of mounting a BrakeLite in a combo definitely earns it points, but it doesn't have a line out like the Hot Plate does. Like the Hot Plate, the BrakeLite doesn't really seem to be built with "apt volumes" in mind, and shines best at the first two clicks. I think a BrakeLite is a great addition to a combo you gig with.

[AnthonyStauffer]

I only own the THD, and while it sounds decent, the sponginess of the tone at high attenuation levels is quite noticeable. As I don't have any experience with other attenuators, I don't know if this is standard fare, or just a 'feature' of the HotPlate :-)

[David Vee]

Originally Posted by traynor_garnet

I am (finally) moving into a house so I don't need to have ultra low,bedroom levels anymore (even with the really good expensive units, pedals still work better for really low volume). I just need something to tame my Marshall Class 5 a bit so that I am not absolutely blasting the neighbours.

TG

I remember seeing/reading somewhere that you can plug the Marshall Class 5's speaker into its headphone jack (like the old Marshall Studio 15 combo did) for a reduced volume without the need of an outboard attenuator...

Found it! Here's the YouTube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7RyM...eature=related

Haven't tried it personally, but it does makes sense. Hope this helps you.

[traynor_garnet]

Thanks. I actually do this all the time (in fact, I have completely disconnected the internal speaker wires and run the internal speaker thru either the headphone out or the external speaker jack).

This method sounds pretty good, but it is a "one level only" form of attenuation and I know an attenuator with less attenuation would sound better.

Nonetheless, thanks for taking the time to respond and hunt down the link,

TG

Originally Posted by David Vee

I remember seeing/reading somewhere that you can plug the Marshall Class 5's speaker into its headphone jack (like the old Marshall Studio 15 combo did) for a reduced volume without the need of an outboard attenuator...

Found it! Here's the YouTube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7RyM...eature=related

Haven't tried it personally, but it does makes sense. Hope this helps you.

[mbargav]

Originally Posted by traynor_garnet

Looking forward to your report. Please post here.

OK, I've had the Night Light for a while, and here are my opinions (for comparison, the Brake Lite is in a Tophat Super Deluxe, the Hotplate is being used with an AC30, and the Night Light is being used with a 5E3).

The Hotplate and Brake Lite are similar - great at low levels of attenuation, and constructed with volume control at gigs in mind. Lets you get to your sweet spot and turn down just a bit to a reasonable gig volume with minimal to no tone loss. I think this is how they are supposed to be used, and this is how I use them.

The Nightlight is very good with the 5E3, but for me, it only has one usable setting, the 12.00 (lowest attenuation) with compression turned off. The volume loss at the other positions is way too much (i.e. you can hear your strings over the sound of the amp). The good side is that the 12.00 position is perfect for a basement/apartment (think loud TV with surround sound or something) and sounds amazing with a 5e3. To my ear at least, the rest of the positions just attenuate and compress too much. The 12.00 position is a good enough reason for me to keep the Night Light.

[Chevyvan]

I use a Koch Loadbox ( LBM120 2) and have owned THD,Badcat Leash, Weber and Powerbreak.

The Koch is the best in transparency and feautures, it has a marvelous D.I. section with switchable options. It is also a dummy load and has headphone out too. The ultimate tool for non mastervolume amps.

I use it with a Marshall SLP (with metro board inside) stack.


Koch has really nailed it, they realised that it is very important what the amp "sees" but but that it is equally important what the speaker "sees". They really got something there wich not only I found the best.

Check it out.

Grts C (not a Koch employee)