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Author Topic: My Power Scaling Box Arrived Today!!  (Read 1943 times)

Bainzy

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My Power Scaling Box Arrived Today!!
« on: June 10, 2006, 08:12:31 PM »
For anyone who doesn't know what Power Scaling is, it's a supposed to be a superior alternative to an attenuator. To quote the instructions:

"Power Scaling allows the output power of an amplifier to be varied from 100% down to less than 1% of the full rating. This allows the speaker-amplifier interface to remain intact as this interaction cannot be mimicked. The Power Scale method controls all of the voltages around the Scaled stage(s) to maintain their transfer curve shapes, and thus tone. Controlling all of these voltages means waste heat from the output stage is dramatically reduced as power is dialled down, greatly extending tube life."

more information is available at http://www.londonpower.com


So not only is power scaling an alternative to attenuation that doesn't sound like ass at low volumes, it makes the power tubes live about as long as a preamp tube. Since NOS preamp tubes last about 30 years, that would mean theoretically I could buy NOS Mullard EL34's and have them last 30 years! Maybe they don't seem so overpriced after all....

Because there's a control to vary the amount of signal going into the poweramp (in addition to the power amp scaling control), you can actually make the poweramp distort more than it would when the amp is on 10. Anyway, here's some pictures :bigthumb:










It's not as big as I expected, which is an added bonus:



note size in relation to an .022uF Sozo cap...

Looks like I've got quite a bit of reading to do. I won't be able to post clips for a while, as I'm right in the middle of exam month so amp work and guitar playing is out of the question!

chrisola

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My Power Scaling Box Arrived Today!!
« Reply #1 on: June 10, 2006, 10:38:41 PM »
nice buy matey.. i looked at these a while back but decided against it, they seemed a bit too techie for me and (i must admit) a bit hyped on the website (but i couldnt find much in the way of user reviews).

Must have beeen a couple of years at least.

Let me know how you get on, if you get good results i may pull the trigger on one as i only really play at home through my Mass..
"Turbo F***ing Spinning PILEDRIVER!!!"

Bainzy

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My Power Scaling Box Arrived Today!!
« Reply #2 on: June 11, 2006, 01:12:35 PM »
They are pretty techy, it's taking me a while to get my head round the installation. I'll definately try to post a fair and balanced review once it's installed though, and some sound clips!