SPL REDUCER

Power Soak for 200-Watt Guitar Amplifiers with Variable Attenuation

• Power attenuator for tube guitar and bass amplifiers, to be connected between the head and the cabinet
• Sound and distortion of the power amp even at room-level volumes
• Switch with fixed attenuation settings and a “Variable” position ranging from -7 dB down to near silence
• Selectable load impedance: 4, 8, or 16 Ω
• Up to 200 W RMS at 8 Ω (260 W peak)
• Compact design weighing 1.85 kg, easy to carry to the rehearsal room

The SPL Reducer is a power soak for guitar and bass amplifiers that reduces output power without altering the character of the sound. It allows you to push your favorite tube amplifier until the power amp saturates—the point that delivers body, natural compression, and sustain—and listen at a volume suitable for the room, your home studio, or a late-night recording session.

SPL power attenuator between the head and cabinet

The Reducer connects between the head’s speaker output and the cabinet. It converts part of the electrical energy delivered by the amplifier into heat and transmits only the reduced power to the cabinet. The key point is that the attenuation must not alter the sound: the amplifier continues to operate as if it were connected directly to the cabinet, and you get the same tone at a lower volume.

Controlled-Volume Tube Power Amp Saturation

Many tube amplifiers sound their best only when the power amp is operating near its limit—at volumes that are often unmanageable at home or in a small studio. With the Reducer, you can turn up the master volume as much as needed to achieve that saturation while separately controlling the actual volume coming out of the cabinet—so you can play, rehearse, or mic the cabinet without disturbing those around you.

Step Attenuation and Continuous Adjustment

You select the attenuation level using a selector switch that first offers fixed attenuation settings of 3 and 5 dB to slightly lower the volume while preserving full dynamics. In the final position, “Variable,” a load potentiometer continuously adjusts the attenuation from -7 dB down to nearly complete signal cutoff, allowing you to find exactly the volume you need.

Selectable impedance: 4, 8, and 16 Ω

The Reducer is compatible with heads featuring all common impedances: you can select a load of 4, 8, or 16 Ω, depending on your amplifier’s output and the cabinet you’re using. The maximum power handling varies with impedance: up to 200 W RMS at 8 Ω, 160 W RMS at 16 Ω, and 90 W RMS at 4 Ω.

For guitar and bass, at home, in the studio, and in the rehearsal room

It works with guitar and bass amplifiers and is useful wherever volume is a constraint: practicing at home, pre-production in a home studio, recording sessions with cabinet miking in small spaces, or shared rehearsal rooms. Its compact size and light weight make it easy to move around along with your amp head.

SPL Reducer Technical Specifications

• Type: power soak for guitar and bass amplifiers
• Input and output: unbalanced 6.35 mm (1/4") TS jacks
• Selectable load impedance: 4 Ω, 8 Ω, 16 Ω
• Maximum input power at 4 Ω: 90 W RMS, 120 W peak
• Maximum input power at 8 Ω: 200 W RMS, 260 W peak
• Maximum input power at 16 Ω: 160 W RMS, 180 W peak
• Attenuation: fixed settings at 3 dB and 5 dB, variable setting from -7 dB down to near silence
• Dimensions (W x H with feet x D): 179 x 85 x 190 mm
• Weight: 1.85 kg
• Weight with packaging: 2.65 kg