Simple passive output attenuator design questions

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ThreeChordWonder
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Joined: Sun Jun 18, 2023 12:01 am

Simple passive output attenuator design questions

Post by ThreeChordWonder »

1. Will it work?
2. Will it sound okay? Okay is good enough, I'm not looking for nuances or perfection.
3. Do I need to put a coil (inductance) in there? If so what value and where? I presume in series on the input side to mimic a speaker coil, just don't know how many (milli)henries.

Thanks in advance.
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Raja_Kentut
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Location: Veitsbronn, Germany

Re: Simple passive output attenuator design questions

Post by Raja_Kentut »

should work, but what the sound is like has to be tested…

You can avoid the expensive 100W pot by using parallel resistors, because when you want to play not so loud, a few Watt (say 1…5W) are enough for your livingroom.
For understanding what I mean look at this :

https://www.fingers-welt.de/phpBB/viewt ... 75#p410075

https://www.fingers-welt.de/phpBB/viewt ... 78#p411878

This is for a 4 Ohm Loudspeaker, the principle should be visible… the capacitors for the higher frequencies have to be tested to suit your taste…
Nothing is better than an unexpected discovery that brings you happiness!
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TUBEDUDE
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Location: Mastersville

Re: Simple passive output attenuator design questions

Post by TUBEDUDE »

I've never seen a 100W 8 Ohm L-pad before. What brand is that?
Tube junkie that aspires to become a tri-state bidirectional buss driver.
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Littlewyan
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Location: UK

Re: Simple passive output attenuator design questions

Post by Littlewyan »

Just a warning regarding 100W L-Pads, they will burn out with a cranked 50W amp. I can't remember the ins and outs right now but the more you attenuate with them the less power you can send into them. I had one years ago a guy built for me and he even had a divider before the L-Pad to shave off 6dB but even still, it burned out eventually for me. They also sound pants, really not a great tone.

If you want a great sounding attenuator, built the one developed on the Marshall forum.
https://www.marshallforum.com/threads/s ... ing.98285/
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