Amp Attenuators

Amp attenuators are essential tools for guitarists looking to achieve cranked tube amp tones at manageable volume levels. Whether you’re recording in a small studio, practicing at home, or playing live without overwhelming the room, attenuators provide the warmth and saturation of a fully driven amp without the ear-splitting volume. With options ranging from simple passive designs to feature-rich reactive loads, there’s a model for every need and budget.

Now it’s your turn to weigh in! Cast your vote for the best amp attenuators and share your experiences in the comments. Whether you have a trusted model or helpful advice for others, your input can guide fellow players in finding the perfect attenuator for their setup.

1. Fryette Power Station 100

Fryette Power Station 100

Power attenuator for volume control of tube amps without the disadvantages of a conventional attenuator.
Two remote-controlled, foot-switchable controls on the front for volume, presence and depth.
Powerful mono block with 100 W from 2x 6550 tubes.
Active safety bypass function deactivates the internal power amplifier and maintains the critical load of the amplifier if the loudspeaker output socket is accidentally unplugged.
Output power: 100 watts at 2/4, 8 and 16 ohms.
Tubes: 1 x 12AX7, 2 x 6550.
Power consumption (max.continuous): 200 W @ 2/4 Ohm, 150 W @ 8 Ohm, 200 W @ 16 Ohm.
Product variations: Power Station PS-2A.

2. Two Notes Torpedo Captor X (8)

Two Notes Torpedo Captor X (8)

Max. power rating: 100 W RMS.
New functions for the Torpedo Captor family include a stereo expander (stereo reverb and double tracker), enhancer, voicing, space, noise gate and XLR DI outputs with 3 routing options (stereo, dual mono and dry / wet).
Includes GENOME with 5 DynIR captures, 40 microphones, 12 pedals, 12 TSM amps, 17 STUDIO FX, 40 AI amp captures and an expert-selected RIG library.
Controls: Space, Voicing, Out Level, Preset.
Push buttons: In Level High/Low, Gnd Lift.
Switch: Volume Full/Low.
Product variations: Torpedo Captor X 16.

3. Universal Audio OX

Universal Audio OX

Analogue reactive loadbox for guitar tube amplifiers
Five tuned guitar amp attenuation levels.
Rig control for pre-set microphone and speaker box emulations.
UA Dynamic Speaker Modelling accurately models the behaviour of a speaker and membrane resonances.
Integrated UA EQ compression, delay and reverb effects.
Ohm operation selectable (4, 8, and 16 Ohm).
Max. power handling: 150 W.

4. Tone King Ironman II

Tone King Ironman II

Full tube compression at room volume.
Reactive Load Technology preserves the tone and dynamics of the amp.
Footswitchable 3 dB / 6 dB solo function.
6-Level damping provides volume settings for every performance, session or home.
3-Position presence switch tames unwanted highs.
XLR DI Out with Speaker Simulation.
Power rating: 100 W RMS.
Impedance: 4, 8 or 16 ohms.
Product variations: Ironman II Mini.

5. Mesa/Boogie POWERHOUSE (8-ohm)

Mesa/Boogie POWERHOUSE (8-ohm)

Rated for guitar amps up to 150 watts — great for your high-wattage head.
5 levels of power reduction — -0dB, -4dB, -8dB, -12dB, and -16dB.
Infinite reduction down from the -16dB position (via a Level knob) for whisper-quiet practice sessions.
3-position voicing switch enables you to choose normal, bright, or warm characteristics.
Speaker/Load switch toggles between your physical speaker cabinet and the internal reactive load.
Dry line output allows you to use your own IR loader or record your unprocessed signal for re-amping.
Product variations: POWERHOUSE (16-ohm), POWERHOUSE (4-ohm).

6. Two Notes Reload II

Two Notes Reload II

Reactive load box with attenuator, Celestion Approved Load Response, and sterep/dual mono 215 W power amplifier
Attenuator rated up to 200 W RMS.
Selectable multi-impedance compatibility: 4, 8, 16 ohm
Two channels.
Continuous active attenuation from complete silence to full volume.
Stereo / dual mono power amplifier: 215 W.
Includes GENOME Reload II Cab Sim Plug In with 24 DynIR Virtual Cabinets.

7. Rivera RockCrusher

Rivera RockCrusher

Load Box and attenuation for amplifying power up to 120 W RMS.
Impedance: 8 and 16 Ohm selectable.
Reactive internal network for true amplifier/ load interaction.
High thermal capacity ensures cool running and long life.
Tight impedance tolerances.
XLR and unbalanced line outputs with level control.
Low and high frequency equalization selection.
Full bypass capability with no insertion loss.
Product variations: RockCrusher Recording.

8. Boss WAZA Tube Amp Expander

Boss WAZA Tube Amp Expander

Modern, variable reactive attenuator circuit for tube amplifiers up to 150 W.
Impedance settings for properly adjusting the load resistance of the amplifier.
Integrated 100 W Class AB power amplifier with discrete analogue design and seamless volume control.
Customisable stereo effects: Compressor, Delay, Reverb and four EQs.
22 Speaker-box emulations with five selectable close mic and three surround microphone types plus four slots for uploading your own speaker impulse responses.
Editor software (Mac / Windows).
USB for direct audio recording and communication with the editor software.
Product variations: WAZA Tube Amp Expander Core.

9. JHS Little Black Amp

JHS Little Black Amp

Analogue attenuator.
For use in effects loop of amplifiers.
For a saturated preamp output, but with lower output volume.
Passive operation.
Control for level.

10. Suhr Reactive Load

Suhr Reactive Load

Simple solution to take up the warmth and dynamics of your sound without putting microphones to a speaker during a gig or studio recording.
Connected to tube amp instead of loudspeaker and loads it with 8 Ohm.
Generates a symmetrical as well as assymmetrical signal (without loudspeaker simulation) to be connected to recording devices, effects and power amps.
Recommended max. amp power: 100 Watt RMS.
Product variations: Reactive Load IR.

11. AmpRX BrownBox

AmpRX BrownBox

LCD voltmeter makes it easy to dial in the optimal setting for your amp.
Selectable input voltage setting ensures safe and accurate operation.
5-amp, 120/122/124/126VAC input settings accommodate most wall voltages.
Equal or attenuated output ensures that you can't accidentally overload your amp.
Choose from 4 attenuation modes (3%, 4%, 6%, and 10%) to fine-tune your voltage.
Bypass mode lets you easily A/B the results of your optimized amp voltage.

12. AmpRX Power Station BackLine

AmpRX Power Station BackLine

LCD voltmeter makes it easy to dial in the optimal setting for your amp.
Selectable input current setting ensures safe and accurate operation.
10-amp, 120/122/124/126VAC input settings accommodate most wall currents.
Equal or attenuated output ensures that you can't accidentally overload your amp.
Choose from 4 attenuation modes (3%, 4%, 6%, and 10%) to fine-tune your voltage.
Bypass mode lets you A/B the results of your optimized amp voltage.
2U rackmount design.

13. Bugera PS1 Power Soak

Bugera PS1 Power Soak

Passive.
Input: Maximum 100W.
3 Inputs with different impedances (4, 8 and 16 ohms), thus usable with almost all amps.
Speaker output.
Emulated XLR microphone output.
Line output with volume control.

14. Dr. Z Brake-Lite

Dr. Z Brake-Lite

5 levels of attenuation, "0" being bypassed.
Compatible with any tube amp up to 45 watts.
Accepts 4-, 8-, or 16-ohm loads.
Parallel speaker outputs let you run multiple cabs at once (4-ohm minimum).

15. Electro Harmonix Signal Pad

Electro Harmonix Signal Pad

Passive circuit that does not change the sound.
Control: Volume.
LED: Effect on.
Footswitch: Effect Bypass.

16. Harley Benton PA-250

Harley Benton PA-250

6 Levels of power reduction.
"Fine" control for the -15dB option.
Input power up to 250 W.
LED for overload function.
Integrated low-noise fan cooling.
8/16-Ohm option.

17. Koch Amps LB120-II (8)

Koch Amps LB120-II (8)

Power Attenuator 120 W
Air cooled
Speaker simulator and DI box
Product variations: LB120-II 16.

18. Palmer PDI-06 (8)

Palmer PDI-06 (8)

Adjustable in 6 steps (100%, 70%, 50%, 35%, 25%, 18%).
Reduces the volume of a guitar speaker at full saturation of the tubes.
Made for 8 Ohm or 2x 16 Ohm loudspeakers.
Bypass/ attenuator switch for fast switching between full and reduced output power.
Product variations: PDI-06-16.

19. Palmer Supreme Soaker

Palmer Supreme Soaker

Reactive power reducer and load box with a finely tuned analogue speaker simulator.
6 Sound settings for the speaker.
6 Sound settings for the line out.
Impedance: 8 or 16 ohms.

20. Rockboard RPA 100

Rockboard RPA 100

Maximum output power of the amplifier 100 watts.
3 Separate inputs for 4, 8 or 16 ohms.

21. SPL Reducer

SPL Reducer

Choosable Impedance for amp output: 4, 8 or 16 Ohm.
Input/output: 6.35 mm mono jack.
4 Ohm: 90 W RMS/ 120 W peak.
8 Ohm: 200 W RMS/ 260 W peak.
16 Ohm: 160 W RMS/ 180 W peak.

22. TAD Silencer 8

TAD Silencer 8

Power rating: 150 W.
Impedance: 8 Ohm.
Attenuation levels from -2 db to -16 db in 2 dB steps.
Continuous "Fine" control.
Bite and Punch boost switch.
Load box operation without speakers possible.
Adjustable line out.
F.A.N.T.A. -out speaker emulation, low impedance, balanced.

23. Mesa/Boogie CabClone IR+ (8-ohm)

Mesa/Boogie CabClone IR+ (8-ohm)

Four factory-loaded Mesa/Boogie cabinet presets: Rectifier, Thiele, Lone Star, & California Tweed.
Load third-party and custom IRs into the unit’s “Cabinet Library” via USB.
Sixteen miking configurations in “live” and “studio” styles.
Two 1/4” input jacks (From Amp Speaker Output and Line/Instrument In).
One 1/4” “TO SPKR” live cabinet output jacket sends an unprocessed signal to your live speaker.
MIDI IN and THRU expand control of the unit.
Output to recording interfaces, consoles, or headphones.
Product variations: CabClone IR+ (16-ohm), CabClone IR+ (4-ohm).

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