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Post by jjtelarson on Jun 24, 2011 9:32:52 GMT -7
I just picked up a Brake Lite SA and it sounds quite different than the Air Brake I have owned. And, the difference is that the Air Brake sounds much better to my ears and those who have compared the two with me. The AB is much more transparent and does not 'squish' the sound like the SA. This holds through out the 0-4 'clicks' on the units. Anyone else notice this? I thought they ought to have very similar/same components so what is with the large differences. I was using both Z28 and Carmen Ghia and 1x12 Greenback and Dr Z's 2x10 cabs and multiple guitars. Any thoughts?? Thanks, Jamey
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Post by benttop (Steve) on Jun 24, 2011 10:28:16 GMT -7
I don't see why it would be so. Make sure you're not fooling yourself by doing some blind testing, or use some recordings to compare. Honestly, all of the attenuator testing I've done, my mind has been the biggest contributing factor to my perceptions.
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Post by jjtelarson on Jun 24, 2011 12:09:12 GMT -7
I don't see why it would be so. Make sure you're not fooling yourself by doing some blind testing, or use some recordings to compare. Honestly, all of the attenuator testing I've done, my mind has been the biggest contributing factor to my perceptions. Thanks for the reply Steve as ALWAYS I appreciate your time and wisdom (you have clearly forgotten more than I know, or may ever know about this stuff); I totally agree and I will indeed try it again. I am coming to guitar now for the past two or so years after coming from nearly 20 years of true; love, passion, experience and knowledge within the two channel audiophile world. I can geek out and 'test' with the best of them -- so can my bride, who also confirms this, among others. That being said, I refuse to say that it is not possible that my mind is doing this and I (we) will again check it out. Just today though while I was at work my wife called and said that she and my son just did some more playing/listening and still are hearing the difference(s). Either way though I cannot wait to play tonight ;D Thanks! Jamey
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Post by benttop (Steve) on Jun 24, 2011 13:29:20 GMT -7
Well anything's possible. If your hearing is finely tuned you may be hearing things that I cannot (my hearing is way far over the hill), or things that I wouldn't care about (always a possibility). As I said, I don't see why they would sound different as the design is essentially the same, but the components aren't, are they?
Are you using just one amp to A/B the two brakes, so as to remove any variables there? I got crazy enough about it once that I bought a Radial Engineering box that lets me re-amp my guitar parts. That let me record one guitar part and then play the identical thing back through each amp setup, thus allowing me to judge the differences more effectively. But I have two Airbrakes and one Brake Lite, and they all sound the same to me. YMMV!
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Post by jjtelarson on Jun 24, 2011 13:47:48 GMT -7
That's it I am gonna call Eric Johnson and he can settle this.... LOL!
Yep, I am only changing one variable - the AB or SA as I do the play/listen slow dance.... I think I need to just let-it-go and enjoy the new stuff!
Jamey
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Post by benttop (Steve) on Jun 24, 2011 15:53:55 GMT -7
That's it I am gonna call Eric Johnson and he can settle this.... LOL! Yep, I am only changing one variable - the AB or SA as I do the play/listen slow dance.... I think I need to just let-it-go and enjoy the new stuff! Jamey heh... that works for some folks, I hear.
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Post by The Bad Poodle Experience on Jul 8, 2011 13:48:06 GMT -7
maybe you have one of the BL's with the "green jewel" light. those are known for having a more compressed sound. They're very desirable on the used market. You can get twice the $$'s for them on e-bay.
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Post by pcns on Mar 25, 2012 4:25:16 GMT -7
^^^^ I'm not sure why anyone else didn't think of this lol
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Post by Maddog on Mar 25, 2012 6:24:01 GMT -7
It's psychologically impossible for me to do A/B testing with my eyes open. Subjective issues always seem to cloud my senses..... YMMV, but do the blind tests...it may help....
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Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Mar 25, 2012 8:27:42 GMT -7
Isn't there a trim pot inside the AB?
They may not be st the same.
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Post by benttop (Steve) on Mar 25, 2012 21:27:37 GMT -7
The Airbrake has two things of note - a rheostat for the bedroom level, which does not appear in the Brake Lite, and an adjustable band on the big power resistor. The Brake Lite also has that adjustable band, but Dr. Z states it is not adjustable on the BL, while it is on the AB. Not sure why that is (I didn't design it).
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