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Post by iggs on Jun 11, 2007 12:40:56 GMT -7
Question for all who either have both or compared them side by side ...
Which one works better and seems "more transparent" on low and high settings?
Is the difference drastic and noticeable or is it subtle?
I already have a Hot Plate but contemplating the Airbrake and would get it if there was a significant difference between the two in favor of Airbrake.
Thanks.
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Post by benttop (Steve) on Jun 11, 2007 16:50:05 GMT -7
Question for all who either have both or compared them side by side ... Which one works better and seems "more transparent" on low and high settings? Is the difference drastic and noticeable or is it subtle? I already have a Hot Plate but contemplating the Airbrake and would get it if there was a significant difference between the two in favor of Airbrake. Thanks. I have one Airbrake and three Hot Plates. I like and use all of them. But they are a bit different, although not for the reasons you are thinking. I never use either device on the Rheostat setting (bedroom level) - both affect the tone a bit there, and besides that's not why I have them. Three or four clicks down from thru works wonders. Both are fairly transparent used this way, but it's difficult to measure transparency, isn't it? The problem is when you take them out of the circuit and run the amp at the same level, it's so monstrously loud that you can't make a decent comparison. Anyway, the big difference, for me anyway, is the Airbrake comes preset to about 2db per click, while the Hot Plate comes preset at 4db per click. On my fairly powerful amps, like the SRZ or my THD Flexi-50, the Hot Plate works pretty well because I get a lot of attenuation where I need it. On my lower power amps, like my Stingray, the Airbrake is a much better choice from this perspective, because the steps are closer together. So it is that I have one amp here, the RXES that is between these extremes, and although I've been trying to use the Hot Plate with it, I think I've concluded that I need another Airbrake so I can turn up in smaller steps. There are other physical differences, such as the location of jacks and controls, and the Hot Plate has a bunch of other features (that I've never really used). Bottom line is the major difference for me is the size of the steps.
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Post by lowwatt on Jun 11, 2007 19:21:40 GMT -7
keep in mind that on the airbreak the steps are user adjustable. With nothing more than a screwdriver, you can adjust it for significantly more attenuation before you go to bedroom level.
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Post by iggs on Jun 12, 2007 7:04:30 GMT -7
Thanks guys, I was more concerned about the sound of the units and was avoiding asking: "which one is better" since I don't think that question is fair when it comes to sound, it's too personal.
Hot Plate steps are fine with me, I just found it kind of "chokes" the Route 66 a bit, don't know how best to explain it, almost as if there is a slow compressor somewhere in the chain ... I did not find the same with my other amp. Without the Hot Plate it sounds fine.
Maybe I'm over-thinking (or over-listening) the whole thing.
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Post by benttop (Steve) on Jun 12, 2007 12:47:58 GMT -7
You're not the only one who hears that kind of effect. But part of it is the way our hearing works as volume changes. The thing is, when it gets right down to the differences, the only real test is your own ears. But I don't hear a terribly significant difference the way I'm using them. YMMV!
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Post by Hohn on Jun 12, 2007 23:19:17 GMT -7
I personally feel that my Hot PLate softens the famous high end of the StangRay. Even at only one click down, it seems to kill that beautiful glassy top end. Even with the eq switches on to help the bottom and top end.
JH
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Post by benttop (Steve) on Jun 13, 2007 5:48:24 GMT -7
I've never tried my Hot Plate on the Stingray since I have the Airbrake and already liked what was happening. Hmm... I should do a comparison - I'm curious if you could hear the difference in a recording.....
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Post by Dr.T on Jun 14, 2007 1:39:56 GMT -7
Consider also that low vol means loss of highs, this is physiological, so, this is NOT an attenuator defect, but a physical law...
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Post by Matt H. on Jun 14, 2007 8:33:49 GMT -7
Yeah - loss of highs and lows - The hotplate has a deep and a bright switch that brings back a little of the highs and lows as you attenuate. I just keep them on all the time. The hotplate also has a cool line out feature as well as 2 speaker outs - making it a very expensive y cable. ;D I know that you can mod the hotplate so it attenuates in lesser increments - so it's more like the Z break. I can't really hear a difference between the two. The hotplate has more features, but they're not really necessary - I guess the line-out might be useful, but I've never used it. If I were to buy another, I would get a ZBreak for the smaller increments.
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Post by benttop (Steve) on Jun 14, 2007 8:58:57 GMT -7
I used the line out once in an experiment to make a head into a stomp box.... to be honest, it didn't work out all that well.
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captain38
Full Member
I followed you big river...
Posts: 198
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Post by captain38 on Jul 10, 2007 14:54:27 GMT -7
Any idea which would work better on a maz 38 NR?....hot plate or air brake?
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Post by billyguitar on Jul 10, 2007 15:36:00 GMT -7
I tried an Air Brake on my Maz sr one time and decided the master volume worked close enough to not hassle with the AB.
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Post by benttop (Steve) on Jul 10, 2007 18:07:20 GMT -7
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captain38
Full Member
I followed you big river...
Posts: 198
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Post by captain38 on Jul 11, 2007 17:22:14 GMT -7
I most definately missed that....thanks alot!
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captain38
Full Member
I followed you big river...
Posts: 198
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Post by captain38 on Jul 11, 2007 17:38:51 GMT -7
billyguitar....the problem I have with the master volume is the amount of low end and power tube saturation (gain?) that I lose...I end up missing that.
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Post by fisholot on Jul 21, 2007 15:07:29 GMT -7
I was using my hotplate with my soldano advenger and then I used the line out to go to my Jr... Now that I have a Lehle switcher I don't find the need for the hotplate but I have a route 66 on the way and I think it will be needed for that... I might just have to get an airbreak just to compair. The only downfall I see with the hotplate is it has a set impedance, where the airbreak you can change the impedance. The plus for the Hotplate is it has two speaker outputs no need for a "Y"..
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Post by brad737 on Feb 29, 2008 7:52:43 GMT -7
I just got my Airbrake yesterday. I also have a Hotplate and a Marshall Powerbrake. Personally, I think the Hotplate is 10 times better than the Air Brake. Sacreligious, I know. But I'm going to see if the previous owner adjusted the sliders, and if so return it to stock. Otherwise the Air Brake may not last long...
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Post by benttop (Steve) on Feb 29, 2008 9:52:46 GMT -7
I just got my Airbrake yesterday. I also have a Hotplate and a Marshall Powerbrake. Personally, I think the Hotplate is 10 times better than the Air Brake. Sacreligious, I know. But I'm going to see if the previous owner adjusted the sliders, and if so return it to stock. Otherwise the Air Brake may not last long... I'm curious what you're hearing that I'm not, or is it based on features or construction or what? Just curious since I have both here and don't see what you see. Can you be more specific?
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Post by brad737 on Feb 29, 2008 10:57:24 GMT -7
Sure thing. I just don't think this thing attenuates anywhere NEAR -30 bd. Both the Hotplate and the Power Brake allow the OT to really sing. But the Air Brake just doesn't get the SPL low enough to get into overdrive without being WAY too loud.
And I think the tone is kind of lifeless through it. Perhaps I just prefer the Bright and Deep circuits on the Hotplate?
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Post by benttop (Steve) on Feb 29, 2008 11:08:08 GMT -7
Sure thing. I just don't think this thing attenuates anywhere NEAR -30 bd. Both the Hotplate and the Power Brake allow the OT to really sing. But the Air Brake just doesn't get the SPL low enough to get into overdrive without being WAY too loud. And I think the tone is kind of lifeless through it. Perhaps I just prefer the Bright and Deep circuits on the Hotplate? Interesting. Well that's what makes the world go 'round, isn't it? Different folks like different stuff. I must be playing a lot louder than you because I generally have my Airbrake on one click down with the Stingray, and two to three clicks with the RXES. With the Mazerati GT I have to go to 4 clicks, but none of them need the Bedroom level setting. In all of these the Aibrake seems almost transparent - in fact for me, it really is transparent. More so than my Hot Plates, which all add some amount of distortion that the Airbrake doesn't add. But then I have different amps, set differently from yours, playing different guitars through different speakers, using different cables and even different music. So it's no surprise you've come to a different conclusion from me. But it IS fascinating to discuss and learn about.
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Post by stillerball on Apr 24, 2008 12:31:24 GMT -7
Have AB'd them. The Hotplate allows you to take the volume all the way down to zero, making it the superior choice for bedroom use. Both units sound fantastic and I don't notice any tone loss with either when playing at a decent volume. The Hotplate also has some cool features such as the bass and treble boost, and line out. I own the Airbrake. Works like it's supposed to. The best feature is that it is not impedance specific, so I can use it with most amps. Absolutely necessary for non master-volume amps.
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Post by benttop (Steve) on Apr 24, 2008 13:00:21 GMT -7
Have AB'd them. The Hotplate allows you to take the volume all the way down to zero, making it the superior choice for bedroom use. Both units sound fantastic and I don't notice any tone loss with either when playing at a decent volume. The Hotplate also has some cool features such as the bass and treble boost, and line out. I own the Airbrake. Works like it's supposed to. The best feature is that it is not impedance specific, so I can use it with most amps. Absolutely necessary for non master-volume amps. Yeah, I like that too. I've had to buy three different Hot Plates because of the specified impedance. That's enough for another whole Z cab!
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Apr 24, 2008 17:40:00 GMT -7
Sure thing. I just don't think this thing attenuates anywhere NEAR -30 bd. Both the Hotplate and the Power Brake allow the OT to really sing. But the Air Brake just doesn't get the SPL low enough to get into overdrive without being WAY too loud. And I think the tone is kind of lifeless through it. Perhaps I just prefer the Bright and Deep circuits on the Hotplate? Interesting. Well that's what makes the world go 'round, isn't it? Different folks like different stuff. I must be playing a lot louder than you because I generally have my Airbrake on one click down with the Stingray, and two to three clicks with the RXES. With the Mazerati GT I have to go to 4 clicks, but none of them need the Bedroom level setting. In all of these the Aibrake seems almost transparent - in fact for me, it really is transparent. More so than my Hot Plates, which all add some amount of distortion that the Airbrake doesn't add. But then I have different amps, set differently from yours, playing different guitars through different speakers, using different cables and even different music. So it's no surprise you've come to a different conclusion from me. But it IS fascinating to discuss and learn about. I'm still waiting for my airbreak to come in. But it sounds like its going to work the way I want it to. I want to be able to get my Maz and stangray just to the point of a little hair then dial it down in volume a bit. If it shaves a bit of high end off like the previous poster complained it wouldn't hurt my situation any as my broadcaster Kinmans are really bright through my Maz 38. I've got the treble almost off and the guitar tone button dialed back some as well.
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Post by brad737 on Apr 24, 2008 19:52:09 GMT -7
Actually Steve, that's not 100% correct. You can you a Hotplate with a higher rating than your speaker cabinet with no problems. For example, I have a 16-ohm Hotplate. Obviously, I can use that with a 16-ohm cab. But I also use it 99% of the time with my Route 66 going into an 8-ohm cabinet. Just make sure you use the correct impedance on the back of the amp. So the full setting is 16-ohm Hotplate, 8-ohm cabinet, and 8-ohm setting on the back of the amp. You just can't go the other way. So using an 8-ohm Hotplate with a 16-ohm cabinet is a no-no. Hope this helps bs Have AB'd them. The Hotplate allows you to take the volume all the way down to zero, making it the superior choice for bedroom use. Both units sound fantastic and I don't notice any tone loss with either when playing at a decent volume. The Hotplate also has some cool features such as the bass and treble boost, and line out. I own the Airbrake. Works like it's supposed to. The best feature is that it is not impedance specific, so I can use it with most amps. Absolutely necessary for non master-volume amps. Yeah, I like that too. I've had to buy three different Hot Plates because of the specified impedance. That's enough for another whole Z cab!
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Post by benttop (Steve) on Apr 25, 2008 8:47:54 GMT -7
Actually Steve, that's not 100% correct. You can you a Hotplate with a higher rating than your speaker cabinet with no problems. For example, I have a 16-ohm Hotplate. Obviously, I can use that with a 16-ohm cab. But I also use it 99% of the time with my Route 66 going into an 8-ohm cabinet. Just make sure you use the correct impedance on the back of the amp. So the full setting is 16-ohm Hotplate, 8-ohm cabinet, and 8-ohm setting on the back of the amp. You just can't go the other way. So using an 8-ohm Hotplate with a 16-ohm cabinet is a no-no. Hope this helps bs I've seen this before but it just doesn't make sense to me since you can use a 16 ohm load on your 8 ohm tap on your amp. In my case, I've got 4 ohm cabs, 8 ohm cabs, and 16 ohm cabs, and I want to be able to play any one of them from any of my amps that have corresponding outputs. The chances of me mangling my recollection and doing it wrong are much higher if I have just one Hot Plate than if I just match them according to their design. Of course doing that costs a lot more, but not as much as a new output section on one of my amps.
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Post by brad737 on Apr 27, 2008 17:54:31 GMT -7
Hi guys, For what it's worth, I sold my Airbrake, and kept the Hotplate and Marshall Power Brake. I just liked the sound of those better.
Good Luck, bs
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Post by benttop (Steve) on Apr 27, 2008 18:30:48 GMT -7
Hi guys, For what it's worth, I sold my Airbrake, and kept the Hotplate and Marshall Power Brake. I just liked the sound of those better. Good Luck, bs Wow, it just goes to show, everyone listens for something different. I think you're the very first person I've ever encountered who kept their Marshall Power Brake - almost to a T everyone I've interacted with has felt that that attenuator was the worst ever. But you kept yours, which tells me that for you, it works. Amazing. We all listen for something different, which is a very good thing in my view, because it would be very boring if everyone was just like me. Just ask my wife....
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