Harley Benton PA-100 Power Attenuator

Like the majority of people who buy this, I wanted a way to record my amp silently. I didn't want to pay over 200 euros for a "reactive" load which isn't really reactive (to get reactive you have to pay a lot more than 200, the closest popular "reactive" competing product is actually not properly reactive but uses it more as a marketing tool). It turns out this HB attenuator does a fantastic job at providing a clear line out signal. Running a Laney Ironheart at 60 watts at high volume, the attenuator doesn't seem to heat up at all. It's completely silent. Also, the actual attenuation (which for most people is just a side bonus feature) is great! Now I can have my master volume cranked up, my channel volumes cranked up, and the overall speaker output down at 0.5/10. I was afraid this might change the tone too much, i.e. remove a lot of high end, but no, it is minimal - it sounds a LOT better than just having the master volume turned down. The amp now sings. A great purchase.

I purchased both this and the Bugera PS-1 to see which was better for me. It was a very tough call but I ended up keeping this one. It seems to functionally be pretty much the same device, and despite looking a bit less neat (the black powder coating on the PS-1 is nicer IMO than the smooth and shiny grey panels here) and bigger (I think due to the inclusion of the fan the HB PA-100 is about 1.25x the width of the PS-1) it definitely has some pros over the PS-1:
First, the Mic output on this device doesn't feature the muddy and IMO unusable "amp simulation" that the Bugera has. Yes it's a little bright here, but you can always tame that how you like it on the console.
Second, the chicken head soak knob is much easier to tell where you're at than the big black round almost featureless knob on the PS-1 (though the look of the PS-1 is "nicer").
Third, this device's manual explicitly states that you can use it without a speaker connected as a dummy load as long as the line out volume is set to anywhere between 2-3, whereas for the PS-1 this may be possible but isn't stated explicitly anywhere so I'd err on the side of caution.
Fourth, the fan is truly silent and seems genuinely useful, whereas the PS-1 would only radiate heat with no additional airflow.
Add these to fact it's about £30 cheaper and I'm sold on this one.

Things to bear in mind: With a speaker connected and the line level on max with a line output to your recording device you will still need to allow enough volume through to the speaker to bring up the line level, since this is picked off after the attenuation. For some amps this will mean a considerable non-silent volume. However, since there's the dummy load option you can just use that for "silent practice", allowing the attenuation and therefore line level you choose to not be limited by room sound levels.
Another thing worth mentioning is that I found higher amp volume levels to feature a clearly audible top end distortion when listening through the line out on my audio device, which I couldn't hear in the room through the amp speaker. I'm hesitant to call this a problem with this device as it could simply indicate that my amp needs a power valve refresh or a lower bias, and this might be inaudible through the speaker simply because of the speaker response. Either way, the exact same behaviour was heard through the Bugera PS-1 so it's either some previously inaudible behaviour of my amp, or it's an unintended consequence of how these power soaks are constructed, and not specifically a flaw with this over the PS-1. My money is on the former, that it's down to my specific amp. Which by the way is a very loud Fender Blues Deluxe Reissue 40W.

The Harley Benton PA-100 Power Attenuator is a great device that allows you to reduce the output power of your amplifier, without sacrificing tone and sound quality. The attenuator features a robust and compact design, making it easy to carry and transport. With its simple and intuitive controls, the PA-100 is very easy to use, allowing you to adjust the power level to suit your playing style and environment.

One of the most notable features of the PA-100 is its ability to reduce the output power of your amplifier without affecting the tone and sound quality. This makes it an excellent choice for guitarists who want to achieve high gain tones at lower volumes, or for those who want to practice at home without disturbing the neighbors.

In addition, the PA-100 also features a range of safety features that protect your amplifier from damage. These include overheat protection, short-circuit protection, and a fan cooling system.

Overall, the Harley Benton PA-100 Power Attenuator is a versatile and reliable device that can help you achieve great sound at lower volumes. Whether you're a gigging musician or a bedroom player, the PA-100 is definitely worth considering if you want to get the most out of your amplifier while keeping the volume at a reasonable level.

I use this with:
Guitar - 1960 Fender Concert Brownface - Weber Z-Matcher - HB Power Attenuator - 1961 Jensen 15 inch Concert speaker (MI-150) . I love the sound of the Concert as it is on the edge of breakup, but the amp is LOUD! This product tames that down to a practice level nicely. I don't notice a difference in sound quality except the effect of filling the room in that special Fender way. I guess there is no substitute for volume. However, at low volumes it doesn't seem to change the color noticeably. I'm sure that if you ran sound wave comparison, it would show a difference. I also use this to go direct to a sound system when playing larger venues as it keeps the sound guy happy with his levels.
I sometimes use it with my Peavey Bravo as the Bravo shines with the tube saturation on the clean channel and the OD Channel is a monster when cranked. The HB Power Attenuator lets the true tone come out of this amp.
I also have a Peavey Classic 50/50 power amp that is an older setup which I use Boss Multi effects with and put it through 2 4x12 cabs. I don't use this as much any more due to the fact that I can now get tube saturation from the amps and keep my sound guy happy.
I may end up with more than one of these just for convenience sake.
It does what it does well and at a great price.
Thanks to HB for a quality product at a great price.

For the low cost of the unit, I thought that I would give it a try to bring the sweet spot down on my 68 Custom Deluxe Reverb to a more ear friendly level. For less than £85, what is there to lose? After all, I could always send it back if I did not like it.

As soon as you plug it in between the amp and the internal speaker (you need a short jack to jack speaker lead to do this) it drops the sound level by 3db. I needed to bring the treble up a little on the amp as it loses a tad but that is no issue. Sounds great ! It really does !

Lowering the speaker output on the HB unit just brings the overall volume lower without colouring the sound any further.

Brilliant piece of kit for me. Keeps stage/jam night/rehearsals volume down whilst getting the edge of breakup on my playing.

I don't use any pedals except for a delay repeat. I don't record so have no opinion on how the line level section performs.

Reliabilty is not an issue to me as Thomman provide a three year warranty. Have never had a problem with Thomman. Buy with confidence.