Ironman II Mini just to knock a few dB off 15w master volume amp at home?

noisepolluter

I’m pondering the potential benefit of an Ironman ii mini just so I can run my Orange lunchbox at 2 or 3 on the master (as I’ve been doing at band practice, at which level it seems very happy) rather than just off the stops. 

At the moment I’ve been running a multi fx in the loop, and using the unit’s own output as a second master volume à la DSL40, which works better than simply running the amp’s master at 0.25 as it keeps the clarity - presumably due to decent buffering?

Just wondering if there would be a noticeable difference in response what with the Ironman mini’s frequency compensation et al? Or would it just sound the same as dropping the level in the loop as I’ve been doing? One advantage is that it would allow me to use individual pedals in the loop if I fancied. 

Moe_Zambeek

IME the mini II does affect the tone noticeably, but…so has every other attenuator I’ve tried. It’s good at knocking off a few db but…so are many other attenuators  

I like mine but it’s not noticeably better to my ears than the THD and Marshall units I’ve had before. With some amps it has the affect of making them seem gain-ier than they are, and it definitely does something to the treble (dulls it IMO, which is odd because it has a presence cut option on it, suggesting in some use cases it adds top end).

Were I choosing now, I’d just get a powerbrake.

noisepolluter

Hmm… I might try some mild EQ tweaks in the loop then. 

Flotsam

I have one and I think it’s great.

BowynMadley

For 15w I'd also look at a swart nightlite. I use one in my tweed combo. On its minimum setting it drops 2 or 3db which is often enough to tame things 

Lewy

BowynMadley said:

For 15w I'd also look at a swart nightlite. I use one in my tweed combo. On its minimum setting it drops 2 or 3db which is often enough to tame things 

Came here to say this. You also get a switchable squashy compressor into the bargain.

Neilybob

Calling @soma1975 ;

soma1975

Already offered my thoughts in a PM. Tbf you've heard it with the attenuator a few times. It's fine, right?