The KAT LOAD*STAR has been developed with Brian May style players at the forefront of the design process. It has been crafted as a switchable, multi-level reactive speaker attenuator that provides sonically ‘flat’ frequency responses at all levels. In other words, it neither adds nor subtracts elements of the signal before they hit the loudspeakers. Most commercial attenuators have in-built filters to shape the attenuated sounds into more ‘acceptable’ or ‘desirable’ tones as they get processed by the human ear and that’s fine, until you come to record the attenuated amps and you then realize that they don’t sound as warm and rich as they should.
The KAT LOAD*STAR Attenuator only has filters to ensure the final signal is as ‘flat’ as possible without any ‘loudness’ curves being imposed. This, especially for players who push their amps hard into fully compressed distortion, stops the unwanted top-end ‘fizziness’ often heard at most attenuated levels and provides clear transparent attenuation down to -30dB.
The front panel features an 11-position rotary switch that provides ten attenuation levels from -3dB to -30dB. The eleventh position providing a true bypass function that connects the amplifier directly to the speakers with no part of the attenuator in circuit.
The LOAD*STAR can be configured for either 8- or 16-Ohm systems via the front panel impedance toggle switch and can be used with valve amplifiers rated at and up to 30W RMS.
Please note that the LOAD*STAR is a passive reactive attenuator that dissipates heat via its case, so will get warm during use. There are no internal fans running off the incoming audio nor are external power supplies required with this unit.
The LOAD*STAR is shipped with a mounting bracket that can be fitted and used to hang the attenuator inside the lower rear of an AC30 amplifier. The bracket has been designed around the AC30 TB amplifier, so may not fit later cabinets that use a thicker rear panel.