So What is the RBPB ?
The RBPB is a audio development designed to let you drive your amp a lttle harder while reducing the volume comming from your speakers. It's a new dynamic speaker attenuator.
Why Dynamic ?
There are several speaker attenuators out there made by brands like Marshall and THD to name a couple. These products work well, but we found in testing them they tend to make your sound very "dead". We looked at this and realised that the problem lay in the amount of power delivered to to speaker. As this get lower the dynamics are lost and your sound goes "dead".
The RBPB has been developed from the ground up specifically to counteract this "dead" sound issue which it does admirably.
Why Do I need an RBPB?
It's widely acknowledged that valve amps sound better when they are played at higher volume. This is true, though only up to a point !
Every valve amp has a "sweet spot" where it really sounds good, below this level it isn't "singing" and beyond this level it gets noisey and unmanagable. Often the "sweet spot" is at a volume level where the amp is simply too loud to allow you to play it in any domestic setting, sometimes even too loud to give aa good sound balance at a gig. To a limited degree, the Master Volume fitted to your amp will help with this problem, but to reach the "sweet spot" you still need to turn the amp up. SO............................. enter the RBPB - PowerBrick! It soaks up the volume and delivers a workable volume level from your speakers. No more complaints from the neighbours or your band just a great sound.
What Does the RBPB do ?
You connect the RBPB between your amp and your speaker, either a cabinet or a combo speaker. It's really simple, then you set the RBPB to minimum and set your amp to the volume which gives you the best sound. You are looking for a balance between the "drive" you want and the clarity the amp can deliver. You can run the amp at full volume if you want, but we would suggest this will NOT give the best tone and will definately reduce the life of the valves in your amp quite dramatically.
It's a balancing act between the volume comming from the speaker and the volume setting on your amp. The more open the RBPB control is the more dynamic your sound will naturally be. You're in charge, so it's your choice. The RBPB has a graduated attenuation control so you can choose a volume to suit the venue.
What Does the RBPB Sound Like ?
The RBPB always sounds like your amp!
It's hard for us to produce meaningful sound-clips for this product, though we will produce some at some point. The device is transparent and does not alter your sound. It allows you to play your own amp at louder volumes than would be possible without the RBPB attached.
For recording this device is ideal, because, again it allows you to extrac t more power tube tone from your amp without the associated volume which would normally come from the speaker.
How Do I wire the RBPB ?
The RBPB is very simply connected.
Take the cable from your amp's speaker out and connect it to the RBPB.
Take the cable from the RBPB Speaker Out and connect to your speaker.
Job Done!
Please Note
The RBPB is desgined specifically for use with VALVE/TUBE GUITAR amps ONLY with a power rating of up to 150Watts. It is NOT designed to work with BASS amps at all. It WILL NOT work with transistor amps in it's standard format. Transistor amps do not have the same characteristics as Valve/Tube amps and so DO NOT benefit from the use of the RBPB.
Will my Guitar Sound Be Changed ?
Yes perhaps it will, though hopefully for the better and only by the fact that your guitar amp will be operating at a higher volume level than you could previously use it without the RBPB.
The RBPB unit is entirely passive and transparent, so it will not alter your core guitar sound at all. You may need to experiment with your EQ settings a littel when using the RBPB to compensate for the fact that you have reduced the output load to your speaker. Experiment and enjoy !
We have tested the RBPB with a large range of amplifiers from Fender, ENGL, Mesa, Laney, Orange, Marshall, VOX , Dumble, Cornford and a number of less well known brands such as Kustom. The results have been very pleasing. We have also compared the RBPB with other leading brand products and we find the RBPB to offer a more dynamic sound. Our tests in this respect are of course entriely subjective.
What Does the RBPB Cost ?
The RBPB is VERY competitively priced compared to similar products in this market. Please note that the RBPB is a TRUE speaker attenuator and load. It should not be confused with the cheap £30 FX loop solutions which some people offer. These do NOT do the same job at all.
RBPB - £ 149 GBP ( approx 170 EUROS - $220 USD )
plus Shipping Charges.
Discounts are available for multiple units. Shipping costs will not vary for between 1 and 2 units, prices below. For mroe than 2 units shipping costs will vary.
Shipping for a single RBBP alone is
£ 5 GBP UK Only ( Next Day Courier Delivery )
£ 10 GBP Europe ( 11 EUROS )
£ 15 GBP USA / CANADA / AUSTRALIA ( $ 22 USD )
Please note Currency Conversion rates correct at 6/12/2008.
We sell only in GBP so please check the conversion rate to your currency before purchase.
