When the HALF POWER MODE is activated, there is no difference in volume. Why is this?
HALF POWER MODE and the Power Soak - it's a sound feature!
To understand how HALF POWER MODE works, you need to know the following:
The HALF POWER MODE is nothing more than reducing the output power of the AMP1 by about half by activating the built-in Power Soak. In contrast to turning down the MASTER on AMP1, the output volume is not simply reduced here; instead, the output power of the AMP1 is reduced. This is primarily expressed in terms of sound, because at lower output power you can - or must - turn up the power amplifier further in order to achieve the same volume as with full power, which drives the nanotube into saturation. The result is a very specific sound due to the onset of power amp compression. To put it the other way around, the Power Soak - and thus also the HALF POWER MODE - is a sound feature that brings the sound of a wide open tube power amp into a "tolerable" volume range.
If you don't notice any significant change in volume after activating the HALF POWER MODE, this is probably due to one of two things - or both:
- It is important to know that the reduction in output power is only audible when the power amplifier of the AMP1 is turned up high enough. The AMP1 must produce at least 50 watts; this corresponds to a MASTER setting of 6 .
- In addition, in order to clearly perceive a change in volume, you have to hit it loudly when playing the guitar so that the power amp even reaches saturation.
Testing the function of the HALF POWER MODE
To test the effect of the HALF POWER MODE without angering your neighbors, please do the following - see the video below for a visual walkthrough:
- Connect the guitar to the AMP1, activate the Clean Channel and set both the clean volume and the master volume to around 8 each.
- Then please hit the muted strings of the guitar with the volume turned up on the guitar. Then switch AMP1 to HALF POWER MODE (turn AMP1 off, then hold down the left footswitch while turning AMP1 back on) and strum the muted strings firmly again. Now you can clearly see that the output power is reduced.
If, on the other hand, you hit the strings only lightly and/or the MASTER is less than 5, you will not notice any change in volume because the power amplifier is not working at all.