Warranty period: 3 years Only 1 product available
Essential Information About the POWER SOAK PS1
- Attenuator for tube amps up to 100 W: harness power tube saturation at controlled volume levels.
- Multi-impedance compatibility: dedicated amp inputs for 4 ohms / 8 ohms / 16 ohms to fit most heads and combos.
- Symmetrical XLR "Emulated Mic" output: a direct sound ready to send to the console without a microphone in front of the speaker cabinet.
- Line output with level control: ideal for driving a power amp, effects chain, or interface in a studio environment.
Finding the "sweet spot" of a tube amp without imposing high volume
A tube amp often reveals its best character when pushed: livelier attack, natural compression, denser grain, and easier sustain. The BUGERA PS1 POWER SOAK fits into this logic by being placed
between your amp's speaker output and
your speaker cabinet, allowing the power stage to work "as if on stage," while bringing the volume down to a realistic level for stage, studio, or home use.
The result: you keep the character of your amp (and your tubes) at the heart of the sound, rather than relying solely on preamp distortion or pedals. It's a simple, effective approach, especially appreciated by guitarists who like to feel the amp respond under their fingers.
Who is the PS1 most useful for, and in which styles?
The PS1 is designed for guitarists playing
tube amps who want to enjoy the tone of a saturated channel, a tight crunch, or a singing lead sound
without dealing with unmanageable volume. It suits both intermediate musicians and professionals, as long as the goal is to exploit the dynamics and harmonic richness of a "cranked" amp.
In practice, it excels for
blues,
rock,
hard rock, and any style relying on guitar-amp interaction (guitar volume, pick nuances, right-hand attack). In the studio, it helps quickly find the right saturation point, and live, it maintains a consistent stage volume while sending a usable signal to the front of house.
Key features: attenuation, outputs, and rig integration
Setup is straightforward: connect your amp's speaker output to one of the
"Amp Input" jacks matching the operating impedance (4 ohms, 8 ohms, or 16 ohms), then connect the
"Speaker Output" to your speaker cabinet. Once your tone is set on the amp, the large
"Soak" knob lets you adjust the overall level from stage volume down to home volume, without losing the main benefit: driving the power tubes.
On the back, the
Line output provides a signal
without cabinet/mic emulation, with its own
dedicated level control. This is useful for driving a power amp, integrating external processing, or managing more complex setups. Meanwhile, the
"Emulated Mic Output" in balanced XLR acts as a
built-in DI with a tonal color designed to mimic a mic in front of the speaker cabinet, sending a consistent signal to a mixing console or recording system.
For best results, use proper
speaker cables between the amp, the PS1, and the cabinet (not instrument cables), and respect the power rating and impedance to protect your gear.
Sound characteristics
The PS1 primarily aims to preserve what makes a pushed tube amp charming:
more responsive attack,
natural compression, a "bounce" feel under the fingers, and more organic saturation. By reducing the output volume, you more easily retain the harmonic texture and sustain achieved when the power stage is genuinely working, especially on crunch and lead tones.
The
Emulated Mic output offers a quick and clean option for stage or recording, with a sound designed to fit easily into a mix. The
Line output, rawer and without emulation, is ideal if you prefer to handle cabinet and mic simulation via an impulse loader, multi-effects unit, or plugin.
Technical Specifications
Power and impedances
- Maximum input power: 100 W
- Amp input impedances: 4 ohms / 8 ohms / 16 ohms
Audio connections
- Amp Input: 3 x 6.35mm TS jacks (impedance selection 4 ohms / 8 ohms / 16 ohms)
- Speaker Output: 1 x 6.35mm TS unbalanced jack
- Line Output: 1 x 6.35mm TS unbalanced jack (with level control)
- Emulated Mic Output: 1 x balanced XLR
Dimensions and weight
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 91 x 127 x 172 mm
- Weight: 1.3 kg
Included accessories
Power consumption
- Power supply: none (passive operation)
- Current consumption: 0 mA
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