Fryette Power Station PS100 VS Boss Tube Amp Expander TAE VS Tone King Ironman II Attenuator Faceoff

0:01 Introduction
1:17 Power Station vs TAE
12:02 Power Station vs Ironman II
27:17 Concluding thoughts
I try these 3 options to see how they do at retaining your amp's sound and feel. This is primarily focused on their ability to be used in a live situation into between your amp and speakers and is not a comparison of other features. I also tried a Bugera PS100 and mention my thoughts.

[@rohandias1244]

Great comparison, probably the best out there and super useful for people cross shopping these units

[@oooogieazgolf]

I have the power station and I use it to drive a preamp into a speaker cab in a live scenario. I couldn't be happier with it. I don't even use it for any of the other features. But I would think that for those who are planning to use it for the features you highlighted you can't go wrong. Great piece of gear.

[@roberttygrys9670]

Perfect comparison. Very informative, I really appreciate how far you went describing both the tone and feel of each unit. Was thinking about Ironman but as the preserving true feel is really important to me, I think i'll go for the power station

[@xguitarx5565]

glad it was helpful!

[@donmcdonald4874]

I’ve been looking for this comparison!

[@MichaelSchatteMusic]

Tremendous comparison, thanks for this.

[@PedalScience]

Great video, thanks for sharing in so much detail.

[@hekakain4108]

Great comparison between the attenuators...subbed. 😉

[@CorNigrum]

Thanks, that was in-depth and very helpful. I've been looking at the Fryette for quite some time. Most people seem to be pretty happy with it, but some complain that it changes their tone drastically and sell it rather quickly... I'm trying to understand why it works for some and not others before investing in it.

[@xguitarx5565]

I really can't imagine that it changes the tone more than any other device out there - and it has so many ways to shape the tone. It is better sounding and more transparent than every attenuator, and I've tried most of them. I don't think you will be disappointed.

[@koonsickgreen6272]

Dude, u have great ears. The eq setup with tae is a beaut

[@jdzialak]

Nice video! Very informative.

[@rodrigoeliedsonify]

Great video! Thanks!

[@dmantsio]

GREAT COMPARISON

[@OmerYagci-ms7sk]

Great video! But have you turned off the Fletcher-Munson Setting of the TAE for this comparison? It EQs the sound purposely which you seem to combat with the engaged EQ.

[@mrt7476]

Very informative video, thanks. I have the Boss and love it. Especially the post-amp delay and reverb are amazing sounding (especially if you play plexi’s like I do). But indeed annoying that a computer is needed to adjust parameters.

[@xguitarx5565]

Glad it was informative! And glad you love the Boss! It is a great unit =)

[@cragginshred]

effects are great on the Waza it sucks tho because you have to use their IR's and none sound like my cabs.

[@mrt7476]

@@cragginshred you can use third-party IR's on the TAE without a problem.

[@NizarOdeh85]

Does it make sense to use these for loud 1 watt guitar amps for bedroom playing?

[@migueldelatorre9475]

What about the minimum possible volume for each one in db? … the Iron Man II goes -38db as far as I understand, what about the PS100?

[@randym3982]

Small question does the Fryette have a fan switch to turn the fan off when you want it dead quiet?

[@99cobra01]

Which would you recommend strictly for attenuation for bedroom / home studio use? I'm really only interested in preserving tone and feel at low volume.

[@donmcdonald4874]

This was a great review and really showed me what I needed to hear. I have researched each and know of the re-amping available on the TAE and the Power Station, plus their effects loops as well as the TAE’s IR’s. But fundamentally, I really am wanting a reactive load attenuator to plug into a speaker. I would have expected the price of the Ironman II to be significantly lower than the Power Station and would have gone for the Ironman II if the price gap wasn’t so narrow. So, for me it’s a Power Station all the way and I’ll narrow the price gap by getting the 50 watt, single channel PS2=A Power Station. As far as the Boss TAE, I have no desire to have a laptop involved in the equation and while it has so many cool features, I don’t need them and don’t want to pay for them. I will use the Power Stations effects loop. Again, this was the review I’ve been waiting for. Excellent job focusing on sound and feel because that is exactly why I’m interested in a reactive load attenuator.

[@xguitarx5565]

Awesome! I was in the same boat as you and just ultimately decided to get my hands on all of them. Then I was thinking, I could make a video, which takes time, but it might help some people out. So, even if I helped just one person (you) a bit, it was worth it! Thanks and enjoy!

[@donmcdonald4874]

@@xguitarx5565 It really did and thank you so much!!

[@donmcdonald4874]

@@xguitarx5565 One question, are the TAE effects features assessable through a smart phone or iPad, using an app with bluetooth?

[@charliew830]

@@donmcdonald4874 Nope, only usb cable attached to a computer

[@donmcdonald4874]

@@charliew830 My Power Station arrived today!

[@dariobertagna9817]

Great video thanks so much. For using a bedroom level and occasionally with headphones, which one would you recommend? does the headphones out sound realistic? Thanks again

[@Salthecat1]

Great comparisons. I am exploring a TAE for home recording use only and leaning towards the Boss as this would allow me to get rid of my foot effects pedals (Compressor, delay, reverb etc) and simply use my Marshall head and TAE on my desk/DAW. I am still trying to make up my mind....

[@digitalchris6681]

Andrew T: Bear in mind that the built-in effects are all purely digital, so suffer from similar problems to modellers etc, ie latency, artefacts, lack of 'feel' etc. Give me real pedals any day !

[@Salthecat1]

@@digitalchris6681 Thanks for the headsup on that! Perhaps I may have to continue with my pedals then.

[@JulianZampieriOfficial]

The boss appears to give a slight more sustain/saturation to the sound while the Fryette sound 100% clean and identical to the original signal.

[@Michael-bm8hi]

The best device in your room is the Suhr Reactive Load. Take the line out signal from the Suhr and route it through an active effects return of another tube amp. If you wish plug your modulation effects in between. This is basically the concept of the TAE and the Power Station. Least expensive and to my ear the superior setup.

[@xguitarx5565]

Right that is an alternate solution. The Suhr Reactive Load is a great load box, and probably my favorite too. The primary issue in using it in the way you describe is that whatever power amp you run it into colors that sound quite a bit, while the Fryette and TAE are quite transparent. I've tried it through the effects loop return of a Friedman Twin Sister, Suhr Hedgehog, Suhr PT15, and Fender Hot Rod DeVille. The Suhr PT15 was the most transparent which makes sense because it has very different clean and gain channels and needs to sound good with both. The other issue is that the Suhr Reactive Load is only able to accept 8ohms.

[@Michael-bm8hi]

@@xguitarx5565 Agree that not every amp with an effect loop will work. It takes amps with a transparent power stage, i.e. designs that take their gain/breakup/distortion from the preamp only. The PT15 has that, my Mesa TC50 as well as one of my Boutique DStyle clones. With those amps there will be no coloration of tone. Surprises me that the Hedgehog didn’t work in your case, but some DStyle amps have their Master routed before the loop. Those don’t work.

[@PedalScience]

Thanks - this is very useful information - I have been considering the Fryette for a while but had been trying to get a similar outcome using a Captor + FX return of various amps and it always sounds too coloured / like it is being over-EQ'd.

[@timzyk]

Thanks so much for the great video, super helpful! Question for you. I'm sold on the Fryette PS2 thanks to your vid. I have a Captor X for recording but I don't like the attenuation options. Can I use them together? Can I just connect the Fryette directly to my audio interface with the Balanced DI out, then use headphones from there? I have a Fender HRD Amp (crazy loud) so I've always wanted to hear my combo amp through headphones WITHOUT having to use cab sims like w/the Captor X. The Fryette PS accomplishes this, right?

[@nickharper8145]

I have a PRS Archon 100 with a very noisey loop which sucks as I do like to use some delay for solos. Would the loops on these devices help me out in that situation?

[@johnmarshall3903]

Loop on the Fryette is great and adjustable for rack and floor effects

From a pure reactive load standpoint (no reamping), how would you compare the Suhr and the Fryette sound quality? Thank you 🙏

[@PainterDans]

Ps2 is ok, but I think suhr is the best of them all for a load box

[@georgetwydell6166]

Powerstation sounds ridiculously transparent. I can even hear that slight satisfying chewy sensation still coming through from the PS. The TAE sounds kinda sterile compared.

[@EdBenji]

That chewy sensation is yr amps tone being sucked & spat out!

[@georgetwydell6166]

@@EdBenji Well, not really. Its just sag... you get it with amps not even attenuators... more prominent on Fenders.

Thank for this great review. I was about to order a Waza TAE until I found this video. The first minute I was like "oh they sound the same! Let's go with the Boss then since it offers much more features" until I realize you had to apply a custom EQ setting to the speaker out to get closer to the original amp sound. For me it means it is not transparent enough from the start. I guess I will go with a PS2A but some people seems to complain about the fan noise at bedroom volume (which is why I buy this product, to tame my 35W tube amp). Tough choice...

[@xprophet9]

No you don’t! Try one and you’ll love it❤

[@cazziebb1707]

Will the PS100 turn my 50w amp into a 100w amp?

[@xguitarx5565]

theoretically yes - it's hard to say since some 50 watt amps are louder than some 100 watt ones - it depends how they are built...

[@digitalchris6681]

The Ironman has massive advantages: it is simple to use; it is incredibly reliable; it is 'fit and forget': being passive it cannot blow up your amp (are you listening, Boss?) or speakers; it would survive if your roadie drove his van over it; you know exactly what attenuation you are using (so perfect for repeatability); it comes with a 5 year warranty. Ok, yes, I have one. Actually, two.

[@EdBenji]

And i keep hearing the Fryette power station colours the amps tone!

[@asnark7115]

@@EdBenji Not as much as a passive attenuator does. If a Fryette "colours" and amp's tone, then the Ironman will wreck that tone flat like an old cassette tape.

[@EdBenji]

@@asnark7115 I've used the Ironman & its awesome...& 1k cheaper with no valves to replace!

[@johnmarshall3903]

@@EdBenji No effects loop, no thanks!

[@Matte23Pam]

Have you tried the rivera rockcrusher or the dr.z air brake?

[@xguitarx5565]

I did try the rockcrusher years ago. I remember it being fine, but can't give any really honest feedback in comparison...

[@xprophet9]

The Rock Crusher is good and allows EQ to be dramatically controlled. I rank: WAZA; Fryette: Rock Crusher and the OX a distant last.

[@EdBenji]

The Z air break was a disaster!

[@Mark70609]

What is the Suhr attenuators like? How transparent is it. So how do you rate the power station the TAE and Ironman? I like the idea of using that amp and not being limited the volume of the amp. Having the effects after the amp is a bonus as the fidelity of the effects is preserved.

[@xguitarx5565]

the Suhr is not an attenuator, it is a reactive load with IR - so it mimics the load an amps experiences when played into a speaker, and then captures the amps sound and outputs it at line level how do I rate them... like numbers? I'd say there are too many variables to put numbers - but the power station is the best feel, tone and value out of the 3 I guess: capabilities/options: PS 8 TAE 9 IM 4 feel: PS 9 TAE 7 IM 7 sound: PS 9 TAE 7 IM 7 ease of use: PS 7 TAE 5 IM 9 tweak-ability: PS 8 TAE 9 IM 3 live use: PS 9 TAE 5 IM 8 studio use: PS 8 TAE 9 IM 5

[@dominicgibson9529]

A good video, good sounds and comparisons...I've got a PS100, and I'm having issues with mine which I'm hoping will be fixed with a replacement chip. Mine sometimes doesn't engage when I switch out of stand by. I'm hoping that this chip also has an effect on the tone as well, because when it does attenuate it really seem to suck the tone...the gain stages just fizz...it's pretty bloody horrible to be honest.

[@EdBenji]

The price is horrible as well...$$$$

[@zenlandzipline]

Steve Freyette: please make a Power Station 3, stereo.

[@Serpent54321]

How can i LIKE this comment ten time?!???

[@zenlandzipline]

@@Serpent54321 haha. I guess write it out 10 times. I highly doubt he is going to make one though

[@xprophet9]

I have tried them all. The WAZA is far superior in terms of attenuation and additional features. Please don’t waste your money on an Ox if you are seeking attenuation for a high gain amp-it does nit hold up. The WAZA software gets the job done but needs improvement. However, it comes extremely close to not affecting tone. It is a brilliant and expensive piece of gear that I will not part with. The Fryette is good but not as good as the WAZA.

[@DistrictSoundLab]

The waza sure doesn’t sound superior in this demo

[@poison7512]

Bruh. Turn up the hi/lo controls, turn on loudness compensation and turn off your EQ. You don't know how to use it.

[@alexpapadimitriou6242]

Correct, the hi low and also solo switch definitely can find a sweet spot

[@blueredleaves]

He did turn them both up at about 6 min in - so you can hear the difference they impart. How do you know how he has the loudness compensation set - why do you assume it's not correct for the amp he is using?

[@poison7512]

Why do you think those hi/lo have an unsafe position? Lolol why are talking about things which you have no idea about?

[@blueredleaves]

There were concerns raised by Dave Friedman, Pete Thorn, John Suhr, etc. that the loads were not safe for amplifiers in the higher positions