hiwatt dr103 ppimv

[tu]

Why haven't you tried ppimv on your hiwatt dr103?  I own a dr103 from the Audio Brothers era, and it remains clean even after channel linking and setting both normal and bright to 10.  If ppimv is installed, I think that the distortion of the vacuum tube after the master volume can be used. What do you think?  Is it worth a try?  I am not considering a 2204 type preamplifier.

[HotBluePlates]

Why haven't you tried ppimv on your hiwatt dr103?  I own a dr103 from the Audio Brothers era, and it remains clean even after ...

I had a Hylight era DR504, and though clean early it would rock your face off when the channel volumes were dimed.  I even loaned it out to this group for recording, and it fit right in with their Marshall amps (though adding a different flavor of grit).

But for this to happen, you start with the Master Volume full-up.  The Hiwatt makes the output tubes distort, it's not so much about preamp distortion.

[tu]

thank you.  Does ppimv have no meaning?  Is it better to use an attenuator to drive the power tubes?

[HotBluePlates]

... Does ppimv have no meaning?  Is it better to use an attenuator to drive the power tubes?

Overall, Hiwatt amps weren't designed to generate distortion in the preamp.  They have master volumes, but the point of those is to use the individual channel volumes to balance the loudness between channels, then use the Master Volume to set overall loudness.

So first move for me is "turn Master Volume full-up."  Then turn up the channel volume(s) until you reach the desired distortion.

If that is too loud for you to use, then sure, consider an attenuator between amp & speaker cab.