Class 5 combo with Bad Cat Unleash

[iantemple]

I am interested in a Bad Cat Unleash to amplify my Class 5 combo. The Unleash is 8 ohms, the Class 5 is 16 ohms. I know it is supposed to be ok to use an 8 ohm cab with the Class 5, so does it follow that the Bad Cat Unleash will be ok too?
Thanks.

[ClassicRock88]

I have never used a power attenuator. Not that I don't want to, I just don't have one. I would like to get my hands on a Weber Mass. This is the first I have heard of the Unleash. Looks pretty cool. What I have read about strict attenuators leads me to believe that they are very sensitive to mismatched loads. Do you have a Class 5 combo or head? The heads have 8 ohm outs I believe. I don't think the combos do (my mk 1 does not). I would be more tempted to set the Class 5 to its internal resistor (headphone mode) and then use the headphone trick to hook it up to the BadCat and then set the BadCat to run at 8 ohms. Basically using the Class 5's headphone resistor as a buffer.

Note: I am NOT a tech and if doing this cooks your amp and/or your Unleash I am really sorry but this is shadetree advice. I am in no way a pro :-)

[iantemple]

Thanks for the reply. Yeah I have the combo. The Unleash looks like a handy tool, and I'd love to give it a go with the Class 5 but I don't want to damage the amp in doing so.

[ClassicRock88]

I don't think you will damage the Class 5 by using the internal load and then running the speaker out to the BadCat. I definitely would not run it mismatched. I have heard that with the low power that the C5 runs it is difficult to hurt the OT unless you run it unloaded but I wouldn't chance it. If you are concerned why not trade your 8 ohm cabinet in for a 16 ohm cab? You can find a used Marshall 1960 or M412 for fairly inexpensive. Or if that is too big then a nice 2x12 like a Marshall 1936 or a Jet City JCA24S. I have one of the Jet City's that I use as a "grab and go" cab and it sounds great. I run it in stereo and run my C5 through half of it.

[iantemple]

It's not a matter of the speaker cab. I've got plenty of options there. It's that the Bad Cat Unleash wants 8 ohms from the amp, out of the Unleash you can go in to any cab, 4, 8, or 16 ohms. No idea how it's done, but that's the claim.

[ClassicRock88]

Ah I misunderstood you. Sorry. Then I would say you only risk damaging the amp. You won't damage a 16 ohm speaker by running an 8 ohm amp into it full bore (assuming that the speaker can handle the wattage). You will possibly damage your OT though. The Unleash probably has an 8 ohm dummy load. Use the headphone trick and I imagine that it will be okay.

[iantemple]

Thanks for your help ClassicRock88. The Unleash looks like a really handy device (reviews are good too), but I guess I'll wait for a 16 ohm version.

[surlybastard]

Just to jump in for a second, and I'm probably saying something that's already been said (I just skimmed the thread) but as the other guy said I wouldn't mismatch no matter what. If your amp puts out 8 ohm, the attenuator has to be able to handle 8 ohm and the speaker cab has to be 8 ohm. Anything other than all three being the same and I think you're playing with fire.

I have a Weber MASS Lite, it can take 4, 8, 16 but I've only ever used it in matching situations and would never try it any other way for fear of damaging the OT on whatever amp I use it on.

[blue]

the Unleash has an 8 ohm input, so you use the 8 ohm speaker jack on your amplifier. but then it has an internal 100 watt amplifier, which can be plugged into either an 8 or 16 ohm speaker cabinet. it's not like a normal attenuator.

i also have a Weber Mass, with the switchable load. in fact, that was the reason i picked it over a hot plate. it's a great facility, and it annoys me that other attenuators are restricted to one ohmage.

[iantemple]

There is no 8 ohm speaker jack on the Class 5 combo