What is a loadbox, Part 2, 1what is a loadbox – Two Notes Live User Manual

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Part 2

Warning regarding the proper use of a

loadbox with a tube amplifier

1

What is a loadbox ?

In the normal use of a tube amplifier, it is recommended to always connect its power output to a speaker cabinet

prior to powering it up. The speaker cabinet (4, 8 or 16 Ohms) must always be connected to the corresponding

speaker output of your amplifier. Not doing so can lead to partial or complete destruction of the output stage

of the tube amplifier.

Most tube amplifier makers protect their products with fuses or other protection systems, but some amplifiers

still remain not or insufficiently protected. It is impossible to predict the behavior of all the amplifiers on the market

in case of use without a load (a speaker cabinet or a load box).

The electronic term that describes the speaker cabinet with respect to the amplifier is the "load": we say the

cabinet "loads" the amplifier. The term loadbox fits any product embedding a load. The main parameter of the

load box is its impedance, expressed in Ohms. An 8 Ohms load box has to be plugged to the 8 Ohms speaker out

of the amplifier. The power sent to the load is changed into heat, so please follow the cooling recommendation

of the load box, otherwise overheating may cause damage, both to the loadbox and the amp.

The TORPEDO Live is a loadbox. This term indicates that the TORPEDO Live is a load which can electrically

replace the speaker cabinet while dissipating (transforming into heat) the power coming out of the amplifier.

The embedded load in the TORPEDO Live is a reactive one: it embeds a specific circuit to simulate the

complex impedance of a real speaker. This kind of system is widely used in the industry to silently test amplifiers.

Always connect the speaker out of your tube ampilifier to a proper load

(speaker cabinet or load box). TORPEDO Live, once powered up, is such a

load. Please note that you always have to power up the TORPEDO Live before

your amplifier.

Two Notes Audio Engineering

TORPEDO Live

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