TAD Silencer 8 Ohms Black

Easy to use. Not big, not heavy, no need of power.

The sound becomes "washed out" at higher attenuate levels - you need to adjust the high tones on the amplifier.
Two switches (bite & punch) are useless at -16db and above. Let's be honest here: for home use 16db is too low. You need to attenuate -20db+ if you want to crank up your amp in home use (I have 50W amp with master volume and when cranked to "sweet spot" it is too loud on -16db). Silencer may be good for a weaker amps (10-20W) or for a rehearsal/gig, but for home use with a more powerful amp it may not be the best choice.
No impendance options - biggest problem. Remember: if you want to replace the amplifier or speaker in future you will have to buy another version of Silencer.

The tolex isn't glued well - unglued on corners (all of them!; + sticky glue remains). Looks bad.

I bought it... and returned it. Thomann exchanged it for another one. And I returned it again. I am disappointed with the visual quality (unglued tolex - two times!). The sound quality wasn't bad (but not really good either) but there's no comparison to Tone King Ironman 2, which I bought instead of the third Silencer.

In my opinion: go cheap or go top-quallity. There're a lot cheaper options and a lot of better quality attenuators. Silencer isn't the best and isn't cheap.

Be aware: Thomann considers this visual quality as "acceptable" (but still calls it "imperfections"). In my opinion: maybe on b-stock, but not in brand new item for full price (499 eur).

It tooks me lot of time to be able to buy my dream amp.

The thing is that cranck that precious at home is impossible without a power soak.

The one big question is : witch one ?
- The high end one cost more than 1000 euros
- The inexpensive one cost less than 100 euros, but i was quite hesitant to have wait and spend so much money on my amp head to finally put some cheap gear on it (even it might be good for their prices)

So, i decided to go for this one, at "middle" price range and i am very happy of it.

The main pro are:
- Sounds quality when you use it. Of course, i can't compete the amp without it. But still very good
- The 2d very good point is the ability to use it as load box (without a speaker) but warning, you have to set the power soak manually on it.

Still, it's definitively not perfect:
- First, the impedance is fixed: if you want 8 and 16 ohms, you have to buy two version of it. If you plan to do so, a high end power soak witch is able to do both with better sound might be a better option
- Secondly, the F.A.N.T.A. -out speaker emulation date from 2004 (!) and feels actually outdated. If your main goal is to use as an audio interface, i suggest you look first at other model
- Finaly, the "bite" and "punch" knobs are only functionnal when the power soak is set from full to -14 db. If you use it at -16 db just like me, those knobs won't works.

Conclusion:
- Works actually good with a nice sounds
- Load box possible
- Outdated technology

a great piece of kit. yes it does alter the sound a little, and the sounds are not QUITE as good as your amp totally unmasked. i have a cornford mk50 ii and it sounds phenominal by itself. however, we don't buy these attenuator chappies to IMPROVE our sound, but rather to give us an acceptable compromise at lower volumes, which this unit does admirably. yes it's expensive, .. yes to me it's worth it. the switch in ' replace what you've lost' idea is great, i would've loved the actual switchable db increments to be a little quieter like it's rival the palmer has. .. but this unit has the added bonus of 'whisper quiet' on it's final dial, and also speaker emulator/simulator for silent recording. .. again the sounds are very different to the natural sound of the amp,.. but i still quite like those emulated sounds, and unlike any digital stuff on the market, this still enables your amp to RESPOND. so all in all it's not perfect, but it's a real asset that won't get you arrested by the noise police at 9.30pm on low, or 1 am on silent lol! i'm extremely pleased hence my star rating. great build quality, a couple of slightly 'sturdier' switches would've been great,..a final word of caution, my buddy has a EVH head with 8 pre amp (yes 8 !!!) tubes.. i would NOT recommend this for anything sooo rediculous in power. but for anything up to 50w ..maybe 100, then you will not be disappointed. .. if you can't afford this one, then the palmer is the only other worthy contender..and both are available on thomman .. so get the correct ohm rating and enjoy your amp's response at much lower levels . ;-) ian