AXIOM PAE-1 Power Amp Emulator User Manual
- June 12, 2024
- AXiom
Table of Contents
PAE-1 Power Amp Emulator
AXIOM POWER AMP EMULATOR PAE-1
The AXiom Power Amp Emulator PAE-1 is a 100% analog pedal that recreates the
dynamic behavior of tube power amps. The PAE-1 features internal phase-
inverter circuitry, adjustable negative feedback, a POWER control that adjusts
the behavior from that of a 5W amp to 100W amp, a TUBE control that emulates
the characteristics of different power tubes, a RECTIFIER control that mimics
the power supply sag of different rectifier types, a BIAS control that adjusts
the bias from cold to hot, and it can be configured as single-ended or push-
pull, fixed or cathode biased. The PAE-1 can go from Class A clarity to the
bite of Class AB, from the stiffness and immediacy of an ultralinear power amp
to the compression and bloom of EL84s, and from the tightness and full bass of
fixed bias amps to the compressed, softer dynamics of cathode biased amps. Use
it to give your solid-state amp the feel and crunch of a tube head or make a
tube head sound cranked at low volumes.
FEEDBACK: Increases the internal negative feedback level as the knob is
turned clockwise (CW). This increases clean headroom and reduces distortion
and compression.
BIAS: Emulates cold (-) to hot (+) power tube bias. Biasing too cold in
Push-Pull configuration will result in crossover distortion.
PI GAIN: Increases “phase inverter” gain as the knob is turned CW. Fully
counter-CW corresponds to a singleended amp with a driver gain of 1. Fully CW
mimics a 12AX7 long-tailed pair with maximum gain.
MASTER: Adjusts the signal level into the internal phase inverter/driver.
ATTEN: Decreases (i.e. ATTENuates) output volume as the knob is turned
CW.
RECTIFIER: Mimics the power supply sag and headroom compression of
different rectifier types – from completely stiff to an ultra-saggy 5Y3 tube.
TUBE: Reproduces the headroom and compression characteristics of
different power tubes from an ULtralinear configuration to EL84s.
POWER: Adjusts the power amp emulation from 5W to 100W. This increases
clean headroom and reduces distortion and compression as the knob is turned
CW.
Fixed Bias/Cathode Bias: Sets the power tube bias type.
Push-Pull/Single-Ended: Sets the PAE-1 to either push-pull or single-ended
configuration.
FLYBACK (internal trim pot): Increases the amount of transformer/speaker
flyback voltage interaction as the pot is adjusted CW. In the fully counter-CW
position there is no flyback effect (like a solid-state amp or purely
resistive attenuator). Flyback makes the distorted sound brighter, with more
pick attack.
CAB (internal dip switch settings):
| No cabinet resonance (resistive load)
---|---
| Open-back speaker cab (dirty power amp)
| Closed-back speaker cab (dirty power amp)
| Open-back speaker cab (clean power amp)
| Closed-back speaker cab (clean power amp)
Other DIP switch settings don’t correspond to any realworld rig… but that doesn’t mean you won’tfind something you like.
| DIMENSIONS: | Height 4.7″, Width 3.9″, Depth 1.3″, 1.1 lbs |
|---|---|
| INPUT IMPEDANCE: | 1 MOhm |
| CURRENT DRAW: | 41 mA (maximum) |
| POWER CONNECTION: | 2.1 mm, center negative (9 Vdc standard) |