I've written a couple of reviews on the Transformer 112. This one will concentrate on the "T-Dynamics" feature and Transtube, in general. One of the most misunderstood features of the Transtube series SS amps is the T-Dynamics feature. So I'll cover that here and how it affects my use of this wonderful amp. As a part of that, I'll talk about presence and resonance-both of which are factors affecting the T-Dynamics feature. Okay, so here goes...
(I'm rating the features as a 10. Including the T-Dynamics feature)
Lots of amps makers claim that their SS amps sound just like TUBE amps. Some of them actually do. Peavey's modern Transtube series amps do a really good job of overdriven/distorted tube tone emulation, using a bunch of Transtube features like assymetrical clippers on ALL gain stages to produce even harmonics, speaker damping, transformer saturation and the associated sag/compression in the power section, and some cool bias adjustments done on the fly. All of this stuff works together to produce real good tone. Mr. Hartley actually wrote a few papers on the subject and they are cool. It's amazing how far Peavey has gone to make their amps sound good, whether they are tube amps or the ss amps.
T-Dynamics (T-D) refers to a process in the Power Amp. As you turn the T-D knob down the amp reacts by "becoming a lower powered amp" -in other words, you lose clean headroom and introduce output transformer saturation (with compression) earlier than when the T-D is set to 100%. It allows you to have these effects present in your sound, just as with a cranked tube amp.
When you crank up a tube amp and it saturates, natural compression happens. That compression actually clips off the highs and lows and lets the mids pass through for that incredible sustain and "smooth" sounding distortion like Santana gets. That's what the T-D circuit mimics. It is very much evident at higher volume levels because the power amp is already being pushed hard, into clipping. At low levels, turning the T-D knob down allows you to get overdrive / distortion at lower levels, but the T-D is most effective when the amp is cranked. I usually set it at 50% for live performances. Going too low with T-D will result in too much feedback when the amp's master volume is cranked.
At any volume level, using the T-D to get earlier saturation might take away the highs more than you would like. If so, adjust the presence (if you have REV. 2 chip installed on the Transformer 112) to add a bit of sparkle back in. Ditto with the resonance for the low end. Adjust to taste!
The T-D effect is actually pretty cool when applied to a cranked Transformer 112. I only use it at cranked levels and turn it back to 100% for playing at low volume levels. I admit that you have to spend some time with this effect on your personal presets, but it is worth fiddling with. I think Peavey is the only amp with this feature and it is really cool in my opinion.
