{"product_id":"lotus-m3-120-watt-attenuator","title":"Lotus M3 120 Watt Attenuator (Pre-order)","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCrank your amp, keep the tone, control the volume.\u003c\/strong\u003e The Lotus M3 is a passive reactive attenuator from the Fromel bench, built on John Hewitt's (JohnH) design. It is our Lotus JohnH M2, upgraded: it starts at −3.5 dB instead of −7, moves in 1.75 dB steps instead of 3.5, runs with greatly improved cooling, and its fan takes optional external power.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePre-order price $429 through December 1, 2026. From December 2, 2026, the price is $449.\u003c\/strong\u003e Pay now, get it before the holidays: shipping is estimated to begin the last week of November 2026.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eOperation is simple: amp output → Lotus \u003cem\u003eAmp\u003c\/em\u003e jack, Lotus output → speaker. A first-stage toggle selects 3½ or 7 dB, and four stage toggles add 14, 7, 3½ and 1¾ dB: 18 settings from 3.5 dB to 33.25 dB in 1.75 dB steps. With a 120-watt amp that is about 54 watts at the lightest setting and 0.057 watts at the deepest.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIt can also be safely used as a dummy load for direct-to-DAW, board or bench testing an amp.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch4\u003eWhich impedance do I need?\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMatch the Lotus to your amp's speaker output: for example, a Super Reverb is 2Ω and a Deluxe Reverb is 8Ω. If your amp has multiple output taps, the 8Ω model is the most versatile.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 8Ω model drives one 8Ω cab, two 16Ω cabs on the stacked pair of jacks, or a 4Ω cab (or two 8Ω cabs with the center jack). Each model's jack panel is lettered for its own loads.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch4\u003eSpecs\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e120 watts max input, passive reactive load\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAttenuation 3.5–33.25 dB in 1.75 dB steps (18 settings)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBypass \/ Run switch (don't switch it while the amp is running)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eGreatly improved cooling: 92 mm Thermalright TL-9015 fan (the M2 had a 40 mm fan), powered by the amp's speaker signal. Optional external power through the EXT Power jack: 9–18 V AC or 9–24 V DC\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eShell 3D printed in glass-filled PET (PET-GF), heat deflection temperature 150 °C\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFront and rear panels: matte black circuit boards with exposed copper art\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e167 × 115 × 90 mm on its feet, including switches and jacks; about 850 g\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e1-year warranty\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch4\u003eWhat's in the box\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Lotus M3 attenuator, a manual and a sticker.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch4\u003eUser manual\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe manual is online at \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/lotus.fromelelectronics.com\"\u003elotus.fromelelectronics.com\u003c\/a\u003e: the front and back panels, every setting, and what's inside. The QR code on the back of the Lotus opens it too.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch4\u003ePre-order\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePay now, get it before the holidays. Shipping is estimated to begin the last week of November 2026; we'll email you when yours ships.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e14-day refund, no questions asked.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePrice includes shipping in the US; $39 shipping international.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe pre-order price ends at midnight Pacific time, December 1, 2026.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch4\u003eOpen circuit\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe QR code on the back opens \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/lotus.fromelelectronics.com\"\u003elotus.fromelelectronics.com\u003c\/a\u003e: settings and the design's lineage. As with the M2, the circuit's schematic is open source (Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial); the M3's art and circuit boards are Fromel's own.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cdetails\u003e\n\u003csummary\u003eThe lineage\u003c\/summary\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJohn Hewitt's JohnH design, refined in the open on the Marshall forum since 2017 → the Lotus JohnH M2 → the Lotus M3. Fromel builds the Lotus under a licensing agreement with John Hewitt, and his credit stays on the panel of every Lotus we build.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/details\u003e","brand":"Fromel Electronics","offers":[{"title":"2Ω","offer_id":49884286156897,"sku":"LOTUS-M3-120-02","price":429.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"4Ω","offer_id":49884286189665,"sku":"LOTUS-M3-120-04","price":429.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"8Ω","offer_id":49884286222433,"sku":"LOTUS-M3-120-08","price":429.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"16Ω","offer_id":49884286255201,"sku":"LOTUS-M3-120-16","price":429.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0606\/8153\/files\/Lotus-M3-hero-photoreal-04_6835d33f-c0eb-49a7-b03d-9410ce958cfc.jpg?v=1793219389","url":"https:\/\/fromelelectronics.com\/products\/lotus-m3-120-watt-attenuator","provider":"Fromel Electronics","version":"1.0","type":"link"}