Guitar Amp Load Box

The Headload™ is a power attenuator that connects between your amplifier and speaker to capture the dynamics and warmth of your amp at low, neighbour-friendly volumes.

USER GUIDE

Combination load box and DI with speaker emulation
Available in 4, 8, or 16 Ohms
Can handle up to 130 watts RMS (180 peak)
Attenuate down to 1% of total power

+ More Features

Sound Loud, Play Quiet!

Featuring two built-in JDX amp DIs—one pre-EQ and one post-EQ—the Headload eliminates the need to use a microphone to capture the sound from your amplifier. Should you decide to combine the DI signal with a microphone, the Headload is augmented with a built-in Radial Phazer to time-align the two signals to create massive tones. The Headload uses a 6-position rotary switch to set the desired power reduction from unaltered all the way down to complete silence. When the output is completely soaked, the high-quality headphone amplifier can be used for silent 3:00AM practicing.

Headload Applications

Headload to reduce sound pressure on stage

The Headload lets you reduce the output level going to your speaker cabinet for a more controlled stage sound. This makes it easier for the engineer to mix.

Using the Headload to record without any sound

Use the Headload as a 'dummy load' by turning the speakers off and record in complete silence via the built-in Radial JDX Reactor. Works great on guitar and bass!

Amazing tones by combining Headload with a mic

For the absolute best tone, combine the direct feed from the JDX with a mic and then phase align the two signals using the built-in Radial Phazer. Be prepared for madness!

Videos

Reviews

"The Radial Headload will definitely tick all the boxes for many... The Radial name is synonymous in the industry with robustness so this box might just be right for your studio or next tour."

By Russell Cottier

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"Radial's Headload... excels on stage and in the studio, and is packed with extremely functional features that make real-world application of high wattage amplifiers much more straightforward without sacrificing tone."

By Alex Hawley

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"Radial’s Headload sounds at least as good as any attenuator/direct box I’ve heard, and it boasts more useful features than any of them... For players and engineers who must contend with varying venues night after night, this Swiss Army guitar D.I. could become one of the most crucial tools in in the road case."

By Joe Gore

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"I'm certainly more than happy to record - and gig - my valve amps with a Headload, and I'm not at all sure that I'll be letting this one leave me any time soon."

By Bob Thomas

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"As a versatile and fully featured performance tool, the Headload's outstanding functionality makes it hard to beat."

By Dave Hunter

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Artists

Joe Trohman

Fall Out Boy

"The Headload by Radial does an amazing job of attenuating my amp level without sucking my tone."

Artist Profile

Matt Webb

Marianas Trench

"I run two Radial Headloads in my touring rig, and I absolutely LOVE these babies. I ditched live speaker cabs altogether and rely solely on the Headload cabinet simulators for my amps. I have a DVD13 for dirt, a 65 Amps SOHO for clean – and they SHINE through using the Headloads. I wouldn’t dare run those amps into anything else."

Artist Profile

Michael Thompson

Shania Twain, Bryan Adams, Celine Dion, Toni Braxton, Baby Face, Lionel Richie, The Corrs, Ray Charles, Joe Cocker, Michael Buble, Jennifer Lopez, Seal, Justin Bieber, Boyz II Men, Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, Christina Aguilera, The Eagles

"The Radial Headload is the heart of my system both for recording and live. The voicing of the direct signal is so natural that I oftentimes prefer it over the mic'd signal. The built-in attenuator is also very natural sounding and is extremely helpful with taming high powered amps making it easier to get good recordings by knocking down some of the level to the speaker... I own all the other major speaker emulators but the Headload is THE ONE!"

Artist Profile