Question About Tube Amps |
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Question About Tube Amps |
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Aug 26 2008, 11:33 PM |
Any amp can put out more than what's labled in ink. So a 15W running at full could put out like 25-30 watts. If another 30W amp put out 40w the step between the two is even narrower.
15w is a good 80% as loud as 30W. Add a 4x12 cabinet to a 15w amp while a 30w is run through an 8" single speaker. The 15 watter will drown the 30 watter. A 50w amp running at 30 watts (f.ex knobs at noon) will sound a lot better (if we measure that aswell. We should) than an 100w amp of the same brand and model running at 30 watts (f.ex knobs at 9 o clock) The 50 watter is running at 60% of it's labled capacity while the 100w is running at 30% of it's labled capacity. Tubes at work sound better. That's why many people fool themselves when shopping for amps thinking that 100W is always better than javaris 20w H&K Statesman. Performing in a pub you'd want the Statesman instead of a 100w Marshall JCM since the 20w statesman will be working hard and sound great. Cool amp btw, the statesman This post has been edited by MickeM: Aug 26 2008, 11:34 PM -------------------- My bands homepage
All time favourites: B. Streisand - Woman in Love, M. Hopkin - Those were the days, L. Richie - Hello |
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Aug 27 2008, 02:44 AM |
Good info, could you elaborate on how an amp can put out more than its labeled? Is it just that they label the amp as it is with settings less than totally cranked, or what? Are we talking boost pedals, etc etc Amp is putting out more, but in peaks. I wont elaborate because I'm not really a sound expert. MickeM gave a pretty good explanation of how things work with amps. Wattage is not what mesaures the loudness of the amp. Also loudness is subjective, and can depend (with humans of course), not only from dB, but from middle range as well. If the amp has more middle and highs to it it will be subjectively louder, because human ear is more sensitive ot higher frequencies. Other important thing is this: 50W is 50W, no matter if it's tube or solid state. Tube will not be louder, just more pleasant to human ear because tubes generate even harmonics that are in sync with the sound they produce. So if you crank the all-tuber you will get a pleasant sound that will be usable, to more you crank it - the better the sound. With solid state it's other way around, it goes well (and linear) until one point and then teh sound is hard-clipped, and cutoff. This produces odd harmonics that are very unnatural, and this is why solid state sounds synthetic. So 50Wsolidstate=50Wtube in terms of loudness. Hvaing this said I emphasize the fact that a lot of things are involved in the process of determining how loud an amp is, not just a sticker on the back that says X Watts. -------------------- - Ivan's Video Chat Lesson Notes HERE
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Aug 27 2008, 10:19 AM |
Yes Noa, you're right. Also I may add that solid state, no matter how big the wattage is will never sound as nice and organic as tube amp.
-------------------- - Ivan's Video Chat Lesson Notes HERE
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Aug 27 2008, 01:00 PM |
Another important component of the sound is of course - the speaker. Different speakers have different efficiency values. Efficiency of the speaker is measured in dB, and it is equal to amount of dB that speaker generated when fed with 1W on 1meter distance. So if you have a 25W amp that has a speaker with efficiency of 95dB and 50W Watt amp with a speaker of efficiency or 90dB it is highly likely that they will both pretty much equal in loudness.
-------------------- - Ivan's Video Chat Lesson Notes HERE
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Aug 27 2008, 01:17 PM |
In terms of loudness, speaker sensitivity is just as important as output power. A 50W into a sensitive speaker can be louder than 100W into a less sensitive speaker, so you have to account for the whole signal chain, not just the amp.
EDIT : Heh, Ivan, you're a mind reader, I posted before I saw your post -------------------- Check out my Instructor profile
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Aug 27 2008, 03:56 PM |
Cool thx for the explenation guys
-------------------- Gear:
Fender "California series" stratocaster Roland Cube 20X Peavey Envoy 110 |
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Aug 27 2008, 07:02 PM |
No problem mate, glad to help
-------------------- - Ivan's Video Chat Lesson Notes HERE
- Check out my GMC Profile and Lessons - (Please subscribe to my) YouTube Official Channel - Let's be connected through ! Facebook! :) |
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