power and headroom and loudness

Rog · Post by **Rog** » Mon Aug 09, 2004 1:56 pm

I guess everyone here knows that to double the loudness, you have to multiply the watts by ten. That is to be twice as loud as a 50W amp you need 500W, or twice as loud as that 15W practice amp, you'll need a 150W amp.

It seems to me that people often forget about speaker efficiency and numbers when talking about loudness.

I'm no expert in this field (or any other for that matter) but in my experience, changing out a speaker for a more efficient one, or even adding more speakers to the equation has considerable perceived benefits in loudness.

The reason I would prefer an 85W amp over a 50W amp is not to do with loudness, but with headroom.

I simply cannot bring myself to play anything with the volume on 10+.

For me, if I can't get the volume I need at 4-6 on the master volume, its time for a bigger amp.

What's your take/experience with these points?

TMG 03 · Post by **TMG 03** » Mon Aug 09, 2004 2:03 pm

I never run my twin at 100watts. It is always at 25 watts. If I was standing in Western Springs playing star spangle banner then maybe the 100 settting would seem right, but 99.9% of time 25 has more than enought go go juice.

There is still plenty of head room in that amp. I think my ears would bleed before I rang out of head room.

Rog · Post by **Rog** » Mon Aug 09, 2004 2:15 pm

Yes, the Twin is one hell of an amp!!

Its a bit like a Strat - people often use it to compare to others - eg: not quite as clean as a twin, or as lush as a twin etc

Post by Bg » Mon Aug 09, 2004 2:41 pm

..or as heavy as a twin

TMG 03 · Post by **TMG 03** » Mon Aug 09, 2004 2:47 pm

Very True.

Thank god I am not a Roadie.

angry_young_poet · Post by **angry_young_poet** » Mon Aug 09, 2004 2:49 pm

nice set of wheels though..

philipnz · Post by **philipnz** » Mon Aug 09, 2004 3:41 pm

I'm running my Matchless at 15 watts. Channel volumes on 5 and 3 respectively. And I still have to cut the Master Volume back to 3 most of the time. Those 15 Class A watts are damn loud!

On the Boogie Mk IV you can't run the master volume past 2.

Polar Bear · Post by **Polar Bear** » Mon Aug 09, 2004 7:34 pm

Bloody old codgeers. I had the pleasure of 'diming' my AC30 tonight. Fuck it sounded good, was fiddling with a couple of nice pedals I borrowed off Angry_young-poet. The Hotcake and the AC30 is lusher than a field full of supermodels. Treble boosted there is balls all headroom (good thing in my case) However I get the impression that it's louder than standing in front of a jet engine so I try not to do it too often

.

Hmm that sounds like I'm bragging and what the hell was this topic about anyway

Post by Bg » Mon Aug 09, 2004 7:44 pm

Polar Bear wrote: and what the hell was this topic about anyway

What does it matter

:funky:

Polar Bear · Post by **Polar Bear** » Mon Aug 09, 2004 7:47 pm

bluesgeek wrote:
Polar Bear wrote: and what the hell was this topic about anyway
What does it matter :funky:

My ears are ringing loud enough for eys not to be able to focus. Ah yes young and reckless. They'll make a TV show about it soon ....

B45-12 · Post by **B45-12** » Mon Aug 16, 2004 9:48 pm

I likes to wind my twin up full bore from time to time - preferably with the big muff pi and wah pedal preceeding it! Last time was kiddies playtime a the local catholic school just down the road and they usually make a heck of a row - but this time when I'd finished a ten minute stretch and stopped there was nothing but silence!

Who says you cannot have fun in suburbia!

Hint for PB - use the ancient chinese trick of standing behind the amp/quad box! so much easier on the ears/balance.

Rog · Post by **Rog** » Tue Aug 17, 2004 7:51 am

Ah yes, the big muff, followed by a wah wah wah...I remember those - I think!

B45-12 · Post by **B45-12** » Tue Aug 17, 2004 11:09 am

I had one of the original big muff pi's back in the early 70's but stupidly took it back after a week's trial - at $20-00 I reckoned it was more than I could afford! Took another 15 years to find the one I've got now!

Moral 'never take nuffing back unless it's bust'

Rog · Post by **Rog** » Tue Aug 17, 2004 11:49 am

I think we're talking about different big muffs, mate...