Power tube compression and equalization.

[korovamilkdud]

So, curious thought popped into my head.

Aside from the obvious differences between two tubes with different headroom being compression, distortion, more/less volume, more/less dynamic...how would two tubes of different hardness compare in terms of EQ?

We know a pickup will have much more midrange if it is wound hotter (all else equal). We know speakers' bass response will change depending on volume in accordance to their power rating.

In short, how does a tube's headroom affect the EQ curve?

 

[some_dude]

Re: Power tube compression and equalization.

When I turn up I find I dial in more mids and less bass.

Conversely, when I play quieter I tend to dial in less mids and more bass to help keep the tone sounding full.

Treble is hit and miss depending on the amp as some amps don't seem to require treble adjustment as I turn them up and down.

Beyond that, I'm not totally sure I understood your question, but I figured I'd give it a shot.

 

[rashayritto]

Re: Power tube compression and equalization.

i find that lower headroom ptubes get real muddy in the mids when cranked. generally i always back off the treble at high volumes but with higher headroom tubes it seems more necessary. thats just my experience though. i dont have the equipment/knowhow to compare eq curves direct from the tube or something

 

[korovamilkdud]

Re: Power tube compression and equalization.

Heh...tricky question huh?

Let me see if this helps.

You know how speakers respond differently to different volumes, and differently depending on their power ratings (headroom?)

It doesn't take long for a greenback to get fuller and crunchier, but a v30 requires more volume to fill out. Now v30s also have quite a difference in terms of EQ than GBs, as would any higher powered speaker. That's all I mean with tubes. Is the fact that a 6ca7 has more room than an el34 going to effect the EQ?

 

[Lake Placid Blues]

Re: Power tube compression and equalization.

When I turn up I find I dial in more mids and less bass.

Conversely, when I play quieter I tend to dial in less mids and more bass to help keep the tone sounding full.

.......

That's the fletcher munson curve or how your ears/brain preceive sound.

 

[Lake Placid Blues]

Re: Power tube compression and equalization.

If clipping and compression are part of taming highs, or at least how they are precieved, then I guess that it could make a difference. Generally, however, clipping and compresssion with tubes ends up creating more harmonics not less. How "hard" the highs are preceived could be be effected.

It could be the F/M curve, but we must be careful not to apply properties of one thing and then assume that it applies to other seperate and unrelated things.

Just tying to properly apply scientific principles.