Preorder is in for Marshall dsl20cr

[Mikelamury]

Hopefully OP decides to upgrade his order to the 40cr. I've been reading about the amps as I'm interested in the 40cr or 100hr as my next amp, and consensus is the 40 is considerably better. The price is so close too.

If OP doesnt have any experience with tube amps, he may not know that there isn't much real volume difference between 20 and 40 watts. The 40 will have more headroom at gigging volume.

I saw the 40 watt model before I ordered but I was concerned about the volume thing as I play only in my bedroom and have to keep the volume down. I know it can be turned down to 20 but I was planning on running the 20 watt at 10 inside the house. I've never had a tube amp before so how loud is a 20 watt and a 40 watt tube compared to a katana 50 mkii that I'm currently playing. I have to keep the katana below 3. Any info would be greatly appreciated.

 

[beaubrummels]

FWIW doubling of power is not doubling of volume. Every doubling of power is about 3db increase in volume. So high wattage amps aren't quite as loud as people think, but also low wattage amps are often louder than people would have expected. But if you're running an amp at 10 watts, in general it should be tolerable in a house. People will hear it, but it shouldn't be that much of a disturbance. The speaker cabinet matters as well. 10 watts into a 2x12 pushes more air than a 1x12, so a 2x12 could seem louder because it can project a longer distance.

 

[Securb]

I've never had a tube amp before so how loud is a 20 watt and a 40 watt tube compared to a katana 50 mkii that I'm currently playing.

There is a lot of "marketing" that goes into rated wattage for amps. However, most ~ 20-watt tube amps I have played are plenty loud. You can easily gig with a 22-watt Fender Deluxe without diming it. My 20-watt Peavey Classic 20 and my 13-watt Fender Excelsior can get above the drums and bass for practice sessions. The independent GAIN and VOLUME controls on your new amp will allow you to get a great gain tone without breaking the windows in your house. That amp is perfect for bedroom practice.

 

[Mikelamury]

There is a lot of "marketing" that goes into rated wattage for amps. However, most ~ 20-watt tube amps I have played are plenty loud. You can easily gig with a 22-watt Fender Deluxe without diming it. My 20-watt Peavey Classic 20 and my 13-watt Fender Excelsior can get above the drums and bass for practice sessions. The independent GAIN and VOLUME controls on your new amp will allow you to get a great gain tone without breaking the windows in your house. That amp is perfect for bedroom practice.

I was also wondering about the master volume thing as well. I noticed the 20 watt doesn't have a master volume and the 40 watt model has 2 master volumes.(one for each channel) My question is would I get better sounds from being able to set the master volume and be able to crank the individual volumes? I've heard that you need to push tube amps for best tone so would it make a difference having the master volume or not and even having the 40 watt turned down to 20 do you think it would still be practical inside the house?

 

[Top-L]

There is a lot of "marketing" that goes into rated wattage for amps. However, most ~ 20-watt tube amps I have played are plenty loud. You can easily gig with a 22-watt Fender Deluxe without diming it. My 20-watt Peavey Classic 20 and my 13-watt Fender Excelsior can get above the drums and bass for practice sessions. The independent GAIN and VOLUME controls on your new amp will allow you to get a great gain tone without breaking the windows in your house. That amp is perfect for bedroom practice.

I think the 40watt will also be perfect for bedroom practice. They both run 12"' speakers. The 20watt power amp (even 10 watt) may start to saturate sooner, but certainly not at bedroom volumes.

IME, larger amps are better because they have more clean headroom. On occassion where you need to turn up, the higher wattage amps can still produce a clean clean. Lower wattage amps start to grumble. Have to judge each amp on its own if it sounds good at "bedroom level". Some 120 Watt heads sound great at low volume, some lower wattage amps need to be turned up. Depends on the amp.

The 40 Watt Marshall has more features, two more voicings, and more clean headroom if he likes to play any harder/faster styles. At bedroom volume will the 20 watt be better? Maybe marginally. If OP plays hard rock or metal, or any style that needs clean clean, and ever plans to play in a band, I think the 40 is the better choice. And its only a little bit more expensive.

I havent played either amp, so I encourage OP to do as much research as possible.

 

[Mikelamury]

I think the 40watt will also be perfect for bedroom practice. They both run 12"' speakers. The 20watt power amp (even 10 watt) may start to saturate sooner, but certainly not at bedroom volumes.

IME, larger amps are better because they have more clean headroom. On occassion where you need to turn up, the higher wattage amps can still produce a clean clean. Lower wattage amps start to grumble. Have to judge each amp on its own if it sounds good at "bedroom level". Some 120 Watt heads sound great at low volume, some lower wattage amps need to be turned up. Depends on the amp.

The 40 Watt Marshall has more features, two more voicings, and more clean headroom if he likes to play any harder/faster styles. At bedroom volume will the 20 watt be better? Maybe marginally. If OP plays hard rock or metal, or any style that needs clean clean, and ever plans to play in a band, I think the 40 is the better choice. And its only a little bit more expensive.

I havent played either amp, so I encourage OP to do as much research as possible.

I've researched about both amps, I would enjoy the additional voicings and controls on the 40 watt model I'm just unsure of the volume thing. I've never had a tube amp but don't go above 60 watts on a solid state amp and currently play through a 50. I'm expecting my order to ship this week but if it doesn't I'm thinking about getting the 40 as it's in stock but I just don't know how loud it's going to be.

 

[Top-L]

I've researched about both amps, I would enjoy the additional voicings and controls on the 40 watt model I'm just unsure of the volume thing. I've never had a tube amp but don't go above 60 watts on a solid state amp and currently play through a 50. I'm expecting my order to ship this week but if it doesn't I'm thinking about getting the 40 as it's in stock but I just don't know how loud it's going to be.

The 40 can can get louder, but the volume is decided by the volume knob. Tube amps start to saturate when you turn them up. Lower watt amps saturate sooner.

I have a 60 Watt Laney Ironheart and sometimes wish I got the 120Watt. Why? Clean headroom. As you turn up the Laney, the tube saturation comes on. If I was in a band I would want a punchy clean. If I played primarily metal, I would absolutely get the 120Watt head. Lower watt amps saturate sooner and don't feel as fast or punchy. While it may sound like overkill, there is an actual reason that a 100 Watt tube head is standard for live play.

I have been reading about these amps the past few days and I haven't read anything about the Marhall 40 being bad at bedroom volume. In fact Sweetwater reviews paint the opposite picture.

Some people don't like them, but ProAudioStar can usually do deals better than MF. Email them, tell them you have a MF coupon, and ask if they can do 20% off their price on a new one shipped. (Remember that MF gives 15% coupons, AND there are also points equal to 10-15% cash back, so if they want your sale, they have to beat that. )There might be some haggling, but I think 20% is not too hard from PAS.

If you are east coast they can have it on your doorstep the next day.

Found this:

https://www.marshallforum.com/threads/dsl-40cr-better-than-dsl-20cr-for-home-use.103701/

 

[Securb]

I was also wondering about the master volume thing as well. I noticed the 20 watt doesn't have a master volume and the 40 watt model has 2 master volumes.(one for each channel) ?

You can crank the GAIN control and turn down the VOLUME. I have a 100-watt DSL that has a similar configuration. I can play it at bedroom levels or crank it with the band. Like I said you are going to be fine, you have a great amp.

 

[Mikelamury]

The 40 can can get louder, but the volume is decided by the volume knob. Tube amps start to saturate when you turn them up. Lower watt amps saturate sooner.

I have a 60 Watt Laney Ironheart and sometimes wish I got the 120Watt. Why? Clean headroom. As you turn up the Laney, the tube saturation comes on. If I was in a band I would want a punchy clean. If I played primarily metal, I would absolutely get the 120Watt head. Lower watt amps saturate sooner and don't feel as fast or punchy. While it may sound like overkill, there is an actual reason that a 100 Watt tube head is standard for live play.

I have been reading about these amps the past few days and I haven't read anything about the Marhall 40 being bad at bedroom volume. In fact Sweetwater reviews paint the opposite picture.

Some people don't like them, but ProAudioStar can usually do deals better than MF. Email them, tell them you have a MF coupon, and ask if they can do 20% off their price on a new one shipped. (Remember that MF gives 15% coupons, AND there are also points equal to 10-15% cash back, so if they want your sale, they have to beat that. )There might be some haggling, but I think 20% is not too hard from PAS.

If you are east coast they can have it on your doorstep the next day.

Found this:

https://www.marshallforum.com/threads/dsl-40cr-better-than-dsl-20cr-for-home-use.103701/

MF is supposed to have my amp in this week. I'm going to give MF until Thursday and they don't have my amp In stock yet I'm going to cancel and go to pro audio star if the 40 is still in stock. I've checked PAS and I can get the 40 watt for 948 shipped and I'm getting the 20 watt from MF for 906. Worth the upgrade. Like I said if it's not in within a couple days I'm going to go with the 40 watt model. Thanks for the info.

 

[Top-L]

MF is supposed to have my amp in this week. I'm going to give MF until Thursday and they don't have my amp In stock yet I'm going to cancel and go to pro audio star if the 40 is still in stock. I've checked PAS and I can get the 40 watt for 948 shipped and I'm getting the 20 watt from MF for 906. Worth the upgrade. Like I said if it's not in within a couple days I'm going to go with the 40 watt model. Thanks for the info.

948 shipped from PAS is a pretty bad price, honestly. 15% is 892. 906 for the 20cr? That is full retail? I would expect a 20cr to be 764.

Don't you get those 15% coupons in the mail all the time from MF/GC? And at new years there is the 20% coupon? And even if there isn't a coupon, you ask them for the discount anyway.

We are headed for a recession, I just think you have to learn to be a dick and get some better prices.

 

[Mikelamury]

948 shipped from PAS is a pretty bad price, honestly. 15% is 892. 906 for the 20cr? That is full retail? I would expect a 20cr to be 764.

Don't you get those 15% coupons in the mail all the time from MF/GC? And at new years there is the 20% coupon? And even if there isn't a coupon, you ask them for the discount anyway.

We are headed for a recession, I just think you have to learn to be a dick and get some better prices.

I was saying that the 40 watt was 948 from PAS after tax. It was 892 before tax.. MF was only giving me 7% off, I didn't have to a coupon. So I called MF to check on shipping date today and they had already changed it to next week so I cancelled the order and called PAS they said they have enough in stock that if I order this week they will have it so as soon as the authorization gets returned to my card I'm going to order the 40 watt from PAS. Thanks alot for pointing out that they have it in stock. As soon as the money goes back on my card I'm going to order the 40 watt from PAS.

 

[Top-L]

I was saying that the 40 watt was 948 from PAS after tax. It was 892 before tax.. MF was only giving me 7% off, I didn't have to a coupon. So I called MF to check on shipping date today and they had already changed it to next week so I cancelled the order and called PAS they said they have enough in stock that if I order this week they will have it so as soon as the authorization gets returned to my card I'm going to order the 40 watt from PAS. Thanks alot for pointing out that they have it in stock. As soon as the money goes back on my card I'm going to order the 40 watt from PAS.

I'm certain you will be much happier. If it turns out you are a "Marshall guy", thats an amp that will serve you well for many years. I'm actually a bit jelly and seeing if I should swing buying one. Had my eye on the 100hr, but frankly the combo would probably serve me better.

 

[Demanic]

If I were ever to get a Marshall, the 40 is probably what I would get. It has a speaker out so you could always run a bigger cab if you needed to.
I bet that it would keep up with a decent rhythm section in a practice space or even a smaller bar.

Sent from my SM-A115A using Tapatalk

 

[misterwhizzy]

The 40 is going to be SO MUCH BETTER than the 20. The 20 has super clean and super fizzy gain with nothing in between. The 40 sounds great at any volume and has versatility. Good choice.

 

[AdrianSD]

Yeah, I really dig my 40cr. The inbuilt reverb is rather week for bedroom volume, but I'm not using it anyway. And it takes pedals very well. OD1 with gain on 7, channel volume dimed, boosted with a Mason od9 is where it's at