Speaker Wattage?

[LooseCannon]

Will a higher wattage speaker be louder than a lower one, or is it just capable of reaching higher volumes?
For example if I put two cabs one with greenbacks and one with vintage 30's, using same amp volume for both, will the vintage 30's be louder?

 

[Christobevii3]

Re: Speaker Wattage?

Lower wattage will usually be more effecient because of a weaker suspsion and smaller coils.

 

[marvar]

Re: Speaker Wattage?

Will a higher wattage speaker be louder than a lower one, or is it just capable of reaching higher volumes?
For example if I put two cabs one with greenbacks and one with vintage 30's, using same amp volume for both, will the vintage 30's be louder?

Wattage rating has nothing to do with loudness. Wattage is just a measurement of power. What you need to look at is speaker efficiency. Example- the Greenback is rated at 97/98db,(I forget the exact figure) the V30 is rated at 100db. These measurements are usually made by the mfr, by applying 1 watt of power and measuring Sound Pressure Level (spl) at a distance of 1 meter. Loudness measure is expressed in decibels (db).
So yes, the v30 will be 2db louder with a given wattage applied than a Greenback.
To increase loudness by 3 db, it takes twice as much power, so you can look at this in reverse, the v30 will be almost twice as loud as the GB with the same output wattage (power) applied.

 

[Wattage]

Re: Speaker Wattage?

Wattage rating has nothing to do with power.

I must beg to differ.

Wattage is just a measurement of power.

I feel like so much more:banana:


Sorry to contribute nothing of any value to this thread, just feeling a little goofy this AM:banana:

 

[marvar]

Re: Speaker Wattage?

I must beg to differ.

Yes, you must have read my post before I caught my mistake, I did re-edit it a few minutes later- I hadn't had enough coffee when I made the first pass.:laugh2:

 

[MattPete]

Re: Speaker Wattage?

Wattage tells you how much you can crank the speaker before it self destructs.

Speaker efficiency tells you how efficiently the speaker turns the power into sound. A 100dB speaker will be louder than a 98 dB speaker.

For example, Celestion Blues are rated at 100 dB, and Greenbacks at 98dB. So the Blues will be louder than the Greenbacks. However, the Blues are only rated at 15 watts, whereas the Greenbacks are rated at 25 watts.

 

[Stevo]

Re: Speaker Wattage?

Wattage tells you how much you can crank the speaker before it self destructs.

Now there is a man who can communicate :laugh2:

Also, speakers have a resonant frequency value. If you play your guitar in that range, then the speaker will seem more efficient, or louder and clearer.

Just get greenbacks and don't worry about it :6:

 

[marvar]

Re: Speaker Wattage?

Wattage tells you how much you can crank the speaker before it self destructs.

Speaker efficiency tells you how efficiently the speaker turns the power into sound. A 100dB speaker will be louder than a 98 dB speaker.

For example, Celestion Blues are rated at 100 dB, and Greenbacks at 98dB. So the Blues will be louder than the Greenbacks. However, the Blues are only rated at 15 watts, whereas the Greenbacks are rated at 25 watts.

Gee, I thought that's what I said!:banana:

 

[LooseCannon]

Re: Speaker Wattage?

Now there is a man who can communicate :laugh2:

Also, speakers have a resonant frequency value. If you play your guitar in that range, then the speaker will seem more efficient, or louder and clearer.

Just get greenbacks and don't worry about it :6:

Actually i'm not considering greenbacks they were just for comparsion sake... I'm looking into the eminence man o' war and they are 120w.

 

[Stevo]

Re: Speaker Wattage?

Actually i'm not considering greenbacks they were just for comparsion sake...

Sorry if you could not tell that I was just kidding. I love that greenback tone but they are not for everyone.

 

[LesStrat]

Re: Speaker Wattage?

I must beg to differ.




I feel like so much more:banana:


Sorry to contribute nothing of any value to this thread, just feeling a little goofy this AM:banana:

/\/\/\ That's what Wattage says to me.

 

[baritone]

Re: Speaker Wattage?

For volume, sensitivity is the spec to check out.:banana:

Oh yeah, and a 2dB difference should not be noticeable to human ears.

 

[Sludgenutz]

Re: Speaker Wattage?

Will a higher wattage speaker be louder than a lower one, or is it just capable of reaching higher volumes?
For example if I put two cabs one with greenbacks and one with vintage 30's, using same amp volume for both, will the vintage 30's be louder?

NO! Speaker Wattage ratings only reflect how much electrical power can be dissipated by the speaker. It does not take into account how efficient a speaker is, and says nothing of the "flavor" of the tone.

Human hearing is largely centered around the midrange, so no matter the charts you see, it does not provide a totally accurate model.

Most of the power sent to a speaker is not converted to sound, but dissipated as heat! Heavier/higher Wattage speakers are generally harder to drive, but have the advantage of not failing under high current conditions by design.

It is true that lower Watt speakers are usually louder than higher Watt speakers, because lighter cones are are easier to move, and this is usually tied to a weaker magnet.

Higher Watt speakers tend to resist the power from the amp, have stiffer cones, and larger magnets.