Tube vs. solid state vol
- Thread starter jetjoe002
- Start date
y2stevo
New member
Re: Tube vs. solid state vol
Well theoretically speaking it shouldnt make a difference because 100watts of sound energy is 100watts of sound energy but i guess 100watts is kind of an estimation, that wuldn't take into account say high eq settings or boosts and such..... at least it would seem that way..
Well theoretically speaking it shouldnt make a difference because 100watts of sound energy is 100watts of sound energy but i guess 100watts is kind of an estimation, that wuldn't take into account say high eq settings or boosts and such..... at least it would seem that way..
jmv
New member
Re: Tube vs. solid state vol
Well.... if i have my two amps set up right next to eachother, both set at '4', the 50w tube Bassman is all you can hear, not the 100w SS amp. Of course, you do have to take into consideration that the bassman has twice the speaker area... it has 2 12's, whereas the 100w SS has 1 12in. Also, my moms vibrochamp, which is 6 watts, through an 8 inch speaker, is louder than my first amp, a 15 watt solidstate fender, also through a 8 inch speaker.
Perhaps in theory they should be the same, but from experience, i say that tube amps are louder (at least in all the cases i've been able to compare).
Well.... if i have my two amps set up right next to eachother, both set at '4', the 50w tube Bassman is all you can hear, not the 100w SS amp. Of course, you do have to take into consideration that the bassman has twice the speaker area... it has 2 12's, whereas the 100w SS has 1 12in. Also, my moms vibrochamp, which is 6 watts, through an 8 inch speaker, is louder than my first amp, a 15 watt solidstate fender, also through a 8 inch speaker.
Perhaps in theory they should be the same, but from experience, i say that tube amps are louder (at least in all the cases i've been able to compare).
flank
New member
Re: Tube vs. solid state vol
i find tube amps to be a good deal louder than solid state at the same wattages (could be scientifically wrong, but its just my ears) ...and people go OOOH and AAHH at that new 350 watt marshall.....but an old hiwatt or marshall could probably put that thing to shame.....tube amps are just bigger and louder
i find tube amps to be a good deal louder than solid state at the same wattages (could be scientifically wrong, but its just my ears) ...and people go OOOH and AAHH at that new 350 watt marshall.....but an old hiwatt or marshall could probably put that thing to shame.....tube amps are just bigger and louder
JumpMarine
18 watts of Mayhemologist
Re: Tube vs. solid state vol
The way it's been explained to me is that a tube amp rated at 50w is about the equivilant of a 120w s.s.. But I can't explain why.
The way it's been explained to me is that a tube amp rated at 50w is about the equivilant of a 120w s.s.. But I can't explain why.
R
RACER X
Guest
Re: Tube vs. solid state vol
Im a SS kinda guy, you have ta crank up a 4x12, 100wtt Marshall to get tone, ahh, but my SS Fender 1/2 stack can do it at half volume. Gain and crunch are allways there, on 2 or 10.
Im a SS kinda guy, you have ta crank up a 4x12, 100wtt Marshall to get tone, ahh, but my SS Fender 1/2 stack can do it at half volume. Gain and crunch are allways there, on 2 or 10.
kmcguitars
GuitarArtologist
Re: Tube vs. solid state vol
amps? I think that's the wild card why lower watted tube amps sound
louder that S.S.? I'd swear my 15w Champ 12 can hold its own with
my 80watt Marshall Valvestate?? (Both are 1x12 combos)
I don't know the science the engineers use to calculate the RMS rating inJumpMarine said:
amps? I think that's the wild card why lower watted tube amps sound
louder that S.S.? I'd swear my 15w Champ 12 can hold its own with
my 80watt Marshall Valvestate?? (Both are 1x12 combos)
moog1000
New member
Re: Tube vs. solid state vol
You need to check out this link
http://users.chariot.net.au/~gmarts/amppower.htm
Tells you all you'll need to know and more. Also, for our cross-the-water chums, valve = tube
You need to check out this link
http://users.chariot.net.au/~gmarts/amppower.htm
Tells you all you'll need to know and more. Also, for our cross-the-water chums, valve = tube
LondonTone
New member
Re: Tube vs. solid state vol
Tube amps are definitely louder than tranny amps.
Could it be that tube amps are rated in RMS and SS amps are rated in peak music power (as many hi-fi systems are)?
A couple of examples...
At the moment I gig with a Fender Pro Tubes Pro Reverb (lovely all valve amp) and run it at about 7 or 8 on the QUARTER POWER setting. The quarter power setting is 12.5 Watts!!! It is plenty loud enough for gigs and I'm stood right next to a very hard hitting drummer.
Similarly, I used to use a Boogie MKIV (I think it was 60 watts) and never giged it above 1.5-2.0 on the master volume. It is a deafening amp.
On the flip side, I used a Line 6 Flextone 100W stack (all SS) for a year and used to run the volume almost flat out. Nowhere near as loud as my fender running at 12.5 watts.
I'm sure I've seen a good technical explanation of why this is before, but I can't remember the science behind it.
Tube amps are definitely louder than tranny amps.
Could it be that tube amps are rated in RMS and SS amps are rated in peak music power (as many hi-fi systems are)?
A couple of examples...
At the moment I gig with a Fender Pro Tubes Pro Reverb (lovely all valve amp) and run it at about 7 or 8 on the QUARTER POWER setting. The quarter power setting is 12.5 Watts!!! It is plenty loud enough for gigs and I'm stood right next to a very hard hitting drummer.
Similarly, I used to use a Boogie MKIV (I think it was 60 watts) and never giged it above 1.5-2.0 on the master volume. It is a deafening amp.
On the flip side, I used a Line 6 Flextone 100W stack (all SS) for a year and used to run the volume almost flat out. Nowhere near as loud as my fender running at 12.5 watts.
I'm sure I've seen a good technical explanation of why this is before, but I can't remember the science behind it.