What really makes a Amp loud?
- Thread starter TRex
- Start date
Re: What really makes a Amp loud?
the 50w through the 4x12 will probably be louder.
volume is determined by output from the amp and efficiency of the speaker/s involved. with the same amp, a single 10" could be louder than a 2x12 if it was efficient enough.
a 20w amp with a speaker rated at 103dB will be louder than a 100w amp with a speaker rated at 95dB
the 50w through the 4x12 will probably be louder.
volume is determined by output from the amp and efficiency of the speaker/s involved. with the same amp, a single 10" could be louder than a 2x12 if it was efficient enough.
a 20w amp with a speaker rated at 103dB will be louder than a 100w amp with a speaker rated at 95dB
TRex
New member
Re: What really makes a Amp loud?
So if I have a 100w head like a JCM800, I could run it into a speaker rated for a low level, I could have something that could work in smaller gigs.
I'm looking at getting a Windsor or another JCM800 clone, but I don't play large gigs.
Sent from my SM-G900T using Tapatalk
So if I have a 100w head like a JCM800, I could run it into a speaker rated for a low level, I could have something that could work in smaller gigs.
I'm looking at getting a Windsor or another JCM800 clone, but I don't play large gigs.
Sent from my SM-G900T using Tapatalk
SlyFoxx
Glossless
Re: What really makes a Amp loud?
It's all about watts, speaker efficiency and the number of speakers. The bigger the numbers the bigger the volume. Thankfully most of us can get by with a modest rig even on a decent sized stage.
I've touted this tome for years but "The Yamaha Sound Reinforcement Handbook" is inexpensive and is packed full of just about anything you'll ever need to know about sound equipment and why the numbers add up.
It's all about watts, speaker efficiency and the number of speakers. The bigger the numbers the bigger the volume. Thankfully most of us can get by with a modest rig even on a decent sized stage.
I've touted this tome for years but "The Yamaha Sound Reinforcement Handbook" is inexpensive and is packed full of just about anything you'll ever need to know about sound equipment and why the numbers add up.
IM4Tone
New member
Re: What really makes a Amp loud?
And then there's perception (not actually spl) which can be influenced by a number of factors, one of the main ones being frequency.
Actually, watts...yes; efficiency...yes; number of speakers (given same total wattage and efficiency)...definitely NOT.
And then there's perception (not actually spl) which can be influenced by a number of factors, one of the main ones being frequency.
Edgecrusher
Well-known member
Re: What really makes a Amp loud?
watts which are actually a measurement of heat are not a great indicator of absolute loudness. Watts are a better indicator of headroom. A speakers efficency and cab design will have a much more direct effect on volume.
watts which are actually a measurement of heat are not a great indicator of absolute loudness. Watts are a better indicator of headroom. A speakers efficency and cab design will have a much more direct effect on volume.
GuitarStv
Sock Market Trader
Re: What really makes a Amp loud?
Loudness is basically the amount of air you can get vibrating at audible frequencies. Efficient speakers vibrate more air. Higher wattage amps push speakers to vibrate more air. Typically, more smaller speakers are more efficient at moving air (two 10s will be louder than one 12 because there's more speaker cone surface area).
You also have to take into account psycho-acoustics (people hear mid-range better than highs and lows . . . especially as we age).
Loudness is basically the amount of air you can get vibrating at audible frequencies. Efficient speakers vibrate more air. Higher wattage amps push speakers to vibrate more air. Typically, more smaller speakers are more efficient at moving air (two 10s will be louder than one 12 because there's more speaker cone surface area).
You also have to take into account psycho-acoustics (people hear mid-range better than highs and lows . . . especially as we age).
Edgecrusher
Well-known member
Re: What really makes a Amp loud?
If you are planning on cranking it, its gonna gonna happen so easily. You will need an ISO box or something. Ive ran 100 watt heads in 50 person bar gigs a ton. But the master is always dead low like on 2 or 3.
Ive seen a lot of guys try cranking the amp through low sensitivity speakers and without an attenuator it just doesnt work so well.
If you are planning on cranking it, its gonna gonna happen so easily. You will need an ISO box or something. Ive ran 100 watt heads in 50 person bar gigs a ton. But the master is always dead low like on 2 or 3.
Ive seen a lot of guys try cranking the amp through low sensitivity speakers and without an attenuator it just doesnt work so well.
Edgecrusher
Well-known member
Re: What really makes a Amp loud?
This has a huge effect on the perceived volume also. Used to play in a band and the other guitarist had a 160watt peavey supreme head that he cranked with the master literally on 10 and could never be heard in the mix over my 50 watt JMP (that was usually on about 4) and he could never figure it out. He was a doosh nozzle so I never told him that his EQ being 10/0/8 was the culprit. A simple twist of that mid knob and he would have tore peoples heads off.
This has a huge effect on the perceived volume also. Used to play in a band and the other guitarist had a 160watt peavey supreme head that he cranked with the master literally on 10 and could never be heard in the mix over my 50 watt JMP (that was usually on about 4) and he could never figure it out. He was a doosh nozzle so I never told him that his EQ being 10/0/8 was the culprit. A simple twist of that mid knob and he would have tore peoples heads off.
SlyFoxx
Glossless
Re: What really makes a Amp loud?
Wrong. All things being equal, doubling the number of speakers in a rig will give you 3dB more volume. So go from one to two=3 dB. Go from two to four = another 3dB. Go from four to eight = yet another 3dB. That makes a 9dB difference which is as close enough for rock-n-roll twice the volume. That's why a full stack at full chat will smoke the same amp into one speaker.
Wrong. All things being equal, doubling the number of speakers in a rig will give you 3dB more volume. So go from one to two=3 dB. Go from two to four = another 3dB. Go from four to eight = yet another 3dB. That makes a 9dB difference which is as close enough for rock-n-roll twice the volume. That's why a full stack at full chat will smoke the same amp into one speaker.
Shooter.556
New member
Re: What really makes a Amp loud?
Tubes.. Tubes also go a long way in the quest for loudness.
You want real loud get a Mesa Boogie Coliseum it's 200 watts of pure tube power and it's the loudest damn thing I've ever plugged into. 2 4x12s and I thought the dudes house was gonna cave in.
It hurt, I never wanna play one again.
You want loud you can't beat 100 tube watts thru a 4x12 or a Fender Twin, they are also crazy loud.
I have owned a 200 watt Randall for a metal band but it was nothing compared to my Marshall JCM 900 100 watt. You can't beat tubes for loudness.
Tubes.. Tubes also go a long way in the quest for loudness.
You want real loud get a Mesa Boogie Coliseum it's 200 watts of pure tube power and it's the loudest damn thing I've ever plugged into. 2 4x12s and I thought the dudes house was gonna cave in.
It hurt, I never wanna play one again.
You want loud you can't beat 100 tube watts thru a 4x12 or a Fender Twin, they are also crazy loud.
I have owned a 200 watt Randall for a metal band but it was nothing compared to my Marshall JCM 900 100 watt. You can't beat tubes for loudness.
Myaccount876
Amira-Maker
Re: What really makes a Amp loud?
^AC30s are also extremely loud. The thing with tube amps is that we like to push the power section into overdrive, and most of the time a dimed amp is cranking out more wattage than what it is rated as (which is RMS). The peak wattage is higher, and different amps will go different lengths beyond their RMS wattage. An AC30's peak wattage when dimed is significantly over 30 watts, combined with the fact that it is a midrange-dominant amp, which makes for one really loud amp.
^AC30s are also extremely loud. The thing with tube amps is that we like to push the power section into overdrive, and most of the time a dimed amp is cranking out more wattage than what it is rated as (which is RMS). The peak wattage is higher, and different amps will go different lengths beyond their RMS wattage. An AC30's peak wattage when dimed is significantly over 30 watts, combined with the fact that it is a midrange-dominant amp, which makes for one really loud amp.
Vasshu the humanoid typhoon
Unseen
Re: What really makes a Amp loud?
As Demanic says...how damn honky the thing is......
Most amps today are small yelling horrors, that will kill of your hearing off in the long run, even faster than most old huge 100w heads....of which most had a more pleasent range from the start....late 70's and the 80's is when the more box like middlerange became popular.
Look at the keyboard players.....the ever increasing density of the instruments stuffed into the mix....the guitar amp had to go someplace.... mmmmaaaaaaaaaa mmmmaaaaaaa mmmmmmmaaaaaaa it went.....(looks at Boogies and JMP and alikes)
As Demanic says...how damn honky the thing is......
Most amps today are small yelling horrors, that will kill of your hearing off in the long run, even faster than most old huge 100w heads....of which most had a more pleasent range from the start....late 70's and the 80's is when the more box like middlerange became popular.
Look at the keyboard players.....the ever increasing density of the instruments stuffed into the mix....the guitar amp had to go someplace.... mmmmaaaaaaaaaa mmmmaaaaaaa mmmmmmmaaaaaaa it went.....(looks at Boogies and JMP and alikes)
GoldenVulture
Braindeadologist
Re: What really makes a Amp loud?
Not at loud volumes. The ear works most evenly at 98 Db. That's also the dynamic range of CD's. Getting louder than 98 Db the ears response starts to get uneven again.
Loudness is measured in Phons.
Not at loud volumes. The ear works most evenly at 98 Db. That's also the dynamic range of CD's. Getting louder than 98 Db the ears response starts to get uneven again.
Loudness is measured in Phons.
L
Little Pigbacon
Guest
Re: What really makes a Amp loud?
A quick attack also makes an amp feel louder to me; it seems like the amp has the power and the speed to move large amounts of air very quickly in response to small pick motions.
A quick attack also makes an amp feel louder to me; it seems like the amp has the power and the speed to move large amounts of air very quickly in response to small pick motions.
BriGuy1968
New member
Re: What really makes a Amp loud?
Nothing relevant to add to the thread here, but I did want to offer kudos for the correct usage of the term "doosh nozzle!" :fing2:
Nothing relevant to add to the thread here, but I did want to offer kudos for the correct usage of the term "doosh nozzle!" :fing2:
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