Gigantic Wattage

[trainofthought]

My question is simple. Why do you need such immense wattage? I play through an Ampeg SVT-5PRO 1350 watts mono-bridged. Ill admit it sounds great, but I'm looking to downsize from 3 units to 2 to fit more in my rack.

Comparing the SVT 8 now to the SVT 7, granted you get the extra tube in the 8, and a few other goodies. The price difference is obscene! And you end up paying, from what I can surmise, mostly for the extra 1500 watts.

Is it really doing that much to your tone?! What exactly is the connection between tonal quality and power to your speakers? I've just always been of the mindset to chase down the biggest gnarliest amp. Only now am I starting to question it.

If there is already a thread about this, my apologies. Please point me in the right direction. Couldn't find the exact answer I'm looking for.

[Mark Olson]

There has been a thread on it and no, extra wattage available above what you're actually using does not affect your tone.

[jelwood]

I would have to say that Mark is somewhat incorrect, I have an amp that I can run bridged or mono and I can definitely say that the extra headroom does change the sound, although in a very subtle way. Has more throw and solid bottom in bridge mode but is not as snarly.

[Mark Olson]

Originally Posted by jelwood

I would have to say that Mark is somewhat incorrect, I have an amp that I can run bridged or mono and I can definitely say that the extra headroom does change the sound, although in a very subtle way. Has more throw and solid bottom in bridge mode but is not as snarly.

Unless you're running your amp at more wattage when you bridge the channels than you do in mono, or it changes the voicing, it's not doing anything for your tone, the change is in your head. Having or not having more headroom doesn't affect your tone until you run out of headroom.

[trainofthought]

so effectively, is there a good reason to spend the extra $1500 to get the svt8 tonewise? or is this just a volume purchase?

[GrowlerBox]

Originally Posted by trainofthought

so effectively, is there a good reason to spend the extra $1500 to get the svt8 tonewise? or is this just a volume purchase?

Only you can answer that, after you've heard the two side-by-side.

[Mark Olson]

If the head is voiced different or you'll actually use all of it's wattage, it will give you a different tone. Otherwise it's a headroom purchase, not necessarily even a volume purchase; not unless you're using that extra volume.

[jelwood]

Mark, go play a GK 2001rb in mono, then in bridged. I need say no more.

[GrapeApe]

Originally Posted by trainofthought

My question is simple. Why do you need such immense wattage? I play through an Ampeg SVT-5PRO 1350 watts mono-bridged. Ill admit it sounds great, but I'm looking to downsize from 3 units to 2 to fit more in my rack.

Comparing the SVT 8 now to the SVT 7, granted you get the extra tube in the 8, and a few other goodies. The price difference is obscene! And you end up paying, from what I can surmise, mostly for the extra 1500 watts.

Is it really doing that much to your tone?! What exactly is the connection between tonal quality and power to your speakers? I've just always been of the mindset to chase down the biggest gnarliest amp. Only now am I starting to question it.

If there is already a thread about this, my apologies. Please point me in the right direction. Couldn't find the exact answer I'm looking for.

Its not just about volume, its about clarity. more power equals more clarity, esp. in the low frequencies, which require more power for the same volume.

[Mark Olson]

YES! But you ONLY get that when you're actually running the amp at more wattage.

[Mark Olson]

Originally Posted by jelwood

Mark, go play a GK 2001rb in mono, then in bridged. I need say no more.

If I wanted to sound like poop (zingy, trebly poop) I'd do that.

[will33]

Extra wattage that your speaker can't reproduce is meaningless.....and that has nothing to do with the wattage rating of your speakers....weird, eh?

There is something to be said for headroom up to a point but those who'd rather crank 300 watts through 8 speakers, vs. 3000 watts through 2 or 4 may beg to differ.

Basically superhigh power means clean headroom. If you know what's good for you (and your wallet) you'll never actually use all of those watts.

[silky smoove]

Originally Posted by Mark Olson

If I wanted to sound like poop (zingy, trebly poop) I'd do that.

Zingy and trebly is not how I'd describe that amp. Nor would anyone that's spent any time with one.

[James Judson]

My experience started around 1967 and now 30 to 40 amps later, my finding is. An amp with a larger rating sounds better than an amp with a smaller rating. I can't explain it, its just my experience.

YMMV

[OOZMAN]

Originally Posted by jelwood

I would have to say that Mark is somewhat incorrect, I have an amp that I can run bridged or mono and I can definitely say that the extra headroom does change the sound, although in a very subtle way. Has more throw and solid bottom in bridge mode but is not as snarly.

Originally Posted by will33

Extra wattage that your speaker can't reproduce is meaningless.....and that has nothing to do with the wattage rating of your speakers....weird, eh?

There is something to be said for headroom up to a point but those who'd rather crank 300 watts through 8 speakers, vs. 3000 watts through 2 or 4 may beg to differ.

Basically superhigh power means clean headroom. If you know what's good for you (and your wallet) you'll never actually use all of those watts.

Originally Posted by James Judson

My experience started around 1967 and now 30 to 40 amps later, my finding is. An amp with a larger rating sounds better than an amp with a smaller rating. I can't explain it, its just my experience.

YMMV

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[Sartori]

If you're running out of headroom, and don't like that, then yes, more wattage can make a big difference (as in, getting enough more power so that you are no longer running out of headroom).

Myself, I purposefully run out of headroom, because that's what I like. That's why I have only 180 watts.

[OOZMAN]

Originally Posted by Sartori

Myself, I purposefully run out of headroom, because that's what I like. That's why I have only 180 watts.

I see no reason whatsoever why one would 'like' running out of headroom. 'Not minding' maybe, but 'liking'?

Enlighten me.

[Mark Olson]

It's called a tube amp. It's called rock and roll. How do you think every single rock band under the sun gets their sound?

[Mark Olson]

Originally Posted by OOZMAN

I see no reason whatsoever why one would 'like' running out of headroom. 'Not minding' maybe, but 'liking'?

This is classic. For the first time ever I'm going to sig someone else!

[OOZMAN]

When a tube amp does it, the general consensus is that it's called overdriving. Headroom is mostly associated with solid state/clean sounds.

You should've added you have a tube amp, bro.


peace.