Why is it that some amps that are rated the same in watts seem to sound louder than others if they produce the same amount of power. No particular names but I have read about amps being compared to each other say for example amp A and amp B both 500 watts but they will say amp B sounds louder than amp A, I was just curious as to why that would be.
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Amp Comparisons
- Thread starter Bass-4-God
- Start date
1) Different manufacturers claim the amp wattage differntly, e.g. 500 Watts RMS is not the same as 500 Watts maximum peak power.
2) The sound of amp A and amp B can be different. Say, amp A has a very neutral, linear sound, and amp B has a bump at the upper bass/low mid, amp B would appear louder.
2) The sound of amp A and amp B can be different. Say, amp A has a very neutral, linear sound, and amp B has a bump at the upper bass/low mid, amp B would appear louder.
it depends how they measure the wattage... most companies use slightly different methods hence there is no standard measurement even though a watt is a watt
plus there are other factors in the design of the amp that affect the volume besides just the amount of power available
plus there are other factors in the design of the amp that affect the volume besides just the amount of power available
Amps are at least as complicated as the instruments they amplify, in their own ways. There are so many factors that affect their sound, and not all of them actually part of the amp:
- The construction of the cabinet has a lot to do with the acoustic properties of the amp, particularly in terms of projection (and thus perceived loudness).
- The speaker. This goes hand in hand with the cabinet, and is a set of variables all its own: speaker size, cone and driver materials, horn or no horn, and so forth.
- Tube, solid state or hybrid amp? They are all different in how they do their thing, and thus in the resulting sound.
- Sequence and composition of the amp's circuitry. Different companies use different schematics and parts and methods to get their "trademark" sound in their amps.
- Quality of construction. Not all amps are created equal, especially overseas.
- Your location relative to the amp in the given acoustic environment. This is a big unknown when evaluating amps, because it's not something that is a physical part of the amp itself, and it can't be quantified in a manual. I have played amps that didn't seem as loud as their watts up close, but they were rattling windows down the block; conversely, I have also played amps that would blow your clothing off your body up close, but you couldn't hear them across the room. Neither scenario is necessarily the amp's fault.
There are more variables than these; I am sure others can add them. But the point is that there is so much more to amps than their watts.
- The construction of the cabinet has a lot to do with the acoustic properties of the amp, particularly in terms of projection (and thus perceived loudness).
- The speaker. This goes hand in hand with the cabinet, and is a set of variables all its own: speaker size, cone and driver materials, horn or no horn, and so forth.
- Tube, solid state or hybrid amp? They are all different in how they do their thing, and thus in the resulting sound.
- Sequence and composition of the amp's circuitry. Different companies use different schematics and parts and methods to get their "trademark" sound in their amps.
- Quality of construction. Not all amps are created equal, especially overseas.
- Your location relative to the amp in the given acoustic environment. This is a big unknown when evaluating amps, because it's not something that is a physical part of the amp itself, and it can't be quantified in a manual. I have played amps that didn't seem as loud as their watts up close, but they were rattling windows down the block; conversely, I have also played amps that would blow your clothing off your body up close, but you couldn't hear them across the room. Neither scenario is necessarily the amp's fault.
There are more variables than these; I am sure others can add them. But the point is that there is so much more to amps than their watts.
