I thought it might be fun to start a thread where people can debunk some of the myths going around about amplification. Feel free to add your own, but try to be accurate, please. And as always, comments are welcome.
Underpowering a cab can cause speakers to blow if you send the amp into clipping.
This is the number one myth of all time. It's debunked all the time, yet it's repeated here at least once a day, and many major manufacturers still claim this to be true on their websites. The only thing that blows speakers is forcing them to work harder than they're capable, and that's done by overpowering them. If an underpowered amp goes into clipping and blows a cab built to take more power, it's because the clip momentarily caused the amp to put out way more power than the speaker could take. But if the amp's peak power rating is lower than the cab's RMS power handling, it's highly unlikely. You're much more likely to blow a speaker with an overpowered head because it will still be putting out clean volume while your poor speakers struggle and beg for mercy.
Square wave distortion blows speakers.
This is the second most repeated myth. Supposedly it puts out a wave that's the opposite of how a speaker works and shreds them. If it were true, how could you amplifly an analog synthesizer?
Bass waves need room to develop.
I must admit I always thought this was true. So many audio people used to say it as a mantra when I was starting out. Not true, according to Bill Fitzmaurice, and his explanation is a good one...if it were true, how come headphones work?
Tube amps are harder to keep in good repair than SS amps.
Not true at all. There is no reason tube amps should require more care than a SS amp. Yeah, occasionally you have to replace a tube or have it biased, but occasionally SS amps need servicing as well. FETs need biasing occasionally, too. And I've had SS amps in the shop as much or more than I've had tube amps in the shop.
Tube watts are more powerful than SS watts.
Watts is watts. The only difference is that tube amps will generally allow you to push past the point of their RMS wattage because distortion kicks in much smoother and less noticeable as an SS amp, so it sounds like clean volume even though it isn't.
Rock amps vs. jazz amps.
There seems to be a perception among newer players that the type of amp you play is based on the type of music you play. BULLCRAP! You can play any kind of music on any kind of amp/speaker rig, and if you can't, it's not the rig's fault. Now I don't think I'd take a giant 810 rig with a chrome grill and a head that says "KRANK" in big bold letters to a jazz gig at an Italian restaurant, but sonically, I could make it work. As long as you have a rig that has enough power to cut the gig, you should be able to make it work for any kind of music. And speaking of power...
I need 1000w for the headroom.
Yeah, and Paris Hilton is a superstar because of her great singing voice and wonderful personality. If you have headroom on a 300w amp, what makes you think that have an extra 700w of headroom is going to improve your tone? As long as you're operating within the RMS wattage, your tone won't get any cleaner. Power is cheap and relatively light, so there's nothing wrong with having 1000w available if you want it, but if you have a 1000w rig and you run it regularly on less than its 1000w, then you have a 1000w rig because you like to tell people you have a 1000w rig
Underpowering a cab can cause speakers to blow if you send the amp into clipping.
This is the number one myth of all time. It's debunked all the time, yet it's repeated here at least once a day, and many major manufacturers still claim this to be true on their websites. The only thing that blows speakers is forcing them to work harder than they're capable, and that's done by overpowering them. If an underpowered amp goes into clipping and blows a cab built to take more power, it's because the clip momentarily caused the amp to put out way more power than the speaker could take. But if the amp's peak power rating is lower than the cab's RMS power handling, it's highly unlikely. You're much more likely to blow a speaker with an overpowered head because it will still be putting out clean volume while your poor speakers struggle and beg for mercy.
Square wave distortion blows speakers.
This is the second most repeated myth. Supposedly it puts out a wave that's the opposite of how a speaker works and shreds them. If it were true, how could you amplifly an analog synthesizer?
Bass waves need room to develop.
I must admit I always thought this was true. So many audio people used to say it as a mantra when I was starting out. Not true, according to Bill Fitzmaurice, and his explanation is a good one...if it were true, how come headphones work?
Tube amps are harder to keep in good repair than SS amps.
Not true at all. There is no reason tube amps should require more care than a SS amp. Yeah, occasionally you have to replace a tube or have it biased, but occasionally SS amps need servicing as well. FETs need biasing occasionally, too. And I've had SS amps in the shop as much or more than I've had tube amps in the shop.
Tube watts are more powerful than SS watts.
Watts is watts. The only difference is that tube amps will generally allow you to push past the point of their RMS wattage because distortion kicks in much smoother and less noticeable as an SS amp, so it sounds like clean volume even though it isn't.
Rock amps vs. jazz amps.
There seems to be a perception among newer players that the type of amp you play is based on the type of music you play. BULLCRAP! You can play any kind of music on any kind of amp/speaker rig, and if you can't, it's not the rig's fault. Now I don't think I'd take a giant 810 rig with a chrome grill and a head that says "KRANK" in big bold letters to a jazz gig at an Italian restaurant, but sonically, I could make it work. As long as you have a rig that has enough power to cut the gig, you should be able to make it work for any kind of music. And speaking of power...
I need 1000w for the headroom.
Yeah, and Paris Hilton is a superstar because of her great singing voice and wonderful personality. If you have headroom on a 300w amp, what makes you think that have an extra 700w of headroom is going to improve your tone? As long as you're operating within the RMS wattage, your tone won't get any cleaner. Power is cheap and relatively light, so there's nothing wrong with having 1000w available if you want it, but if you have a 1000w rig and you run it regularly on less than its 1000w, then you have a 1000w rig because you like to tell people you have a 1000w rig
