Watts/ohms ratio?

[Jackporkchop]

What does it mean to me when it says "350 watts at 4 ohms and 240 watts at 8 ohms"? Does that mean the amp is louder at 4 ohms?

I started off playing bass as a teen, switched to guitar out of necessity (lead vocals, writing songs), got into boutique guitar gear, etc. Now I'm looking, at 40, at switching back to bass and I don't know much about gear or live sound issues, so get ready for some noob questions.

I'm Jack on thegearpage and porkchop on musictoyz, so I became Jackporkchop here. Sorry if I partially stole some people's handles.

 

[Vakmere]

Correct.

 

[T-Bird]

Hi, Jack.

Welcome to TalkBass.

If all the other variables (sensitivities of the cabs, number and type of the drivers etc.) are the same, the more power to the 4 Ohm load will be just a bit louder. About 2dB to be "exact".

As 3db is usually the treshold of our brain to tell wether a sound is louder than another, it might not make a difference.

Regards
Sam

 

[greenboy]

As 3db is usually the treshold of our brain to tell wether a sound is louder than another, it might not make a difference.

Sorry Sam, but if that were true someone might not think an 8-ohm 410 was worth buying instead of a 8-ohm 210. Sure, the 410 can handle more wattage, but its comfortably louder with less average wattage too. Nothing especially subtle about 3 dB - it's "comfortably louder" ; }

1 dB is actually closer equated with being wihtin the threshold of audible difference, though the true measurement is frequency-dependent and better stated in phons. Simply though, 1 dB in the broadband with plenty of midrange is a barely audible change for most people.

"Comfortably Louder" - kinda seems like this is the new spiel for a 3 dB difference - if I set it to catchy music ; }