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Watts/ohms ratio?

Discussion in 'Amps and Cabs [BG]' started by Jackporkchop, Jan 13, 2009.

  1. Jan 13, 2009 #1
    Jackporkchop

    Jackporkchop Guest

    Jan 12, 2009
    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.
     
  2. Jan 13, 2009 #2
    Vakmere

    Vakmere

    Sep 6, 2007
    Philly
    Correct.
     
  3. Jan 13, 2009 #3
    T-Bird

    T-Bird Guest

    Apr 29, 2007
    Finland (Northern Europe)
    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
     
  4. Jan 13, 2009 #4
    greenboy

    greenboy

    Dec 18, 2000
    remote mountain cabin Montana
    greenboy designs: fEARful, bassic, dually, crazy88 etc
    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 ; }