whats the REAL wattage of the SVT-3 PRO?

Keep in mind that difference in volume as wattage increases is not that great.

Doubling wattage gives you 3 dB volume increase, noticable but not a huge increase. To be actually double in volume, you need a 10 dB increase, this is TEN times the wattage. The difference between 350 and 450 watts would be only ONE decibel which is just barely audible to the human ear.

In my experience, when going for more wattage, anything less than 4 times the wattage is not going to give a significant increase in volume.

OK, what about the Ampeg? I do NOT own one, but have used them on gigs. I'd say that the SVT3 Pro "feels" like it runs out of headroom faster than other amps I've used in the 400-500 watt range. This could be for any number of reasons from how they measured the amp for wattage (surprise, not all manufacturers use the same method) to the actual circuit design. RMS wattage does not tell the whole story about an amp's ability to deliver short duration peak wattage (and therefore headroom).

 

Unless you have a super efficient cab, or an 8x10, probably not. I had one for a week, and it couldn't compete with a 50 watt Mesa .50 Caliber. Needless to say, the SVT-3 went on ebay after that and I went back to my Hartke. I thought the amp sounded good, but it just couldn't produce enough volume without getting dirty.

If you really want that tone, you may want to think about finding a used SVP preamp and a good power amplifier. It may sound like a pain, but that's probably going to be the best way to go.

You may also want to check out the Ashdown ABM500. You should be able to get a similar sound, and shouldn't have any problem being heard.

 

An 8x10 might hold it's own due to the number of speakers pushing air. You should definitely try this combination out in a store before you decide. I've played a B2 head through an 8x10 cabinet before and found it to have plenty of volume.

The SVP-PRO has the same preamp as the SVT-3, if memory serves. Crown, Crest, and QSC all make good power amplifiers. For the money, the QSC RMX series can't be beat.

 

Try a Carvin DCM1000.
Cheaper, and I think that it is more natural and uncolored.

The SVP-Pro + Carvin DCM1000 is a very good combination, and you will retain all that Ampeg tone.

 

A bit off the subject...

I just want to know exactly what 'headroom' is? What does it mean?

 

Headroom is the amount of clean power you have available to handle the transients and peaks of your playing.


--- From Carvin.com-----
Headroom is basically available power that you don't use most of the time. Then why pay for it? Well, as stated earlier, your home stereo may only average 10 Watts RMS, but on loud passages in the music, it may peak to its full 100 Watt potential. These peaks may only last fractions of a second but without that reserve power, the sound of your music would suffer terribly.
----From Carvin.com------

I hope that explains it.

Read the whole article here if you want:
http://www.carvin.com/doctorsound/

 

I'll second Luis's call

SVP+DCM1000; powerful as ****, with pretty much the same tone.

 

Hi lo end,
because I have just bought a new head in these days(see my message about my new Eden,if you like...)I just sended an e-mail to the ampeg staff,asking just the same question.Here it is what they answered:
"mono mode:[email protected];[email protected]"
I hope this will help you.

 

In this case,I'm sorry:I didn't understand...
Anyway I must tell you that just a week ago I have tryed the svt through an Eden410xlt(8ohm):I thought it was at least 400 watt by judging from what I was listening;in fact I quite argued with the guy at the shop,because I didn't believe it was only 300 watt.;