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Why the difference in volume?

NKUSigEp

NKUSigEp

Supporting Member
Jun 6, 2006
5,232
208
Bright, IN
#1
Alright...this may sound like a n00b question but I swear I'm not a n00b. Fedex dropped off an Eden WTX-260 today and I've been toying around with it. My main amp is an Aguilar AG500SC that I've had for about a year.

The question...why is the WTX-260 on half volume WAY louder and fuller sounding than the AG500SC on just a little less than half? The midrange sections of each are completely different, the Aguilar being more present and the Eden's more subdued...and the bottom ends are complete different too, the Eden rattles the foundation while the Aguilar seems like it's struggling to get over the midrange. What's going on?

(Both amps are going through an Aguilar GS412 and I'm using my Spector)
 
#5
KPJ said:
The position of the volume knob on one amp is in no way related to the position of the volume knob on another amp.
Click to expand...

I'm very aware of that...but people are ranting about how the WTX-260 is underpowered and rather quiet compared to other ultralight amps.

TSanders said:
Most likely different gain tapers or gain structures, IMO.
Click to expand...

Perhaps...

funkydanbass said:
Maybe 'active' vs. 'passive' input... 'x' db pad??
Click to expand...

Nope...tried that.
 
#6
KPJ said:
The position of the volume knob on one amp is in no way related to the position of the volume knob on another amp.
Click to expand...

+1

My Ampeg V4 achieves its maximum usable volume level at only around the 11:00 volume knob position.
Another amp I had (SWR bass 350) produced only half its maximum volume at a volume knob position of 3/4 (or 3:00) and then the last 1/4 of a turn seems to double its volume level.
 
#7
anderbass said:
+1

My Ampeg V4 achieves its maximum usable volume level at only around the 11:00 volume knob position.
Another amp I had (SWR bass 350) produced only half its maximum volume at a volume knob position of 3/4 (or 3:00) and then the last 1/4 of a turn seems to double its volume level.
Click to expand...

The position of the knob is irrelavent, the fact remains that the WTX-260 just appears to be as loud or louder than the AG500SC. :confused:
 
#10
BassmanPaul said:
You asked a question that was answered quite ably and correctly by three different posts. You seem to dislike these replies. You have a simple option: use the WTX-260 if it suits you better than your other amp.

QED

Paul
Click to expand...

Not that I dislike them, just that some sound genericly incorrect or have little to do with what I'm actually asking for. This is more of a technical question, not a "which one sounds better" post.

Maybe I wasn't clear...some say the Eden is underpowered and doesn't have enough volume. My Aguilar has great reviews across the board and is very loud. BUT...the Eden is perceivably louder than the Aguilar for almost every setting. Why? Is my Aguilar broke?
 
#11
NKUSigEp said:
Not that I dislike them, just that some sound genericly incorrect or have little to do with what I'm actually asking for. This is more of a technical question, not a "which one sounds better" post.

Maybe I wasn't clear...some say the Eden is underpowered and doesn't have enough volume. My Aguilar has great reviews across the board and is very loud. BUT...the Eden is perceivably louder than the Aguilar for almost every setting. Why? Is my Aguilar broke?
Click to expand...

Have you turned them both up all the way?
 
#13
I'm not a very technical guy but if I understand things correctly, amps don't all achieve volume at the same knob locations. Two amps with volume knobs set at noon - amp A might have reached its max volume while amp B may only have reached 1/3 its overall volume.

If I've misinterpreted hopefully one of the bass professors will come back by and correct me.
 
#15
NKUSigEp said:
perceivably louder
Click to expand...
This phrase is key in this discussion. How you perceive the volume of the amp will depend on the natural frequency response curves of the amp, the cab it's plugged into, and the room it's all in.

The true test of this would be putting your amp through a few different cabs in either an anechoic chamber or outside and measuring it across a wide range of frequencies with an SPL meter. I think you would be surprised at the results.

My take on it: if the Aguilar isn't distorting when the master volume knob is turned to 11 and that volume is balls-out loud then there's nothing wrong with it.
 
#16
NKUSigEp said:
Alright...this may sound like a n00b question but I swear I'm not a n00b. Fedex dropped off an Eden WTX-260 today and I've been toying around with it. My main amp is an Aguilar AG500SC that I've had for about a year.

The question...why is the WTX-260 on half volume WAY louder and fuller sounding than the AG500SC on just a little less than half? The midrange sections of each are completely different, the Aguilar being more present and the Eden's more subdued...and the bottom ends are complete different too, the Eden rattles the foundation while the Aguilar seems like it's struggling to get over the midrange. What's going on?

(Both amps are going through an Aguilar GS412 and I'm using my Spector)
Click to expand...

Here is a crappy response:

It is what it is.

My TE 250W amp blows away my 700W Peavey and my 850W QSC. Why? I dunno... It just seems that way to me.

It could be the pot tapers. One may be log and the other linear.

It could be a mid hump boost.

It could be marketing hype and how they were measured.

Fact is that according to the published specs of all of my amps, the 250W is louder than the 700W is louder than the 850W.

I say whatever... take it for what it is.

Ox.
 

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