Is 15 watts too loud for apartment/bedroom levels?

Ax · 04-05-2011, 08:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Plexi8759

Five watts is about as loud as a blaring trumpet! Which is pretty loud. Double the power and add about 3db ie 5 to 10 or 50 to 100. My AC30 has a pentode/triode switch that cuts the power in half to 15w .... Sweet tone but it's definitely NOT bedroom levels!

My humble advise is ..... Keep your amp. Play it often when at home. Buy exactly what you want without regard to how loud it is and find some way any way to play it as loud as you want. Take it to church when no one is there. Find a relative or friend that doesn't have close neighbors. I promise you will enjoy it A LOT more. Over time your playing will become more expressive as a tube amp set properly will react to your playing and pick dynamic. Again .. This is just my humble honest opinion. Hope it helps.

Going from 5 to 10 Watts does not double your volume, it gives you about a 20% increase at most.

My advice, get a Vox Night Train and a small cab. 7.5 watt mode sounds great, gets you all the Vox tone, if that's too much grab an attenuator.

Plexi8759 · 04-05-2011, 08:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ax

Going from 5 to 10 Watts does not double your volume, it gives you about a 20% increase at most.

My advice, get a Vox Night Train and a small cab. 7.5 watt mode sounds great, gets you all the Vox tone, if that's too much grab an attenuator.

Did not say it would double your volume .... I said it would give you about a 3decible increase.

Also ... Perceived loudness can be very different from actuall gain in db's

Oldgtrnovice · 04-05-2011, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gopats1479

You will HATE all the models on the VT. They all sound bad except for the Vox models. .

I think it's awfully bold to presume that he will HATE all of the models on the VT just because you do. Unless of course you're privy to this person's sound preferences and then I'm way off here. Personally, I like many of the sounds that come out of my VT 30. Of course, running it through a 1x12 or a 2 x 12 definitely helps. That 10-inch speaker Vox uses definitely leaves something to be desired. I think it's like anything else, brother. You play around until you find something you like. I love the Vox modeling but I really don't like the Peavey Vyper series or the Marshall MG series. But I have no idea how you, or anyone else would feel about them. I do so much tweaking and processing, though, that sometimes think I could run my stuff through a tin can with an old phone speaker and find a sound I like. Ya know what I mean? Peace!

adamjn · 04-09-2011, 10:18 AM

I have a VT40+, one of the newer ones. Most of the amp models are actually very good, not just the Vox models. There's a Bruno model that is my go-to amp. In fact, if I use a boost and overdrive, I can get very realistic clean, crunch, and lead sounds out of that one model without having to switch channels.

Everyone's ears, tastes, and needs are different. Peace.

fenderboss7 · 04-09-2011, 03:23 PM

i have a small 3W vox mini3......solid state.....great for bedroom play.

they also have those little 4W Vox tube amps, that you could turn down the W to 1W and 1/4W
it's the Vox AC4TV

Gibson SG · 04-10-2011, 09:33 PM

I use a Champ in my dorm, and wish it was quieter... even when I run it at 2.5-3. But since I'll be out of the dorm in a few weeks, it's not worth worrying about. Again, YMMV.

HairyScaryMark · 04-12-2011, 07:26 PM

I practice on a 15 W, Fender Super Champ XD with no problems with it being too loud. If you wanted to crank it to a level where the valves or speakers distorted, then it would be too loud but if you are happy to play clean, it's fine.

C Van Shredacom · 04-14-2011, 08:42 AM

I like Rainer's advise, find an amp you like the sound of on low volume.
I have a Fender Frontman 212R (100 watts, Yikes!) I play at home. It has two input plugs and I use the second input which is 3db down. Then I set the volume on 2 and control the input levels from my Boss ME-25. Not too loud and the sounds are enjoyable. No shaking windows. I don't really recommend the Frontman, but the price was right.

**Rainer.** · 04-14-2011, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by C Van Shredacom

I like Rainer's advise, find an amp you like the sound of on low volume.
I have a Fender Frontman 212R (100 watts, Yikes!) I play at home. It has two input plugs and I use the second input which is 3db down. Then I set the volume on 2 and control the input levels from my Boss ME-25. Not too loud and the sounds are enjoyable. No shaking windows. I don't really recommend the Frontman, but the price was right.

Yeah, those Fender FM212 amps have useless drive channels, but the clean channel is pleasantly squeaky clean. I used one for a little while with my PODxt Live, and it was perfectly adequate.

Nothin' special, though.

AdamAPHC · 04-14-2011, 02:19 PM

+1 for FM212. Been using one at church for 5 YEARS. Perfectly pristine solid state clean channel... takes pedals like a champ. Effects loop. Good reverb. Hard to pass up for $250-300.

Reuben · 07-16-2011, 10:32 AM

Well, I played an AC15C1 again today. They actually have one at a local music store, which is torture as sadly, I do not have $600 to drop right now.

Anyway, given how loud I usually play my current amp, I'm pretty sure I could play the AC15 at about the same levels for when I play in the apartment, and get a sound I'd be more than happy with.

Such a nice amp. Someday AC15 ... someday

lifesglorydead · 07-16-2011, 01:05 PM

Just picked up an AC15C1 myself yesterday! I've definitely fallen in love. Hopefully it'll be my last amp purchase for a while.

Definitely way too loud for my house though.

Reuben · 07-16-2011, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lifesglorydead

Definitely way too loud for my house though.

When pushing it into overdrive, or even just when playing it clean?

My main plan would be mostly to keep it clean and use a pedal for overdrive, which I think could keep the levels manageable.

lifesglorydead · 07-16-2011, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reuben

When pushing it into overdrive, or even just when playing it clean?

My main plan would be mostly to keep it clean and use a pedal for overdrive, which I think could keep the levels manageable.

Well, my issue is that both the clean and OD really do sound great at low bedroom levels, but that's just not where they shine at all. Even with the master a little bit past that (and I'm still talking between 9 and 12 oclock, as this amp is pretty much loud as frick) the difference in clarity and tonal dynamic is night and day.

Reuben · 07-16-2011, 06:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lifesglorydead

Well, my issue is that both the clean and OD really do sound great at low bedroom levels, but that's just not where they shine at all. Even with the master a little bit past that (and I'm still talking between 9 and 12 oclock, as this amp is pretty much loud as frick) the difference in clarity and tonal dynamic is night and day.

Ah. I think in my situation though, that great sound at low levels is still enough of a step up to make it a very attractive option. Then I also have that possibility of turning it up to those "shining" levels when the opportunity allows.

Whatever the case, I think today definitely solidified the AC15 as the front-runner in my some-day next amp purchase.