What's Headroom?

Oster · December 1st, 2003, 12:43 AM

Could someone please explain to me in everyday terms what 'headroom' refers to when discussing an amp's sound? (High time I knew) Thanks in advance!

Dacious · December 1st, 2003, 01:02 AM

Headroom is the point where clean, clear guitar tones start distorting, due to either preamp breakup, poweramp breakup or the speaker/s starting to breakup.

It's all relative - a jazz guy might want clean clear crystalline whereas my 'headroom' might include some colouration from the rectifier tube, output transformer or tubes.

Oster · December 1st, 2003, 02:13 AM

Thanks very much for that very clear explanation! Now I know. I had been coming across the term more and more in ref. to Bass amps. Now I can see why!

December 1st, 2003, 12:43 AM	#1 (permalink)
Oster Friend of Leo's Join Date: May 2003 Location: Latveria Age: 39 Posts: 2,627	What's Headroom? Could someone please explain to me in everyday terms what 'headroom' refers to when discussing an amp's sound? (High time I knew) Thanks in advance! __________________ "What would we do baby, without us?" Play On.

December 1st, 2003, 01:02 AM	#2 (permalink)
Dacious Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Godzone Posts: 2,612 35 Photos	Headroom is the point where clean, clear guitar tones start distorting, due to either preamp breakup, poweramp breakup or the speaker/s starting to breakup. It's all relative - a jazz guy might want clean clear crystalline whereas my 'headroom' might include some colouration from the rectifier tube, output transformer or tubes. __________________ My other Telecaster is a Thinline The Tele Bible, Ch 1, v 10 Love thy Telecaster, covet not thy neighbour's Strat!

December 1st, 2003, 02:13 AM	#3 (permalink)
Oster Friend of Leo's Join Date: May 2003 Location: Latveria Age: 39 Posts: 2,627	Ah! I See! Thanks very much for that very clear explanation! Now I know. I had been coming across the term more and more in ref. to Bass amps. Now I can see why! __________________ "What would we do baby, without us?" Play On.