Do amps sound better loud?

[srblue5]

Apologies if this is a dumb question or if this has been covered before, but do amps sound better loud? If so or if not, why is that? I suspect this might be subjective but is there a general idea that amps sound better within a certain level of volumes vs. extremes of quiet or loud?

In my experience, I feel like most of my amps (tube and solid state) do sound better loud up to a point. I mostly use a Fender '65 PRRI and Peavey Bandit 65 and occasionally a Vox Mini Superbeetle -- all sound better cranked a fair bit vs. attenuated or at super low volumes with pedals doing the heavy lifting with respect to overdrive. The Bandit and Vox sound okay at lower volumes so I tend to reach for those if I'm playing in environments where people are exquisitely sensitive to volume levels because the PRRI sounds thin and fizzy at low or overly attenuated levels. I wonder if it has something to do with speaker efficiency.

 

[sax4blues]

Depends how close you are.

 

[stnmtthw]

Depends on the amp. In my opinion, solid state and small speakers are better for low volumes, tubes and large speakers are when you want to open it up a bit.

This isn't 100% true, though, because I have a Twin Reverb that sounds killer whether it's turned up or not.

Some people (like me) should only play at low volumes, regardless of the gear...

 

[David Barnett]

Louder than your neighbors would prefer.

 

[King Fan]

You'll get lots of discussion. Simply, though, psychoacoustics tells us humans prefer loud music, if 'properly' reproduced (not on postage stamp speakers) -- up to the point it gets painful. This was used back in the day to sell expensive stereo gear; the salesman's "A:B" switch had a 'loud' or boosted side, and he'd plug the high-priced receiver (or whatever) into that side. The evidence these days is everywhere, from Broadway shows to movie theaters to popular restaurants to cheap sports bars....

 

[srblue5]

You'll get lots of discussion. Simply, though, psychoacoustics tells us humans prefer loud music, if 'properly' reproduced (not on postage stamp speakers) -- up to the point it gets painful. This was used back in the day to sell expensive stereo gear; the salesman's "A:B" switch had a 'loud' or boosted side, and he'd plug the high-priced receiver (or whatever) into that side. The evidence these days is everywhere, from Broadway shows to movie theaters to popular restaurants to cheap sports bars....

Makes sense. I vaguely remember someone doing something like that when my dad was buying a high-end stereo system (remember those?) during my teen years.

(Side note: I love your signature quote from Buddy Guy!)

 

[srblue5]

Depends on the amp. In my opinion, solid state and small speakers are better for low volumes, tubes and large speakers are when you want to open it up a bit.

This isn't 100% true, though, because I have a Twin Reverb that sounds killer whether it's turned up or not.

Some people (like me) should only play at low volumes, regardless of the gear...

I agree, although I think even my Vox sounds even better cranked a little (is the Mini Superbeetle considered tube or solid state? I don't even know.)

 

[dougstrum]

Below a certain level amps seem to lack dynamics, above a certain volume level they lose a bit of subtlety.
To me most amps seem best somewhere between 1/4 and 3/4 open.
That gives a pretty wide volume range to work with.

 

[Chiogtr4x]

My answer is you like what you like,

For example, it seems a lot of folks seem NOT to like the sound of an amp unless it is overdriven and/or really loud.

I love that sound and use that sound,
but I also love and use the sound of a Fender BF/SF Fender amp w/Reverb ( the model does not matter) at very low volume, because I love the sound of just about any good guitar plugged into one of those.

It could be just my 'old fart imprint' of SOME of sounds of early R&R, Surf, pop, Country guitar sound

- not that the amps were whisper quiet ( but pretty Clean, yes), but I can get that sound with a quiet Fender amp- so, I like it!

 

[D_Malone]

You'll get lots of discussion. Simply, though, psychoacoustics tells us humans prefer loud music…

This, and also, when your amp is cranked a lot of other factors come into play. Your strings and guitar resonate sympathetically, which changes the feel. The room resonates. The speaker cabinet resonates.

Louder is better in my experience.

 

[middy]

Below a certain level amps seem to lack dynamics, above a certain volume level they lose a bit of subtlety.
To me most amps seem best somewhere between 1/4 and 3/4 open.
That gives a pretty wide volume range to work with.

And none of it is quiet unless you’re down to 0.1 watts or less. That first watt through an efficient speaker is like an unmuted trumpet.

 

[Heartbreaker_Esq]

Obviously there is a sonic difference when it comes to tube amps creating natural breakup at higher volumes. But other than that, just in terms of pure loudness, I do not notice a difference at all. I love a tube amp cranked, but with an attenuator or master volume to bring it down to bedroom levels. Having it quiet takes nothing away, in my opinion. But take my opinion with a grain of salt - I am whatever the opposite of a cork-sniffer or tone snob is.

 

[middy]

Obviously there is a sonic difference when it comes to tube amps creating natural breakup at higher volumes. But other than that, just in terms of pure loudness, I do not notice a difference at all. I love a tube amp cranked, but with an attenuator or master volume to bring it down to bedroom levels. Having it quiet takes nothing away, in my opinion. But take my opinion with a grain of salt - I am whatever the opposite of a cork-sniffer or tone snob is.

To me, it certainly changes a lot depending on volume. The bass and treble become more prominent as you turn up and the mids are more apparent as you turn down. This really bothers some people who are used to a certain waveform in a certain room. An attenuator really changes that just by reducing the volume, and they blame it on the attenuator.
It doesn’t bother me because I’m expecting it.
Playing to the room is a bit of a lost art because of heavy handed rock drummers, but that’s why it’s called volume instead of loudness. Think about it.

 

[D_Malone]

Obviously there is a sonic difference when it comes to tube amps creating natural breakup at higher volumes. But other than that, just in terms of pure loudness, I do not notice a difference at all. I love a tube amp cranked, but with an attenuator or master volume to bring it down to bedroom levels. Having it quiet takes nothing away, in my opinion. But take my opinion with a grain of salt - I am whatever the opposite of a cork-sniffer or tone snob is.

It’s not cork-sniffery IMO.

You’re telling us that, to you, the sound and feel of a cranked amp shaking the room and making your pants flap is no more satisfying than an attenuated amp in the bedroom? Really?

 

[middy]

Ha! My previous post reminded me of a few basement hardcore punk shows I attended in the 80s.
I’m sure many of you remember this phenomenon of a way too loud band in a way too small basement and the standing waves of disorienting noise that would mutate as you walked through the room and around other people.

 

[johnny k]

I had the opportunity to play my bandit at 6 or 7, and it sounded better to me. It started to crack on the clean sound. Outdoor thing. Lovely.

 

[darkwaters]

No. They just sound louder.

 

[tubedude]

Due to the Fletcher- Munson curve amps sound fuller when louder. Too loud and dynamic compression occurs.

 

[schmee]

Yes, there seems to be a "zone" of adjustments where they sound best. Some amps have a broad zone, some not so much so. IME it doesn't have to be a super loud place in many amps, but yeah, much of most any amp's range is loud. Except in a band mix where it's all loud!
My Fender BF/SF amps do fine in the 3-5 range on volume.
-I had a Matchless Clubman, the only place that amp sounded good was a real loud place. Couldn't stand it.
-My Z28 was a nice amp, but it also seemed to have one narrow, loud zone of great tone vs volume.

 

[Strat Jacket]

Definitely, to me, I prefer the sound of my Super Champ X2 as loud as my better half and the neighbors will tolerate. My normal practice volume is adequate but not preferred.