Question about Vox AC15C1 speaker

[mindtwist07]

Hi, this might be answered before. But still I would like to ask, my ac15c1 has the 25w 16ohm greenback speaker and it sounds good to me. When i turn the master/normal/top boost volume knob noon or past noon the amp breaks up as it is which is normal for a low wattage amp.

So my question is if i replace my speaker into a 60w celestion V30 or a higher wattage speaker can i get a clean headroom at high volumes without the amp to break up? or changing tubes would be a better solution?

how about adding an extension cab? will that help to get that clean headroom I'm looking for?

I'm a bit curious. thanks

 

[JTM45blues]

For a little more "loudness" you could buy a Celestion Blue, which is far more efficient than the Greenback. However, please note the breakup on the dial will still be around halfway up.

Note I play in a roackabilly, blues and honky tonk trio. I've used my AC15c1x twice outdoors. Once was with people sitting very close at a winery. The second time I was trying to cover about 60 yards length and about 40 or 50 yards wide, and even with a 2x12 ext cab (Scumback H75 and M75) it was not loud enough unmic'd. Now my stage volume was plenty, but the people sitting in the middle and at the back couldn't hear me. I should have mic'd up, that was my fault.

My advice if you really want and need more headroom, trade the AC15c1 and buy the AC30c2 or c2x, you'll have plenty of headroom.

I really love the sound of these new Vox amps, I am going to look for a deal on an AC30 soon.

 

[FMA]

A higher wattage rating won't buy you headroom. To get more clean volume, you need to shop for a more efficient speaker. For instance, I have an AC15 that has an alnico Eminence Red Fang in it, a speaker with a pretty high efficiency rating, and it can produce a pretty decent loud, on the edge of breakup, tone.

 

[KC]

According to specs, the greenback is 96dB sensitivity, the Blue is 100 dB and the Red Fang is 102.5. On paper, anyway, switching from the greenback to the Red Fang should ale a huge difference in volume at any given power level. It's not the wattage rating but the efficiency rating that makes the difference.

 

[Tle4]

+1 on higher efficient speaker.

I also believe you could benefit from a higher wattage speaker like an alnico gold over the blue. With the higher watt speaker, the speaker will have more clean headroom because you won't get the speaker breakup

 

[Captain Bb]

If the tubes are causing the break-up, a more efficient speaker will make no difference to clean headroom.

 

[KC]

If the tubes are causing the break-up, a more efficient speaker will make no difference to clean headroom.

Um, yes it will. Here's an article on the relationship between power, decibels and perceived loudness:

http://www.gcaudio.com/resources/howtos/voltageloudness.html

You'll note that the 6dB difference in efficiency between the Greenback & the Red Fang has the same effect on loudness as quadrupling the power of the amp. If the tubes are breaking up, yeah, the amp can't make them magically clean up -- but a more-efficient speaker will make the amp work less hard for each dB of loudness.

 

[Chicago Slim]

I went from a speaker rated at 97 db sensitivity, to a speaker ratted 101 db. It did increase the clean headroom of my Vox TB18C1.


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[mindtwist07]

Thanks for the replies guys. Really informative and I learned a lot. I guess I'll try the speaker change first. I was thinking the red fang is the way to go. I love my Ac15c1. Its been with me through a lot of gigs.

If I'm still not contented with the volume or the headroom. Last resort for me is just sell the AC15c1 and just go for the AC30C2.

Problem is I normally go un mic'ed on most occasions/if there's no sound/audio system around, so volume and headroom is a big deal for me. From a small hall to a big gymnasium. I'm just looking for an alternative to make my sound bigger without getting a 4x12 or something.

Thanks again for the help

 

[MadJack]

The Red Fang is a good choice. To add to the bigger feel get another speaker cab and a second Red Fang. Both speakers should be the 16 Ω versions. Use the Extension Jack and the 8 Ω setting next to it. I use my AC15C1 with a Weber Alnico Blue Dog and will often use my 1 X 10" cab with the Weber Alnico Blue Pup for a bigger feel. Almost an AC30 feel to the two speakers.

 

[Adelbatross]

+1 on the new speaker. I'm actually about to do the same for my AC15C1. When I spoke to the amp tech his advice was that many go for the AC30 to get more headroom at higher volume, but his experience was an Alnico blue (or for you the Red Fang) was all that was needed for the AC15 to get a pretty nice result.

That said, the AC30 is a fantastic amp. Just A LOT more to carry around, which is why I'm sticking with the AC15 and putting in the new speaker. One thing about the AC30, you'll probably never have to worry about volume ever again!