Would two 5 watt amps be twice as loud?

[jivepikinturkey]

I basically play out once a year for the last 3 yrs. It's coming up again in march, a talent (or lack of) show, so to speak. The first 2 years I played my Blues jr. with no problem at about 40% (or less) volume, but I sold it. Last year I played my Vox AC4tv, and it was barely enough, but it worked because our drummer is a girl (literally) and not a caveman. This year were adding keyboards, congas (playing Allman bros. Jessica) and our drummer won't be a girl, but still not a caveman. The show is at a small school cafeteria for our church with about 150 people. It's called "Family Night" where anyone can do anything from a skit, to playing Jessica. There's Old and Young in the audience so we don't play real loud on purpose.

Here's my question. I plan on getting a Marshall Class 5 and playing it together with my AC4tv. Will this be comparable to a 10 watt amp, or am I missing something?

Thanks

[powermatt99]

2 5W amps does not equal one 10W amp. There are many other factors to consider. Someone will chime in with the math.

Personally, I run my AC4TV through an 8ohm closed-back 1x12" cab. The mismatch effectively doubles the Wattage. (Don't worry, the OT can handle it. Just don't use the attenuator.) The speaker in the cab is a G12H which is more efficient than the stock POS 10" so the volume output increase is considerable. I've been able to keep up with a band at rehearsals with this rig with the volume at about 2 o'clock. I use a FD2 to take me into smooth saturated goodness.

[mastodon]

there is a HUGE difference between two 5 watter and a 50 watt amp. basically an amp need 10 times more power/wattage for it to be twice as loud as the other. i'm pretty sure a 50w amp is A LOT louder than two 5w amps. two roland microcube can't fight with a 50w plexi !!! i know that coz i'm going deaf in a room with a 50w amp. 5 watt can't hurt me

[Boytbpc]

Are two people speaking at the same time twice as loud? How about two cars?

[Truxton Spangler]

If i remember correctly two 5 watt amps at the same time are technically twice as loud (+3dB)

but the human ear requires +5dB to +10dB increase in volume to perceive twice the volume

I may be wrong though.

Best regards -T

[jivepikinturkey]

Originally Posted by Boytbpc

Are two people speaking at the same time twice as loud? How about two cars?

No, there not.
This is weird to think about, would two 100 watt stacks cranked sound like one? Weird.

So if it wouldn't double the volume, would two 5 watt's cut through better at all, or would it be a waste of money and not make any difference?

Originally Posted by powermatt99

2 5W amps does not equal one 10W amp. There are many other factors to consider. Someone will chime in with the math.

Personally, I run my AC4TV through an 8ohm closed-back 1x12" cab. The mismatch effectively doubles the Wattage. (Don't worry, the OT can handle it. Just don't use the attenuator.) The speaker in the cab is a G12H which is more efficient than the stock POS 10" so the volume output increase is considerable. I've been able to keep up with a band at rehearsals with this rig with the volume at about 2 o'clock. I use a FD2 to take me into smooth saturated goodness.

If I get an extension cab, should the ohms be mismatched? Is this more efficient? How do you know a speaker's efficiency? What cab. would you suggest, I'm thinking about an Epiphone Valve jr. if I can find one, any others?

[Crocker]

Are we overlooking the input? If the signal is split between two amps, does that reduce the signal available to either amp?

Peace.

[jivepikinturkey]

I dunno, I'll be using a zvex sho with two outputs to split the signal. This is a boost so maybe the signals will be equal?

[soundbee]

Get the Marshall. The two different amps combined will sound great. Use a delay or some kind of stereo pedal to split the signal. If you find the two amps together are out of phase simply reverse the speaker connections on one of them.

[soundbee]

Meant to add... If you need more volume just throw a mic in front of one (or both) amps.

[jivepikinturkey]

I'm not sure how good the PA is, but I agree, the two together should make sweet tone. Two different amps pushing different frequencies should sound bigger too, I think? Even if the volume isn't much more.

[GCDEF]

Originally Posted by powermatt99

2 5W amps does not equal one 10W amp. There are many other factors to consider. Someone will chime in with the math.

Actually two 5 watt amps do equal one 10 watt amp. The math confirms it.

To the OP, it will be 3dB louder, which is noticeable, but nowhere near twice as loud.

I don't know about your situation, but I'd rather gig with one bigger amp than two smaller ones. On stage, simple is good.

[Boytbpc]

Originally Posted by jivepikinturkey

No, there not.
This is weird to think about, would two 100 watt stacks cranked sound like one? Weird.

I was thinking about the question I posed, and my answer is that two equal volume things sound twice as 'noisy' but not twice as 'loud'.

[lang.murphy]

Originally Posted by jivepikinturkey

Here's my question. I plan on getting a Marshall Class 5 and playing it together with my AC4tv. Will this be comparable to a 10 watt amp, or am I missing something?

Thanks

You need to get your hands on the C5. If you haven't played one before, I can tell you... the C5 is a loud little monster. If you're looking for it to break up, it's going to be loud. No master volume on that puppy.

Best of luck with the show. Sounds like great fun.

[guitarcapo]

Mic to the PA.

Trust your feelings, Luke.....You know it is true.