Headroom

[KEYGLASS]

I see many people use the term head room when describing the sound quality of an amp. could someone please define for me what headroom means. thanks

 

[loverocker]

It's used as shorthand for how loud an amp will go before you get overdrive. Some amp's don't have much - like a Fender Champ. People using with a low wattage amp often want more headroom to be heard over a drummer when playing live (i.e. they crank the amp, but it distorts leaving them without a clean tone).

I had a Diezel that could do 160W of clean. Now that's headroom

 

[hear and play]

+1 for loverocker's answer

An amp's wattage rating is not synonomus with its headroom -- two 50 watt amps may differ in how loud they'll get before the listener perceives distortion.

 

[Reeek]

As hear and play states, headroom has more to do with the circuit design and component values including the transformers. Other elements to a certain degree would be the tubes and the speakers as to how clean an amp can stay after the circuit has been designed for clean headroom.

 

[KEYGLASS]

Thanks for the quick replys! Now I know what it is and it makes sense. Thanks again

peace

 

[Jon Silberman]

It's also something tall folks like me need to be concerned about it the back seats of cars.