[hugz]

People say that distortion kills speakers (because it's DC, I think).

guitar amps distort deliberately (i think) to make it sound cooler.. so why doesn't this kill speakers also?

This is a bit of a n00b question but it sparked my curiosity

 

[kramer5150]

My understanding is tube amps (and preamp circuits) dont "clip" the waveform when they reach dynamic peaks. Rather the waveform starts to square over and develop "soft corners". So its not exactly a square wave.

Ive always wondered this too though...

 

[Jahn]

i thought all the "overdriving" happened in the pre-amp stage, but the power amp stage put out a nice clean signal. Sort of how you can play death metal from your CD, but the actual signal going to your receiver/speakers is a nice clean signal of that death thrash.

 

[gordie]

Guitar amp speakers are a different animal then the speakers used for a stereo - they are made to take a serious beating, and their design parameters are much different (see last link where it discusses speakers). Guitar amp speakers are extremely colored, and complement the frequency response of an electric guitar as well as the amp's colorations and distortion.

Also, the distortion isn't DC, it is mostly added harmonics (harmonic distortion), and whatever else tubes do when they clip (or when transistors are run into saturation)

Here's some links with more info:

http://ftp.newave.net.au/~gmarts/ampovdrv.htm
http://users.chariot.net.au/~gmarts/ampbasic.htm

-- Gordie

 

[JahJahBinks]

Distortion is not DC, you cannot hear anything below 20Hz, let alone DC.

 

[NotJeffBuckley]

Quote:

Originally Posted by gordie Guitar amp speakers are a different animal then the speakers used for a stereo - they are made to take a serious beating, and their design parameters are much different (see last link where it discusses speakers). Guitar amp speakers are extremely colored, and complement the frequency response of an electric guitar as well as the amp's colorations and distortion. Also, the distortion isn't DC, it is mostly added harmonics (harmonic distortion), and whatever else tubes do when they clip (or when transistors are run into saturation) Here's some links with more info: http://ftp.newave.net.au/~gmarts/ampovdrv.htm http://users.chariot.net.au/~gmarts/ampbasic.htm -- Gordie

Bingo. Guitar speakers are designed to be run to and beyond clipping point. Some amplifiers rely primarily on the pre-amp and power-amp clipping, but many utilize speaker clipping as well to get that saturated, crunchy sound.

 

[psychogentoo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by NotJeffBuckley Bingo. Guitar speakers are designed to be run to and beyond clipping point. Some amplifiers rely primarily on the pre-amp and power-amp clipping, but many utilize speaker clipping as well to get that saturated, crunchy sound.

As guitar hobbiest and without a technical background on guitar amps, I've always thought the majority of the tube amps out there now with a master volume did the distorting on the preamp stage.

Which guitar amps utilizes speaker clipping? Always looking for more sounds...

Edit: read the whitepaper linked above. so I guess all of them use a "soft clipping" on the speakers?

 

[kramer5150]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jahn i thought all the "overdriving" happened in the pre-amp stage, but the power amp stage put out a nice clean signal. Sort of how you can play death metal from your CD, but the actual signal going to your receiver/speakers is a nice clean signal of that death thrash.

depends on the amp / preamp circuit... I have an older carvin with EL34s that SINGS when the power tubes start to saturate. You can hear this on a lot of older Steve Vai recordings where he used carvin EL34 heads for his cleaner and mildly overdriven work. Unfortunately, its only gig level volumes where I can come close to using this. I played a peavey classic combo with EL84s and I thought it sounded REALLY good with the tubes pushing saturation.

I for one dont like 12AX7 preamp distortion... it sounds too compressed and buzzy to my ears.

My fave amp is the older Lexicon signature 84. Its a small-ish EL84 based amp that sounds really good when pushed... IMHO.

Gordie: Excellent post, THANK YOU!!

Garrett

 

[Jahn]

ugh, duh i'm silly. the vox amp i just got has it's OD tube in the power amp circuit *bonks self in head*!

 

[Senn20]

Quote:

Originally Posted by psychogentoo As guitar hobbiest and without a technical background on guitar amps, I've always thought the majority of the tube amps out there now with a master volume did the distorting on the preamp stage. Which guitar amps utilizes speaker clipping? Always looking for more sounds... Edit: read the whitepaper linked above. so I guess all of them use a "soft clipping" on the speakers?

The power stage needs to be pushed hard to saturate, so on a master volume amplifier, if set high enough, the power section still does saturate. Pre amp gain alone generally sounds buzzy and annoying.

 

[psychogentoo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Senn20 The power stage needs to be pushed hard to saturate, so on a master volume amplifier, if set high enough, the power section still does saturate. Pre amp gain alone generally sounds buzzy and annoying.

Ahh. thanks.

Plethora of info to be had at head-fi...a plethora I tell you!!!

 

[proglife]

Now that that's all cleared up, speakers certainly DO blow.

 

[NiceCans]

wow, that was interesting in a fun kinda way,
what can we dissect next?
perhaps make something explode?
hey, it's friday . . . need excitement


also explains why I hated the sound when my friend used the speakers from his stack as his stereo.

 

[kramer5150]

Quote:

Originally Posted by NiceCans wow, that was interesting in a fun kinda way, what can we dissect next? perhaps make something explode? hey, it's friday . . . need excitement also explains why I hated the sound when my friend used the speakers from his stack as his stereo.

THATS my guitar-player pet peeve... when guys use their cabs as hifi speakers, YUK. LOL

 

[NiceCans]

Quote:

Originally Posted by kramer5150 THATS my guitar-player pet peeve... when guys use their cabs as hifi speakers, YUK. LOL

yes big yuk . . . . but it can be excused in this case as this was w-a-y back in high school . . . . . w------a------y back