Amp Output with Impedance.

tekbow

Also, would JJ GC's have a bit more headroom than Sov 5881's?

ICBM

A little, but you're still talking about much less than a 1dB difference - barely noticeable. You would probably get as much benefit by biasing them a bit cooler.

I did get about a 10% increase in power with my old Mesa DC-5 when I replaced the stock Sovtek 6L6s with NOS 7581As (military-spec 6L6GCs), but that's still only 0.4dB. The amp was much more cutting in a band mix, but more because it was much more dynamic and clearer than because it was actually louder.

tekbow

ICBM said:

A little, but you're still talking about much less than a 1dB difference - barely noticeable. You would probably get as much benefit by biasing them a bit cooler.

I did get about a 10% increase in power with my old Mesa DC-5 when I replaced the stock Sovtek 6L6s with NOS 7581As (military-spec 6L6GCs), but that's still only 0.4dB. The amp was much more cutting in a band mix, but more because it was much more dynamic and clearer than because it was actually louder.

It's less the volume I'm trying to reduce as it is the overall power and point of saturation/breakup on the power tubes.

Something the Reload could reliably take @8ohms without bouncing into Thermal protection

On the normal channel in crunch mode, theres an audible point where the saturation really kicks in and things open up.

The issue I described in the OP occurs just before that point, when it's on it's way there, but not all the way.

ICBM

You could simply pull two of the power valves and set the amp to half the impedance of the cab or load. Instant Hot Rod 50 .

tekbow

ICBM said:

You could simply pull two of the power valves and set the amp to half the impedance of the cab or load. Instant Hot Rod 50 .

Yeah I know, but want the approx. 100w headroom on the low end.

I do miss my old HR50 though.