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Comments
Your instinct is bang on, the HT-20 would be a a bit challenged in a decent sized pub if you wanted a clean sound against a loud drummer. The 20 combo also has a pretty awful speaker in it!
I understand that HT-40* is B's best selling 'big' amplifier? I don't know the price difference but if you have the chance to try one I would have a do with the new Artist 30.
*Can't recall testing one but the HT range all seemed to kick out much more than the 'logo' suggests? E.g. I never checked a 60 that did not easily push 80W and I would bet the 40 is closer to a 50, even 60W amp if given the beans? The HT-20 DOES however limit at just about 20W because it is part cathode biased.
Oh! And as ICBM is ALWAYS telling us! "big" amps can always be used at home.
Dave.
I don't think you would have a problem with the 40 at home, the volume controls work well on them. Both of them benefit from a speaker upgrade, but on the 20 it's essential - it can also very substantially increase the volume, since the stock 'Rocket 50' is only about 95dB, so if you fit a 100dB speaker like a V30 it will be equivalent to tripling the power of the amp. The same applies to the 40, but less so - the stock speaker is 98dB so you'll only gain a little bit, I would do it more for tone reasons.
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
If you mean from the power output point of view, Cathode Biasing inherently limits the current and hence power output of a valve.
If you mean "what is PART cathode biasing"? On the tin! There are cathode resistors but also some -ve volts to trim the anode currents. This actually means that you can stuff pretty much any gash EL34s in a 20 and they will be pretty much 'on song'. At least close enough to get you through the gig. (you could probably slap in a couple of 6L6s? Even 6V6 and get you going though you might bugger the wee'uns!)
Dave.
@ecc83 .... why is the clean volume pot dual gang and why is the PCB marked and drill for dual gang pots on the rest ?
I've rarely found a Blackstar amp that makes the rated power at clipping (and colleagues of mine have had the same results in this regard, so this is unlikely to be "user error").
eg I've measured a few HT40s and never got more than 36W at clipping (incidentally the HT40 won't pass a 100 Hz sine wave with evididence of transformer saturation; not surprising that it has an OT that would be considered small in a 15W amp).
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
I measured at 'obvious' clipping, a definite flat spot top and bottom of the waveform, 1kHz into the FX return jack and a (0.5kW) 8 Ohm resistive load and mains in was set by a Variac to 230V rms and the output voltage read with a true rms meter (Levell mV meter).
In some later tests I was asked to check an HT-100 for power delivery at 10% THD* and found it easily surpassed 100W (I suspect they might have been thinking of marketing a "120" variant?)
I agree the 40 traff IS wee but as I said above, one of their best sellers and I never had a traff fail !
*Only way to specify power output IMHO? It is a 'judgement call' to specc power 'at clipping' . The hi fi boys only take "X watts (derived of course as a voltage across a WELL specified load) at "Y" % THD as a valid way to rate an amplifier and mains power must be either stabilized or quoted at the full power point.
Dave.
Can I point out that 36W is less than 0.5dB below 40 watts?
Dave.
I was aware of that........
But other may not be.
Dave.