5 watts louder than 100 watts? help

[MadWerewolfBoy]

hi guys,

i've recently got myself a blackheart 100 watt head, and when i plug in through the front jack and use the preamp section, it's as loud as a 100 watter should be.

however, when i connect my pod hd directly into the effect loop's return (bypassing the preamp), it is softer than my 5 watt blackstar with the same configuration.

here are my settings:

-preamp levels and drives do not affect overall volume for both amps when it is bypassed.
-blackstar's effects loop level was set to -4dB, blackheart's effects loop return level was set from between 50% to 100%, series. unity was apparently 50%
-both amp's master volume was set to 50%

result: 5 watts blackstar was slightly louder than 100 watts blackheart with the input level of my pod hd500 being unchanged.

i've tried to look at the schematics and other forum post regarding the different types of effects loop but i could not find a concrete explanation for this.

blackstar schematics: http://acapella.harmony-central.com...-Schematic&p=36718236&viewfull=1#post36718236

blackheart schematics: http://www.blackhearteng.com/pdf/BH100H_OM.pdf
"Effects Loop: Tube Driven, shared by both channels, can be operated in Series or Parallel Mode"

 

[MadWerewolfBoy]

oh, i've did some troubleshooting and i've found the problem. the blackstar's efx return level was not set to +4dbv, which was the equivalent to the blackheart's efx return at unity. the 100 watt blackheart is now around twice as loud as the 5 watt blackstar now which should be around right. (should be 2.462289 times but my ears can't tell)