Low-wattage tube amp in HDB?

[porphyria!]

My 10w SX amp which I'm using now is starting to die out (crackling etc) so I'm thinking of buying a new amp. I'm interested in buying a tube amp but I'm not sure if it's suitable in a HDB room setting because I'm aware it can get pretty loud and I don't want to get complains/annoy my family. Plus my room isn't sound-proofed or anything. Would low-wattage amps such as the Blackstar ht-1r or Vox ac4c1 still be usable for such a setting? Or would there be no point having a tube amp if you can't crank it up? Thanks in advance!

 

[Benjamin Hwang]

Hello there!

I am sure the Blackstar HT-1 can cut it as I am personally using a Blackstar HT-5H with a vox 12 inch cab myself. Ive owned a Vox Lil Night Train (2 watts) before as well.

If you are going for vintage tones i recommend vox! If not go for Blackstar. Xox is not going to be versatile enough unless you have some overdrive pedals in front. Personally I am not a fan of Blackstar's tone either as it is a little modern sounding for me.

However, I am using my Line 6 Pod HD400 direct into the effects return of my amp so I am not getting any distortion from the amp itself.

Blackstar HT 5 is also quiet enough for HDB use I suppose, as Ive never gotten any complains for the past several months and i play at a moderately loud volume. As long as you keep the master volume down, you are safe.

Hope that helped!

 

[dirtnitro]

I am living in HDB, I have a voxAc15-HW, I am new to amp also but think of getting a good tube amp so that no need think of upgrade along the way. I alway use volume about 2 , it has a master volume knob. To crank the tube amp without waking up your neigbour. You turn the volume up all the way, but lower your master volume , and adjust the master volume to your desirable and comfortable level. The sound will sound like a bit of overdrive. If you want to play louder at a clean tone without breaking up, you do the opposite, mean you lower your volume, and turn up your master volume. Using the volume to adjust to your comfortable level.

correct me if I am wrong as quite new to tube amp also

 

[loldude333]

Tube amps in HDB have always been a bit of a nightmare as amount of gain required to get a good overdrive will inevitably raise the volume far beyond acceptable levels. Here are 2 tips i've seen passed down thru the years (i don't live in a HDB and i don't use a tube amp, so i don't have any personal experience). One thing to take note is that all these solutions are not ideal; so don't expect miracles. The availability of low wattage amps also helps.

1. Use an attenuator. Attenuators work by reducing the amplitude of the incoming signal, such that you can really crank the gain and leave the master volume at 12 o'clock without having to worry about too much volume. So far most people have found this as the best solution.

2. Soundproof your room. Use foam and thick wood panelling. One novel solution my friend used was to play his amp only inside a cupboard that had foam panelling all around and on the cupboard door. That way, the sound was confined more within the cupboard and less spilled out of the room. This is useful if you want to crank the volume a little higher but don't want to disturb your family.

So far, these have been the best options if you really want to use a tube amp. My recommendation is usually to get a good mult-efx like a Pod, which is really really close and use headphones/computer speakers. Like i said, all the solutions are not the ideal, but they do work pragmatically.