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200W volume question re: DR203 No 3708

Posted: Wed Jul 03, 2019 9:37 pm
by CleanCrunchLead
Very happy to have recently acquired a rare 200-watt PA, DR 203 No. 3708. Has two minor, well-detailed mods, one to the bias adjustments to hone them a bit more, and one to the speaker outputs to allow single-cabinet operation. Cranked it through my two 412s and didn't feel particularly overwhelmed (speakers were about 20 feet from me, facing away). Previous owner was quite meticulous with it, so it's near mint; apparently he and the owner before him both had shelved it for a while thinking it was inoperable because they were attempting to use only one cabinet. Mark, sent you a detailed writeup for the registry; at the moment, it's one of 13 203s that I see on there.

Question I had is: If the difference between 100 watts and 50 watts is six decibels, as I recall, is that also the difference between 100 and 200 watts? Would it be more like a 12-decibel difference?

Re: 200W volume question re: DR203 No 3708

Posted: Wed Jul 03, 2019 9:50 pm
by Bossco
Best detailed explanation I keep on hand:
https://www.audioholics.com/frequent-qu ... ts-and-dbs

Short answer:
Doubling the power output (watts) will result in a 3 dB increase in loudness.
A ten times increase to the power output will result in a 10 dB increase, or sound that is twice as loud.

BTW - congrats on very nice amp. I love mine, though only 100W version, but my Ricky sounds great through it as does also my Chapman stick. Having 2 independent input channels is nice for them.

Re: 200W volume question re: DR203 No 3708

Posted: Thu Jul 04, 2019 11:47 am
by Dr.HI-TONE
have the speakers face you. then you will notice more power.
if the cabs are real 1970's HIWATT cabs or HI-TONE cabs, they are very directional.
in the "Kill zone" you will feel the power.

Re: 200W volume question re: DR203 No 3708

Posted: Mon Jul 08, 2019 2:47 pm
by CleanCrunchLead
Thank you all! My 412s are one Hitone on top (really should get casters for it) of my old Crate 412 with the basic 75-watt '80s-style Celestions. I've stood in front of both with DR 504 No 2627 at full blast, Hitone cab in the earholes, and perfection! A few more experiments TK with the 200 ...