Bedroom level

Volume low enough to play at home without disturbing anyone, which is a harder target to hit well than stage level.

Amplifiers are built to work at full output, so when they are turned down their tone often thins out: the output section stops contributing, and the speaker runs in a range where it barely moves. Manufacturers respond with low-wattage heads, small speakers, built-in attenuators, power scaling and headphone outputs, and players respond with modelers and pedals. The practical goal is a setup that still compresses and responds to a firm pick attack at a level the neighbours can live with.

Example: a five-watt valve combo turned up to half often sounds bigger than a fifty-watt head at the same loudness, because it is actually working.

Bedroom level

See also