Small Mixer or Headphone Amp?

DownWithTheDown · #1 01-22-2011, 04:24 PM

Newb here, (only playing 6 mos). I am going to be traveling for work and staying in a hotel for an extended period. I want to be able to practice so I am considering a Vox headphone amp or a small mixer like one of the Behringers.

What would you recommend? What are the pros/cons to each one?

Thanks!

Edit: Yes I know the Pandoras and Bass Trainers are awesome. No, I don't want to spend that much.

Rodger Bryan · #2 01-22-2011, 04:33 PM

The preamp noise, hiss, etc. in the cheaper practice amps and mixers is noticable to me. I own a Soundcraft Notepad 102:

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/Notepad102/

The preamps in the Soundcraft sound great, lots of ins/outs for playing with an mp3 player. The noise is kept to a minimum by having an external power supply- (not a wallwart). I also use a Sennheiser 280 pro headphones, although you could use anything.
peace,
R

GrowlerBox · #3 01-22-2011, 05:36 PM

This might be a little off the wall, but I find my Line 6 BackTrack to be an invaluable piece of kit. For your immediate purposes, you can practice silently through it and into headphones (although you rely on your instrument's controls for all tone manipulation), and it gives you the ability to record everything or anything you play. I have the version with the small condenser mic and use it for recording rehearsals as well. And it's tiny.

DownWithTheDown · #4 01-22-2011, 10:31 PM

Thanks guys.

Anyone else have a good solution?

Headroom · #5 01-22-2011, 10:38 PM

In my opinion, the best option for less than $100 is Mackie.

http://www.mackie.com/products/402vlz3/

UncleFluffy · #6 01-22-2011, 10:44 PM

If it's just for practising then super-low noise wouldn't really be my first priority. I'd be more worried about portability, which would point to one of the little Vox amplugs.

Small mixers are useful to have around but they do take up a chunk more space.

DownWithTheDown · #7 01-23-2011, 08:13 AM

Thanks again guys.

Another noob question on a mixer - Can they power anything besides headphones? I did read you could also run thru a computer, but I didn't know if it had sufficient power output to power small speakers etc. Although I will only be using this for quiet practice in the immediate future, I would like to see how flexible it is for down the road.

I hope this makes sense. (doubtful)

**mikeddd** · #8 01-23-2011, 09:32 AM

A normal, unpowered mixer delivers a line level output signal to an external power amp and speakers. It cannot power any speakers on it's own. For that you would need a powered mixer but that's way out of your price range...and powered mixers are no good anyway (IME/IMO).

I only started playing bass about a year ago. Before I could afford a proper bass amp I ran the bass into my Behringer 2442FX mixer which output to a pair of headphones. Now that's a big, portable mixer and outside your price range. You could buy a very small mixer like some have suggested and output to a set of phones. But honestly, you'd be better served by spending a little more coin on Pandora/bass trainer something like that. You'd have more tonal and other options (tuner/record/playback/mp3 player) and it would be a lot smaller than a small mixer.

dincz · #9 01-23-2011, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DownWithTheDown

Vox headphone amp or a small mixer like one of the Behringers.

I practise with a small Behringer mixer into headphones and it's absolutely fine. The three band EQ gives a wide range of tonal possibilities.

BUT - depending on what bass you're plugging into it, the low input impedance of any mixer might not give you the best sound. A passive bass into a mixer input might suffer from a loss of top end.

anonymous122511 · #10 01-23-2011, 12:14 PM

Another +1 on the mixer. I'm using a 4 channel Mackie with a pair of AKG 240 headphones and getting a sound I'd be very happy with through an amp on a gig.

**mikeddd** · #11 01-23-2011, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dincz

I practise with a small Behringer mixer into headphones and it's absolutely fine. The three band EQ gives a wide range of tonal possibilities.

BUT - depending on what bass you're plugging into it, the low input impedance of any mixer might not give you the best sound. A passive bass into a mixer input might suffer from a loss of top end.

I did experience a little top-end loss running my SX basses into the Behringer mixer. But to be fair, I just cranked up the treble on that channel. The mixer worked well for me, but I already owned the mixer.

DownWithTheDown · #12 01-23-2011, 08:59 PM

Good info on the mixers, any headphone amp suggestions/advice? I had heard the Vox was good.

anonymous122511 · #13 01-23-2011, 09:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DownWithTheDown

Good info on the mixers, any headphone amp suggestions/advice? I had heard the Vox was good.

The Cafe Walter is the only one I've used and can comment of but it is outstanding...I can recommend it without hesitation. I don't know how it sounds compared to the Vox but in terms of construction it is a professionally quality unit where the Vox feels a little cheap to me. The mixer is more versatile but the headphone amp being about the size of the mixer's power supply is much more compact in the suitcase. There's a lot to be said for that when you're on the road.