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Pocket Amplifier Or Other Devices???

I

igeek

Jul 12, 2009
24
4
#1
Does anyone know a good pocket amp or other device you can use for a portable headphone amp?

I just need something portable that I can take with me to work or when I travel.

I've looked at Vox AmPlug and C Tech Pocket Rock-It so far.. I would like to find something a little more useful though.

Thx!
 
#2
igeek said:
Does anyone know a good pocket amp or other device you can use for a portable headphone amp?

I just need something portable that I can take with me to work or when I travel.

I've looked at Vox AmPlug and C Tech Pocket Rock-It so far.. I would like to find something a little more useful though.

Thx!
Click to expand...

Korg Pandora is a few bucks more but far more fun-has built in tuner, drum beats, etc.
 
#10
I use my Amplitube app with iRig. It plugs into my iPhone and you can use any kind of headphones. Plus you can get all kinds of stompboxes, amps, cabs, and even mics. 4 track recorder, and even play with songs from the iPod. The iRig was $40, but the app is free. Comes with a couple of free things but has in app purchases from $3 and up. It works on iPod Touch also. There is other apps like ampkit but I perfer the Amplitube. Just my phone and my bass. And I go where I want.
 
#12
kraigo said:
Cafe Walter HA-1 has a great rep. Small independent bass player and all around nice guy, too.

KO

Added: Invalid Link Removed
Click to expand...

+1. As a former Bass Buddy and current Pandora owner, my humble opinion is that the Cafe Walter is the best pure headphone amp on the market.
 
#13
vin*tone said:
Apogee Jam into iPhone is awesome. A bit more expensive than the others but great quality input - and plugs into a Mac if you have one.
Click to expand...

This looks interesting.. does it come with software? Can you run it with other programs like itunes?

Thanks for all the good suggestions! I really like the tascam bass trainer but If I could turn my mac into my practice device that would be ideal.
 
#14
If you're traveling, the Korg Pandora has a LOT to offer in something the size of a pack of cigarettes (remember those?). There's a new "mini" version that should be outstanding. Battery or AC power, and a TON of things built in. I currently have two of the older versions.

Several of the iPhone apps are excellent (I think the Agile Partners' AmpKit app is one of the best for guitar), but all require a finicky interface of some sort, and these are the weak link.

And finally, there's the old Line 6 Bass Pod XT "bean", usually available on the used market for around $80-90. It's discontinued (most of the same capabilities are in the Pod X3) and AC only, but it's also something that you could use onstage, feed to a mixer, etc., etc.
 
#15
igeek said:
This looks interesting.. does it come with software? Can you run it with other programs like itunes?

Thanks for all the good suggestions! I really like the tascam bass trainer but If I could turn my mac into my practice device that would be ideal.
Click to expand...

I use the Apogee Jam with my iPad ... for some reason I cannot get it to work with my iPod Touch. I don't own a Mac, though.

The Apogee Jam is SOOOO much better than the iRig or the AmpKit ... no noise AT ALL! Unfortunately the Jam does not work with the AmpliTube app (because they force you to use iRig or AmpKit).

The Apogee Jam does not come with software. I use it with GarageBand for multi-track recording and for working on arrangements (I also play some guitar through the Apogee Jam).

For bass practicing "on the go" or at home I exclusively use
the free PocketGK (Gallien-Krueger) app from AppStore. Amazing app ... true-to-life tone (in fact I like the tone of my bass even better in the app than with my all Gallien-Krueger rig :rolleyes:)

The app has many super possibilities for rehearsing ... easy access to all my music on the iPad, functionality for pitch adjustments (without affecting BPM) etc.
 
#16
I bought a Korg px4B, used from ebay a few years ago and is my main go-to box. I seldom use my Line6 Butter Bean any more.

Litterally the size of a 1950's transistor radio. Loads of effects, tones, amps, drum patterns, tuner, pitch adjuster, looping, aux-in, hi-low[ for active-passive basses] .

Takes 4 AA batteries for remote use. After initially trying my unit out, I don't use the batteries, but I have heard that they will only last @ 4 hours.

Use a decent set of headphones as "walkman-style" or "ear buds' may quickly be damaged by sound pressure levels, expecially in bass range.

PX4B is no longer in production; find used units @ under $100.

If in good condition, PX4B should far exceed other new phone jack units, because of so many capeabilities.

Other Pandoras will work well enough, but the PX4B is bass oriented, instead of generic or guitar biased Pandoras.
 
#17
Korg now sells the Pandora Mini :
Invalid Link Removed

PANDORA-MINI-NOIR-2.jpg
 
#18
Just to make this list more complete I'll add the Link Removed for your consideration. I haven't used one so maybe somebody else can comment on it. Looks to be a pretty simple device.

I too have not been able to make my Apogee Jam work with my iPod Touch 4th generation. This is from their site:

Q: Which iOS devices does JAM work with?

A: JAM is compatible with iPad 1, iPad 2, iPhone 4, and iPhone 4S.

JAM does not work with iPod touch or iPhone 3G. This was miscommunicated at launch and has since been corrected on our website as well as Apple’s.
Click to expand...

Kind P's me off. The main reason I'm not going to sell it is that I hope to get an iPhone in the future and then it would be a great thing to have. Such is life.

iJazz
 

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