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400+ question

levis76

levis76

Defender of the Low Ender
Apr 14, 2007
1,747
1,374
Metro Detroit
#1
Can I run a pair of headphones right off the preamp from the effects send if I turn the effect blend to 10 and master to 0? Not sure if there will be an impedance issue, the headphones are 55ohms and handle 3000mW. I know the V-Twin pedal has a mixer/headphone output on it, and this is basically the same preamp.
 
#4
400+ manual, top of page 3:

...If you wish to use
only the preamp section of your Bass 400, you can use the Effects Send jack as a preamp
output; be sure to set the Effects Blend at 10 and the Master to 0. This will prevent signal
from driving the power section, so running the amp without a speaker or load resistor will
be OK.
Click to expand...



Not that I'd ever actually try it myself.


http://www.mesaboogie.com/manuals/Bass%20400%20Plus.pdf
 
#5
Beat me to it Necrotic.

Just to be safe, I would leave the cabinet plugged in, but the master will be at 0 anyways, so no output. I think I might try it just to find out.

I haven't been able to find specs on the different outputs for the amp. I don't know what the ideal impedance for the effects loop out is or what kind of power. The headphones I have are rated for 3W at 55ohms.
 
#7
Could always call Boogie. Should be a phone number somewhere on the web site, though it can be tough to actually get someone on the phone.. tends to be "leave a message, we'll call back... eventually" which stinks if you have a job, or sleep, or what-not.

I'd imagine it would be possible to run the effects send into some device that accepts line inputs but has a headphone out, like a headphone amp, mini mixer, Korg Pandora, etc even if the headphones wouldn't work directly into the head.

Sounds like you have the right idea, keeping a cab plugged in just in case. Wish I had some actual helpful info...
 
#8
Looking at the V-Twin pedal, the headphone out is also a mixer out. The only thing close to a mixer out on the 400+ is the slave out, but that would require running the power section to get any output, which would defeat the purpose of running headphones. Hmmm, maybe I'll have to invest in a V-Twin pedal, which I could use anyways.
 
#10
LiquidMidnight said:
+1

I'm pretty sure with the blend the whole way on, a minute amount of signal still goes through the power amp. Don't quote me, though, because it's been a while since I've done that with my 400+.
Click to expand...

I'd be less concerned about signal running through the power amp, and more concerned that without a load on the power side you're liable to take out your power transformer.
 
#12
levis76 said:
Just to be safe, I would leave the cabinet plugged in, but the master will be at 0 anyways, so no output.
Click to expand...

Looks like the OP shares these concerns and is planning on playing it safe. No idea though if plugging headphones directly into the preamp out would be safe, though.

Have you tried a VTwin with bass? I hated it, but then I was trying to use it more as an effect to add a little dirt than as a clean preamp. I found that it broke up too early and too much to be of use, but admittedly I did not spend a lot of time tweaking it.
 

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