Aguilar Amplug 3

[3bc]

Just got this in the mail today, and I’m super impressed! I have some other headphone amp products. I also have some really nice studio kit with several very expensive DI boxes and an expensive interface with good headphone amp.

This thing sounds great, and is so much more portable than like the Darkglass stomp box I might normally use for sitting out on the back patio practicing along to a song or drum beats.

It could break in two weeks and I wouldn’t know that now. But based on initial impressions- Highly recommend!

 

[Al Kraft]

First impressions always count in my book, with reliability and longevity being icing on that cake. FWIW IME Aguilar products usually go the distance with minimal problems.

 

[smatanovic]

I would buy this in a heartbeat if it had Bluetooth. I can’t understand that omission.

 

[agedhorse]

I would buy this in a heartbeat if it had Bluetooth. I can’t understand that omission.

Bluetooth for bass connectivity has way too much latency to work for 99% of bass players.

 

[smatanovic]

Bluetooth for bass connectivity has way too much latency to work for 99% of bass players.

I used the fender mustang micro with Bluetooth and it had zero latency. Music streamed to the device via Bluetooth + wired headphones = perfect tiny practice tool. I gave it away to a guitar playing friend due to lack of bass specific amps and effects, but the Bluetooth worked flawlessly.

 

[ardgedee]

I used the fender mustang micro with Bluetooth and it had zero latency. Music streamed to the device via Bluetooth + wired headphones = perfect tiny practice tool. I gave it away to a guitar playing friend due to lack of bass specific amps and effects, but the Bluetooth worked flawlessly.

The Mustang Micro's bluetooth receiver had latency, the difference is the latency was in the music you were streaming, not the instrument you were playing, so you didn't notice it.

 

[Al Kraft]

Because the delay is probably in the tens of milliseconds to a hundred+ millisecond range I suspect that you might adjust to that and able to practice with it. However, I think even some of the "faster, new systems" would still be annoying for many folks. Good digital wireless systems IMO should be in the very low single digit range and IME that's a stretch for Bluetooth.

To the best of my knowledge the Bluetooth protocol just wasn't designed/intended to have low enough latency to support live performance. It's not that Bluetooth is bad, it's just that this is an application that wasn't envisioned as a requirement. .

As always, others may have had better experiences than I have with the few pieces of gear I've seen/fooled around with. IME wired is best from a latency and interference standpoint.

 

[antfarm]

Bluetooth for bass connectivity has way too much latency to work for 99% of bass players.

For streaming music from your phone to the AmPlug, latency doesn't matter.

 

[smatanovic]

The Mustang Micro's bluetooth receiver had latency, the difference is the latency was in the music you were streaming, not the instrument you were playing, so you didn't notice it.

That’s the point. There is latency inherent in the protocol, but if you use a wired headset you will never hear or notice it.

 

[smatanovic]

For streaming music from your phone to the AmPlug, latency doesn't matter.

Exactly.

 

[Mario Lewis]

FWIW, I have the Darkglass Element, and it connects via bluetooth to my phone, and I have no issues with latency or the sound / tone for practice and learning.

I’d have scooped up this Aggie product if it had bluetooth.

I trust it (bluetooth), I use it and have had no problems. Maybe I’m not enough of an audio sob.

 

[3bc]

I understand all the points about the BT with Darkglass streaming music from the phone, I haves used this feature plenty, though the implementation through their app is not the best. I agree it would have been nice to have. However, I think in the aggregate this is a better overall product. For my money:

1. The sound of this is much better. I wouldn’t say it sounds exactly like my tone hammer rig, but it has a very good, balanced sound with enough bass and treble. The Darkglass sounds kind of rubbish. The cab sim stuff sounds awful and the default natural setting is a little too thin sounding.
2. This is infinitely more portable. I don’t need a power supply or battery bank plugged into it for it to work.
3. If I’m carrying extra accessories as in to plug my phone into the aux input jack to mimic that feature on the Darkglass, those accessories are smaller, cheaper, and less restrictive from a portability standpoint. Just a small cable/adapter.
4. this thing is a fraction of the cost.


Again, bravo for a great product!

 

[ardgedee]

That’s the point. There is latency inherent in the protocol, but if you use a wired headset you will never hear or notice it.

Fair enough. But latency that doesn't affect you is not zero latency.

 

[agedhorse]

Bluetooth for the streaming isn’t the issue because the latency doesn’t matter, as a player you don’t (and can’t) notice it because you don’t know when time equals zero… it’s unreferenced.

Using Bluetooth for the bass signal is a problem because time equals zero is defined and referenced to your fingers and the DIFFERENCE between when your fingers play and your ears hear is critical. Anything more than 10mSec is problematic to most players.

I would be surprised if any of these devices use BT to connect with the bass.

There is supposed to be a new BT protocol introduced that is truly low latency, but so far everything I have seen so far is more or less vapor ware.

 

[smatanovic]

Bluetooth for the streaming isn’t the issue because the latency doesn’t matter, as a player you don’t (and can’t) notice it because you don’t know when time equals zero… it’s unreferenced.

Using Bluetooth for the bass signal is a problem because time equals zero is defined and referenced to your fingers and the DIFFERENCE between when your fingers play and your ears hear is critical. Anything more than 10mSec is problematic to most players.

I would be surprised if any of these devices use BT to connect with the bass.

There is supposed to be a new BT protocol introduced that is truly low latency, but so far everything I have seen so far is more or less vapor ware.

This is exactly my point, the sound your fingers make on the bass is transmitted to your ears via wired headphones, rendering Bluetooth transmission latency irrelevant. I would never use BT for other purposes, but the omission of the ability to stream TO a device like this by BT is a huge oversight, IMHO.

 

[smatanovic]

Fair enough. But latency that doesn't affect you is not zero latency.

My point was that there is essentially zero latency on the audio channel that you are listening to and playing along with. In other words, latency in the audio stream coming TO the device (eg streaming music from your phone to the amp to practice with) isn't relevant.

ETA I would definitely not use BT in a live setting or when recording, but for silent practice, it's a godsend.

 

[lm183902]

I love the idea of these, but don't like that it plugs directly into the bass. I feel like I would break this in a day or two.

Walrus Audio created what I think is the perfect headphone amp/practice tool - the Canvas Rehearsal Pedal. Has an onboard click and aux in w/ bluetooth option. Butttttt it's $250, which is just too much for what it is. If someone creates something similar that's around $150, I'm in.

 

[garrett77]

I have the Vox version. For the last 4 years I've used it for my office bass. Sound is pretty good. It doesn't drain batteries quickly. Made in Japan - bonus. It feels plenty solid - not likely to break easily.

My phone is connected by wire to the device, so I have to keep it in my back pocket while walking around with the bass. I agree with the comments above, BT for streaming music would be nice... but not a deal breaker.

 

[Al Kraft]

I feel like I would break this in a day or two.

If you are in a crowded space and/or sitting in a chair with arms on the sides I suspect it could be vulnerable. However, the people I know who have these (I do not own one) seem to find they hold up well.

I'm not always the most careful/lucky person in crowded spaces with instruments, so I suppose I would be a "higher risk of damage" owner.

 

[3bc]

I love the idea of these, but don't like that it plugs directly into the bass. I feel like I would break this in a day or two.

Walrus Audio created what I think is the perfect headphone amp/practice tool - the Canvas Rehearsal Pedal. Has an onboard click and aux in w/ bluetooth option. Butttttt it's $250, which is just too much for what it is. If someone creates something similar that's around $150, I'm in.

I’m a fanatic about keeping my basses in good shape. I could and have had instruments that are almost like daily drivers that look like closet classics after 10’years. I am such a nut I don’t even wear button down shirts when I play. Forget about buckle rash, I don’t want spidering/checking from the buttons on my shirt.

I can’t imagine bumping into something so hard I break this thing while it’s plugged into my bass, because I never bang my bass into things, and it literally sticks out only slightly further than the volume/tone knobs on my fender bass.

I love that it plugs in directly because it frees me up from having to use a long instrument cable that will ultimately get in the way. Also, plugging headphones into it is much nicer than a stomp box that also needs to be plugged into a wall or batter bank, and a guitar cable.

Again, I’ve used the Darkglass which is very similar to this one. And the amplug user experience is LIGHTYEARS better IMO. The very small, short, thin cord I need to plug my phone into the amplug is MUCH less intrusive than carrying a guitar cable, a bigger and heavier stomp box, a power adapter that needs to be plugged into a wall, or a battery bank plus the adapter for that, etc. it’s not even close. Plus it sounds better and has rhythm accompaniments on board where you don’t really need a phone if you’re just shedding something new at your tempo anyhow.