Bass -> unpowered mixer -> headphones?

[thatonedude02]

Here is what I want to do:

Bass (passive) -> Unpowred Mixer (Line In) -> Headphones

Will I get a decent signal through the headphones (assume decent headphones)?
(Do I need a powered mixer? DI? Something else?)

This mixer has a headphone out (if that means anything):

http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/product/Behringer-EURORACK-UB802-Mixer?sku=631238

I am new to the whole mixer thing. I read in a review of a product somewhere that they did something like this, but no details were given.

I don't want to get a headphone amp because I could also use the mixer as a mixer if needed sometime down the road.

Thank You.

 

[bongomania]

"Powered" mixers are ones that are designed to directly drive speakers. They have a stereo power amp built in. It has nothing to do with headphones. In something like 90% of cases, what you're describing with a regular mixer is just fine. Most are designed to be able to take unbalanced input on at least a few of their channels, and most will have enough gain on those channels to be used as a bass preamp into the mixer, giving you decent levels in the headphones. You just have to avoid the other (something like) 10% of mixers that do not have preamps on their channels with unbalanced inputs. Even if you do get one of those though, all you'd need is a simple DI box to make your bass signal suitable for balanced (mic) inputs.

 

[thatonedude02]

"Powered" mixers are ones that are designed to directly drive speakers. They have a stereo power amp built in. It has nothing to do with headphones. In something like 90% of cases, what you're describing with a regular mixer is just fine. Most are designed to be able to take unbalanced input on at least a few of their channels, and most will have enough gain on those channels to be used as a bass preamp into the mixer, giving you decent levels in the headphones. You just have to avoid the other (something like) 10% of mixers that do not have preamps on their channels with unbalanced inputs. Even if you do get one of those though, all you'd need is a simple DI box to make your bass signal suitable for balanced (mic) inputs.

Thanks, this helps a lot! It helps to know what powered/unpowered really means, my translation was powered = more expensive.

So I'm off to read mixer manuals to find one that will work!

 

[MNAirHead]

for practice I use something like this 90% of the time

1 channel for a mike
1 channel for bass
1 channel for mp3 player.

Works great.. cost me about $25

 

[JohnMCA72]

Honestly, that's my preferred setup for most rehearsals. Excessive volume masks most of the problems that I'd like to hear in rehearsal, & taking the amps completely out of the equation gives us a chance to hear everything. I'm sure it sounds weird to bystanders, being able to hear nothing but drums & vocals. I use a DI into a balanced mic. input. I always carry a DI with me, at least whenever I have a bass. Everybody does that, don't they?????