best dorm amp

[darrenmt]

If you want a tiny practice amp with aux in + headphones out, there are many cheap 10W-50W offerings from Ampeg, Orange, Ashdown, Fender, etc., although don't expect too much from the built-in speaker at that wattage.

For more power that sits on a desk, is light weight and portable, doesn't get better or smaller than a Phil Jones Bass Double Four(70W) or Bass Cub(100W), the Double Four being the more portable, internal battery powered option. Will do fine for acoustic jams too but nothing with a heavy heavy handed drummer.

For full band or stage orientation, a high powered combo like a Genz Benz Shuttle, TC Electronic BG or one of the new high powered Fender Rumble V3s would suit you.

Just depends on how much you are willing to spend. Lots of great used gear around on TB at low prices too... good starting point.

 

[CrashClint]

Don't shoot the messenger, but the Bassman 25 is a tiny practice amp.

I will have to say, these sound louder than 25 watts. I have been in situations where it was so tight on stage my ul410 was just shooting the sound right past my legs so I will set my Bassman 25 on top of my 410 strictly as a monitor for me and it works really well as it points right at the back of my head.

 

[Jerry Ziarko]

For what you describe as your needs, I would buy one of these in a heartbeat. [Invalid or Expired Link Removed] I have one, and it's probably the nicest practice amp I've ever owned. It takes up almost no room, it's light as hell, and it sounds very nice. You could even put a piece of plywood on top of it when your not using it, and it would make a nice little table as well. From the looks of things, it appears they have dropped the up charge for custom colors for now. I have green one, and it looks fabulous.

 

[outoftune]

The new Fender Rumbles are awesome. I played the 25 watt combo the other day and was blown away by the tone of the amp and for a small combo with an 8 inch speaker it had a small set of balls under it.

 

[pedroims]

Get a head amp: Ampeg PF350, TC BH 350, Shuttle 3.0, GK 250MB etc, you dont need to load a cab in order to use them, later on you can buy a small cab if you want/need. Another option is to get the jamup app, excelent application for practice, you can play along with your itunes/mp3 songs, has some modeling amps, effects, metronome and tunner, it will cost you 30-40 usd.

 

[Alex Da Silva]

Unless you're also looking for something to use with other people
I would suggest going the Preamp--->Headphone route
With the same amount of money that would be invested on a small combo (that probably wouldn't cut it in any other scenario) one could get quite a decent unit that might even become part of a gigging setup as well.

 

[darkreich]

digitech bp8 with headphones , done !

 

[wrench45us]

The rumble 15 is surprisingly good under audio technica headphones. Mine has a constant low volume hiss, but not too bothersome. I don't think too much of it through the speaker. The headphones and rumble 15 would be under your budget.