I still own my Vox Amplug as well. Sure, it's features are way less than some of the other recommended items in this thread... but for the money and the portability, it's a killer little unit. I'm never gonna to turn loose of mine.
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Headphone amp or....
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The Palmer sounded ideal to me a few years ago, so I tracked one down...
... and quickly sold it. I found the sound quality to be lacking.
There are far better options out there. YMMV.
... and quickly sold it. I found the sound quality to be lacking.
There are far better options out there. YMMV.
Products - Hotone Audio
This tiny gizmo is the coolest thing I've bought in years! I had never heard about it until I was asking this same question a few months ago. I paid about $72 for mine from China. There's no line input control, so I just use the computer output level. No big deal. I run the headphone out into a headphone amp, but not sure if you'd have to, depending on your phone's sensitivity.
This tiny gizmo is the coolest thing I've bought in years! I had never heard about it until I was asking this same question a few months ago. I paid about $72 for mine from China. There's no line input control, so I just use the computer output level. No big deal. I run the headphone out into a headphone amp, but not sure if you'd have to, depending on your phone's sensitivity.
- Sound inspired by Legendary Ampeg SVT.
- Extremely compact configuration for portability.
- High quality tone with Volume and Gain controls.
- 3 Band EQ controls for shaping your tone.
- Speaker out can automatically fit cabinets of different impedances (4-16Ω).
- FX LOOP for using external effects.
- Headphone output jack is very convenient for practicing and recording.
- Aux In jack can let you play with an external music player.
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I suppose you would use the volume on the bass and the volume in the app. No line in, but you can send audio in via bluetooth, so probably not necessary. Except, the biggest problem I can see, is that it doesn't seem to have a iOS app. Only android.
The darkglass does most of what it does, and is a lot nicer quality, but is also more than twice as much.
I love my Vox AMplug. The bass version has drum beats you can practice with.
I also use the AC 30 version. It sounds fine for bass practice and has several effects built in. The bass version does sound much better though.
Just today, Fender announced the release of a headphone amp called The Mustang that looks awesome. I will certainly pick one up as soon as it's available ($100)
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Also, I would stay away from the IRig. Horrible sound quality.
I also use the AC 30 version. It sounds fine for bass practice and has several effects built in. The bass version does sound much better though.
Just today, Fender announced the release of a headphone amp called The Mustang that looks awesome. I will certainly pick one up as soon as it's available ($100)
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Also, I would stay away from the IRig. Horrible sound quality.
For your price range you can't go wrong with the SpectraDrive or SCR-DI. High quality build, high fidelity, usable as a DI or headphone practice. I've had the SCR-DI since it was released and practice almost exclusively through headphones. It has an awesome headphone preamp. I like having the separate aux volume control too. Simple to use and very balanced volume between the scrambler, that you'll either love or hate. I think it does a decent enough job for when you want some grit.
I really wanted to like the spectradrive but found myself fiddling with tone patches and frustrated by the volume differences when you engaged them. I'm a "too many knobs" kind of person so take that for what it's worth. The sound quality is good but it didn't sway me from the ampeg. I had two. Returned the first and sold the second.
The new darkglass pedals look awesome but out of your price range. The bass buddy would be the other to consider but it's expensive too. Personally, for practice I like having the option to click on some grit so the ampeg fits the bill.
Good luck!
I really wanted to like the spectradrive but found myself fiddling with tone patches and frustrated by the volume differences when you engaged them. I'm a "too many knobs" kind of person so take that for what it's worth. The sound quality is good but it didn't sway me from the ampeg. I had two. Returned the first and sold the second.
The new darkglass pedals look awesome but out of your price range. The bass buddy would be the other to consider but it's expensive too. Personally, for practice I like having the option to click on some grit so the ampeg fits the bill.
Good luck!
Best Bang for traveling buck Nux Mighty Plug P2 . Now it is digital and works with your smartphone under $100 has some fun features. Some tiny lag time but for the size and flexiblity it s hard to beat.
It has proven far more fun than my Phil Jone bighead. Which has not loud enough, poor headroom relationship. Gain has to be cranked with any bass on my wall. Backed off to clean its just a strain to hear. Not fun at all.
Id say neither offer A/D I would record with. Ill be selling my Phil Jones right soon I hope. If you like having to crank the gain to get decent volume on an older Ampeg amp you might like the Phil Jones.
It has proven far more fun than my Phil Jone bighead. Which has not loud enough, poor headroom relationship. Gain has to be cranked with any bass on my wall. Backed off to clean its just a strain to hear. Not fun at all.
Id say neither offer A/D I would record with. Ill be selling my Phil Jones right soon I hope. If you like having to crank the gain to get decent volume on an older Ampeg amp you might like the Phil Jones.
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