HEADPHONE AMP QUESTION.

i've never tried one, but there is also the pocket rockit (yes, thats how it's spelled ) as an alternative...
http://www.aamps.us/ctech/pocket_rockit.html

 

Way overkill if you're planning to only use it as a headphone amp, but the EBS MicroBass II has a headphone socket. Value added too!

 

Don't forget cafe Walter.
http://www.bassnw.com/New Hot Items/cafe_walter_HA1.htm

 

I absolutely love my cafe walter. It is the perfect headphone amp. Sounds better than my amps do. Don't forget to spring for some good headphones such as Sennheiser 555s. You'll want something comfortable if you're going to be practicing for hours on end.

 

How much do those Cafe Walters run? The link was an "email for price" job.

Thanks,
P.

 

POD!!

 

The Rockman works, and it has an input for CD or tape to play along with. Very compressed signal, unless you barely move the input control. As I said, it works fine for working on your playing, but the sound leaves something to be desired.

Larry

 

I agree with Pickles. The Cafe Walter is great. Also, you can plug in a Sony Discman into the secondary input, and it has independent gain controls for the Bass and the external source. That way you can adjust the volume of the music you are playing to independently from the volume of your bass. The sound quality for both inputs is great!!

Here is a link to one at $169 Cafe Walter

 

Here's the email reply I got when I emailed to ask about price:

Thanks for the e-mail. Here is the price information that you requested:


Cafe Walter HA-1A with AC Adapter - $169.00 + $10.00 FedEx Ground shipping
within the lower 48 United States (fully insured)


Please call our store at (206)-622-2277 if you would like to place an order
or if you would like more detailed assistance and mention that you got this
information from us via e-mail. If you live outside of the United States let
us know where you live and we will provide you with international ordering
information.


Bass Northwest
119 Yesler Way
Seattle, WA 98104

Phone: (206) 622-2277
Fax: (206) 624-5527

E-mail: [email protected]
Web site: http://www.bassnw.com

Store Hours:
Monday - Friday: 12 Noon until 7 PM Pacific Time
Saturday: 12 Noon until 6 PM Pacific Time
Sunday: CLOSED

 

Don't forget our budy, Dude

http://www.vintagebass.com/index.htm

 

Thanks to the both of ye!

P.

 

Already linked him above!

 

+1 on the EBS Microbass II

 

It starts to get into what else you think you might want to do with it. I have a Korg PX3B (Pandora's Box) and I also have a TASCAM MKII CDBT. Both have headphone output capability and both are in the same price range as the Cafe Walter.

Korg Pandora's Box (PX3D is now available)

• Small unit that can fit in your pocket or in a case you can clip to your belt
• Very good amplification through headphones
• Can except input from any audio device. I hook mine up to my iPod
• Can be used as a tuner
• Has more effects and presets than you'll ever use
• Has a built in metronome or drum accompaniment
• Can be used to slow down sections while maintaining pitch
• Can be used to loop through hard to learn sections of a song

TASCAM CDBT

• Most of the same attributes as Pandora, but not as easily transportable
• IMHO, earphone amplification is not as good as Pandora
• IMHO slow down mode is better than Pandora
• Has its own CD player built in, but still excepts other audio input

I have both, use both, and prefer the Pandora's Box by a slim margin, primarily because I can stick it in a pocket and move on.

Peace,

James

 

I've had two of these (the original CDBT and the new MkII). The CD player quit working altoghether on the first one (right after the waranty expired :scowl: ). The MkII has developed a "skip" in the CD player (sounds like an old vinyl record with a scratch), and it's not he CD-- I've tested it with several and tested played the same CD's in two other players.

IMO, get the Cafe Walter.

Peace,

Matt

 

Oh, another suggestion:

If you want good quality sound with tempo control try using a PC with software called The Amazing SlowDowner. IMO, slows tempo with less distortion of the sound than the TASCAM and costs *A LOT* less (if you already have a PC, and if you're reading this, you do! ).

Peace again,

Matt

 

This is true, but in my situation, I'm usually not home when I'm listening to something that requires tempo control. That usually happens when I'm out and asked to play something that I'm not familiar with. In some cases it's something I've never heard before. If I can plug somebody's iPod or CD into my headphone amp and slow it down, I can usually figure out what's going on. That's why I like the portability of the Pandora over the TASCAM.

 

A bit OT, but I just discovered the usefullness of the headphone out on my ME-50B. I've been using it quite a bit lately with a new baby and all - I sit on the couch with the ME-50B on the table so I can twiddle knobs, and I put the baby monitor right beside the pedal board. It can also put me in the same room as my wife after the kid is asleep too and I don't get the "you don't spend time with me anymore" business.

 

That's why I have Amazing SlowDowner on my laptop PC (Sony Vaio)-- portability is a must!

I have't tried the Pandora but based on your recommendation, I'm certain it must be a pretty good solution.

Matt