Headphone-only practice amp

[Maureen M]

I use a Korg Pandora Stomp. It's pedal sized and battery powered. Many guitar and bass presets, user banks, tuner, metronome and drum patterns. 1/8" headphone out and aux in.
IMO it doesn't have the best tones but it's exactly what I wanted - I focus on my playing instead of messing around with all the controls.

 

[lstelie]

I'm looking for a little box I can use for practicing without playing through an amp with speaker. It needs to have an input jack for the bass (obviously), an input for a phone or mp3 player, and a headphone out jack. What is this thing called and where can I find one?

Hello,

I use two systems (depending if I'm at my home or at my girl friend's home)
- First one is a little bit expansive compared to various little system like Vox , it's an Ampeg SCR-DI. It's a gem capable of a huge lot of things (preamp, DI-box, drive pedal..) AND is a wonderful headphone amp with all in/out you may want
- Second one is a little Apogee Jam interface connected to an old iPad, in this case I use JamUP from PositiveGrid, but any software does the job (Garaband, Amplitube…)

The second setup is easier to carry in the gigbag, the first is of incredible quality

Luc

 

[Bassheart365]

There are some other threads on this you might want to explore. I like the Phil Jones and have used the USB interface for recording. Nice extra.

The Vox amplug and the EHX are ok for what they are.

The PreSonus is (I think) relatively new. Looks like a decent mid level option - more than the Vox/EHX but less than the Phil Jones.

PreSonus HP2

I wasn't aware of the HP2. Nice but looks like it's designed more for performance than practice. No 1/8" aux input to plug into a laptop or phone. That's what I love about the Bighead. Plus it has a rechargable battery or can be powered by a usb cable.

 

[moonshinegtrs]

- First one is a little bit expansive compared to various little system like Vox , it's an Ampeg SCR-DI. It's a gem capable of a huge lot of things (preamp, DI-box, drive pedal..) AND is a wonderful headphone amp with all in/out you may want.

I have a Pedaltrain Nano with the Ampeg SCR-D1 and a Boss TU-3. Not the smallest set-up but the SCR-1 makes for a killer headphone rig.


Moonshine

 

[mambo4]

I love my [Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

"Unlike most music equipment, the HA-1A is not designed to make you sound good. Instead, it is designed to tell you the truth about how you sound. If your fingers make squeaky noises on the strings when you move, if your E string is twice as loud as your D, if your intonation is lousy – the HA-1A will tell you."

 

[okcrum]

I don't think that one has a Hi-Z input. I know the VLZ 402 does.

Otto

The inputs are all bridging, so it should be fine.

 

[ofajen]

The inputs are all bridging, so it should be fine.

I'm not sure what you mean by bridging, but there are no hi-Z (instrument) inputs with a proper input impedance for an instrument.

Otto

 

[okcrum]

I'm not sure what you mean by bridging, but there are no hi-Z (instrument) inputs with a proper input impedance for an instrument.

Otto

If you don't know what bridging is (as opposed to impedance matching) then that statement is simply your opinion. It also happens to work fine here. Of course, it's not studio quality, but who cares? It's a practice setup!!!

 

[ofajen]

If you don't know what bridging is (as opposed to impedance matching) then that statement is simply your opinion. It also happens to work fine here. Of course, it's not studio quality, but who cares? It's a practice setup!!!

I'm not talking about impedance matching. Bridging (short for impedance bridging) means the load impedance is much higher than the source, which this Mackie's mike and line inputs don't provide for an instrument.

That's why the hookup diagrams in the manual show using a DI or Pod-like device to connect a guitar instrument, but not a direct connection. So it is both my opinion and Mackie's opinion. It's also the basis for interconnections in modern audio devices.

Otto

 

[PSR B1919+21]

I use boss br-80, you can add effects, record/play/add multiple tracks etc. to get "the sound" in my earphones i use jule monique into woaudio firefly tube headphones amp

 

[okcrum]

I'm not talking about impedance matching. Bridging (short for impedance bridging) means the load impedance is much higher than the source, which this Mackie's mike and line inputs don't provide for an instrument.

That's why the hookup diagrams in the manual show using a DI or Pod-like device to connect a guitar instrument, but not a direct connection. So it is both my opinion and Mackie's opinion. It's also the basis for interconnections in modern audio devices.

Otto

You don't have to explain bridging to me.

Good for you. Don't do it. I do. Works fine for practice.

 

[GastonD]

I have the VOX Amplug and the Phil Jones Bighead and the Korg mini Pandora... Of all three Amplug gets most use due to the fact that the unit itself plugs into my bass, hence truly minimizing the setup hassle (cords/cables) plus it moves with me and the bass, so I don't have to be more or less in place when practicing, or feel cumbersome in that regard.
However, I do LOVE that Bighead for its quality, sound, being rechargeable, recording etc. Pandora has some really nice effects, so I will rather use it for live gigging.

 

[mpdd]

i use the little korg beat boy drum machine, it's pretty fun for doing quick demos and it has a wacky od and distortion feature

 

[taylorro]

I am currently using a Fender Rumble 500 at home. Love that it has a headphone and aux port. Plus always works as a backup head if something goes wrong with my rig.

 

[oddeotek]

Zoom B1on amp modeler and multi effects pedal. Only $50 new and gets excellent reviews.

You won't regret buying the Zoom B1on. I got mine online for less than $50 and it's an excellent practice tool with a 1/8" in for playing along with recorded tracks plus the drum machine, looper and just about every effect known to man. It's an incredible value.

 

[Fuzzy Dustmite]

Korg Pandora P4XD. No longer made but if you can find one, they're golden. I had a p5 for a while but then I went back the 4. Has guitar and bass effects (if needed), metronome, drum patterns, aux in, output all the goodies.

 

[Mechayoshi]

Another vote for th zoom b1on. The effects aren't perfect but it Let's you experiment and find out what you like so you can get better equipment later.

If you want to hear yourself perfectly, you can create a blank bypass patch and play through it as opposed to useing the amp simulations.

 

[ZenG]

I use a Behringer Xenyx 802.

Can plug an Mp3 into it. I do that with my Sony all the time.

Can use "headphone out" of desktop computer into it. I do that all the time to play along with YouTube, Internet radio or anything else that 's on there I like.

Can plug a CD player into it. I do that and use "line in" plugs on the Behringer. That way I get an EQ for the cd player.

I use "mic in" plug for bass. That way I can further EQ the bass as well.

I use it with Sure SRH440 headphones.

Works absolutely great.

Don't get any hum at all when the computers on.. But I've got a HUM-X hum destroyer in the AC plug.

You just need to get the right cables/plugs from RadioShack or someplace to hook it all up correctly.

The Behringer has a nice warm analogish tone to it. Which makes my cd player sound nicer.

Any music out of the computer can be further EQ'd by the onboard computer built-in RealTek equalizer as well.

All my basses are "passive"....no battery.

 

[stratovani]

I have a Vox Amplug AC30 which I bought several years ago. Works just fine with a cable from my laptop to the aux in. It doesn't have to sound great, just good enough for silent practice.

 

[jwhite518]

I put the Vox Amplug in my Christmas wish list. Also the Zoom b1ON. Maybe Santa will be good to me this year.