Depending on your preference I purchased mine used in excellent condition for less than $50.00 and replacement earpads make them like new. I believe it's Beyer that makes velour covers which I have on one set.
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headphone practice solution
- Thread starter scottfeldstein
- Start date
Agreed 100%. I have tried several methods, more than I previously mentioned. The issue is that so many of them are just trying to do too much.
Seriously though, that little Rolls mixer if perfect for the job with no bells or whistles. Stereo or mono in and easy plugging in for your music source as well.
Don't believe everything you read here.
I have 3 active basses, and all of them work perfectly with the Vox.
Plus, I do have quite a bit of control over how hot my signal is or isn't. My SansAmp is the last thing in my effect chain and it has a perfectly good Level knob on it...
You're right. I think the Vox is still the lead solution.
For many, the fact that it's battery powered might be a downside. But it's not for me. As a photographer, I have a boatload of high quality rechargeable AAs and a whole system for maintaining them. Hot batteries are something I'm never without. It's actually kind of a blessing that I don't have another power cord to accommodate.
I'm envisioning plugging the Vox directly into the 1/4" out on the SansAmp, mp3 player into its 1/8" input, and my headphones into its headphone out. If I get headphones with 1/4" plug on them (likely) I may need to have the 1/8" converter, but... that should do it. $50 plus the cost of good headphones.
Well, at least it's featureless and stereo... but it's $80 and would require adapters on the inputs and on the output. Because my headphones use a single 1/4" jack, not a pair of them. Likewise the output of my pedal board. Ditto my iPod.
couple of notes....
1-you can save a few bucks and buy the classic rock/ac-60 amplug and just turn off the distortion.
2-IF you gig and have a pedal board... you can find a Rolls Pm351 used on ebay for about 80.;... while not cheap... it can stay mounted to your board... function as a di box.... iem and practice amp. ... it is a good "more me mixer if you have powered monitors.... there are a ton of things you can do with one (with creativity and cabling)... it's pro cass gear
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Cheap options are amplug, direct to audacity and mini-mixer... itouch was a batgtery hog.
1-you can save a few bucks and buy the classic rock/ac-60 amplug and just turn off the distortion.
2-IF you gig and have a pedal board... you can find a Rolls Pm351 used on ebay for about 80.;... while not cheap... it can stay mounted to your board... function as a di box.... iem and practice amp. ... it is a good "more me mixer if you have powered monitors.... there are a ton of things you can do with one (with creativity and cabling)... it's pro cass gear
---
Cheap options are amplug, direct to audacity and mini-mixer... itouch was a batgtery hog.
That's what I do! Same mixer... Works really fine. The only thing that sometimes bother me is the lack of a power switch or a smaller power supply.
EDIT: one more thing, you can use the mixer for recording or anything else a mixer can do...
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I use a ZOOM H4N. Checking your particular solution, requires a 1/4'' to mini headphone converter, some headphones, an ipod (everyone has one of these right?). No problem with noise and you have one of the best portable affordable solutions and a pretty sweet recording device.
Agreed that it's a few more cables than perfect but it's 1/2" guitar in. A simple 1/8" to 1/4" stereo Y-cable gets the iPod in and the front panel headphone outs are the standard 1/4 stereo OR 1/8" stereo, your choice. The bacl panel has the R/L outs.
That said, I am now very inclined to try the iRig/Amplitutde setup though...
Ok, I'm taking a second look at the Behringer 5-chan mixer. It's still a strong contender.
Pros:
Doesn't require an adapter to accept the 1/4" from my effects board
Doesn't require an adapter to accept 1/4" headphones
One of the cheapest options discussed, at under $40
Cons:
Requires a 1/8" to dual RCA adapter to accommodate stereo iPod
Pros:
Doesn't require an adapter to accept the 1/4" from my effects board
Doesn't require an adapter to accept 1/4" headphones
One of the cheapest options discussed, at under $40
Cons:
Requires a 1/8" to dual RCA adapter to accommodate stereo iPod
You can buy a RCA-1/8" stereo cable... they're cheap! Or you could buy a RCA-to-1/8" adapter and use a standard 1/8" male/male stereo cable. Both cheap!
Very cheap. Making this solution probably the simplest and cheapest of all that have been discussed so far.
Boss TU-88 accepts 1/4 output from bass or effects and a 1/8 output from an mp3 player. It outputs to a 1/8 headphone plug. Costs $50-60. Includes metronome and tuner.
Here's a link:
BOSS U.S. - TU-88: Micro Monitor & Tuner
I've primarily used the Behringer Xenix502 for a few years.... also have the Alesis MultiMix....
Paid less than 30 for either of them used.
have never had a problem.
Paid less than 30 for either of them used.
have never had a problem.
Invalid Link Removed
Has coiled cord. Which I don't tolerate, but others apparently do. If you have large ears they may not fit comfortably. Try before you buy.
Their sensitivity spec is also hosed - "106 dB/W/m" - albeit usable if one discerns the intent. Clearly, they are not going to produce 106 dB at one meter. Presumably that extra "/m" snuck in from loudspeaker specifications (copy/paste by someone not entirely qualified, or careless). In which case, the sensitivity spec should have read "106 dB @ 1W".
Driven with 1 Vrms (= 16 mW into 63 Ohm) you should get about 88 dB peak. Average level will depend on compression, if any, and on your technique and style.
Note that more expensive headphones may be more efficient. e.g. BeyerDynamic DT700M: 105 dB @ 0.1 W. That's 3 dB less max output @ 10 dB lower input than the Sony. Partially offset by their impedance being 80 Ohm (= 12.5 mW @ 1 Vrms).
Regardless, driving headphones with 1 Vrms max. is not optimal, which is why real headphone amps (e.g. Cafe Walter, and some of the aforementioned mixers) use a greater power supply voltage, which permits a larger output voltage.
Tru that on the BT-1. It has helped my playing immensly.
Also, I have the new GT-R1. (I think that's the number). It has an sd card, and records onto itself over the mp3.
So, u can record ur playing onto the mp3 track, and also keep the original track intact.
Very cool
The BT-1 runs 200 usd new, and the GT-R1 runs about 250.
Very very cool.
I do second the wish for blu-tooth on some of these items!
Allen
Invalid Link Removed
Has coiled cord. Which I don't tolerate, but others apparently do. If you have large ears they may not fit comfortably. Try before you buy.
Their sensitivity spec is also hosed - "106 dB/W/m" - albeit usable if one discerns the intent. Clearly, they are not going to produce 106 dB at one meter. Presumably that extra "/m" snuck in from loudspeaker specifications (copy/paste by someone not entirely qualified, or careless). In which case, the sensitivity spec should have read "106 dB @ 1W".
Driven with 1 Vrms (= 16 mW into 63 Ohm) you should get about 88 dB peak. Average level will depend on compression, if any, and on your technique and style.
Note that more expensive headphones may be more efficient. e.g. BeyerDynamic DT700M: 105 dB @ 0.1 W. That's 3 dB less max output @ 10 dB lower input than the Sony. Partially offset by their impedance being 80 Ohm (= 12.5 mW @ 1 Vrms).
Regardless, driving headphones with 1 Vrms max. is not optimal, which is why real headphone amps (e.g. Cafe Walter, and some of the aforementioned mixers) use a greater power supply voltage, which permits a larger output voltage.
that makes my head hurt... All I know is that they sound great for what I am using them for and in a true 'practice' application I am not sure how much all that really matters. I do know that they are a quality piece, respected and revered worldwide.
