PF500

[speedbump]

One of the reasons for buying a new amp in the first place was that I wanted one with a headphone jack. The Ampeg PF 500 has a headphone jack but it's pretty well useless(for what I want anyway) First of all,plugging headphones in does NOT disconnect the external speakers and secondly,what you hear out of the headphones is only what you put in through the audio input jack.Not at all what I expected.Yes,I could have checked it out in the store but didn't.I have never seen a headphone jack hooked up quite like this one.Is this common?

 

[fenderhutz]

I just read the manual.

Your amp works fine. Page 6, item 13.

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

It says if you want to use headphones only, unplug the speaker cables and it won't hurt the amp. You should be able to hear your bass input through headphones as well.

Audio input jack ONLY runs through headphones because they don't want people to use their amp as a stereo.

Edit: I own the amp just never use it for that purpose.

 

[RyanJD]

Audio input jack ONLY runs through headphones because they don't want people to use their amp as a stereo.

Why is this?
Would it damage a cab if it was hooked up to the head and used as a stereo?

 

[fenderhutz]

I remember having this conversation on the phone with them due to the Micro VR design flaws and that's all he said. They didn't want the amps to be used a stereo speakers. Of course that was one support guy, but he was very helpful and got promoted so he might have been right lol.

I could imagine the failures cranking up the cab for music to play along with it. Those amps have built in overdrive emulation (soft clip circuit) that gives them the warm sound. I don't think running a concert of music and bass through them would fare well with the cabs over time or even possibly blow a tweeter if cranked.


Edit: Also easier I would guess and possibly cheaper piggybacking directly into the headphone out instead of going through the signal chain. The knobs do nothing to control input volume on the audio input jack. You do have a master volume of course but that is just really overall headphone level.

 

[Febs]

Seem like it would actually be a handy feature if you wanted to use the audio input for a feed for in-ear monitors or a click track that you didn't want to be audible to the audience.

 

[Johnny Vance]

They didn't want the amps to be used as stereo speakers? Hum, well Ampeg, what the hell do you care? I might want to spend 4 or 500 dollars on a cool paper weight. I might be wrong but that sounds like a I don't know answer. I've got the PF500. Good little amp. Headphones sound good. I'm gonna start messing around with fx loop, and pedals on the front to see what mine does.

I remember having this conversation on the phone with them due to the Micro VR design flaws and that's all he said. They didn't want the amps to be used a stereo speakers. Of course that was one support guy, but he was very helpful and got promoted so he might have been right lol.

I could imagine the failures cranking up the cab for music to play along with it. Those amps have built in overdrive emulation (soft clip circuit) that gives them the warm sound. I don't think running a concert of music and bass through them would fare well with the cabs over time or even possibly blow a tweeter if cranked.


Edit: Also easier I would guess and possibly cheaper piggybacking directly into the headphone out instead of going through the signal chain. The knobs do nothing to control input volume on the audio input jack. You do have a master volume of course but that is just really overall headphone level.