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Practice amp and headphones

Discussion in 'Amps and Cabs [BG]' started by Dan_reeves, Oct 26, 2015.

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  1. Oct 26, 2015 #1
    Dan_reeves

    Dan_reeves

    Jun 14, 2013
    The Great Plains
    I have a cheap Orange 35 watt amp that I am currently using for home practice. I live in an apartment environment - so even at low volumes my neighbor can sometimes hear me practice. I can get an ok tone from the small speaker, but my tone sounds poor when I use headphones. I bought a pair of Sennheiser HD 280 PRO's expecting my tone to sound fairly decent, but it ends up sounding really airy and hollow, if that makes sense. No meat to it. Is the problem the headphones, or the amp? I had been considering picking up a used head to keep at home for practice - smaller and more portable than the Orange. Would my headphone tone improve with a better head, or is it the headphones and thats just how its going to be?
     
  2. Oct 26, 2015 #2
    twinjet

    twinjet Powered by GE90s; fueled with coffee. Staff Member Gold Supporting Member

    Sep 23, 2008
    49
    Try a better head, or get a combo practice amp. That should help, I think.
     
  3. Oct 26, 2015 #3
    michael_t

    michael_t

    Feb 11, 2013
    49.8951 N, 97.1384 W
    My practice rig at home for the last two and a half years: GK MB200 (head only) + Audio-Technica M50 headphones.

    My new setup at home: VT Bass DI + Mackie 402-VLZ4 ultra compact mixer + M50.

    Meanwhile, I've just acquired two 210 cabs to go with the MB200. I can finally start gigging with it after two and a half years!

    My advice to you is to accept and live with certain limitations that come with playing your bass through headphones for now, realizing it would never be the same as the "real thing". But at the same time start investing in things with potential for growth later, like my MB200.
     
  4. Oct 26, 2015 #4
    DiabolusInMusic

    DiabolusInMusic Functionless Art is Merely Tolerated Vandalism

    Dec 22, 2010
    Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
    In my experience, it tends to be the headphones. Mind you, those look to be decent headphones.

    Can you hit up a store? Go try your headphones through a handful of amps, see if the issue persists.
     
  5. Oct 26, 2015 #5
    mpdd

    mpdd neoconceptualist

    Mar 24, 2010
    LA
    i'm using the korg beat boy with my headphones or i can just run it into a computer monitor, probably not ideal, but for 49 dollars it's a helluva deal