Practice combo amp VS headphone amp

[max_overdrive]

I'm getting complaints from the neighbours (and the girlfriend) so I'll have to start using headphones often.

Since I don't have a small 15W practice combo amp, am I better off getting one that has a Line In and a headphone socket, or should I settle for a headphone amp?

I find it strange that they're around the same price since the combo amp can do so much more. Could it be that the sound quality combo amps send to headphones is much worse than that of headphone amps like the Cafe Walter and the Korg Pandora?

 

[max_overdrive]

Not a lot of headphone users around it seems!

 

[seamonkey]

Use your computer and try out some modeling.
IK Amplitube free is free and easy to set up.

If you have a smartphone, do the same.

Or if you want something outside of computer a small mixer is always handy.

 

[MattZilla]

A whole 15 watts is crazy loud for a bedroom and will drive any common woman nuts. I prefer going through my pedals into my computer into my headphones or into my little plastic 9v powered Marshall.

 

[ArtechnikA]

A headphone amp is $20 and you can take it anywhere.
Can a teeny combo amp do anything worth doing in its bag of tricks?
( I donno - I am asking. I have a couple - i never use them. )
The headphone amp works fine. I did get good headphones although the cheapos included in the $20 amp were functional.

Naturally - the $20 amp is nowhere near the quality of the Cafe Walter.
Maybe I expect much less from my practice experience - but I'm OK with that.
I can tell if I'm hitting the notes I want. I can plug in an audio source like a MP3 player and play along. I think it's a fine value, quite portable, and completely silent.

A couple of people (in similar recent threads) have recommended a Zoom B3 which does a lot of other stuff and is useful in its own (non-practice) right - so that's something else to explore. I also looked at the Vox Amplug and RockMan Bass and was unimpressed by the reviews, although others report OK results. It's good to have options...

Your location indicates you're outside CONUS, so I don't know how accessible the EBay $20 practice amp - or the Zoom for that matter - will be for you.

But that aside - IMO - if you're looking for an interface to practice with headphones, anything else is probably something better left to some other kind of device.

 

[ArtechnikA]

...into my little plastic 9v powered Marshall.

I've got one of those!
They're so darned cute I couldn't resist !
And yet - I actually use it for little more than setting intonation or - driving the headphone output - for which it's bigger than it has to be...

The Overdrive channel does sound good with a guitar - but IMO bass? Not so much...

 

[max_overdrive]

Your location indicates you're outside CONUS, so I don't know how accessible the EBay $20 practice amp - or the Zoom for that matter - will be for you.

I have no problem obtaining practice amps or pedals here, but I kind of like the idea of having the options the little combo amp gives you. Worried about the sound quality through headphones though.

 

[G On Bass]

A couple of people (in similar recent threads) have recommended a Zoom B3 which does a lot of other stuff and is useful in its own (non-practice) right - so that's something else to explore.

+1. I use the B3 for home practice w/my computer and a little Lexicon Alpha. Then I pack it up and go to rehearsals/gigs, and all my little sounds are there. Keep in mind that since the amp models on the B3 give you access to a virtual front panel of the amp being modeled, you have far more controls at your disposal than a little combo amp.

FWIW, I use Audio Technica ATHM50's for quiet/critical listening practice, and some Grado SR 60's for when I need to hear the wife/kids yelling at me.