I have been using an EBS MicroBass II for years - it does all you describe, and more, and can even be powered by the mixing console 48V phantom power. The headphone jack is 3.5mm stereo, not the big 1/4" standard, though. The MicroBass 3 is even more capable, but doesn't run off phantom power.
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Preamp Pedal With Headphones?
- Thread starter bass-shy
- Start date
I have an Eden WTDI that I use for direct to the board or plug into the effects-return of backline amps I don't like the sound of. Haven't tried my headphones on it and will have to dig it out to give it a try. It has a built in Eden WT preamp in it and I get the same sound out of it that I get out of my Eden WT500/800 amp.
It will send out either balanced XLR or unbalanced 1/4" plug, so it should work with headphones. It has both gain and a master, bass shelving EQ at 30Hz, mid that toggles from 500Hz to 2KHz, and treble that shelves everything above that. Also has the Enhance control which is a shape control, scooping the mids and boosting the bass and treble. Additionally it has a bass boost button so you can boost the bass without scooping the mids or boosting the treble, and has an adjustable compressor. So it's no sacrifice of tone on this. Was $149 when I bought it years ago and is around $169 to $179 now. It comes with its own 15v power supply.
Here's a better pic of it:
Finding the 'right' preamp pedal that happens to have a headphone jack (and a good one, at that) may force you into using something you may not have bought without the headphone out requirement.
So, if it were me, use what really suits you best, then carry a small 'folio' mixer, like a baby Yamaha or Mackie. These are handy things to have around for more than a few reasons, and this frees you to use all your favorites and generally have far better headphone circuits. This also saves you from getting that somewhat dry sound of plugging straight into one of these to play along with recorded material or practice alone.
Probably a bit bigger than what you have in mind, but I have a 1202VLZ Mackie for this sort of thing and it will drive any and all good headphones, and with AC power and the VLZ inputs (shared as 1/4" with the XLR's on the first 4 channels) almost impossible to distort unless I really get stoooopid.
And of course, Mackie, Yamaha, and others make far smaller ones that would slip in a bag. Mine never leaves the house, so this size is no problem, and it's SO capable.
So, if it were me, use what really suits you best, then carry a small 'folio' mixer, like a baby Yamaha or Mackie. These are handy things to have around for more than a few reasons, and this frees you to use all your favorites and generally have far better headphone circuits. This also saves you from getting that somewhat dry sound of plugging straight into one of these to play along with recorded material or practice alone.
Probably a bit bigger than what you have in mind, but I have a 1202VLZ Mackie for this sort of thing and it will drive any and all good headphones, and with AC power and the VLZ inputs (shared as 1/4" with the XLR's on the first 4 channels) almost impossible to distort unless I really get stoooopid.
And of course, Mackie, Yamaha, and others make far smaller ones that would slip in a bag. Mine never leaves the house, so this size is no problem, and it's SO capable.
Yeah the Cioks takes 5V USB power. Just plug in any phone charger or USB bank and good to go. The numbers show that it should last over two days, but who knows if it will. I will say that I charged it Feb 7th when I got it. I play a little each day (sometimes 15 mins sometimes an hour), and I have yet to recharge it. I wanted to see how long it can last before it dies.
I got this one:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08V1QT87H/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
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I also need to practice/noodle away from my music space quite often and went through the same kind of search. I landed on the Helix Stomp and haven’t looked back. A real do it all box, easy to hook up to iPad/phone/laptop for backing tracks (and works as a recording interface too) and the effects and amp modelling are really good. Lot of Helix users on TB, it’s a popular choice and it is pretty common now for folk playing live to output straight from Helix into the board and monitor over IEMs. So the same box could give you gigging options too if of interest.
+1 for the Bass Station. Has all of the features you're looking for, sounds good, price is right, form factor is tiny. Has an aux in. Has 2 effects loops, one for the dry signal and one for the signal through the preamp. XLR and 1/4" outputs for both. TONS of routing options in such a tiny package. The preamp is based on the SVT circuit, and it seems really responsive to playing dynamics. The DLX version looks pretty killer as well but I think I could get overwhelmed with all of the options.
If you already have a board you like/use with DI out, add a Rolls unit to the end of the chain and there’s your headphone out and an aux in. I use mine at church to feed my own IEMs and mix with the FOH return through the Avioms. When not on the stage I can use the board for silent practice and feed my iPad into my IEMs through the Rolls.
Wow! Thanks so much for all of your suggestions and recommendations. I have a lot of reading to do!
I've been giving this a lot of thought and I think I could probably do what I need with a headphone amp. The pedals on my board give me more than enough options for tone shaping. I really like the idea of an all-in-one preamp/OD/DI/phones amp too.
Definitely going to take a look into the Darkglass Element and the Ultras, Ampeg SCR-DI, G-K Plex, Palmer Pocket Amp Bass, SLO and the Rolls options.
Much appreciated!
I've been giving this a lot of thought and I think I could probably do what I need with a headphone amp. The pedals on my board give me more than enough options for tone shaping. I really like the idea of an all-in-one preamp/OD/DI/phones amp too.
Definitely going to take a look into the Darkglass Element and the Ultras, Ampeg SCR-DI, G-K Plex, Palmer Pocket Amp Bass, SLO and the Rolls options.
Much appreciated!
I'm using a Saturnworks headphone amp at the end of my board when I practice. Effects, preamp, etc. sound great through it.
This is last on my board, last pedal I'd take off, and the one I'd bring if I could only bring one.
I also have an Amplug.
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