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Using the Neunaber Iconoclast as a headphone amp

Ricky Rioli

Ricky Rioli

Sep 29, 2020
4,074
1
10,501
UK
#1
I'm looking for something to use as a headphone amp, something which will add a bit of texture to the tone without interfering in it too much, something that will simply put the strings, pickup and fingers in a gently flattering light.

I don't need extra features like overdrive or compression or a tuner, but would enjoy the illusion that I'm playing with a proper amp (where I live, even just a practice amp is bordering on impolite) Neunaber are of the opinion that their Iconoclast cab sim works fine with a bass.

Firstly, I would be glad to hear from anyone already using the Iconoclast as a headphone amp.

Secondly, I would be grateful if someone were to tell me of a cheaper cab sim that perhaps isn't quite as flexible as the Iconoclast but still does the job nicely.

I feel encouraged by this review from 2017: NPD: Neunaber Iconoclast + Review
 
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#2
Ricky Rioli said:
I'm looking for something to use as a headphone amp, something which will add a bit of texture to the tone without interfering in it too much, something that will simply put the strings, pickup and fingers in a gently flattering light.

I don't need extra features like overdrive or compression or a tuner, but would enjoy the illusion that I'm playing with a proper amp (where I live, even just a practice amp is bordering on impolite) Neunaber are of the opinion that their Iconoclast cab sim works fine with a bass.

Firstly, I would be glad to hear from anyone already using the Iconoclast as a headphone amp.

Secondly, I would be grateful if someone were to tell me of a cheaper cab sim that perhaps isn't quite as flexible as the Iconoclast but still does the job nicely.

I feel encouraged by this review from 2017: NPD: Neunaber Iconoclast + Review
Click to expand...

I have an Iconoclast. It's a cool device. There weren't many sound profiles or "images" or whatever they call them on the Neunaber forum that were specifically for bass, but there was one for an Ampeg 8 X 10. It was easy to load that profile onto the Iconoclast.

I had bought the unit used, so I'm not sure what if anything was already loaded. The Ampeg profile was really nice though.

I'm using the Iconoclast directly into a powered QSC speaker (K112)...and it works great for electric bass. I've also used the same setup (even with the Ampeg profile loaded) with my double bass into the QSC.

I haven't used the Iconoclast to record with...so I can't comment on that.

As a headphone amp on the pedalboard...it's nice just to able to play with my pedals late at night without disturbing anyone.
 
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#3
bassgeek said:
I have an Iconoclast. It's a cool device. There weren't many sound profiles or "images" or whatever they call them on the Neunaber forum that were specifically for bass, but there was one for an Ampeg 8 X 10. It was easy to load that profile onto the Iconoclast.

I had bought the unit used, so I'm not sure what if anything was already loaded. The Ampeg profile was really nice though.

I'm using the Iconoclast directly into a powered QSC speaker (K112)...and it works great for electric bass. I've also used the same setup (even with the Ampeg profile loaded) with my double bass into the QSC.

I haven't used the Iconoclast to record with...so I can't comment on that.

As a headphone amp on the pedalboard...it's nice just to able to play with my pedals late at night without disturbing anyone.
Click to expand...

Do you play around with the knobs much, or is it the kind of thing where, once you've found the sound that feels really good for you, you leave it alone?
 
#4
What led me to learn about the Iconoclast is that I was looking at preamps, with their 3 band EQs, and I was thinking, if I don't like the 3 band EQ preamp that's in my bass (and permanently turned off) why would I like one in a box on the floor any better?

Then I saw someone saying that the Microbass 3 sounds thin and rubbish through headphones, because unlike the Microbass 2 it has no cab sim.

I'm not very interested in sculpting my sound, or mixing a bit of dirt to my clean signal or blah blah blah, so half the functionality of a preamp like that would be wasted on me, but fabricating the aural experience of having my signal come through a nice big cabinet....that sounds like it could be just the thing for me. Just some subtle bloom and warmth added to the raw sound. Like the difference between the depth of a well-lit theatre stage and the flatness of strip lighting.
 
#5
Ricky Rioli said:
Do you play around with the knobs much, or is it the kind of thing where, once you've found the sound that feels really good for you, you leave it alone?
Click to expand...

I usually adjust the eq based on the room (when I'm using it directly into my powered speaker, which has no EQ). When using it as a headphone amp, it's pretty much always set the same way. Also...the gate...I don't really use that at all.
 
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#6
bassgeek said:
I have an Iconoclast. It's a cool device. There weren't many sound profiles or "images" or whatever they call them on the Neunaber forum that were specifically for bass, but there was one for an Ampeg 8 X 10. It was easy to load that profile onto the Iconoclast.

I had bought the unit used, so I'm not sure what if anything was already loaded. The Ampeg profile was really nice though.

I'm using the Iconoclast directly into a powered QSC speaker (K112)...and it works great for electric bass. I've also used the same setup (even with the Ampeg profile loaded) with my double bass into the QSC.

I haven't used the Iconoclast to record with...so I can't comment on that.

As a headphone amp on the pedalboard...it's nice just to able to play with my pedals late at night without disturbing anyone.
Click to expand...

Hey, sorry to dig up the year old thread...just wondering how was the background noise floor on the Iconoclast as a headphone amp?
 
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#7
Ricky Rioli said:
I'm looking for something to use as a headphone amp, something which will add a bit of texture to the tone without interfering in it too much, something that will simply put the strings, pickup and fingers in a gently flattering light.

I don't need extra features like overdrive or compression or a tuner, but would enjoy the illusion that I'm playing with a proper amp (where I live, even just a practice amp is bordering on impolite) Neunaber are of the opinion that their Iconoclast cab sim works fine with a bass.

Firstly, I would be glad to hear from anyone already using the Iconoclast as a headphone amp.

Secondly, I would be grateful if someone were to tell me of a cheaper cab sim that perhaps isn't quite as flexible as the Iconoclast but still does the job nicely.

I feel encouraged by this review from 2017: NPD: Neunaber Iconoclast + Review
Click to expand...
I need to check that thing out because I'm after a headphone and practice amp myself. I've been a gl Plex user for years and can say that it definitely will do all the things you need and more. They have gotten pretty expensive though at around 450$ on most websites. But good gear with 4 different Sims that are all very useable depending on how you want to sound. I actually just ordered a Nux MLD preamp that you can upload different drive and sim settings online. Both have a headphone and aux as well as XLR.
 

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