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What is the headphone amp/DI/preamp?
- Thread starter Dr. Cheese
- Start date
I lied, 5 channel. The Behringer Xenyx 502. Got it for $45 shipped on Reverb.
It is! I bought both used, the MXR was $90 shipped and the Behringer mixer was $45 shipped. I use the MXR as DI at gigs too, it was a fantastic buy.
It can get overwhelming if you go down all the rabbit holes, but the line 6 pod hd500x can be found pretty affordable used, and it has become my go to for practice and performance. Aux in, headphone out, many bass amp models available.... It like it.
At one point I was looking for a headphone amp, myself. But I decided to invest in a Boss GT-1B. It's fantastic. It Boss' Bass-specific pedal. It has a stereo input, and it's entire signal chain is stereo through both the outputs and the headphones. So you don't have to worry about pedals that combine a stereo signal to mono.
Besides, it's also really fun to play with all the sounds and set up custom preamps. It's also a recording input device and, obviously, you can hook it to a power amp or a bass amp and run it live. It even runs on batteries, if that's your thing.
Highly recommended.
Besides, it's also really fun to play with all the sounds and set up custom preamps. It's also a recording input device and, obviously, you can hook it to a power amp or a bass amp and run it live. It even runs on batteries, if that's your thing.
Highly recommended.
Search this site for the DSM OmniCabSim from 2017-2018... lots of chatter here about it. Plus, the head guy at DSM (Daniel, a super-good guy) frequents TalkBass.
Love my Ampeg SCR-DI. It’s my go to for everything from silent home practice to my guaranteed sound for gigs with a back line.
I use a Digitech BP200 multy FX unit a headphone amp. Bought it used on the cheap about 14 years ago. I have invested more on headphones in that same time period. IMO anything with aux in (for your music source) and headphone out will work. Let your budget and needs determine the features you want. But I would put the lions share of the budget towards good headphones unless you already have a nice set. The the world is your oyster
I have a nice set of old fashioned (1/8” jack) Beats that sound fine.
It appears to me that it’s best to find something that serves another purpose too. Either as a DI, a cab sim, multi fx, spare amp, etc.
I was able to justify an HX Stomp because it served many purposes for me, including a headphone amp. It’s expensive as any one of the things that it does, but considering how much it does for me, it’s a bargain all together.
I was able to justify an HX Stomp because it served many purposes for me, including a headphone amp. It’s expensive as any one of the things that it does, but considering how much it does for me, it’s a bargain all together.
ART MyMONITORII Personal... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N5TALWO?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
I got one of these for an on stage monitor to hear my bass, my vocals, and the band mix. Works so well. Love it. Favorite piece of stage gear.
I got one of these for an on stage monitor to hear my bass, my vocals, and the band mix. Works so well. Love it. Favorite piece of stage gear.
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TC Electronic BAM200 200-Watt Compact Bass Head
This one looks decent, and I could buy a cab for it too.
This one looks decent, and I could buy a cab for it too.
Dr. Cheese:
Up until a few years ago, I too was using a Vox Amplug (bass version) for silent home practice with my Sony MDR-7506 headphones. I was never really overly enamored with the sound of the Vox, but it was low cost and it basically did what I needed it to do.
But then, I got an Ampeg SCR-DI. SHAZAM!
I immediately threw the Vox in the trash can. To my ears, the SCR sounds FANTASTIC! Btw, I do not use the "scrambler" portion of the SCR as I don't particular care for the sound of it. I just use the main (non-scrambler) section of the SCR. That alone is worth the price of admission IMO. I believe Ampeg included some kind of Ampeg speaker emulation circuitry in that box. Whatever they did, they have a winner IMO!And, I not only use it for silent practice, I also use it as a sound enhancement box in front of my amp (like an effects pedal). I plug my bass into the SCR, and then I run a cable from the SCR's "line out" jack to the front end input in my amp (where I would normally plug my bass into). Badabing! It improves the sound of the amp BIG TIME! This is especially helpful when the amp is of the type that is fairly transparent sounding. It works PERFECTLY with my home practice amp, which is a Markbass Micromark 801 (which, IMO, isn't much of a tone machine by itself). But with the SCR in front of it, SHAZAM!
And of course, the SCR also has an XLR out which is 6db hotter than the line out jack, so you can run a cable from the XLR out jack to the mixer board.
The Ampeg SCR-DI is a bigtime winner in my book!
EDIT: don't use 9v batteries with the SCR. The SCR drains batteries quickly, and once the voltage drops below 7.5 volts, the SCR will generate a yucky sounding high pitched squeal. I *HIGHLY* recommend using external power for the SCR. The SCR accepts anywhere from 9v to 12v. Center pin negative, standard 2.1mm pin size. The power draw of the SCR is about 80ma, so be sure to use a power supply that can provide at least 100ma just to play it safe!
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The one TB constant I have come to appreciate about the Doctor's posts is that they almost always cause me to check out something new (and maybe even GAS for it). I almost never have GAS, but here I am again checking out all the recommendations...
