What is the headphone amp/DI/preamp?

[Dr. Cheese]

No "Aux In" if that's at all important to you.

- John

That is important.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

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 milliamp 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!

This looks like winner.

 

[SactoBass]

View attachment 3763836
This looks like winner.

Dr. Cheese, be sure to read my added "EDIT" paragraph in my post #39 about powering the SCR-DI.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

Dr. Cheese, be sure to read my added "EDIT" paragraph in my post #39 about powering the SCR-DI.

The for the heads up about batteries.

 

[jnewmark]

I use this :

 

[Dr. Cheese]

I use this :View attachment 3763855

How much is the little Phil Jones.

 

[ellipsis]

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.

+1 The Stomp is expensive but it checks a lot of boxes.

 

[Dr. Keebs]

I use my GK MB200 for silent practice with aux input. Also has a DI.

 

[jnewmark]

How much is the little Phil Jones.

Unfortunately, it appears that PJ has discontinued the BB.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

Unfortunately, it appears that PJ has discontinued the BB.

I can’t miss what I can’t get.

 

[CallMeAl]

View attachment 3762543

That one does the trick for me.
Very good value.

Also through a decent cab it’s loud enough for home use.

Edit
The size is about the size of a pedal.
It has a nice headphone out and aux in.

View attachment 3762544

I found a demo video for this thing, man that looks cool!

 

[jnewmark]

How much is the little Phil Jones.

You might look for a used one; mine has been bullet proof.

 

[BassikLee]

I'm waiting for the Nux Mighty Plug. It does bass, guitar, has Bluetooth for streaming tunes, rechargeable battery onboard. I think it's going to be $60.

This demo is mostly of its gtr stuff, but still.

 

[Dr. Cheese]

I found a demo video for this thing, man that looks cool!

Sweet!

 

[BassikLee]

I didn't see the DI/PREAMP part. Mea cupla. I think I ignored it because in my brain, the two are different. When I want that sort of thing, I "Roll"(wait for it.....) out my PM-351.

 

[redstrand]

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!

I used a usb battery pack with a converter cable and it was great, shouldn’t have got rid of it

 

[petrus61]

View attachment 3763836
This looks like winner.

Coming from someone who bought one looking to replace my old version VOX Amplug, I wasn’t impressed. There’s significant bleed through from the FX circuit and it’s nothing that can’t be had for much cheaper through a cheap mixer, IMO. My experience was with multiple units.

edit: I also owned the VOX Amplug V.2, which while sonically was superior to V1, lacked volume. Also owned multiple units.

 

[DJ Bebop]

I use my Mesa D-800 with no cabs connected when I’m practicing with headphones. It has an aux in that I use to connect my phone or laptop. And a headphone out. Makes jamming along to music super convenient. View attachment 3763448

Same but this:

 

[selowitch]

Phil Jones BigHead Pro (HA-2) could possibly be on your list. I have one. Very good for playing with headphones, recording, and as a handy preamp. Only 3" wide x 5.9" deep x 0.9" high and weighing 0.6 lbs. The BigHead is $359, which might prompt a lot of people to consider the larger Phil Jones Bass Buddy (which someone else already posted).

The BigHead runs on a lithium-ion battery or USB power, which is a plus for some situations.

 

[franvarin]

I’ve been looking at this one, both as a headphone amp and backup DI. Great reviews on both uses
Ampeg SCR-DI - Bass Preamp with Scrambler Overdrive

The SCR-DI is a great piece of gear. I actually have two of them. One that is on my board and the other I take to rehearsal and use for practicing as a headphone amp. The second one doubles as a backup should I ever need it as well.