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What is the headphone amp/DI/preamp?

#61
This what I use at Church now. Does a great job. I still use a bass combo or a bass rig for gigs.
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#65
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I haven’t tried this one but word is they are really nice. It’s MIF (Made in Finalnd) and it’s analog, which is advantageous to many.

Anticipate an aggressive, muscular tone from this unit so maybe not the best selection if you are asked to do a lot of smooth jazz kind of gigs.
 
#69
My setup is overkill - compressor -> Alembic F-2B preamp -> Mackie mixer - the comp is what I use all the time (recording, performing) so like to have it in line when I'm practicing too. I used to practice without an amp in my bathroom in front of the mirror (mirror wasn't actually that important) but I realized that I wasn't hearing what was happening electronically, so got set up with my mixer.

Do you have any preamps already that you'd want to incorporate? If so, then a simple mixer might be the way to go. I actually don't even really need the Alembic pre in the mix, the EQ on the Mackie is pretty impressive, especially if I'm just playing along with mp3s/CDs/YouTube...
 
#70
selowitch said:
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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.
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I have the earlier version of the BigHead and I use it all the time. I love this thing!
 
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#71
PotsdamBass8 said:
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.
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The HX Stomp is an awesome piece for bass! Would fit this role greatly if in an overkill fashion. Extra features though like an be your audio interface for computer or iPad with USB/ Lightning Adaptor Plus all the FX etc.
 
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#73
SactoBass said:
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! :woot: 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! :thumbsup:

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! :thumbsup:
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This was such a great write-up. You make a very compelling argument. I will seriously consider getting the SCR.

Thanks
 
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#74
If price wasn't a barrier, I'd go for some like an Avalon RME setup. The headphone amp at the bottom has 1w per channel headphone out, PEQ and HP/LP filters, programable for high and low impedance headphones. You can even program the headphone amp to give different sounds for each side of your headphones to cater for any hear loss.

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#75
My setup is a tuner, compressor and Sansamp, with DI out into a Scarlett 2i2 then into the computer. I can either listen through a set of headphones or through the Yamaha monitors hooked up to the Scarlett. I have been looking at an Audient Sono since it is an interface but it has a tube preamp and Two Notes speaker modeling. It doesn't have very many cabinets for bass but maybe those models can be downloaded from Two Notes.
 

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