Amp Headphones

mrchodito

New member
Just wondering if there are some good headphones out there specifically for guitar amps. I have a $100 set that are big dj style sony ones, great quality for music but sound fairly bad when plugged into my amp. Is this a no-win situation, besides the sound muffling?
 
Re: Amp Headphones

Come on, none of you guys have ever needed to use headphones? I have a 120 watt 2 speaker laney, and I live in a condo, plus I'm working night shifts so on my days off I have nothing to do play guitar from 12am-9am. It has the headphone jack, but the sound is really bad quality and I'm worried I may be doing damage to them because of this. I'll use them if I have to, I'm just hoping perhaps somebody has some wisdom to impart on headhones designed mainly for this use. Anybody have any suggestions or personal experience with this stuff?
 
Re: Amp Headphones

i often use headphone with my vox pathfinder 15R..it sounds fairly good..
i think because your amp produces very large power and your headphone can't handle it..i guess..try smaller amp..
 
Re: Amp Headphones

I think DJ-style headphones are perfect for use with guitars and bass. The thing is that some of the dynamics of the sound are compromised without being played through an actual guitar speaker. The Vox ToneLab I use has extensive cabinet modeling features, but some sounds don't come out right through my headphones. I know that both my headphones and my ToneLab are high-quality gear, but it is just the dynamics. I am not aware of any headphones that can effectively produce the nuances of guitar speaker cabinets. If you find them, let us know.
 
Re: Amp Headphones

I guess the real issue is with overdrive. Really does not come through nicely AT ALL. Is this an across the board issue or am I kicking my poor headphones' ass?
 
Re: Amp Headphones

I'm gunna take a punt at this one...whether I'm right or not is a different matter...

Headphone speakers are full range and are producing all the highs that usually dont come through guitar speakers. I think you need a cabinet simulator to get it to sound any good.

I dont think it's an issue of power, as the headphones are coming straight out after the preamp (I think). I doubt the sound you hear is coming from after the power tubes.
 
Re: Amp Headphones

Guitar speaker cabs add a lot of warmth, punch and air to distortion sounds. Direct or headphone outs, even if they have some sort of 'speaker simulator' network on them, tend to sound very dry, close, and ratty. I've never been able to find a direct sound that I like as well as the live speakers.

The best bet for good headphone sounds is a modeling amp or pedal of some sort. That way you can dial up tones that sound huge n headphones without fighting your amp. In headphones you really need some reverb and/or delay to juice things up.
 
Re: Amp Headphones

I think the variety of tones produced by amp modelers and cab simulators is awesome when played through good headphones. It's just that certain dynamics require a real speaker. You know that sound when you play higher frets on higher strings? It sounds kind of like an alarm or a siren. I found that I can get that sound when my guitar is plugged into any of my solid state, tube, bass, or guitar amps, clean or distorted, with almost any of my effects, including my ToneLab. The only time I couldn't get that sound was when using my ToneLab with my headphones. That sound I am trying to describe is one of the mast satisfying tones to guitarists, and I may be wrong, but I think a real speaker is needed to make that sound.
 
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