Any decent sounding mini headphone amps?

[Dave Locher]

Just learned today that my wife hates the sound of me playing distorted guitar. Looking for a headphone amp.
My parents bought me a Pocket Rocket back in the 1980s. I still have it but hate the sound. I bought a Guitar Ace several years ago and flipped it immediately because it sounded about the same.
Are there any little headphone amps that give a warm distortion tone that isn't harsh and nasally? I am hoping tech has advanced enough in the past 30 years but don't want to dive into the whole iphone interface thing. I want it simple.

I just spent an hour or so on Amazon & eBay and I see a lot of options that didn't used to exist but no idea which one might be tolerable? In a perfect world I would find one that does smooth, rich, and creamy, not harsh and tinny.

 

[crusty philtrum]

Re: Any decent sounding mini headphone amps?

I recently bought a Korg Pandora PX5, specifically so I can walk down to the river and play (i.e. it will run on batteries). It's a powerful little unit with plenty of selectable amp/ cab/ effects, and bass & drum accompaniment available if you wish. Also USB for editing from a computer, or recording to one. Lots of other great features, too, including tunable auxilary input for mp3 player, etc.

They were recently discontinued, but are still available. I searched around, and came down to the choice between the Vox Amplug and the Pandora. I was really just looking for a couple of good-quality sounds, and the Korg has that. I recommend at least checking them out.

 

[Empty Pockets]

Re: Any decent sounding mini headphone amps?

Vox Amplug is cool on the cheap side, or the Orange Micro Dark on the fancy side. The Orange is a 20w hybrid head with great tone and a headphone jack, and it's safe to rhn without a speaker connected for silent playing. I love those little heads.

 

[VinceT]

Re: Any decent sounding mini headphone amps?

Just learned today that my wife hates the sound of me playing distorted guitar.

Never has a sentence been written with more implied "ouch". Best of luck, Dave.

 

[Artie]

Re: Any decent sounding mini headphone amps?

In a perfect world I would find one that does smooth, rich, and creamy, not harsh and tinny.

They're getting hard to find, but I'd put an old Johnson J-Station at the top of the list. Killer tone and versatility. Especially with headphones. After that, an old Yamaha MagicStomp, (preferably ver 2). And then, after that, any ole Line6 POD or similar guitar modeler with a headphone jack.

 

[Dave Locher]

Re: Any decent sounding mini headphone amps?

Never has a sentence been written with more implied "ouch". Best of luck, Dave.

I know, right? hearing guitar without the rest of a song apparently just annoys her. Cuz it CAN'T be me - I totally rock.

 

[VinceT]

Re: Any decent sounding mini headphone amps?

In a perfect world I would find one that does smooth, rich, and creamy, not harsh and tinny.

Wait... You WERE describing the headphone amp and not your wife, right? Right?!!

 

[ehdwuld]

Re: Any decent sounding mini headphone amps?

The monoprice headphone amp sounds ok

Cheap used digitech RP series probably do what you want
The higher models have more drum loops and effects

 

[Dave Locher]

Re: Any decent sounding mini headphone amps?

The monoprice headphone amp sounds ok

Cheap used digitech RP series probably do what you want
The higher models have more drum loops and effects

Thank you for that suggestion! I bought a mint RP50, with power supply, for $30 including shipping. I just tried it tonight. My 4-year-old enjoyed pushing the switch to scroll through the 80 factory preset sounds.
Some of the clean presets are beautiful. The distortions, not so much, but WAY better than my little rockit plug-in. And I now know that I don't ever want a tremolo pedal. It's more than enough for a headphone amp. Consider me happy.

 

[Brandenburg]

Re: Any decent sounding mini headphone amps?

I play through headphones 95% of the time these days.. I used to have a pocketrocket or one of those cassette players that allowed you to play guitar through it and slow down the tape..Probably not what you meant by headphone amp but I play through my PC using Guitar Pro using headphones or i use and old 90's SGX 2000 with headphones.. It might be old but sounds way better that alot of things out there IMO


EDIT>> I meant Guitar RIG 4.. not Guitar Pro.. lol

 

[uOpt]

Re: Any decent sounding mini headphone amps?

All that Vox/Korg gear is good. Tonelab etc.

 

[devastone]

Re: Any decent sounding mini headphone amps?

The Zoom G3 makes a nice little practice rig, they also have single pedal multi-fx with the same models. The Korg Pandoras like Crusty mentioned are great too. One thing I always look for in a headphone practice setup is an aux line in to work on songs with, built in metronomes/rhythms are nice too.

 

[HiFiRebel]

Re: Any decent sounding mini headphone amps?

I have an Orange Micro Terror. It even has an aux in.

 

[Brandenburg]

Re: Any decent sounding mini headphone amps?

The Zoom G3 makes a nice little practice rig, they also have single pedal multi-fx with the same models. The Korg Pandoras like Crusty mentioned are great too. One thing I always look for in a headphone practice setup is an aux line in to work on songs with, built in metronomes/rhythms are nice too.

thats why i like my PC.. All the things I need are self contained
I use
PC Drummer v. 5.05 for my drummer/metronome
Guitar Pro to learn songs
strobe tuner program for tuning and setup
Riffstation or Transcribe! to slow down songs or isolate parts
Guitar Rig 4 as my amp/headphones. Not a real amp but imo, its better in some ways but does have a downside or 2..I have a 150 watt randall RG 100es with two early 70 1x12's and a peavey 4x12 but i prefer GR4 for most occasions
Guitar Speed, Guitar Scales method teaching aids
+ I have alot of lesson vids on my hard drives

only 2 downside is the portability factor but since I dont go anywhere thats a non-issue and its not as responsive/dynamic as my randall

 

[Laimac]

Re: Any decent sounding mini headphone amps?

I like my Vox AmPlug for portability, no need for power supply and very easy to just plug in and play. Not hifi at all but if I decide to play outdoors or move to the bedroom or living room, nothing is easier and the few included effects are a nice addition for the price.
The emulated out on my Blackstar amp is nice too and they have an AUX in as well.