Headphone Practice Setup Recommendations?

[PoorMan]

Tossing around the idea of some sort of headphone setup for practice in the house. Are there any good options for boosted JCM800 tones ala Sex Pistols 1996 reunion? Are PODs any good? I'd like a standalone unit that is portable and easy to use. Don't want to plug into a PC.

If decent tone isn't obtainable, I'll pass and stick with playing my amps at low volume.

Thanks!

 

[Empty Pockets]

Re: Headphone Practice Setup Recommendations?

Orange Micro Dark. Good headphone amp that can also power a 4x12. I actually used one in a Sex Pistols tribute band a few years ago.

 

[PoorMan]

Re: Headphone Practice Setup Recommendations?

Orange Micro Dark. Good headphone amp that can also power a 4x12. I actually used one in a Sex Pistols tribute band a few years ago.

That would likely fit the bill, but I’ve heard they don’t sound very good though headphones? I’ve not bought headphones yet so I haven’t tested this myself.

 

[ibanezrocks]

Re: Headphone Practice Setup Recommendations?

For headphones, modelers will be better than any real amp. The headphone output on amps always seems like an afterthought, some don't have any cab sim and others have a simple analog filter.

On the cheap end, look at the Yamaha THR10 or THR10X, or the Atomic Ampli-Firebox. For more money but amazing tone, look at the Helix stomp.

Sent from my BlackBerry using Tapatalk

 

[ibmorjamn]

Re: Headphone Practice Setup Recommendations?

I like my old line 6 pod 2 for practice with headphones.It is stand alone but I use to record with a DAW on the laptop. Many people despise anything that has the line 6 name but it works for me . I even had a compliment on the tone a couple of times . It’s not great but it works , would I rather have a Kemper,of course but I have other commitments.

 

[ehdwuld]

Re: Headphone Practice Setup Recommendations?

Shoot
A Digitech RP50 is what you want
Drum loops are important for practice

Effects and models are workable

Used they are super cheap

 

[NecroPolo]

Re: Headphone Practice Setup Recommendations?

Blackstar ID:Core amps sound quite decent through headphones. Beware of extreme weak power supply / power cables, it is better to get a spare one right on purchase.

 

[Mr. B]

Re: Headphone Practice Setup Recommendations?

If you figure this out let me know. I have tried a half dozen Line 6 POD / Vox Tonelab type modelers and several sets of headphones, from cheap to fairly expensive (to me at least), and I have never found anything that did not sound terrible through headphones. I sold off all of it and only kept a cheap Vox Amplug and my iPhone earbuds, not because they sound better, but because they cost less than 40 dollars and sound nearly as good as the much more expensive stuff I tried.

 

[Artie]

Re: Headphone Practice Setup Recommendations?

Johnson J-station sounds great through headphones.

 

[donaldr]

Re: Headphone Practice Setup Recommendations?

I don't like playing with headphones, maybe because of the sound pressure on my ears, but having better result with IEM. Used Shure E2 for a while, tried Shure SE215 and bought KZ ZS6 recently, those are the best of the lot (even better than my Sony MDR7506). Cheap at $50 but quad drivers. So I suggest you try a pair.
I'm using an Avid Eleven Rack but I need a PC (connected by USB) for play-along music. Zoom just released G1 Four recently and it looks like a very good modeler for practicing using headphones, aux-in, drum patterns, looper, and cheap too at $99. Boss GT1 is also a nice unit. Headrush Gigboard looks pretty good (Eleven Rack technology) but more expensive. Amplifirebox doesn't have aux-in/headphone out, so you will have to add an external mixer. Yamaha AG06 mixer is supposed to have the same guitar model as the THR10, but you need a PC for initial setup. Mooer mini preamp pedal + Mooer Radar IR loader are looking good, but no aux-in.

 

[GuitarStv]

Re: Headphone Practice Setup Recommendations?

I've never been happy playing through headphones. The in ear ones bug my ears after a while, the over ear ones tend to get hot and sweaty, I'm fighting the cable all the time, and the sound is never as good as I'd like. Had better luck playing through amplitube on my PC with the computer speakers at low volume.

 

[Phantasmagoria]

Re: Headphone Practice Setup Recommendations?

Yeah..I just play with my amp's line out -> Cab sim (Mooer Radar/AMT Chameleon Cab) -> Cheap bluetooth speaker (line in). Sounds great at low/medioum volume in the room & no messing with headphones :bigthumb:

 

[80's_Metal]

Re: Headphone Practice Setup Recommendations?

Here's my go to headphone practice.
It goes literally anywhere.
Weighs nothing, fits in your pocket, or gigbag.
Sounds amazing.
Fairly versatile.

https://express.google.com/u/0/prod...FZETQlzCpKy_VyHGxkcG7gaFkXaTZcUBoC41sQAvD_BwE

 

[PoorMan]

Re: Headphone Practice Setup Recommendations?

Good info, gents. Thanks to all.

 

[devastone]

Re: Headphone Practice Setup Recommendations?

To me, "use for practice" means it needs to have an aux in for metronome/drums (some have them built in) and for an ipod/mp3/cd player, something to learn songs from. So, I'd make sure it has that. Some of the Korg Pandora units were pretty nice for that, or something like a Digitech RP360. The Yamaha THR10s are great and they have speakers too.

 

[ErikH]

Re: Headphone Practice Setup Recommendations?

I use AmpliTube on an unused iPhone in to a small Soundcraft mixer. My laptop audio out runs to the mixer as well. I monitor everything in headphones there and can mix both sources to my liking. Makes the perfect home practice setup for those late night sessions.