Tone Report Weekly Issue 160 | Page 46

Alright pedalphiles , this one ’ s just for you . There are other headphone amplifiers around that will take pedals pretty well if you ’ re careful about it and avoid goosing the gain too aggressively , but the EHX Headphone Amp has actually been specifically designed to sit at the end of your pedal chain , allowing you to use your entire board for silent headphone rocking . It is small and quite ruggedly constructed , with just a single knob for volume control , and will happily accept even the hottest , filthiest signal from your chain , reproducing it in all its glory at headphone level . For pedal people , this is probably the ultimate in tiny , super-portable headphone amplification , and at just under 45 bucks new , it ’ s also an excellent bargain that should remain useful for years to come , with no software updates or additional interfaces necessary .
Before wrapping up it should be noted that , for a headphone amp to produce a genuinely satisfying and inspiring playing experience , one must complete the rig with a good set of closed-back headphones ( unless you get the Vox amPhone , of course ). If you don ’ t already own a decent pair of cans for music listening or
recording , then you should consider investing in some straight away . Ear buds will do in a pinch for an impromptu practice session , but a proper set of reference monitor or hi-fi-oriented headphones will make a world of difference , offering enhanced detail and a much more natural balance of frequencies , as well as just being a lot less fatiguing to listen to . I have personally used the Audio- Technica ATH-M40 models for years and like them a lot . Other excellent headphones include the industry standard Sony MDR-7506 , Sennheiser HD280 , and the somewhat pricey but magnificent Beyerdynamic DT770 .

Electro- Harmonix Heaphone Amp

Alright pedalphiles , this one ’ s just for you . There are other headphone amplifiers around that will take pedals pretty well if you ’ re careful about it and avoid goosing the gain too aggressively , but the EHX Headphone Amp has actually been specifically designed to sit at the end of your pedal chain , allowing you to use your entire board for silent headphone rocking . It is small and quite ruggedly constructed , with just a single knob for volume control , and will happily accept even the hottest , filthiest signal from your chain , reproducing it in all its glory at headphone level . For pedal people , this is probably the ultimate in tiny , super-portable headphone amplification , and at just under 45 bucks new , it ’ s also an excellent bargain that should remain useful for years to come , with no software updates or additional interfaces necessary .
Before wrapping up it should be noted that , for a headphone amp to produce a genuinely satisfying and inspiring playing experience , one must complete the rig with a good set of closed-back headphones ( unless you get the Vox amPhone , of course ). If you don ’ t already own a decent pair of cans for music listening or
recording , then you should consider investing in some straight away . Ear buds will do in a pinch for an impromptu practice session , but a proper set of reference monitor or hi-fi-oriented headphones will make a world of difference , offering enhanced detail and a much more natural balance of frequencies , as well as just being a lot less fatiguing to listen to . I have personally used the Audio- Technica ATH-M40 models for years and like them a lot . Other excellent headphones include the industry standard Sony MDR-7506 , Sennheiser HD280 , and the somewhat pricey but magnificent Beyerdynamic DT770 .
46 TONE TALK // Hear , Hear ! 5 Headphone Amps that Keep it Down