Headphones/Amplifiers

chocojoe · Post by **chocojoe** » Fri May 23, 2008 7:42 pm

Hi, I just bought a Triton Extreme and wanted to buy a pair of headphones and an amp for it. I was wondering what a good choice would be. I don't want the top of the line stuff, but I don't want the cheapest stuff either. The headphones would be for home and the amp would be for performances. Something that could be pretty quiet or pretty loud.

RVNOak · Post by **RVNOak** » Fri May 23, 2008 9:20 pm

Wow!! Stage set-ups are as varied as closet full of clothes.

If you are with a band, then you could just plug straight into the PA. Hopefully you would have 6 spare channels as this would allow you to run your TEX at its optimum.

For stage, we use a Carvin keyboard amp with 1000 watts. We don't use that amp and speaker setup for the audience though, we use it just for us (sort of like monitoring) and love it more for what it does in a practice set up. It's plenty loud and thumps pretty hard. As for live, it doesn't have the SPL to really carry out to an audience of more than 75 people.

At home we use powered studio monitors (Yamaha HS80M) that we hook up straight to the mixer. We can use the Carvin but, at low levels the sound isn't that great as we aren't driving the speakers with enough power.

The real questions that need to be answered are:

What is your budget?
Do you want to run live in stereo?
How big of audiences do you play?
Do you plan on recording and using a DAW?
Are you using any other equipment with your board (other midi devices, etc.)?

Truthfully, there are a million different ways you can set up. If you could be a little more specific I'm sure someone here can help you narrow down to something that will match your needs.

chocojoe · Post by **chocojoe** » Sun May 25, 2008 1:34 am

Well, currently I'm not in a band, but I plan to join one in about 2 years. I can buy a different amp if need be when that happens though. Currently, I only play a few times a year and play for small audiences as background music by myself, so I didn't think I needed anything too big right now. I wanted to be prepared though, just in case. Is it realistic to get something for under $200?

Also, I wanted some headphones for home, because I can't afford a stero set-up right now.

GregC · Post by **GregC** » Sun May 25, 2008 11:28 am

I recommend what Jordan Rudess uses

chocojoe · Post by **chocojoe** » Wed May 28, 2008 10:55 am

philiplyons · Post by **philiplyons** » Wed May 28, 2008 7:19 pm

dunno about amps, but for headphones, DT100s take some beating.

chocojoe · Post by **chocojoe** » Wed May 28, 2008 7:37 pm

I was looking for something less in price for phones.

chocojoe · Post by **chocojoe** » Thu May 29, 2008 11:11 am

I was thinking, since I'm not looking for that high quality of headphones, can I just buy a 1/4 inch female to 1/8 inch stereo male cable and use some regular MP3 player phones?

And I'd still like some help with buying an amp please.

philiplyons · Post by **philiplyons** » Thu May 29, 2008 11:23 am

Yes you can.

Stephen · Post by **Stephen** » Thu May 29, 2008 11:59 am

I highly recommend these; http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/RH600/
for headphones, you won't be dissappointed!

These; http://www.zzounds.com/item--BEHB212A
for live. I use them, I've had two for about a year now, one for playing out, which stays in the trailer, and one for rehearsal, which stays in the studio, and they rock!
They also make a darn good PA system for smaller gigs.
HTH

chocojoe · Post by **chocojoe** » Thu May 29, 2008 9:01 pm

As much as I'd like that amp, it's a little over my budget. What would you reccomend for about say.... $180?

chocojoe · Post by **chocojoe** » Sun Jun 01, 2008 12:20 am

Would a 45W amp be practical?

vectorsynth · Post by **vectorsynth** » Mon Jun 02, 2008 12:25 am

I use a pair of studio monitors for practicing at home.
Why not go to your favourite music store and check out various amps / monitors and how different they can sound,
try to get a basic feel of comparison.
Find out what best suits your needs and reproduces your sound in budget range and maybe some more. If it's too expensive just go for 2nd best or use the headphones until you can afford.

The most important thing is coming right from those speakers: Your music - so make the most out of it !
Hell, an Oasys can sound like crap with a dull mono keyboard cube amp.

RVNOak · Post by **RVNOak** » Mon Jun 02, 2008 12:44 am

vectorsynth wrote: Hell, an Oasys can sound like crap with a dull mono keyboard cube amp.

Couldn't have been said better!!

chocojoe · Post by **chocojoe** » Mon Jun 02, 2008 12:45 am

Thanks for your input. Do you think a mono amp would sound good if it is good quality? I don't want to go to a music store since I don't live close to one and gas is so expensive.