Using Headphones With An Amp

[Tim Kelly]

I am wondering if the ohm value of headphones make a difference in the loudness of an amp's output through the phone jack. I am using my stereo headphones with my VOX AD15VT amp. The loudness seems low to me. This occurs even when I turn up the volume and master controls to full.

Has anybody ever experience this with other SS and Tube amps?

Thanks


Tim

 

[Bob Mc]

I think they're attenuated

I think that most Hphone jacks have a resistor on them,
this prevents you from turning the amp up so high your head asplodes.(sic)

 

[Bruce Fowler]

I bought an AD15VT too and have the same experience. Some of the amps are quieter than others e.g. the Boutique (high gain?). I guessed it has something to with where the headphone/lineout sits in the circuit - my hazy recollection this morning is that this is an issue when playing on the manual or clean setting - but volume is fine when using the effects, but the sound is lacking warmth & depth.

There's a website devoted to these amps called patchtronix. I can't look it up right now but someone explains there that the line out is before the 12ax7 tube that acts as the power amp...

Having said all that, there are sharper minds here that will no doubt enlighten...

I love this amp though! It's a lot of fun and quiet enough to play in the wee small hours without 'phones...or so I believe

 

[Brian blaut]

Hi Tim,

First of all, the Vox Valvetronix are great amps. Congratulations on your purchase. Second, on the 15 and 30 watt versions (I don't know about the others), the headphone jack is indeed taked BEFORE the tube. So unfortunatley, late night headphone jaming will be limited to the solid state properties of the amp. I almost always play late night through headphones, so I opted for the tonelabe because it takes its headphone jack after the poweramp (which is the tube in the valvetronix line).

And, for your original question, are you using really high end headphones? Yes, certain headphones require more level from the source. I'm not very savy with headphones but in my research, high end headphones usually need a headphone amp. Cheaper ones are made for regular consumer line levels. I've heard people complain about this before in some of my headphone research. If yours are really high end, borrow a pair of cheaper ones and see if it makes the difference. Or, you could get a headphone amplifier. I think they run for $40 or so...

BTW, I use Sony MDR-V6 (not to be confused with v600) headphones w/ my tonelab and the volume and sound quality is great! I think they're around $70. Great middle end headphones. Avoid anything with DJ in the title, or anything made for DJ's as the sound is colored to compliment DJ usage (heavy heavy bass).

 

[EMan]

I've got a set/pair of Sony MDR-V300's....about $50 at Best Buy. Excellent tone..and reasonable price. Also has a really long cord and a 1/4" adapter.

The above comments are pretty much right..it just depends on what the available power is to the headset. Hooked to my POD's headphone jack..it will fry yer brain...almost dangerously loud (IMO).

I've built headphone 'adapters' for the speaker end of amps...and the tone is usually really brittle, and harsh. Personally, I always thought that them RockMan jobbies were excellent practice units.

YMMV

 

[Vince a]

Xenos Audio Systems . . . headphones amp . . .