Current options for super quiet/headphone practice?

ThePrettyDamned

I use my ac15 at the moment but will soon live in a flat. While I anticipate I can use it at weekends, I won't be able to play in the evening without being a dick. Rule number one, folks.

So, I've not looked at practice amps for a while. A few years back it was the vox 10 watt solid state, the blackstar 10 or 20 waters and the yamaha thr series. 

Is there anything I should look at now? I mostly play clean-ish - crunch, with a smattering of high gain modern metal and fuzz. I appreciate the combo won't do all that but responsive clean-crunch is a must - I love my ac15 for just that, but it does need a bit of volume despite having a master to do it well. 

Voice wise, I do prefer vox amps but can get on board with old school bassman as well. 

Any help appreciated - bonus points if it has a good emulated out for headphones. 

Budget - fuck it, £200 or less. The less the better. 

susbemol

The VOX amPlug2 AC might fit the bill nicely? 

ThePrettyDamned

susbemol said:

The VOX amPlug2 AC might fit the bill nicely? 

Sounds good, but I'd like it to not be headphones only - as I understand that's a headphone amp... 

Although, cheap so definitely worth trying. 

SouthpawMark

Vox Adio Air GT. 

mrkb

Id play along using a PC, and S-Gear software. Do you want to play along with mp3's, backing tracks etc?

ThePrettyDamned

mrkb said:

Id play along using a PC, and S-Gear software. Do you want to play along with mp3's, backing tracks etc?

It's for living room practice really - I'd rather not have to boot up the pc. This was my first choice also, especially as there are some awesome free modellers online (le peu? Can't remember.) 

ThePrettyDamned

SouthpawMark said:

Vox Adio Air GT. 

Ooo now that looks tasty...! 

Grumpyrocker

Zoom G3. Excellent headphone sound, coupled with its looper and drum beats.

thecolourbox

Grumpyrocker said:

Zoom G3. Excellent headphone sound, coupled with its looper and drum beats.

If using headphones use the "Air" reverb model as it works particularly nicely to give it a bit of room space

Zonular

I'm using a zoom g3xn and now a added trio plus and having a great time!. I'll also add I got a set of superlux headphone for twenty quid, unbelievably good I've order three sets after the first for other people. It's the semi open design

Jalapeno

Yamaha THR </thread>

fastonebaz

Vox amplug lead.  It's awesome.  I love sitting down on my sofa of an evening nooding idly whilst watching TV.  Sound is tremendous and convenience perfect.  For £35 you can't go wrong. 

darthed1981

ThePrettyDamned said:

SouthpawMark said:

Vox Adio Air GT. 

Ooo now that looks tasty...! 

I've got one, they are great...

... of course there is always the Boss Katana 50...

ThePrettyDamned

darthed1981 said:

ThePrettyDamned said:

SouthpawMark said:

Vox Adio Air GT. 

Ooo now that looks tasty...! 

I've got one, they are great...

... of course there is always the Boss Katana 50...

Too big. 

Also, whoever designed the adio air GT needs sacking. It's UGLY. But the features are about spot on. 

Jalapeno said:

Yamaha THR </thread>

Does it do better than the vox above? I did try these a while back and was disappointed compared to the blackstar id 20 but the blackstar won't pass the living room test (can it sit next to the soundbar without being kicked out for looking bad?) 

ThePrettyDamned

Zoom g3x looks a strong contender - headphones only, but cheap enough and it has a built in audio interface which is nifty - could lose the pod interface I use atm.

However, it won't play out loud which is a pity. Is there a tiny amp I could use with it that looks attractive? I suppose my own amp may do it, and may pass the living room test, but the volume is probably a bit much... 

Grumpyrocker

thecolourbox said:

Grumpyrocker said:

Zoom G3. Excellent headphone sound, coupled with its looper and drum beats.

If using headphones use the "Air" reverb model as it works particularly nicely to give it a bit of room space

Yep makes the world of difference.

ThePrettyDamned

Grumpyrocker said:

thecolourbox said:

Grumpyrocker said:

Zoom G3. Excellent headphone sound, coupled with its looper and drum beats.

If using headphones use the "Air" reverb model as it works particularly nicely to give it a bit of room space

Yep makes the world of difference.

Just put a wtb ad up - I'd like the g3x but could get on board with the g3 for the right price. 

Thanks for your help guys! I think headphones are the way forward. 

SouthpawMark

In person the Vox Adio Air GT doesn’t look too bad. Certainly better than it looks in pics. 

Grumpyrocker

Probably more expense/amp than you need for this. But worth mentioning I bought a Mk2 Blackstar HT-5 last week and the headphone output is the best I've ever heard from a "proper" amplifier. Sounds really lovely, in part because the excellent reverb outputs in stereo from the headphone out. Sounds much more "in the room" than other headphone outputs I've heard from amps. 

NPP

I bought a Helix Stomp because I will spend quite a bit of time under headphones in the future. I had a PocketPod and never got on with the sounds, but thankfully didn't have to use it for the past few years. Before getting the Stomp I looked into other solutions to keep it cheaper but it seems you either get significantly worse modelling quality, or fewer options, or both. The good thing about the Helix is that it sits on my desk and only requires three connections - USB, guitar, headphones. 

@ThePrettyDamned - my PocketPod is gathering dust. I advertised it for sale on here but I'm happy to let it go for the price of postage. 

skullfunkerry

I was going to suggest the Katana 50 or THR5, but I've been well & truly beaten to it. Regarding the headphone amp options though, I have used them before into a portable speaker, which didn't sound too bad - and definitely beats wearing headphones