JCW308
Roadie
- Messages
- 901
Great! HX series sounds slightly better. The POD GO can't handle the oversampling upgrade, which did make a nice difference in the HX line.
Best Amp Modeler for Headphones Under $500
- Thread starter andream404
- Start date
MadMaxG79
Roadie
- Messages
- 150
I'm gonna be the odd one out and recommend the Headrush Flex Prime. It can run amp clones (lots of good free ones on the Headrush Cloud) has perfectly adequate effects (I personally think they sound great and more importantly, are easy to dial in) and a UI that is second to none.
Chocol8
Roadie
- Messages
- 103
If the Tonex/Tonex One doesn't sound great and virtually identical to your amp, it is...
1) the capture
2) your settings
3) your headphones or other playback device.
NAM has the same issues.
I tested Tonex (large pedal at the time) against a Kemper, QC, NAM, and actual amps mic'ed with no changes in the setup between capturing/profiling and the playback comparison. When captured well, Kemper was the only one we could easily tell apart from the real amp (mic'ed and played through monitors and a CLR). The others are very good and it is very difficult to tell them apart in a blind test.
The problems most people have is the software is not great and it is easy to not have things like input trim correct, and it is a lot harder to get a really good capture than just sticking a mic in front of and amp. Headphones are a whole different issue, where it can sometimes be difficult to get a set that sounds good to your ears and fits comfortably on your head. Plus, with any digital device, I find I need a separate set of presets for headphone use that adds a little extra reverb and or delay to get it to feel like playing an amp and not sound too sterile.
If you really want a modeler and not a profile/capture player, at that price a used Helix would probably get my vote, but I think Tonex and NAM have it beat for simple amp tones. Helix has them beat for effects though.
1) the capture
2) your settings
3) your headphones or other playback device.
NAM has the same issues.
I tested Tonex (large pedal at the time) against a Kemper, QC, NAM, and actual amps mic'ed with no changes in the setup between capturing/profiling and the playback comparison. When captured well, Kemper was the only one we could easily tell apart from the real amp (mic'ed and played through monitors and a CLR). The others are very good and it is very difficult to tell them apart in a blind test.
The problems most people have is the software is not great and it is easy to not have things like input trim correct, and it is a lot harder to get a really good capture than just sticking a mic in front of and amp. Headphones are a whole different issue, where it can sometimes be difficult to get a set that sounds good to your ears and fits comfortably on your head. Plus, with any digital device, I find I need a separate set of presets for headphone use that adds a little extra reverb and or delay to get it to feel like playing an amp and not sound too sterile.
If you really want a modeler and not a profile/capture player, at that price a used Helix would probably get my vote, but I think Tonex and NAM have it beat for simple amp tones. Helix has them beat for effects though.
Frodebro
Shredder
- Messages
- 2,455
The secret to enjoyable headphone playing is a stereo signal (be it from a chorus, pitch shifter, or dual delay) with lush reverb to give it some space within the confines of your skull.
dbagchee
Roadie
- Messages
- 714
I really like the dynamic ambience reverb on the Helix for this. I throw it at the end of the chain of pretty much all of my headphone presets.
KingsXJJ
Shredder
- Messages
- 1,712
The ambience in the Pod Express Black is nice and quite tweakable with Pod Edit. Wish it and the compressor were available on the Red version.
Chocol8
Roadie
- Messages
- 103
Yes, all products likely use imported parts or the companies rely on something else that will increase costs. The question is when, how much and for how long.
KingsXJJ
Shredder
- Messages
- 1,712
Nothing from nothing leaves nothing.
Frodebro
Shredder
- Messages
- 2,455
Patience. Remember, they're RECIPROCAL tariffs, which means they are being applied to countries that have already been charging hefty tariffs on American goods for years. Many of these countries are now ready to renegotiate trade agreements with the US.
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- 1,828
Stomp.
Gives you access to the Helix-sphere, is super portable, and it holds its value in Stompbucks.*
* FDIC insured by the bank of @JiveTurkey
Gives you access to the Helix-sphere, is super portable, and it holds its value in Stompbucks.*
* FDIC insured by the bank of @JiveTurkey
Frodebro
Shredder
- Messages
- 2,455
Line 6 knocked it out of the park with the Stomp and Stomp XL. Even though I'm pretty much a Fractal guy, I do have a Stomp XL that holds its own pretty darn well when I feel like traveling super light.
- Messages
- 1,676
MadMaxG79
Roadie
- Messages
- 150
Mikael Dez
Roadie
- Messages
- 538
I wish my daughter would adapt lol “I can’t sleep I can hear daddy’s guitar”My dad is a keyboardist, and when I was a kid he had this huge Guilbranson organ with three keyboards, along with bass pedals. That thing shook the house, and from as early as I can remember I always fell asleep to the sound of him playing out in the living room.
Point being, you don’t NEED to go headphones because of a young child, they quickly adapt.
Unless you suck, then definitely spare the poor kid the trauma.
dronerstone
Shredder
- Messages
- 1,521
Since you listed various genres, I'll recommend a used HX Stomp or even HX Stomp XL. Add an expression pedal, and you should be all set.
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