Newbie question about Phil Jones Big Head

[bassfox]

I'm looking at getting a Big Head. I've read the rave reviews (including some on this forum) and watched Phil Jones walk me through it on Youtube. However - and I realise this is a bit embarrassing - I'm still not 100% on what it actually is, and what it actually does. Could someone kindly explain in straightforward terms how I would go about using this thing?

In case it helps, I have a Vox Adio Air BS and use headphones almost all the time. The Vox is handy for playing along with tracks via Bluetooth, but the sound quality is not great and the volume seems really low - I can barely hear it! That's why I'm looking into the Big Head, but I read reviews like this from Bass Player ...

PJB has introduced a high performance multi-function headphone amplifier/digital audio interface: the BIGHEAD PRO (Model HA-2). The HA-2 is the second model in the Bighead series and is a step up model of the popular HA-1 Bighead with added technology and features. The HA-2 is a high resolution USB audio interface that supports PCM playback with up to 384 KHz sample rate/24 bit resolution. On DSD playback, sample rates of 2.822MHz and 5.644 MHz are supported, making it the ideal choice for musicians and engineers that desire high performance and the purest sound quality.

... and I'm lost. 

Do I use it with the Vox? Would it replace the Vox? Does it need to be plugged into a laptop? Anything else I need to think about?

Please help and sorry for being such a Luddite.

Thanks in advance.

[pineweasel]

It's three things in one box.

It's a high quality headphone amplifier. Connect your bass, adjust gain, volume and EQ to taste, plug headphones into it and play. You can also plug in an additional audio signal, such as your phone, useful for playing along with tunes. So it will replace your Vox and should be noticeably better.

It's also a USB audio interface. Connect it to a computer with a USB cable and it will show up as an input, allowing you to record into an application like Pro Tools or Garage Band. All the blurb in that review is about this functionality - converting analog (your bass) to digital and back again.

And it's also a pre-amp, so you can use its output to go straight into a PA, for example.

Mine sits on a table and is used for headphone practise only, and I really like it.

 

[bassfox]

Thank you very much, already a lot clearer! 

Two more questions if I may -

Can I plug it into the mains or does it run on battery only?

And is it worth getting the Big Head 2 or is the original fine? 

Thanks again. Very helpful as I would most likely need to buy without seeing one in the flesh first.

[dannybuoy]

You can power it with a general micro usb cable / phone charger. The battery is internal, not easily removable, and charges over USB. You can leave it plugged in permanently if you wish.

I'd say the original is fine, new one seems to be overkill!

But it looks like the Vox can do everything this can do. Is there a particular reason you're looking at the PJB? You can use either of them alone, using both together would only serve a purpose if the headphone out on the Vox was not loud enough and you wanted to boost it with the PJB.

[pineweasel]

1 hour ago, dannybuoy said:

But it looks like the Vox can do everything this can do.

This is a good point. Regarding poor quality and low volume, are you using Bluetooth headphones with the Vox? If so, try a set of wired ones. 

[bassfox]

Thanks for responses guys, much appreciated!

@dannybuoy two reasons really: (1) I'm looking for a really nice, crystal-clear tone from an amp that takes up little to no space (boxes ticked by the Big Head, I gather) and (2) I would like something with more volume than the Vox. 

@pineweasel I have tried many different headphones, from iphone ones to Bose (bluetooth) and Phil Jones (wired). I'm starting to think the Vox maybe has some technical issues wrong with it! The audio (to play along with) I often can't put more than halfway up before it's getting too loud, but the bass volume I have set to full, and can barely hear it. I checked the battery in the bass and the cable, etc. Only solution I have found is to crank the gain up as well, but that kisses goodbye to clean tone...

Guys, I ordered a PJBH from GAK at the weekend

 

[fretmeister]

I've got one too.

It's VERY clean sounding, super clear loads of headroom. I tend to turn the bass tone way down to warm it up a bit

Battery life is excellent. Can go very loud indeed, far beyond sensible volume for hearing.

 

Cons - I have Amplitube on my iphone and that can mix in anything from my iTunes library so if I want to play along to things on headphones I cannot be bothered to hook up the Bighead just as a headphone sound improving device. So I end up using my iPhone far more than the Bighead.

[bassfox]

@fretmeister Thanks. Apparently the Bighead was delivered this morning; I can't wait to try it out tonight after your comment on the headroom. Hadn't heard of Amplitube (but then I have no music stored on my phone so probably just as well!). Sounds interesting, though. Cheers     

[fretmeister]

Amplitube is one of many different music apps available.

You need an interface - I use a cheap Line 6 Sonicport one - to get your bass plugged in.

Then, and this is the clever bit, not only can you play along to stuff, you can slow it down without changing pitch and you can identify start and stop points to just practice a part of a tune.

And it comes with half a dozen free amp models (mostly guitar) that can be added to. The B15 and the SVT models are very good.

 

The demo version is free, but you will need an interface.