NickA Posted August 26 Share Posted August 26 I've had a pjb bighead ha1 for years, bought as a gizmo for silent practice, but ended up serving as a dac for my laptop, a headphone amp for my hifi, a tiny preamp used with a powered cab ..... and occasionally for silent practice. A true Swiss army knife of sound. BUT, the mico usb socket has broken free of the internal PCB. It's all surface mount so way beyond my soldering skills to mend it properly. I've fettled it so it will charge, but can't make the digital Comms stuff work ☹️ May need a new one. I'd assumed someone other than pjb would make something similar, but HiFi headphone / dac devices generally lack analogue inputs so you can't plug a bass in, or are analogue only so can't connect o a laptop. Is the pjb big head really so unique? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Starr Posted August 26 Share Posted August 26 I would have thought prety much most interfaces will do this I have a Moukey MSc1 and it sounds great alternatively a lot of small format mixers have USB interfaces built in. I'm using my Alesis mixer at the moment for this evening's practice The ana logue circuitry leaves a bit to be desired but it's good enough for personal practice and recording ideas. Hiopefully you can fix your old one though. Good Luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodinblack Posted August 26 Share Posted August 26 There are quite a few devices that have all of those, I would say it was more the normal than unique. Any cheap digital mixer or IO box does it, I have a spark amp that does that very well (but also has a lot of effects) that I use in my living room, I have a behringer uphoria 202 that has two mic / xlr / jack sockets in, headphones out and does 96k usb out which I use for my chapman stick (as that is stereo and can use its 48v phantom), that is less than £50 and uses proper usb sockets - I hate micro-usbs for anything, it is a terrible socket that is always the first failure point. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JottoSW1 Posted August 27 Share Posted August 27 I just use my Quilter Interbass. Works great and I'm surprised they aren't more common. Rather expensive new admittedly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bremen Posted August 27 Share Posted August 27 Whereabouts are you (or would you post the item)? I've fixed a few micro USB faults with my awesome soldering skills, it's a shame to bin something that could be repaired. Pm me. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
naxos10 Posted August 27 Share Posted August 27 Ashdown have their Tone Pocket headphone amp which has usb and line out options. Unfortunately the usb is a micro socket. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jazzyvee Posted August 27 Share Posted August 27 (edited) I had two Vox headphone amps that sounded ok but all the plastic made them lacking in durability. So i got a PJB Big head and yep that mini usb socket broke away, i had it repaired but the tech told me it will soon come off again, he was right. If PJB had theirs made with a USB-C connector it would have lasted longer. Now i use my Stanley Clarke Acoustic preamp as a headphone amp. All the connectors are proper and it sounds great. Not cheap but it's a well made piece of kit. Edited August 27 by jazzyvee 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickA Posted August 27 Author Share Posted August 27 Thanks for the responses. @Bremen I'll PM you. That Moukey MSc1 is seriously cheap and does loads. It doesn't say it has a digital input (so may not double as a laptop audio interface). I guess it does, in reality. No internal battery though, so it needs to be connected to a pc or usb PSU. The ashdown tone pocket appears to be the same as the moukey - the usb socket says "recording out", but the description says 48k/44.1kHz "for both playback and recording"... So maybe it does the biz. Needs an external PSU tho. Now I used "laptop audio interface" rather than "guitar headphones amp" as a search string, I've found lots ( eg Audient Evo4)... the pjb is still looking the most versatile due to tiny size and internal battery, tho annoyingly, even the newer HA2 still has a crappy usb micro socket. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fretmeister Posted August 27 Share Posted August 27 I use Boss Waza Air headphones for home practice like that. I get good tones and I can play along to my iTunes library / youtube etc on my tablet or phone. I was a bit nervous about spending that amount on a practice tool but I have been playing far more than I did before. It's just so easy and it doesn't disturb anyone. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
msb Posted August 27 Share Posted August 27 I was using a HoTone Thunderbass as a headphone amp, it’s also got a mini aux in so you can plug in a phone or tablet. I later picked up a PhilJones BigHead and have been using that. The HoTone was good but the BigHead is a much more elegant solution. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickA Posted November 3 Author Share Posted November 3 Ended up buying a used Bighead HA-1 off ebay ...which I will modify by smothering the poxy micro-usb port with araldite or sikaflex to stop it dropping off the PCB. The HA-2 is fancier (does more audio standards up to 24-bit 192k) and in a neater package, but at £275 and still with that poxy USB socket is a poor buy. What I very nearly bought was a Focusrite Scarlet Solo which is a total bargain at £70 for the older gen 3 model and £112 for the new gen 4. (reconditioned from focusrite). It's a good quality 24 bit, 192k, USB audio interface that will double as a headphone amp and comes with a load of DAW software. It's only failing is that it has no onboard EQ and no analogue stereo input .... you can only achieve either of those when it's connected to a computer; also no internal battery, but that's easily solved using a USB power bank. I may buy one anyway, just to use as a PC audio interface. Plus point for the HA-1 ... I have a lot of spare parts for it having one that is complete except for the poxy "£$%ing micro-usb socket. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonno1981 Posted November 5 Share Posted November 5 Get yourself a new Mayones bass. Built in headphone preamp! What a great concept. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
msb Posted November 5 Share Posted November 5 On 03/11/2024 at 18:57, NickA said: Ended up buying a used Bighead HA-1 off ebay ...which I will modify by smothering the poxy micro-usb port with araldite or sikaflex to stop it dropping off the PCB. The HA-2 is fancier (does more audio standards up to 24-bit 192k) and in a neater package, but at £275 and still with that poxy USB socket is a poor buy. What I very nearly bought was a Focusrite Scarlet Solo which is a total bargain at £70 for the older gen 3 model and £112 for the new gen 4. (reconditioned from focusrite). It's a good quality 24 bit, 192k, USB audio interface that will double as a headphone amp and comes with a load of DAW software. It's only failing is that it has no onboard EQ and no analogue stereo input .... you can only achieve either of those when it's connected to a computer; also no internal battery, but that's easily solved using a USB power bank. I may buy one anyway, just to use as a PC audio interface. Plus point for the HA-1 ... I have a lot of spare parts for it having one that is complete except for the poxy "£$%ing micro-usb socket. I have the HA-1 and find it’s an elegant solution. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
basshead56 Posted November 5 Share Posted November 5 On 27/08/2024 at 21:57, fretmeister said: I use Boss Waza Air headphones for home practice like that. I get good tones and I can play along to my iTunes library / youtube etc on my tablet or phone. I was a bit nervous about spending that amount on a practice tool but I have been playing far more than I did before. It's just so easy and it doesn't disturb anyone. I'm about to buy a Boss Waza Air bass system too. Been wanting one for ages, as with a 2yr old in the house, the amount of time I can play through an amp or even be in my Jamnasium (the room next door to his) is rather limited. I actually think it will make me play more, especially being an all-in-one tool. Was reluctant to splash out the full retail amount on a set but there is a good deal on with the local distributor at the moment and having just sold a couple of surplus-to-requirement Squiers, I can justify it to myself (and the missus) lol 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ped Posted November 5 Share Posted November 5 Jamnasium 😂 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodinblack Posted November 6 Share Posted November 6 1 hour ago, basshead56 said: I'm about to buy a Boss Waza Air bass system too. Also consider the Boss Katana Go, I have both and tend to use that one more 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rwillett Posted November 6 Share Posted November 6 I have the HA-2 and think it's great. No issues with the usb socket yet. Works well on all guitars. I also have the Nuix but prefer the HA-2. Got the HA-2 for very little off fleaBay so check that out. Rob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
basshead56 Posted November 6 Share Posted November 6 8 hours ago, Woodinblack said: Also consider the Boss Katana Go, I have both and tend to use that one more I like the idea of that but would prefer Bluetooth headphones 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lemmywinks Posted November 6 Share Posted November 6 (edited) A cheap "fix" for a dying Micro USB port is to get one of the magnetic cables with the corresponding adapter which permanently lives in there. I have a couple of old devices I use these with to keep them alive and save wear and tear on the port. Some are charge only and some have the data lines present. Edited November 6 by lemmywinks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted November 6 Share Posted November 6 3 hours ago, basshead56 said: I like the idea of that but would prefer Bluetooth headphones If you want them for playing Bluetooth has far too much latency. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ped Posted November 6 Share Posted November 6 Waza Air use the Bluetooth MIDI which I think we'll start to see more widely in musical applications. I love the system and lack of any latency but I find the headphones are tuned in a certain way which is hard to overcome completely. Also the app is illogical, once you figure it out it's OK but unless yo use it regularly you'll forget again. Fortunately once you're set you barely need to open it, just turn on the headphones, plug the transmitter in and off you go. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodinblack Posted November 6 Share Posted November 6 2 hours ago, BigRedX said: If you want them for playing Bluetooth has far too much latency. Its bluetooth audio (from the phone) and midi, and wireless (ie, same as a wireless sender) from the bass, so no issues. They work really well, I just prefer my old wired headphones adn the controls on the katana go dongle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owen Posted November 6 Share Posted November 6 I have a circuit to put a headphone amp into a bass if anyone wants to buy it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted November 6 Share Posted November 6 But there's a difference between normal Bluetooth and Bluetooth MIDI which is designed for timing critical applications, but (so far) comes with a significant price premium, hence the expense of the Waze Air system over a typical set of wireless headphones. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodinblack Posted November 6 Share Posted November 6 8 minutes ago, BigRedX said: But there's a difference between normal Bluetooth and Bluetooth MIDI which is designed for timing critical applications, but (so far) comes with a significant price premium, hence the expense of the Waze Air system over a typical set of wireless headphones. I have several bluetooth midi things, and they are fine, the Waze doesn't use that for anything other than control from the app, the bass audio comes from effectively one of their WL20 dongles with a couple of cosmetic changes. The Waze are expensive as they have bluetooth from the app, bluetooth audio, wireless audio, accelerometers to control stereo image and effects processing all in one handy headphone sized object. They are very well made. Personally never found the stereo positioning accelerometers at all useful, but they are undoubtadly clever Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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