Axe-FX w/headphones

[AusTexCap]

Are many of you Axe-FX owners going from the Axe-FX straight to headphones? What headphones have you found that work particularly well?

Has anybody tried the full range Atomic amps with the Axe-FX?

 

[technomancer]

There is no headphone out on the Axe-Fx. You would need to run one of the Axe outs to an external headphone amplifier.

 

[AusTexCap]

So summing the L and R output doesn't allow you to use headphones?

 

[TTripp]

So summing the L and R output doesn't allow you to use headphones?

You need something to run the phones out of. I run the outputs of the AxeFx into a small mixer, and then the headphones. Kind of a hassle, which is why I don't do it much, if at all.
Gotta give it to the 11R guys for including a headphone out.

 

[fek]

I have been using headphones with first a PodXT, then Tonelab LE, and now a RP1000. I have a pair of Senn HD201's and recently picked up a set of the HD280's. I had been wasting my time with the 201's. Spend the extra cash and get the better phones. The 201's sound like a tin can compared to the 280's.

 

[technomancer]

So summing the L and R output doesn't allow you to use headphones?

Nope.. as ttrip said you'll need to run it into something that will provide amplification for the headphones. Personally I use an ss Carvin power amp into a 2x12 and never bother with headphones. You can turn it down REALLY low and still have it sound good.

There have also been several threads over at the Axe forums bitching about the lack of a headphone out on the Axe

 

[AusTexCap]

So summing the L and R output doesn't allow you to use headphones?

You need something to run the phones out of. I run the outputs of the AxeFx into a small mixer, and then the headphones. Kind of a hassle, which is why I don't do it much, if at all.
Gotta give it to the 11R guys for including a headphone out.

Yeah it seems like that should be a feature of the Axe-FX. But just like any feature it would add to the cost and it is already a fairly pricey unit. I'm looking to get something that is easy to take into another room and play guitar with while not pissing off the g/f when she is writing

I have been using headphones with first a PodXT, then Tonelab LE, and now a RP1000. I have a pair of Senn HD201's and recently picked up a set of the HD280's. I had been wasting my time with the 201's. Spend the extra cash and get the better phones. The 201's sound like a tin can compared to the 280's.

Good to know. I will look into these.

 

[cliffc8488]

You can actually run most headphones right from the unbalanced outputs. The output drivers are powerful enough to drive the majority of pro headphones.

 

[technomancer]

You can actually run most headphones right from the unbalanced outputs. The output drivers are powerful enough to drive the majority of pro headphones.

Very cool, thanks Cliff

 

[AusTexCap]

You can actually run most headphones right from the unbalanced outputs. The output drivers are powerful enough to drive the majority of pro headphones.

That is good to hear. Do you think that sound quality is reduced much due to the weaker signal strength?

 

[cliffc8488]

I don't think there would be any noticeable sound quality reduction. If you're looking for absolute fidelity you shouldn't be using headphones anyway. Get some good near-field monitors.

 

[AusTexCap]

Oh of course. There has to be some line here where it becomes not very usable via headphones since the output wasn't designed for that and you said they'd drive most headphones, not all. Of course I'd prefer monitors over headphones but I'm looking for a piece of gear for this specific application yet that can also dual as a killer piece of gear such as the Axe-Fx.

 

[cliffc8488]

Most headphone outputs on consumer gear use drivers that aren't even as powerful as the line-level outputs on the Axe-Fx. Many products just use an NE5532 or OPA134 or (heaven forbid) TL072 op-amp for a headphone driver. The op-amps used for the line-level outs on the Axe-Fx have more drive capability than any of those parts.

If I were designing a headphone amp I would probably use the same op-amps as the Axe-Fx.

The only time you have issues using an op-amp is when you have to drive very low impedance phones like Grados. But I bet the Axe-Fx output drivers could even handle that.

 

[AusTexCap]

Thanks for the info.