Many electric guitarists have experienced the frustration of wanting to play their instrument, but being unable to do so due to their environment. Listening to someone practicing guitar through an amp can be an annoyance for housemates, neighbors, or other people nearby. Thankfully, there’s a simple solution, guitar headphone amps.
These compact-designed devices make it possible to practice your guitar silently and on the move. Over the years our team at Guitar Lobby has tested dozens of them and in this article, we’ll be sharing our favorites at each price point so you can decide which is best suited for your requirements.
My Review: The VOX AC30 was first introduced in 1958, and has gone on to become one of the most popular tube amplifiers to ever be produced. Famous for its classic British tone and jangly high end, the amp has amassed somewhat of a cult following in the sixty-plus years. As someone who has had the pleasure of using the AC30 on many occasions, I was excited to see if the ampPlug headphone amp edition lived up to the high standard of its full-sized equivalent. After a few minutes of testing the device, I was highly impressed by its versatility and the quality of its tone.
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The Vox ampPlug AC30 includes three onboard effects – chorus, reverb, and delay. When adding these to the warm, clean tone of the headphone amp, I was blown away by their quality. The reverb in particular sounds so good that I believe it could rival many effects pedals and outboard devices. Another thing that sold me on this compact headphone guitar amp was its 15-hour battery life using a pair of AAA batteries. If you practice for one hour per day, you’ll get over two weeks of use before you need to replace the batteries for a new set.
Who is this best suited for: The amPlug AC30 is a great choice for all types of rock guitarists. If you’re a fan of the classic British invasion guitar tone that took the world by storm in the 60s and 70s, this compact, convenient version is recommendable.
Bottom Line: Offering a warm, slightly overdriven tone that is remarkably similar to that of a vintage AC30, the amPlug headphone amplifier by Vox is a wonderful tool for guitarists. It houses three versatile effects, plays for 15 hours on a set of batteries, and includes an auxiliary input for connecting external sound sources. Finally, the integrated jack makes hooking the device up to your electric guitar a breeze! This is easily one of the best guitar headphone amps out there right now and my personal favorite.
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My Review: Compared to the Vox amPlug range, Blackstar’s equivalent is almost identical in terms of dimensions and design. However, when testing this headphone amp I noticed some key differences which make the amPlug2 FLY unique. First off, the simplicity of this device was something I found very convenient. To enjoy the pristine Blackstar tone, all I had to do was plug my guitar into the pre-connected jack plug, hook up my headphones, and start playing. Blackstar amps are renowned for their classic, gritty tones, and this has translated over to the format of a headphone amplifier seamlessly.
I also enjoyed experimenting with the onboard effects included on the amPlug2 FLY. Firstly, there are three different varieties of chorus to choose from, each producing a slightly different flavor of lush modulation. Three delay types accompany the chorus, and I particularly liked the slapback option for chorus sequences. Then, there’s an airy trio of reverbs to add atmospheric qualities to your guitar parts. After spending some time getting used to the amPlug 2, I noticed another useful aspect, labeled the Infinite Shape Feature. Blackstar included this to make it possible for guitarists to instantly switch between the thick American style varieties of their amps, or the slightly compressed, tighter-sounding British varieties.
Who is this best suited for: The Blackstar amPlug 2 FLY is suitable for heavy rock, heavy blues, and metal guitarists. It produces the classic, high-energy Blackstar tone, with two core settings based on the American and British sounds.
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Bottom Line: Everything about this Blackstar guitar headphone amplifier is easy to use and understand, but the tones it produces are far from basic. With several customizable aspects including a generous nine effect settings, this portable amp is a perfect tool for composing or rehearsing in any setting.
My Review: I’ve used many Sonicake effects pedals in the past, and have been impressed by their quality especially considering their affordable price tags. The US Classic guitar headphone amp has emerged as one of their most popular creations, so I was eager to put it to the test. Right off the bat, I found the smooth, clean tones of this compact amp very appealing. When playing rhythm guitar, I enjoyed the layer of warm saturation that occurred when digging into the strings, which closely resembled a genuine tube amplifier.
The only thing I wish that the manufacturer had addressed is the very subtle white noise that occurs when the volume of the amp is turned up. However, this isn’t too much of an issue, as it only occurs when you reach volumes that aren’t advisable due to the potential for damaging your ears. Providing you use the US Classic at a reasonable volume, the sound quality is fine. Another aspect of the Sonicake US Classic that I enjoyed is auxiliary input, which allows you to connect a phone or MP3 player to jam along to backing tracks. This is an invaluable tool for rehearsing, learning new material, or ensuring that your timing is right by using click tracks when practicing.
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Who is this best suited for: I’d highly recommend the Sonicake US Classic to guitarists who are looking for an affordable headphone amp that performs to the standard of more expensive options. This device is very easy to use thanks to its intuitive design, so if you value simplicity it’s worth considering.
Bottom Line: Despite its pocket-sized dimensions and affordable price, the US Classic by Sonicake is a fantastic guitar headphone amp. It provides you with the full tonal power of an American combo amp and even has a tweed cloth covering. No batteries are required thanks to the USB chargeable design of this device, and you get up to 5 hours of continuous playing on a single full charge. Overall I’d say this is the best headphone guitar amp under $30
My Review: At Guitar Lobby, we’re constantly on the lookout for affordable gear that performs to a higher standard than its price tag suggests. After experiencing the powerful, crunchy tone of the NUX GP-1, I can confirm that this mini amp fits the aforementioned category. Granted, the GP-1 doesn’t include many of the fancy features found on other high-end guitar headphone amplifiers. Nevertheless, its simplicity is a strength, rather than a weakness. Weighing 43lbs, it’s incredibly portable and suitable for any environment, whether you’re traveling or staying at a friend’s house.
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When I realized that this amp only included one effect, I thought that this may be a limitation on its capabilities. However, I was so impressed by the distortion that it produces, that it compensated for the lack of other processing options. Another incredible capability of this guitar headphone amp is its battery life. With a pair of AAA batteries, it can run for 40 hours of consistent playing time, meaning you don’t need to worry about replacing them very often. Compared to most other similarly priced options, this amp boasts superior power efficiency.
Who is this best suited for: If you’re looking for a simple and affordable guitar headphone amplifier, the NUX GP-1 is a great choice. The controls are incredibly easy to use, and they last for up to 40 hours of playing time.
Bottom Line: With the NUX GP-1, you can connect an external sound source to play along to audio tracks. The warm, distorted tone of the amp sounds realistic, and it features a highly portable design so that you can use it on the move.
Guitar Amps With A Headphone Jack
My Review: Valeton’s Rushead Max is a multi-faceted amplifier, which includes a range of tweakable features. I was initially drawn to this device due to its intuitive layout, with five rotary controls on the rear panel, and three switches on the top. The switches are used for toggling between various settings, with one for timing-based effects, another for modulation effects, and the third for gain effects. I found this design very easy to use, and it’s incredibly useful when trying to find the right sound for a riff or chord pattern.
The inclusion of an aux input makes it possible to hook up a laptop, MP3 player, phone, or tablet so that you can play along with existing audio tracks. Furthermore, the device has a USB charger port that provides up to 5 hours of playing time, so that your practice sessions won’t be interrupted by a lack of power.
Who is this best suited for: The RH-100 Rushead by up-and-coming manufacturer Valeton is best suited for guitarists
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