Updated by Bobby
Updated on April 24th, 2023
Updated the attenuators section with info about tube amps that include attenuators. Also made sure all outbound links are correct and up to date.
My wife and I have four kids that all go to bed around 7:30 PM. I have a basement studio that sits adjacent to their bedrooms, which means if I'm going to play electric guitar, I need to do so through headphones.
I've used headphones will all different kinds of amplifiers, including preamps, solid state combos, and even tube combos.
In this article, I'll go over my process for each one in detail.
If you want the quick fix, I'll first cover what I've used in each case for an easy reference.
Questions about your own setup?
I've helped a lot of people set up their amps and rigs, both with and without headphones. If you have a question about your rig and getting headphones to work into your own gear, leave it in the comments section below and I'll answer.
Basically Two Options
The gear you need to hook headphones up to your amp will depend largely on the type of amp you have and the connections it provides. Here's what I used in each scenario:
1. With a Headphone Out in your Amp
Usually headphone outs are provided on preamps, solid state amps, and multi-effects units. In this case, you only need a set of headphones and (possibly) an eighth inch to quarter inch adapter:
- Recommended Headphones for Guitar
- Eighth Inch to Quarter Inch Adapter (you can buy these pretty much anywhere)
The back of the Line 6 Firehawk is a good example:
The output labeled "Phones" on the back of the Line 6 Firehawk can send a signal directly and safely to a set of headphones.
2. Without a Headphone Out (audio interface)
If your guitar amp does not have a headphone out, you have a few different options, though the easiest one is to run your signal into a USB audio interface. In my Mesa tube amp combo, I run a signal from the amp's speaker output into a Hughes & Kettner Red Box, which then goes into a Focusrite Scarlett USB audio interface, which can be monitored with headphones.
Read the full review: Focusrite Scarlett Solo
Do Not Plug Headphones into the Following
You've got to be careful about plugging headphones into a guitar amp. Under no circumstances should they be plugged into any of the following:
- The guitar amp input jack
- Any guitar amp speaker out
- Send/return (FX loop) jacks
- Slave out
- Line level output
If you need a refresh on basic amp inputs and outputs, this article by Fender does a good job of summarizing it.
Understanding Guitar Amps
In this section, I want to get into a little more detail about each amp type and expand on some of your options for using headphones. The first question you need to ask is rather simple and obvious:
Does the amp have a headphone output?
This will always be labeled "headphones" or "phones" and can be on the front or back of an amplifier. Most solid state amps, like the Line 6 pictured above, will have a headphone output.
Many of these will be an eighth inch jack, like this one on the top panel of a Marshall Code 50 amplifier:
Eighth inch headphone jack on a Marshall Code 50.
Of course, this is the simplest solution.
If your amp has a dedicated headphone output, you're good to go.
Just plug your headphones in and play.
However, this feature can really only be found on solid state amps, or preamps, and is harder to implement on a tube amp setup.
If you have a tube amp or just an amplifier without a dedicated headphone output, you can still make it work. It'll just take a little more gear and setup time. I'll go over the details of how I do it, based on the quick summary I've already provided.
Hooking Up Headphones to a Guitar Amp Without a Headphone Out
At my home studio, I have an older Mesa Rectoverb combo amp, which runs off tubes at both the power and preamp level and does not have any kind of headphone output.
My Mesa Rect-O-Verb combo amp with a Hughes & Kettner Redbox.
Since tube amps must have a speaker load connected, we can't just unplug the speaker cab.
However, I was lucky enough to have three speaker outputs on the back of the amp.
From these outputs I can connect the Hughes & Kettner Red Box DI and then run the DI to my iRig Pro DUO USB audio interface.
The Hughes & Kettner Red Box.
That interface (and most audio interfaces) support a direct monitoring connection via headphones, as pictured below:
From the Red Box I can go directly into a USB audio interface (the Focusrite Scarlett) which has a direct monitor output for headphones.
Keep in mind, the H&K Red Box does not replace a speaker load. To solve this problem, I turn the amp down and just stashed a few egg crates and pillows in front of it.
At that point, all I could hear was the signal coming through my interface and headphones.
I used this same setup to record this Godsmack cover:
What if I want to cut off the speaker cab?
If you want to avoid the speaker cab all together, you're going to need a device called a guitar amp attenuator, which might also be called a "load box."
These devices allow you to cut out your combo speaker and - in a sense - bear the load of the tube amp's speaker requirements. From the attenuator, you can go directly into a recording device, USB interface, or PA system.
A loadbox like the Rivera Mini RockRec will often have a headphone jack built in, allowing you to use headphones with your tube amp while bypassing the speaker cab.
Here are a couple attenuators that will do this for you:
They're expensive, but very valuable to those that want to record through a tube amp or use headphones with their tube amp while bypassing the speaker cab.
Amps that include Attenuators
There are also some great tube amps on the market that actually have an attenuator built in. The one I'm most familiar with is the Mesa/Boogie Badlander 25, which is pictured here:
Some amps, like the Mesa Badlander, come with a built-in attenuator.
We're keeping a list of tube amps with attenuators here, for easy reference.
Conclusion
Using headphones with a guitar amp isn't always the most straightforward venture. It takes considering what amplifier you have or which amplifier you might be buying. If you have a solid state amp or preamp, always check for the phones or headphone output.
That's the easiest solution.
If you don't have a headphone jack or you're running a tube amp, consider how important it is for you to be able to cut off the speaker cab. For those that don't mind just cutting the volume down and going straight into a DI box - like I did - you can get away with a cheaper fix like the H&K Red Box.
To completely silence the speaker cab, you'll need to spend a little extra money and go the attenuator route.
Your Questions
Again, if you have questions about your own setup, feel free to leave those in the comments section below and I'll be happy to help out.
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Written by Bobby Kittleberger on Headphones & Roundups
Written by Bobby Kittleberger on Headphones & Roundups
Hi Bob, excellent article! I recently got a vintage Polytone Minibrute that has only two outputs in the back: “Main Output” and “Ext Speaker.” I haven’t been able to find a lot of info, but I think the Main Output is a line level. For my case, would main output -> attenuator -> interface do the trick? Thanks!
Hey Pablo – is there an ohm load listed by the “main output”? Also, this is a combo amp I’d assume? If you have an attenuator, the attenuator would essentially replace the speaker.
Thanks for replying! The manual only mentions the impedance for “exterior speaker” (4 ohm) but nothing about this “main output” jack. The newer versions have a “preamp out” jack that might be equivalent, but I’m not sure.
The amp is a combo and is a solid-state. That’s why I’m also unsure about using an attenuator since most of them only mention tube-amps in their descriptions.
Let me check with a buddy of mine. This one has me stumped.
I will say, if it’s solid state, you shouldn’t need the attenuator at all. But I’ll get back to you on this.
Thanks! What I tried so far is to connect a usb interface to the main output (hopefully not dangerous?) and then monitor directly with the interface. I was getting sound from the interface but the speaker wasn’t cut out so not very useful. I’ve heard of other people unplugging the speaker but I have no clue how to that and or if that would require using a “dummy load” like other people have mentioned
Heya Bob,
last month I bought an old Line 6 Flextone HD, the 2x150watts, Tubetone. Think it is the first model in that line. Now I want to use it to do livingroom guitar study with headphones. I read the manual, and it points to chapter 7, alas as a non-native speaker, after reading that it still is not clear to me if I can savely use the FX line out or that I have to use one of those XLR-out thingies, but then I would need headphones with XLR (do they even exist) Not much info on the net but you seem te be an expert. Help? 😉
tia & kind regards!
Do you have some kind of an audio interface? I would go from one of the XLR outputs on the back of your amp to the interface, than use the headphone jack in the interface.
Something like this: https://www.guitarchalk.com/focusrite-scarlett-solo-review/
I would not recommend using the FX line out for headphones.
Thank you so much! Indeed, I have a personal monitor laying around that would be perfect to create that XLR to headphones connection. Will try that this week and let you know if it does the trick.
Thanks again!
You need something like this: https://www.guitarchalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Focusrite-Scarlett-Solo.jpeg
XLR to the input on the front, then headphones connected to the headphone jack.
For a tube amp you need to keep the cab plugged in but on a solid state amp can i just plug in the red box with no cab and go from the redbox to the usb audio interface ? I dont have an headphone output on my amp and want to play with headphone so im looking on an easy way to do it
Hey, Alex- what amp do you have?
Orange solidstate crush pro 120w combo
That should work and, if not, there’s no harm in trying it (since it’s solid state).
This is what I did with my Mesa Rectoverb.
In an ideal world, it would have a line out of some kind.
Give it a shot, however… Guitar Chalk is not responsible for any damage to gear and this content is for educational purposes only. 😆🤘🏻
Bobby,
I have a new Fender 65 Deluxe Reverb Reissue that I want to use with headphones. I already have an audio interface (M-Audio M-Track 2X2 C), so all I need is an attenuator. I am thinking the Bugera PS1 (I don’t want to spend a lot). I assume I can unplug the combo speaker and run a speaker cable from the main speaker out into the Bugera, then run another cable from the speaker out of the Bugera into my interface, correct? Will standard 1/4″ guitar cables work, or will I need actual 1/4″ speaker cables to get everything hooked up?
Thanks!
Joe
You can definitely get it to your audio interface, but I don’t think the PS1 lets you unplug the speaker cab. I think it’s basically a glorified DI box, like the H&K Red Box.
They have the setup diagram in this doc: https://mediadl.musictribe.com/media/PLM/data/docs/P0BV1/QSG_BU_P0BV1_PS1_WW.pdf
So basically, you could get the speaker volume way down and use headphones. You just can’t bypass it entirely.
Hello,
I have a diezel einstein combo tube amp, there are no headphones inputs! What i need to connect the headphones on this amp?
You’ll need an attenuator. One of these: https://www.guitarchalk.com/best-amp-attenuators-guitar/
Hi
bought a vox amplug2 (ac30)
can still hear guitar notes from guitar when got headphones
connected.guitar is a 3rd avenue.
thanks mike
Hey Michael – what kind of headphones are you using?
Hello Bobby,
I’m a brand new electric guitar owner (courtesy of #Guitars4Vets 🎖). It’s an “Epiphone” ‘kit’ (https://www.guitarcenter.com/Epiphone/Slash-AFD-Les-Paul-Performance-Pack-1395853392707.gc)… Eventually, I plan to go the route of getting it connected to my computer via something like a “Focusrite Scarlett 2i2”. Until I get that ‘rig’, I’m interested in getting my BT headphones connected via the 1/8″ (???) “Phones” ‘out’ (???). Is there an inexpensive way of connecting a BT Headphone set in the interim? Also, when I do get this 2i2 (or equivalent), how would you connect these? Amp jacks: 1/4″ “Input”, 1/8″ “Aux In”, and an 1/8″ “Phones”.
Thank you 🎶
Michael – I take it your headphones are wireless? Do you have the option to hook up a cable?
Hey there, my current rig is a EVH lunchboxII and a EVH 2×12 speaker cab. I need a DI/Load box so I can play through headphones at night…I also dont want to spend $1k on one…Have you any thoughts about Weber products?? Also would a headphone tap work??
I have not heard of Weber, although a quick look around seems like they have a solid reputation: https://reverb.com/p/weber-mass-100-100w-attenuator
A headphone tap would work fine, but it wouldn’t let you cut off your speaker.
Hope this helps!
Thanks for the info…I didn’t know a headphone tap would still keep my speaker live. Since I have a 15W high gain head it looks like I can scoop up a Weber mini mass rated for 60W speakers. Weber recommends 4Xs the wattage with high gain amps. I really want to use headphones as I usually play late at night. Thanks again, have a great holiday
Hello! I have a Marshall Class 5 head and it has a microphone out. What I’d like to do is input this into my fender champ and use it to regulate volume to a speaker. For 5 watts the Marshall is way loud. Is it possible? I know just enough to be worried about TRRS to TR connections and impedance issues. I don’t want to ruin my equipment so I thought I’d ask first.
Is it this amp? https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/Class5HD–marshall-class5-5-watt-tube-head-5-watt-head
I only see a headphones out. Is that what you mean?
Hello! Haven’t read all the comments but i have a couple ?’s. First, can I hire you or someone to do this? I really want the modifications for my Fender Blues jr (tube amp) :
-add a headphone line out
– add aux in with independent volume
I have a bugera attenuator. Is there some way to connect headphones to it? Do I need a mixer? Thanks in advance.
I assume it’s the Bugera PS1? In that case you could run the line out to an audio interface (USB) and then use the headphone out from the interface. You would not be able to add a headphone out to your Blues JR. The only tubes amps that allow that are those with an attenuator already built in, like the Mesa Mark V:25. https://www.guitarchalk.com/mesa-boogie-mark-v-25-review/
Will I recently purchased a Laney lion heart L5 studio which has a headphone input and it’s all tube but I wanted to see if I could make my Fender into a headphone amp as well. I’ll check out an audio interface my fender and connect it to the line out though thank you!
Just make sure you keep the speaker cab attached.
Hi Bobby, I am about to purchase either the Fender Mustang LT25 or the Marshall Core 25 Practice amps. I have heard reports about the headphone sound quality being poor on the Fender. Could you recommend either of these or perhaps another?
Thank you
Tony
Hmm, that’s tough. 😐
To be honest, I’m not overly crazy about either one, though I’ve never heard of any headphone issues with them.
If you can swing $350, I would 100% go with the Katana 100: https://imp.i114863.net/dBoW7
Headphone out is in the back.
Hope this is helpful!
Hi Bobby, thanks for the article! I’m currently researching amps and have unfortunately eliminated several (blues jr., Supro delta King, among others) due to the lack of headphone out option. Similar living situation as yours – I need headphones. I’m not really ready to get an UA ox or even a captor x as they’re more or less the price of the amp.
Now – and, apologies in advance if 1) you’ve addressed this above already and 2) this sounds really dumb – but how do you get good tones if the headphones out doesn’t have its own volume knob? In other words, how can you crank your amp without blowing your ears out? Does the master volume control headphone volume when they’re plugged in?
For context, my current old-ish DSL5 doesn’t have a master volume on the clean channel. I’m now looking at the Blackstar studio 10 and Quilter Aviator Cub, both with master volume. The aviator has a phones volume knob. The blackstar doesn’t.
Thanks!
Hey JB – if you want control specifically over the headphones, you are right that you can mostly control that with the master volume (assuming you’re talking about a solid state amp). However, a more comprehensive solution is to get a little device called a headphone amp.
There are plenty of great options to pick from here: https://www.sweetwater.com/c413–Headphone_Amplifiers_and_Distribution
Does this answer your question? Thanks for chiming in!
Thanks for your feedback Bobby! I’ll look into that.
Quick feedback – thanks Bobby, your headphone amp suggestion works perfectly! And it ‘only’ cost me €39. To anyone like me just wanting to boost their headphone volume while retaining their clean sound, no need to go the full captor x/ ox box route.
Sorry, forgot to put my name up there
🤘🏻
Awesome! Glad to hear it.
I see the Marshall JCM900 valve combo amp has a line out. What is the best way, as far as sound quality, to incorporate headphones? Hugh redbox to USB audio interface or attenuator? I am trying to ascertain the beet for recording on the lap top and sound quality in headphones. Thank you kindly.
Hey Edward – are you trying to disconnect the speaker and play silent (only through headphones)? If you just want headphones and still a speaker cab, the audio interface – with a headphone out – will do the trick. Hope this helps!
Hi, How do i go about connecting my Boss BE-5 guitar multiple effects pedal to my Behringer XENX 502 so when i have my ear phones ready to use i can have some effects as well.
At present the Boss is not connect to my Behringer and with the head phones on works ok but would like to be able to have effects as well.
Thanks.
Hey Mike – so you currently have headphones going into the Behringer? If so, you’d send the BE-5 into the line in on channel one. You might need a DI box but that should work.
Hi I have a dart kustom amp for a few years has bee good, you said do not plug into the input connection which I have always done as I don’t see any other way to connect.
It seems to work ok but is there another connection I should use?
Sorry Mike – but could you clarify: What are you plugging into the Dart’s input? It looks like the Dart 10 has a headphone out. Is that the amp you have? Sorry if I’m missing something here (entirely possible).
i have an amp. with no imput for my earphone …could i use an intermediary beetween the two…acting as a earphone plug…thankks ..mike
Hi there, really good article. I’m thinking of buying the Harley Benton Tube15. It’s a tube amp with no headphone out or line out and only a speaker out.
https://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_tube15_celestion.htm
I was wondering how to connect this to my audio interface so i can record into my DAW through that and also practice at night silently on my headphone.
How could I do that please? Would the hughes and kettner box be sufficient to get the speaker output to a line out for the audio interface as well as headphone monitoring?
Thanks
Hey Rajiv – for a tube amp, you would need an attenuator, which essentially handles the speaker load and allows you to run silently with a set of headphones. We’ve covered a few here: https://www.guitarchalk.com/best-amp-attenuators-guitar/
The only thing the H&K Red Box would allow you to do is run your signal into an audio interface. However, it would not allow you to cut off the speaker cab or use headphones. Unless you have an attenuator, tube amps must have a speaker connected.
i have an amp. with no imput for my earphone …could i use an intermediary beetween the two…acting as a earphone plug…thankks ..mike……………what about if i disconect the speaker……….while im recording the signal of the music im playing….recording on the tape machine would still allow me to…record without disturbing the neibhours.would it be possible
Mike – which amp do you have? If it’s a tube amp you cannot disconnect the speaker. If it does not have a headphone jack (almost all tube amps don’t), you’ll need an attenuator to handle the speaker load and allow you to plug headphones.
Great article. I have a question, though… I have an amp which actually does come with a headphone out (Blackstar ID: Core 40w, for the record), but I am stumped as to what kind of headphone to use, impedance-wise. There are quite a few “recommended phones for guitar” lists on the web, but their entries seem to range anywhere from ~25 to ~300 Ohm with no regards to what kind of amp they are actually plugged in.
Any suggestion would be greatly appreciated!
I address the ohms/impedance questions in this roundup: https://www.guitarchalk.com/best-headphones-guitar-amps/
It’s really just a question of frequency range. Certainly not an issue of whether or not the headphones will work. Hope this helps!
Hey Bobby! Great article, thanks for the guitar knowledge – it gives me a good understanding of what I’m trying to get into.
I just picked up my first tube amp (Supro Delta King 12) and am trying to find a budget way of using headphones and bypassing the speaker (apartment life). I’d like to practice solos with more gain / saturation. The master vol does a good job but I can’t help but want just a bit more sound without making enemies with all my neighbors. The amp has a line out connection in the back
Another article pointed me in the direction of this audio interface / attenuator. Was wondering your thoughts on going this budget route, and if it will work with my amp.
Behringer U-PHORIA UM2 Audiophile 2×2 USB Audio Interface with XENYX Mic Preamplifier
+
JHS Little Black Amp Box Signal Converter
Thanks man!
Hey Jon – I’m not sure why that other article would have pointed you towards an audio interface (the Behringer UM2), unless you’re also wanting something for recording.
The main thing would be the JHS signal converter, which would work GREAT for what you’re trying to do, except that it needs to run through a series effects loop only. It looks to me like your amp doesn’t have one. https://www.jhspedals.info/little-black-amp-box
The Bugera PS1 goes between your power amp and your speaker cab, which basically assumes an amp head and speaker cab setup and wouldn’t be conducive to your combo amp.
I think in your situation, with the Delta King, you would have to spring for a real deal guitar amp attenuator, and unfortunately they’re not cheap.
What are you wanting/thinking about spending on this?
I’m glad I asked before just buying this gear haha. The idea behind an audio interface is that it would give me the option to record (which I think I’d like to experiment with eventually) but more importantly give me something to plug headphones into.
I was also looking at the Bugera PS1 but didn’t know it wouldn’t work with a combo like I have.
I guess I’m looking to spend around the $500 mark, so not a lot to work with. I suppose another option would be to just go with a Blackstar 1w head, because it has a headphone jack built in. I imagine I’d be hard pressed to find an attenuator, interface and headphones setup for under $500 unless I’m looking at used gear (which I’m definitely not opposed to).
I was looking at the beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro (80 ohm?) for headphones.
I think for all that stuff, you’d be looking at closer to 800-900, mostly due to the attenuator alone. I think this would be your best bet for the attenuator: https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/RockCrusher–rivera-rockcrusher-power-attenuator-load-box-for-amps
Hi, great article. I would like to know, I have a 30watt combo amp with a headphone socket but am not happy with the sound through the headphones, how could I improve this? Preferably without a computer.
Perhaps you could recommend a little headphone amp which would improve the quality, make it sound less compressed and sound like my amp cranked but through the headphones?
I think this amp also has line out so would the quality be better from that going into some box then plugging my head phones into that?
What kind of headphones are you using? I’d be suspicious of those first, before going after a headphone amp. Don’t use the line out for headphones.
Also, what brand/model amp is it?
Hi Bobby, I’m using Sennheiser hd 380 pro headphones (I had tried a few of these type of studio closed-back headphones and I like these the best with my amp)
The amp is an Orange crush 20.
It honestly seems weird to me that you wouldn’t be getting a decent sound out of those headphones going straight into the amp. Have you tried the headphones with other devices? I trust the issue is ONLY with the OC20?
I had another amp and wasn’t impressed by the sound using the same headphones so I bought the OC20. The headphones are fine on other devices. It may be me expecting to hear the same cranked sound through the headphones. I may try a Boss GE7 or similar between the headphone output and my headphones. What do you think?
I usually turn the volume on the amp way up when my headphones are plugged in and wear earplugs so it sounds cool.
With those headphones and the OC20 you should be crankin’ and definitely be able to get a decent sound. Was the OC20 used? I’m wondering if the headphone jack is having issues.
Brand new amp and headphones.
Wow man – I’m honestly a bit stumped at this point. I’m thinking there has to be some kind of issue with the headphone jack. What does it sound like? Just small/weak? Maybe distorted?
Hey man thanks for having some support on this. My question is either so obvious it’s dumb, or I’m not searching hard enough. All I want to know Is what kind of adapter I need to run my Sony RF wireless headphones to my small amp. The docking station has 3 RCA cables (made for TV) but I want to see if I can make them work with my guitar amp. It’s just a basic little profile amp with a headphone jack. So my question is..do I just need a RCA to 8.5mm headphone jack adapter? Like I said, it’s either so obvious that this is how you hook it up, or the web doesn’t know the answer because I can’t find it. Hoping this Is the solution. I’m not afraid of latency and all that, and I’m willing to just try it for the 15 bucks the adapter will cost me. Hope to hear from you! Josh Ontario Canada
Josh – what size is the jack on the amp? If I understand you correctly, you’re trying to get from the headphone out to the wireless headphone receiver via RCA? If so, I would try something like this: https://www.amazon.com/Monoprice-105597-3-Feet-Premium-Stereo/dp/B0094A1F3S/ref=sr_1_3
Hi I have a rare Crate gx130c combo amplifer, this amp does not have a headphone jack, so would using an interface work if so how do I go about setting it up, or would I need to get a makie hm4 instead.
A USB audio interface with its own headphone jack would be the way to go. Does the amplifier have a line out?
Hi – I have the same question. The amp is solid state and has no headphone jack but does have mono and stereo lineouts. It is described here:
https://usermanual.wiki/Crate/CrateGx130COwnersManual822396.987061639.pdf
I can unplug the speakers but then I need a way to send the sound via the line out to something that I can connect headphones to. Any ideas?
With a tube amp, just parallel a load resistor with a series phones + dropping resistor to create a load. The total should be higher than the usual load to lower the level, and protect the phones. Tube amps have greater peaks.
Hi Bobby!
I have bought a marshall code 50 and it has the regular headphone jack just like in the photo you posted.
And it works just fine for me normally without headset in terms of sound quality but as soon as I plug in my headset the sound is super quiet and I have to turn the volume and the master to hear what I am playing if I play with any acoustic or clean preset that is already “programmed” in the amp. If I play with distortion I can hear the sound a little better but still too quiet. I have tested my amp volume with 3 different headsets, 1 standard, 1 Bluetooth and 1 which have a volume adjuster. But still can’t hear what I am playing.
Do you know anything about this problem or know a fix/solution for this? It’s really frustrating and I really don’t want to/can buy another amplifier due to their prices. Is there something I need to buy to make it better? And if so, is there any affordable devices you would recommend? Im not very technical cunning and I am pretty new to amps, pedals and all that extra stuff.
And sorry for my bad English im a Swedish 19 year old haha.
Thanks in Advance!
– Abraham
Hey, Abraham – honestly, it sounds like there’s an issue with the headphone jack of the amp you bought. Did you buy the amplifier brand new? Where did you get it from?
Hey Bobby, Any chance your headphones will work when plugged into the “line out” or “speaker out” of your Rivera Mini? The reason I ask is because the Rivera is hard to find now but I’ve found a lot of affordable alternatives that DO NOT have a headphone jack but have just the aforementioned jacks instead…..like the Bugera PS-1 or Jet City Jettenuator…..THANKS!
Dale – I would definitely NOT plug headphones into a line out or speaker jack. It will likely blow up your headphones. From what I’ve seen, it’s the higher-end attenuators that provide a direct headphone out. Your alternative is to use the line out going into an audio interface and then monitor with headphones from the interface instead of directly from the attenuator.
Hi Bobby. I would lie to mute my Harley Benton tube amp that I have at home. I have a speaker output in the back panel (8-16 OM). So willing to but one of the wo attenuators you suggested but they seem no to be available any longer. Checked both and both Sweetwater and Thomann (I live in Europe) do not sell them anymore. Any other options for an attenuator that keeps my amp silent and gives me the headphone output? Thank you in advance
Hey Jorge – thanks for bringing that to my attention. I’ve updated the suggestions with newer models from Universal Audio and Boss. Sweetwater has some cheaper options as well if you just search for guitar amp attenuators.
Hi I have a fender princeton reverb . I need really good sound quality would that two note torpedo load box achieve that . I was going to get that strymon big sky reverb, has stereo jacks I know it’s very expensive but would it be worth it? Thanks kevin
Kevin – the Two Notes Torpedo is an attenuator and the Big Sky is a reverb pedal. Are you looking for an attenuator or some kind of reverb effect? Please clarify.
Buongiorno ho un blackstar silverline deluxe combo 100w 1×12″ ha una output emulated speaker, per collegare le cuffie ha quell’ output come posso fare?
I’m seeing that amp has a 1/4″ dedicated headphone output. https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/SilverDLX100–blackstar-silverline-deluxe-100-watt-1×12-inch-combo-amp
Is that your amp?
Yes, is that! In the photo the panel write the voice “emulated speaker” if it so right..it s great!!! I thank s very much you.
Hey Bobby I have a fender tube amp vaporizer combo twin 16OM
Speakers no phone jacks only speaker out 8OM minimum 15watt.
Can I do what you did first with the I.D. Red box and usb interfacer I have the equipment to do the set up but How do you set it up?
Speaker out to red box in and thu to speaker in wire or leave the thu not wired and run a wire from the red box out to the usb where do you plug in from the red box! Need
Some help please having some trouble my old age kicking in retired refrigerator engineer and can’t figure this stuff out! I don’t know witch way too go ! Hopefully you can help! Thanks
Hey Brant – are you trying to setup something to record? Is the 8 ohm output the ONLY output on the amplifier?
Yes Bobby that’s the only output I love the sound tube amp but it is loud for my master bed room my wife can’t watch her T.V. Shows! Right now I want to play with my head phone on THU the red box I.D and then to the USB interface headphones plug in! Maybe later record! With lab top! I need a mic cable from the red box to the Usb? Do I need more outputs to make it work! I can get a two note load box for 269.00 8ohm or 16ohm! I kindly like my old fender tube amp and my red &white fender guitar! Well Bobby thanks for reading my comment.
Brant – in order to cut off the speaker you’ll definitely need a load box. If you want to keep the amp, the load box would be my recommendation going forward and would be the only way to use the amp without the speaker cab engaged.
Good day Guitar tricks team,
I’m trying to install a headphone jack on a 7-100 Pignose. Can I use a tree way switch and headphone jack to bypass the speaker?
What would you suggest?
Thanks for your collaboration,
Michel
Doesn’t running the preamp out cut off the speaker? That’s all you should need.
Good day Bobby,
This does cut the speaker but there is nothing coming out of the headphones. So I installed a stereo jack and selector switch in the circuit and this works great.
Thanks for your collaboration,
Michel
Thanks for sharing, Michel. Glad it’s working for you.
i have a set of headphones designed to play for yamaha instruments. works nice. when i plug headphones into amp (the headphones output) with the other end into the electric accoustic guitar no sounds comes thru the headphones at all – the volumes and power are on. And when I plug into amplug 2 vox then all i hear is a hissing sound. So i have not found a way yet to play silently.
Do the headphones work on any other devices? Sounds like they might be shot.
Hello, my son is new to electric guitar playing (and I know nothing, lol). He has a Kona amp (117 volts) and it works fine, but when he plugs in his headphones there is loud static. His headphones work fine otherwise, so idk…..any suggestions?
Hey Serena – what port/jack is he plugging the headphones into? Also, do the headphones work with any other devices without issue?
I’ve got a Marshall DSL1CR amp on the way;
It’s got two outputs:
– The usual 1/4” internal speaker out;
– And a line out which they describe as Softube emulated out.
Do you think I’ll be able to make the line out work for headphones?
Thanks for your nifty web page…
Hey Scott – I think a far better option would be to run that line out connection to an audio interface (hooked up to a computer), then use the headphone jack on the interface to monitoring. Keep in mind, this won’t cut off the speaker cab.
Thanks — that sounds right on. I was concerned by the section above on this page which says “Under no circumstances should (headphones) be plugged into any of the following: … – line level output”.
I couldn’t see the harm in it — not like plugging them into the speaker out, but thanks for confirming that going from line out to a computer would work.
And for confirming that the speaker cab will likely NOT be bypassed — so as you said it’s intended purpose is for monitoring. Seems like I can make it work with a 1/4″ to USB cable, and attenuator in place of the speaker cab.
Sorry — 1/8″ to USB cable…
Yeah, I honestly wouldn’t do it for fear of messing up the headphones. It wouldn’t be a disaster, but I have to go with the “abundance of caution” route when giving advice like that. Hope it has been generally helpful. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
If I want to splash out and go the full route (cut out the cabinet completely), is this the thing for it (my amp has 16 ohm speaker out):
Two Notes Torpedo Captor X Reactive Loadbox DI and Attenuator – 16-ohm
Could I run the amp Speaker Out to the box Speaker In, and then listen on headphones connected to the box Phones jack?
Looks like I could even adjust output level on the box itself, for more flexibility.
This is indeed an expensive box, as you said on this page…
Hey Scott – I believe that yes, you should be able to run the speaker connection into the red speaker in jack and then the loadbox will “absorb” the speaker load and you’re good to go. I’d recommend confirming with the manufacturer, but that should work fine. Do you have an amp head or a combo?
I have a combo with one 16 ohm speaker.
Thanks for your advice and info.
Considering the price of the loadbox, I think I’ll just go with the approach you described — block the speaker to cut down the noise. I used to turn my little Stage 5W combo face down, and it would get a nice tone with the speaker driven hard, but at a reasonable volume.
In the end, I think I’ll do something like that here.
Which just shows, I’m still doing the same thing as I was when I was 14 🙂
Haha, nice! Yeah, I think that should work fine. Does the job for me as well.
Hi Bobby I have a MARSHALL 1923C 85TH ANNIVERSARY 50W 2X12 COMBO amp with Sennheiser HD598 headphones. I really love the sound of the amp but I live in an apartment building thus the volume is a bit much. Is there a safe way to get the sound of the amp through the headphones while cutting out the those 2×12” speakers?
Hey Wian – the only safe way to do it would be through an attenuator: https://www.guitarchalk.com/best-amp-attenuators-guitar/
I just ordered my first guitar amp and guitar. They will arrive this month. The amp is a used 1990s Crate solid state combination amp & speaker. The G60 XL I think. It does not have a headphone jack from what I can tell in the pics. Are headphones possible here?
Hey Mark – just to confirm: Is it this one? https://reverb.com/item/5897396-crate-g60xl-celestion-combo-made-in-usa
Yes, that’s the model, but the one I ordered does not have a Celestion speaker I don’t think or that horizontal red stripe. Otherwise, it looks the same from what I can tell.
I think with that “line out” connection you can pretty easily run it into a USB audio interface hooked up to a computer. That interface will have a headphone jack on it.
I’m about to receive an older 2 channel rev g mesa triple rectifier and 4×12. My partner will NOT like this noise. But I’m giddy. I’ve wanted this amp for over a decade. All that said. I need to be able to use headphones. Mesa makes the cabclone, but reviews are borderline horrible, and I’m having difficulty finding an attenuator that not only can handle the watts/impedance load, but one that also has a headphone jack. Thoughts?
Hey Devin – I would think the RockCrusher could do the job: https://www.guitarchalk.com/best-amp-attenuators-guitar/
I just Purchased a 15watt tube amp from Monoprice (No headphone jack). I absolutely love it but my pregnant wife does not and as you could imagine that’s all going to swing in her favor even more when the baby is born. My question is, what direction do i need To go/ search for to have a device that will carry the load (i assume) for a 15 watt tube amp to be used with headphones? Thank you!
-Zach
Zach – congrats on the new baby (and the amp). For playing through it quietly you’ll need an attenuator. I rounded up a few of my recommendations here: https://www.guitarchalk.com/best-amp-attenuators-guitar/
Unfortunately, they’re on the expensive side. If you’re not absolutely in love with the tone of your Monoprice, it might be more cost-effective to grab a digital practice amp like one of the Boss Katanas, which have headphone outs. I have a Mesa Rectoverb, and I’m still considering a secondary amp instead of spending the money for an attenuator. Tough call.
Hope this is helpful. Let me know if you have any additional questions.
Thank you, Bobby! I really appreciate the feedback! This is very helpful and i will check that out. Thanks again.
The code amps from Marshall headphones out are extremely low in volume level, it seems to be the way they are. Yiu have to raise the actual volume of amp to 70 percent or more to hear. My only fix was to add a headphone box splitter from Sampson to get added volume, but I noticed a loss of actual sound of the guitar and amp, not its volume, but the sound I worked so hard to get with Cabinet. Any ideas to help ? Why Marshall has these issues on the Codes I cannot explain but saw on their site quite a few complain on this issue..Normally I can record direct off headphone outs on most of my gear.
I take it your particular model does not have a line out or speaker out of any kind? (the ones I’m looking at online don’t seem to).
mine is the code 100 Head. Marshall just discounted them by half price so I picked it up .. It does have an 8 ohm out for speaker. But the front panel has the headphone out 1/8 size jack and I was just pointing out the defect in this Brands headphone out volume being so low that I needed to raise so High on volume levels just to hear and was not loud enough even then to use, so I just attached the headphone amp to get any level out of it , Sadly I had to use a headphone adaptor to go to 1/4 inch size jack on the Sampson unit which here again I feel affects overall sound. Everything added does something. …Thanks for reply.
That’s kinda surprising about the Code. Figured they wouldn’t let something like that slip through the cracks. I guess you could treat it like a tube amp and try the Red Box setup that I’m using going from the speaking output into a USB interface. Sorry it’s givin’ ya trouble.
Thank you, agree sad was a mistake possibly or maybe designed to do so ??? My Sansom does the trick though for now. Thanks
I am having the same issue with my CODE 100H connected to my PC vis USB. I am using Marshall Mid ANC headphones which also have Bluetooth and sometimes when I turn on the noise cancelling feature the sound level increases dramatically where I can finally hear what I’m playing as well as the music I’m playing along to coming from my PC. I would like to determine a clean way to record while listening/practicing while playing songs from my PC. I have a Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 interface from my old rig that I could use if I knew how to hook it all up. Any suggestions?
The Focusrite Scarlett is where I’d go.
I would use either the “Send” or the headphone out to get your signal from the Code into the Scarlett, then the Scarlett connects to your computer via USB. From there, I would use the headphone out on the Scarlett instead of from the amp. If you have studio monitors, that’ll work too. Just make sure that on your computer, in the sound settings, the Scarlett is set as the device for input AND output. Then whatever you’re playing on the computer – songs, YouTube vids or whatever – will be heard through your headphones, along with whatever is coming from your amp.
Does that make sense? Let me know if you have any additional questions or if I need to clarify something. Thanks for reading and commenting!