Quick answer:
Ashdown Tone Pocket Bass Headphone Amplifier – This is our top choice. This amp is designed with the convenience of connectivity in mind and to get you the best results possible.
Vox amPlug 2 Bass Headphone Guitar Amp – This is a great choice for someone who is looking for something affordable that sounds great and helps out with your creativity with its built in rhythmic patterns.
A headphone amp helps you monitor your instrument while playing it. Whether you need it for practice or play, you’ll want the best clarity and accuracy. So in this article, we’ll show you the best headphone amp for bass options available on the market.
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Table of Contents
- About Our Top Choices
- The Top 7 Best Headphone Amp for Bass
- Headphone Amp for Bass Reviews
- The Buying Guide
About Our Top Choices
Ashdown Tone Pocket Bass Headphone Amplifier
See price @ Amazon / @ Sweetwater
We consider the Ashdown Tone Pocket Bass the best quality bass headphone amp on this list. This amp is designed with the convenience of connectivity in mind and to get you the best results possible.
Pros
- Top-quality
- Great connectivity
- Well-built
Cons
- Not exactly budget friendly
Vox amPlug 2 Bass Headphone Guitar Amp
See price @ Amazon / @ Sweetwater
Vox amPlug 2 Bass is a great choice for someone who is looking for something affordable that sounds great and helps out with your creativity with its built in rhythmic patterns.
Pros
- Built-in rhythm patterns
- Stylish
- Great-sounding
- Affordable
Cons
- All effects sound quite similar
Top 7 Best Headphone Amp for Bass
- Ashdown Tone Pocket Bass Headphone Amplifier
- Vox amPlug 2 Bass Headphone Guitar Amp
- Valeton Rushead Max Bass
- Donner Bass Guitar Headphone Amp
- Sonicake Guitar Bass Headphone Amp
- Blackstar amPlug 2 FLY Headphone Bass Amp
- Milisten Guitar Bass Headphone Amplifier
Best Headphone Amp for Bass Reviews
Ashdown Tone Pocket Bass Headphone Amplifier
Pros
- Top-quality
- Great connectivity
- Well-built
- Lightweight
Cons
- Pricey for being just a headphone amp
- Only 2 hours of playing per charge
See price @ Amazon / @ Sweetwater
We consider the Ashdown Tone Pocket Bass the best quality bass headphone amp on this list. This amp is designed with the convenience of connectivity in mind and to get you the best results possible.
Best features and specs
The Pocket Bass has an amp, audio interface, DI, and 3-band EQ with 15dB of cut or boost per band. Also, it has a line input to connect a smartphone or dedicated music player, a balanced line out, and a sturdy and durable chassis.
User impressions
Users say that the amp sounds crispy and articulate, is easy to use, and is well-built. Also, some users experienced that the amp runs hot from time to time and others pointed out that the line-in is mono.
What we think
We like having many built-in features packed into a compact and lightweight chassis. The centerpiece of Ashdown Tone Pocket Bass is a 3-band EQ that consists of bass, mid, and treble knobs with around 15dB of boost or cut on each band.
Bottomline
Ashdown Tone Pocket Bass is a great choice for someone who is looking for a top-quality, sturdy, lightweight, compact headphone bass amp that has great connectivity. Note that it has a rechargeable battery that lets you play for around 2 hours between charges.
Vox amPlug 2 Bass Headphone Guitar Amp
Pros
- Built-in rhythm patterns
- Stylish
- Great-sounding
- Affordable
Cons
- The patterns can sound quite similar
See price @ Amazon / @ Sweetwater
Vox amPlug 2 Bass is our pick for a budget-friendly option because, despite the massive low end clarity it gives you for such a compact unit, it’s very affordable. Also, this comes with built-in rhythm patterns which would help you with inspiration.
Best features and specs
Vox amPlug 2 Bass has an updated analog circuit that produces a present and clear tone, 3 gain modes, and 9 selectable rhythm patterns. Also, it has a folding plug mechanism that rotates 180 degrees and fits any bass guitar, auto power-off function, AUX input, and 17 hours of battery life.
User impressions
From the reviews, buyers are quite impressed with the amp’s affordability to sound reproduction quality ration. You’ll find many users praise the tone of this amp, some even saying that they weren’t ready for such a high sound quality at this price point.
What we think
The benefits of built-in rhythm patterns is probably our favorite feature. Also, these patterns help out when you need a break from composing and can relax by playing with the pre-programmed melody. Vox amPlug 2 Bass has 9 various patterns that may be adjusted by volume and tone, and this won’t affect the sound of the guitar in any way.
Bottomline
Vox amPlug 2 Bass is a great choice for someone who is looking for something affordable that sounds great and helps out with your creativity with its built in rhythmic patterns.
Valeton Rushead Max Bass
Pros
- Affordable
- Intuitive and easy to use
- Versatile
Cons
- Tone is rather muddy
See price @ Amazon
Versatility is what makes the Valeton Rushead Max join this list. You get a few amp models to work with, plus a number of other features and effects that should cover the gamut of what you might need.
Best features and specs
The Valeton Rushead Max Bass offers 3 amp models, which are Distortion, Overdrive, and Clean, that are based on well-known top-class amplifiers. Additionally, it has an easily switchable module with chorus, flanger, and tremolo effects that help you to reach the desired tone. Also, if you want to add more ambiance, you can do it with built-in echo and reverb effects. Finally, this amp has AUX input, 5 hours of battery life, and an onboard USB charger.
User impressions
Users agree that Valeton Rushead Max Bass has amazingly intuitive controls and really cool built-in effects that are effortless to tweak. Users say that for being a small headphone amp, it sounds really great and loud with almost no background noise. On the other hand we have heard complaints that the tone may sound rather muddy.
What we think
A bit of versatility is never a bad addition, and when talking about Valeton Rushead Max Bass, we mean the variety of built-in effects that this amp has to offer. We like multi-mode switchable modulation as well as reverb and echo modules that open the world of opportunities and new musical ideas.
Bottomline
Valeton Rushead Max Bass is a great choice for someone who is looking for an intuitive, affordable, and versatile headphone bass amp that has plenty of built-in effects to fire up inspiration.
Donner Bass Guitar Headphone Amp
Pros
- Stylish
- Affordable
- Intuitive
Cons
- Sound quality is rather average
- Difficult to reach controls
See price @ Amazon
The sound of the Donner Bass Guitar Headphone Amp is based on Ampeg SVT. So if you’re familiar with that amp and want something to emulate it for your ears, take a look at this.
Best features and specs
The Donner Bass Guitar Headphone Amp has the possibility of engaging the FX function, and a fresh and cool-designed front panel. Also, this amp offers 5 hours straight of non-stop playing per charge, LED indicators of battery life, 1/4″ AUX input, and a USB charge cable.
User impressions
Users like Donner Bass Guitar Headphone Amp for the tone of a mildly over-driven amp that this little beast provides. It’s also capable of giving a fairly clean sound when the drive is down and the volume is up. The convenience of having a rechargeable battery rather than working on AAA batteries is also something many seem to like. Note that you may be disappointed by the sound quality of this amp and the fact that when plugged in, it’s fairly hard to reach the controls.
What we think
We like the fact that it appears to be a close rendition of the classic all-tube amp as Ampeg SVT.
Bottomline
As mentioned before, the ideal buyer would be someone who is already familiar with the Ameg SVT and looking for something to emulate that.
Sonicake Guitar Bass Headphone Amp
Pros
- Extremely affordable
- Intuitive controls
- Clean tone
- Long battery life
Cons
- Reverb couldn’t be heard even on the full volume
See price @ Amazon
If you’re looking for an amp that delivers a specifically clean tone for a bass guitar, you should definitely check Sonicake Guitar Bass Headphone Amp. This amp is based on the American high-headroom clean combo amplifier and comfortably sits when plugged into the guitar.
Best features and specs
Sonicake Guitar Bass Headphone Amp offers a dynamic clean tone that sounds equally good on bass and electric guitars and a built-in chorus effect that helps in adding sonic dimensions to the tone. Also, it has a headphone splitter, 1/8″ AUX cables, 5 hours of non-stop playing, LED indicators of battery life, and a USB charging cable.
User impressions
Users agree that Sonicake Guitar Bass Headphone Amp has a good tone, so that if you play along with a song, the bass line fits nicely. Many also add that they like this amp because it’s really easy to use, has a fairly long battery life, and controls are effortless to reach.
What we think
This amp is characterized by being a high-headroom clean combo amp with built-in chorus, so that’s what we personally like about this.
Bottomline
Sonicake Guitar Bass Headphone Amp is a great choice for someone who is looking for an extremely affordable, clean sound from an amp, with intuitive controls.
Blackstar amPlug 2 FLY Headphone Bass Amp
Pros
- Comes with rhythmic loops
- Great-sounding tones
- Awesome overdrive
- Intuitive
Cons
- It isn’t possible to control the rhythm volume separately
See price @ Amazon / @ Sweetwater
The Blackstar amPlug 2 FLY Headphone Bass Amp is another amp that can help you with some inspiration with its 6 rhythm loops. Plug it in, adjust the headphones and let yourself roam free while jamming.
Best features and specs
The Blackstar amPlug 2 FLY Headphone Bass Amp offers 3 selectable tones and voices, 6 rhythm loops, 17 hours of battery life, folding design, auto power off feature, and AUX in jack.
User impressions
Users agree that this amp does pretty much everything that is advertised on the sales page. Especially, many like the rhythm tracks, the ability to set the tempo, and its good sound in comparison with being reasonably priced.
What we think
Besides what everyone has to say about this amp, we don’t have much else to say ourselves. Again, we like the idea of having rhythmic loops to help out when needed, so if that’s for you, take a look at this.
Bottomline
The Blackstar amPlug 2 FLY Headphone Bass Amp is a great choice for someone who is looking for an affordable amp with a good sound that helps you with your bassline inspirations.
Milisten Guitar Bass Headphone Amplifier
Pros
- Affordable
- Beginner-friendly
- Easy to use
Cons
- Does not sound exactly as advertised
See price @ Amazon
If you stay only at the beginning of the very long road to reaching perfection, Milisten Guitar Bass Headphone Amplifier is just the tool that you need. It’s very user-friendly and lets you jam in peace.
Best features and specs
Milisten Guitar Bass Headphone Amplifier offers good build quality, compact form factor, minimalistic design, and controls that are put at the front panel, which makes it really easy to tweak.
User impressions
Users say that Milisten Guitar Bass Headphone Amplifier is a good idea for the first amp for beginners. It has good build quality, but the sound quality is rather average, with a lot of distortion within whole ranges.
What we think
When you only begin your musical journey and don’t have a lot of experience, it’s important that any piece of equipment that you use is straightforward and intuitive to use. These two characteristics are absolutely true about the Milisten Guitar Bass Headphone Amplifier.
Bottomline
Milisten Guitar Bass Headphone Amplifier is a great choice for someone who is looking for an affordable, beginner-friendly, and intuitive-to-use amp. Note that it sounds rather poor with a lot of distortion. If you can bump the budget a little bit more, it’s better to check other options on this list.
Headphone Amp for Bass Buying Guide
What is a headphone amp for bass?
A headphone amp for bass is plugged directly into your bass guitar and lets you hear a boosted bass tone through any cabled headphones without any further need to engage a large amp or cables.
Why would you need a headphone amp for bass?
If you’re a beginner or a seasoned musician, it can be very helpful to have these things around when the inspiration hits you. Especially since it allows you to play when other people are around and you don’t want to disturb them.
Important features
When choosing a headphone amp for bass, you should pay attention to battery, tone, rhythm patterns, and additional features.
Battery
Headphone amps can be powered either by AAA batteries or rechargeable ones. AAA batteries give you a long playing time, on average, about 17 hours. In contrast, rechargeable batteries give enough juice for about 4-6 hours of non-stop playing. The base of your choice is personal preference and the convenience of your playing routine.
Tone
It’s better when an amp offers you a smidgeon of choice over the tones rather than providing you with one clear tone.
Rhythm patterns
Coming from the convenience and a bit of inspiration boosting, when an amp offers selectable rhythm patterns, it’s good, but it shouldn’t be your number one priority.
Additional features
Sometimes headphone bass amps offer built-in effects such as reverb, flanger, chorus, and tremolo. Whether you need these extra effects or not depends purely on your needs and preferences and nothing more.
How to choose the right one for you?
When you are choosing the best headphone amp for bass, you should take the convenience and your creative flow into consideration. For instance, you alone should know how long you may need to play non-stop. Understanding that, choosing the type of battery that suits your playing the most should be something to keep in mind.
Also if you find you need the kind of versatility that allows you to play different styles, having a choice of tones is better than none. So check those amps that offer you versatility in terms of tones.
If you need a boost from time to time to spark inspiration, don’t forget to check whether the amp has rhythm patterns available.
While any other additional features may be valuable, it also could mean that you have to spend an extra buck, so if you’re on a budget or don’t need the extra features, choose according to your needs and possibilities.
