But that doesn’t mean that you have to use amp modeling software with an interface. One last note-we’re including audio interfaces in this article because, when paired with the right software, they’re super tweak-able and can put out amazing “amp-like” tones. You also need to consider how comfortable these tools will feel while playing guitar, and how much use you might get out of them when you aren’t practicing with a pair of headphones (an audio interface can also record music, for example). But you still need to keep things like music genre and effects in mind before you pull out your wallet. We aren’t going to look at A/V receivers. The magic just isn’t there.įor this article, we’re only looking at tools that mimic the sounds of a real amp.

You could run your guitar through an old A/V receiver, for example, but it’ll sound like ass because A/V receivers aren’t built to sound like guitar amps. Tone might be the big sticking-point here because it’s difficult to get an “amp-like” tone without using an actual guitar amp. The big things that we’re going to focus on here are tone, convenience, and cost. Pretty simple, right? But as with all things guitar, there’s a lot to take into consideration before spending your money. They amplify your guitar’s signal and give you a slot to plug in your headphones. And that is, essentially, what all of the tools and products in this article do. Even if your guitar has active pickups, you need an external amplifier to boost its signal. Guitars don’t put out enough voltage to power speakers or headphones.

Before Picking a Headphone Solution Plug Into a Practice Amp Use an Amp Modeler Pedal Grab an Affordable Headphone Amplifier Use Practice Headphones, Like the Boss Waza-Air Use an Audio Interface With Your Computer Do Everything On Your iPhone or iPad Before Picking a Headphone Solution

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