How do I use phones with my Express 5:25?

[kokostrollet]

There is no phones jack in my Express 5:25. Can I still use phones in some way without harming the amplifier? Think I heard someone say I must have a closed cab to do that, but is that really necessary?

 

[MusicManJP6]

:shock:

 

[kokostrollet]

:shock:

Care to develop that response at more length? :=)

As I have understood it (I am pretty new with tube amps) they need to drive a loudspeaker element in order to function properly. That is why there is no head phones jack in the 5:25 and seldom on any tube amps. However, is there any way I can connect head phones to it anyway? Using the 4 ohm or 8 ohm jacks e.g.?

Just need to play late at night at times and at no volume for the rest of the household..

 

[phyrexia]

Weber makes some attenuators that double as DIs/line outs; I believe one of them lets you plug headphones in.

https://taweber.powweb.com/weber/hpa50.htm

 

[MrMarkIII]

Headphones are loudspeaker elements, just really small. If you plug your average set of (Stereo) headphones into the Express speaker (Mono) out, you will only hear one side. If you can find the impedance of the cans, that would be nice. Most headphones are much higher than 4-8 ohms, like 32 ohms. Higher is better than too low, but I still wouldn't run the amp like this for more than a couple hours.

 

[xarkon]

I would suggest not plugging your phones into a speaker jack, even if in parallel to the existing speaker, and certainly not by themselves. I think it's unlikely that you could get enough control on the master volume to prevent turning the voice coil of the headphone driver into instant toast. The likely next step is an open circuit, and if nothing else is plugged into the output jack, you're heading for output transformer trouble within a short time thereafter.

A good headphone driver might handle 200-500 milliwatts, 50-200 times less than what might be handled by a typical guitar speaker.

I would even stay away from using the effects send jack for such a purpose. I haven't studied the circuit diagram, but I suspect that it has voltage swings in excess of what a set of tiny headphone drivers would tolerate. Remember that a typical effects box has an input impedance of 1 megohm or greater, which means that little current is drawn by the input stage of the effect - and hence little power. Not so for the headphone driver; even if it is 32 ohms instead of 8 ohms.

Tube amps are designed to give great sound when hooked up to drivers with high-power handling capability - i.e. speakers with big voice coils and magnets. If you're looking for something to use to practice with phones, I would suggest you might look at a Pocket POD, Vox AmPlug, or one of the many other similar solutions.

EDIT - sorry, I forgot to look at phyrexia's Weber link before writing my post. The link posted to the Weber headphone tap would also provide you a solution as well. I would still suggest one of the portable, battery-operated solutions, though. Less fuss than a tube amp for headphone practice, little to carry, and no tube wear. Besides, the settings you might find useful for practicing the tube amp with the phones are likely to be completely different than those that are useful with the speaker.

Hope that helps.

Dave

 

[rwil]

There is no phones jack in my Express 5:25. Can I still use phones in some way without harming the amplifier? Think I heard someone say I must have a closed cab to do that, but is that really necessary?

You really need a loadbox having a phones out or silent attenuation.
I already post a list with many models here:
http://forum.grailtone.com/viewtopic.php?t=21869&highlight=loadbox
look to the 4th post..

 

[kokostrollet]

Thanks for many very good posts on the subject.

It´s sort of ironic that attenuators are suggested since I have thought about that stuff already, tried out several and not liked what I heard. I think the tone changes quite substantially although it is possible to play at low volumes.

Therefore, I have London Power´s Power Scaling installed on my 5:25 and it´s AMAZING for low volumes! (Although it does not do this particular trick I am after in this post, i.e. let´s me play TOTALLY silent through phones). I really recommend checking it out. (I have a pic of how it looks on the back of my Express, but could not upload it to this post, only link to pictures which is a pity).

http://www.londonpower.com/pscaling.htm

The power scaling really makes it sound great at as low volumes as I want to myself and for sure what neighbors can handle too. And I can push the Mesa really hard in both A and A/B class sounding authentic this way.

Guess the big problem here is a whining wife you cannot tolerate anything but the string sound from my constant beating on the guitar as she hates my music... [/img]

 

[phyrexia]

How does the 5 watt mode work with power scaling?

 

[kokostrollet]

How does the 5 watt mode work with power scaling?

Well, same as with the A/B 25 watt mode, - I can adjust the volume all the way from whisper to mega loud with the same sound and the tubes working as hard as I want them to!

5 watts can be way too loud if I have the setting I want, so it definitely makes sense in both A and A/B for me although even more in A/B.[/b]

 

[rwil]

Therefore, I have London Power´s Power Scaling installed on my 5:25 and it´s AMAZING for low volumes! (Although it does not do this particular trick I am after in this post, i.e. let´s me play TOTALLY silent through phones).

Seems to be very interesting to get lower volume! Still that it needs a mod around the amp and which could void the warranty! Isn't?
I'm still very happy using the Koch, the attenuator is working very well and I'm having the bonus of silent and direct recording, and which is a must here at home. Expensive solution though! :?