Picking the best headphone amp for your guitar that will give you awesome sound and effects isn’t easy. There are several small, portable guitar amplifiers with headphone jacks that you can put in your pocket or clip to your belt buckle. So, how are you supposed to choose between them all?
Well, first you need to decide whether you want a micro/mini guitar amp or headphone amplifier. A micro amp has a built-in speaker, so you can use it with and without headphones. A real headphone guitar amp only has a jack and no speakers. After that, you need to figure out if you want guitar effects or not. Don’t worry though, we’ve reviewed all of the most popular, top-rated headphone amplifiers and compared all of their features, so you can easily decide.
Let’s check out some of the best desktop headphone amps for guitar and see which one is right for you!
Compare the Top Mini Headphone Amplifiers in 2020
Contents
- 1 Compare the Top Mini Headphone Amplifiers in 2020
- 1.1 VOX AP2AC amPlug 2 Headphone Amplifier
- 1.2 VOX MINI3 G2 Battery Powered Modeling Amp
- 1.3 Fender Mini ’57 Twin-Amp
- 1.4 SONICAKE Guitar Headphone Amp
- 1.5 Donner Guitar Headphone Amplifier
- 1.6 Marshall MS2 Micro Guitar Amplifier
- 1.7 Aroma Mini 5W Guitar Amp
- 1.8 VOX AP2BS amPlug 2 Headphone Amplifier
- 1.9 Danelectro Electric Guitar Mini Amplifier
- 2 What We Recommend and Why
Here is a list of the best guitar headphone amps that will help you play your guitar anywhere you want to go.
- VOX AP2AC amPlug 2
- VOX MINI3 G2
- Fender Mini ’57 Twin-Amp
- SONICAKE Guitar Headphone Amp
- Donner Guitar Headphone Amplifier
- Marshall MS2 Micro Guitar Amplifier
- Aroma Mini 5W Guitar Amp
- VOX AP2BS amPlug 2 Headphone Amplifier
- Danelectro Electric Guitar Mini Amplifier
VOX AP2AC amPlug 2 Headphone Amplifier
Specs, features, and benefits
From that January in 1958 when the first VOX amplifier was introduced to the music world, the brand has continued to grow in its reputation for delivering top quality amplifiers to guitarists world over.
The amPlug 2 Headphone Amplifiers is a very convenient tool for the active guitarist. It makes it easy for you to play your guitar with ease anywhere and everywhere without being a nuisance.
It is designed for easy use, has three different in-built models, which include guitar and bass, and 12 different effects, which include 3 choruses, 3 delays and reverbs. You can also plug in an extra audio source, which will allow you jam along to your favorite songs.
It comes with simple controls that include volume, gain and tone. These help you dial in the exact sound you feel at home playing with.
This little beauty is battery powered. Two AAA alkaline batteries will last for about 17 hours with the effects off and about 11 hours with the effects on.
Pros and Highlights
- Versatility – It can be used for both guitar and bass.
- Effects – It comes with about 12 different effects.
- Convenience – It is designed to fold and plug easily into any guitar.
Cons and Potential Flaws
- Controls – Reading and adjusting the controls may be a bit difficult.
Bottom Line
If you need a little headphone amplifier that allows you practice or perform anywhere and at any time with ease while still offering interesting effects options, then go for this.
VOX MINI3 G2 Battery Powered Modeling Amp
Specs, features, and benefits
While this isn’t exactly a headphone amp, it still offers the conveniences you have come to expect from a headphone amp and more.
Measuring a mere 10.32″ x 6.85″ x 8.78″ and weighing about 6.6 pounds, The Mini3 G2 is perfect for mobility.
Don’t let its compact design fool you. It comes loaded with about 11 amp models and 8 effects, which include 4 reverbs and 4 delays.
Aside from your guitar input, it also has a microphone and an auxiliary input. This brings more versatility to this tiny amp.
You can either choose to listen via a headphone or you can listen through the 5 inch, 3 watt speaker. The choice is yours.
For power, it offers two options. For mobile jamming, you can power it with 6 x AA batteries. With alkaline batteries, you may be able to use it for up to 12 hours. For stationary use, you can use the included power adapter, which allows you plug it to your mains.
Pros and Highlights
- Versatility – Its features offer immense versatility.
- Controls – It comes with ample controls.
- Sound – Its sound delivery is pretty good.
Cons and Potential Flaws
- Tuner – The included tuner may not be the best.
Bottom Line
If you love the idea of a headphone amplifier but do not want to always have your headphones on maybe to avoid ear fatigue, then you will love this. Aside from its many features, it comes with a 5 inch speaker that delivers 5 watts of power.
Fender Mini ’57 Twin-Amp
Specs, features, and benefits
Fender is a brand known for making great guitar amps so we cannot but expect something great from this brand. The Mini ’57 Twin Amp is a compact mini amp that can actually fit in your gig bag.
It comes with a 2 inch speaker that delivers 1 watt of power. It’s just something nice for those personal practices, rehearsals or gigging. It’s perfect for your room, hotel room, back stage and other small spaces and it also offers simple controls for managing the sound.
If you do not want to disturb anyone at all, you can plug your headphone into the 1/4inch headphone output to create your personal listening space.
It has two power options which is quite convenient. The first is a 9 volts battery and the second is a 9 volts adaptor. So for mobile use, you can rely on the battery and for stationary use, you can simply plug it into the mains via the adaptor.
This is a very simple and easy to use mini amp.
Pros and Highlights
- Size – It is very compact and lightweight.
- Output – You can listen via headphones or through the speaker.
- Power – It offers battery and DC power options.
Cons and Potential Flaws
- Tones – It doesn’t offer much tonal options.
Bottom Line
This is a simple mini amp with no frills. If you want something very simple and highly compact for your personal playing time, then you may love this mini amp. It gets the job done without any fuzz.
SONICAKE Guitar Headphone Amp
Specs, features, and benefits
Sonicake is a brand committed to offering guitarists the tools they need to excel. This tiny Amphonix US Classic headphone amp loaded with features is one such tool. First, it is designed to deliver the classic US combo amplifier sound. It’s also designed to look the part.
All you need to do is plug it into your guitar, connect your headphones and you are good to go. For a more interesting practice session, you can also connect an additional audio source into the 1/8 aux input. You can connect a favorite track from any media player and then jam along with it. You can even add a second listener with the included headphone splitter.
This little box also offers you the luxury of adding some tonal dimension to your sound with the in-built reverb effect. In addition to this, you can take full control of your sound with the included volume, gain and tone controls.
It has a rechargeable power source. On a single charge, you can use it for up to five hours. The USB cable needed to charge it is also included.
Pros and Highlights
- Build – It is well made.
- Functionality – It offers good value function-wise.
- Sound – It has a good sound.
Cons and Potential Flaws
- Noise – Some users report the occasional distortions or white noise.
Bottom Line
This is a very convenient pocket headphone amp. You can take it anywhere with you and play whenever you need with ease. This is really well-made and offers good all-round value.
Donner Guitar Headphone Amplifier
Specs, features, and benefits
This pocket size headphone amp was designed to mimic the Soldano SLO100. It is the ideal practice mate for the heavy metal player.
You plug it directly into your guitar, plug in your headphones and you can begin to jam away. You can also turn on the built-in chorus effect for more tonal possibilities or you can simply fine tune the sound with the included controls.
If you want to make your practice or jamming time more interesting, you can connect an external audio source into the aux input so you can play along to any of your favorite tracks. It also includes a headphone splitter, which will allow you add a second listener into the loop.
It is very convenient to use especially with the built-in rechargeable battery, which can last up to five hours after a full charge. Charging it is also very simple especially with the included USB cable.
This certainly is a great headphone amp. To show the manufacturer’s confidence in this product, it comes with a 30-day money back guarantee. You can return it if you don’t like it.
Pros and Highlights
- Sound – It has a nice clean sound.
- Controls – It comes with good controls.
- Batteries – The batteries last for long.
Cons and Potential Flaws
- Effect – The chorus effect only has an off and on control.
Bottom Line
If you are a lover of heavy metal, then you are sure to love this pocket size headphone amp modeled after the sound of the Soldano SLO100.
Marshall MS2 Micro Guitar Amplifier
Specs, features, and benefits
Marshal is a known name among guitarists. The brand understands that you cannot always jam with 4 feet high cabinets. Sometimes you just need a quiet time alone on your guitar either for personal practice or just to jam.
The MS2 Micro Guitar Amplifiers gives you the privilege of enjoying these private sessions with the Marshal sound. This is a very small guitar amp that you can easily clip on your belt or toss into your gig bag.
It has one 2 inch speaker that delivers 1 watt of power. This is ideal for bedroom play. You also have the option of playing in total isolation by plugging your headphones into the headphone output.
When you plug in your guitar, you can choose between voice and overdrive voice. You can also tweak your sound with the tone control as well as the volume control.
It offers you the ease of powering it with a 9 volts battery of by connecting it to a mains socket. This makes it perfect for but high mobility as well as stationary jams.
Pros and Highlights
- Sound – It’s louder than you may expect.
- Convenience – It’s easy to take around with the belt clip.
- Effect – Includes a distortion channel.
Cons and Potential Flaws
- Power – 9volts DC adapter not included.
Bottom Line
This is a straight forward product from a leader in the industry. If you trust the Marshal name and will love to get a mini amp from the brand, you should consider going for this.
Aroma Mini 5W Guitar Amp
Specs, features, and benefits
The Aroma Mini Guitar Amp is a multi-functional piece of gear that any guitarist will love to own. This is a compact device that can be hooked to your belt via the belt clip.
This mini amp delivers 5 watts of power, which makes it ideal for practice and jamming privately. For even more privacy, you can connect your headphones to the phones output for an isolated playing time.
For increased mobility, it is powered by a rechargeable battery. Once fully charged, you can play for up to 6 hours. A USB cable is included for charging.
This amp also has a microphone input as well as an aux input. You can plug in your microphone and sing as you play or you can connect your smart phone or other media devices with 1/8 jacks to the aux input to play along with any of your favorite tunes.
There’s more… It has a recording function with which you can record your sessions. Your recordings are stored in a TF card. It supports up to 32Gb. Any guitarist and songwriter will love this.
Pros and Highlights
- Rechargeable – It is rechargeable.
- Recording – It has a recording function.
- Connectivity – It offers good i/o options.
Cons and Potential Flaws
- Operation – May need some time to understand how to access all its functions.
Bottom Line
This device is perfect for the guitarist/ songwriter who wants to quickly record ideas wherever and whenever they come. You can play, sing and record anywhere and at any time.
VOX AP2BS amPlug 2 Headphone Amplifier
Specs, features, and benefits
This pocket headphone amp is very similar to the VOX AP2AC amPlug 2 we reviewed above. While that was designed for guitars, this is designed for the bass.
Designed to specifically handle low frequencies well and also offer a wide frequency response, the AP2BS amPlug 2 Headphone Amplifier is the bass player’s ideal practice companion. It’s very compact and plugs very easily into your bass guitar regardless of where the input is located. This is because of its foldable design, which also allows it to rotate 180 degrees.
It is powered by 2 AAA batteries and can last for up to 17 hours if alkaline batteries are used and effects are not switched on. If effects are however switched on, the batteries will last about 11 hours.
Yes, it comes with up to 9 effects. These include reverbs, delays and chorus.
When you need to jam along with other songs, you can simply connect your smartphone or any other media player to the 1/8 aux input.
Pros and Highlights
- Effects – It comes with about 12 effects.
- Versatile – It has a wide response making it ideal for other instruments too.
- Rhythm – It offers 9 rhythm patterns to enhance practice.
Cons and Potential Flaws
- Controls – They may be difficult to see and use during play.
Bottom Line
This is a great headphone amp for the dedicated bass player. You can plug in your bass guitar and jam away privately to a real bass guitar sound. Get this if you play the bass.
Danelectro Electric Guitar Mini Amplifier
Specs, features, and benefits
The Dan electro Honey Tone N-10 Guitar Mini Amp is another product that offers the guitarist the freedom to play and jam wherever and whenever they feel like. It’s a simple amp that you can either have in your gig bag or strapped to your belt.
It has two output options – a speaker for open play in a small space and a headphone output for total isolated play. You can play this in your dorm, bedroom, beach etc. and you get to choose how much privacy you want to achieve.
For inputs, it supports your regular 1/4 guitar jack and a 1/8 auxiliary input. You can connect sundry audio sources to this aux input for increased jamming options. You can also spicing your aural experience by trying out the included overdrive effect. Aside from the overdrive, other controls you will find include a power and volume knob as well as a tone knob.
This device is battery and DC powered. A 9 volts battery will power it for mobile jamming while a 9V DC adaptor will power it for stationary jamming.
Pros and Highlights
- I/O – It offers good input and output options.
- Effect – It includes an overdrive effect.
- Power – It uses both battery and direct power.
Cons and Potential Flaws
- Adaptor – This isn’t included.
Bottom Line
This is another simple mini amp that gets the job done. It’s an option to consider if you need something you can play alone without disturbing anyone and also with a few people.
What We Recommend and Why
It’s been an interesting journey reviewing these headphone amplifiers. Now it’s time to choose which of these we consider the best. After our very careful review, and based on size, features and cost we chose the VOX AP2AC amPlug 2 Headphone Amplifier as our top choice. While the VOX MINI3 G2 Modeling Amp was clearly loaded with features, it was too big to really qualify as a headphone amp. The VOX AP2AC amPlug 2 Headphone Amplifier is small enough while packing loads of functions. Best of all it is also affordable.