switchdoc
12-04-2007, 01:52 AM
...In which Switchdoc learns why they call it an "Amplifier"...
So, those of you who read my thread on headphones may know I was considering getting some type of headphones in hopes of hearing less clack and more boom when I played the drums.
After being educated on the difference between noise cancelling and isolation headphones, I went down to the local guitar center and picked up a nice pair of Vic Firth Isolation Headphones for about 45 bucks.
I have to say, Guitar Center is like a magical fairy kingdom of ROCK. I could blow 10 grand in there. If I had 10 grand. Which I don't. But.. you see my point.
Anyhoo, the VF's are pretty good and you definitely notice a decline in all noise when putting them on. Connected straight to the headphone jack and with the volume at a reasonable level, I can't hear the clack of the drums at all unless I hit the plastic ring on the sides and even that is barely noticable.
They are also the closest thing I have ever found to a 'mute' button for my wife. :)
So, the only real issue is they don't have any volume control at all. When they are hooked up to the headphone jack thats fine because I can just crank up the TV volume. Unfortunately when I play with the aformentioned wife, she refuses to be sensible* and wear headphones. Because of this, I run my headphones out the RCA audio out and listen that way while she uses the regular TV speakers.
This becomes an issue because we live in an apartment and can't crank the volume up too loud. While the VF's still do a pretty good job of muting out the sound the low volume is unsatisfying. I don't feel like I'm ROCKing... I'm... 'eh'ing.
So I'm sitting there trying to figure out a way to rectify this situation when I notice my guitar amp. It's been sitting there forlornly in the corner since GH3 came out and was further abandoned with my purchase of Rockband. It's black. It's shiny. It's got RCA inputs!!
Out of the corner it goes! With speed and dexterity I rewire the headset so it goes out of the TV, into the amp, and out the amp through the headphone jack. I've solved my volume problem!
Boy have I ever.
See, I guess the reason they call it an amp is because it amphlifies things. With the TV volume and the amp volume both at '1', the music was still so loud I am amazed I didnt blow my new headphones through a wall. Then I made the mistake of taking out the headphone jack and I almost blew my HEAD through a wall.
Yeah, I'm fairly sure the neighbors heard that one.
Bottom line, VF's? Good.
Wifes refusal to use headphones? Frustrating.
My intelligence factor? LOW.
:)
-Switch
*Sensible meaning that anything I want her to do is the correct thing to do, being that I'm always right all the time. :)
So, those of you who read my thread on headphones may know I was considering getting some type of headphones in hopes of hearing less clack and more boom when I played the drums.
After being educated on the difference between noise cancelling and isolation headphones, I went down to the local guitar center and picked up a nice pair of Vic Firth Isolation Headphones for about 45 bucks.
I have to say, Guitar Center is like a magical fairy kingdom of ROCK. I could blow 10 grand in there. If I had 10 grand. Which I don't. But.. you see my point.
Anyhoo, the VF's are pretty good and you definitely notice a decline in all noise when putting them on. Connected straight to the headphone jack and with the volume at a reasonable level, I can't hear the clack of the drums at all unless I hit the plastic ring on the sides and even that is barely noticable.
They are also the closest thing I have ever found to a 'mute' button for my wife. :)
So, the only real issue is they don't have any volume control at all. When they are hooked up to the headphone jack thats fine because I can just crank up the TV volume. Unfortunately when I play with the aformentioned wife, she refuses to be sensible* and wear headphones. Because of this, I run my headphones out the RCA audio out and listen that way while she uses the regular TV speakers.
This becomes an issue because we live in an apartment and can't crank the volume up too loud. While the VF's still do a pretty good job of muting out the sound the low volume is unsatisfying. I don't feel like I'm ROCKing... I'm... 'eh'ing.
So I'm sitting there trying to figure out a way to rectify this situation when I notice my guitar amp. It's been sitting there forlornly in the corner since GH3 came out and was further abandoned with my purchase of Rockband. It's black. It's shiny. It's got RCA inputs!!
Out of the corner it goes! With speed and dexterity I rewire the headset so it goes out of the TV, into the amp, and out the amp through the headphone jack. I've solved my volume problem!
Boy have I ever.
See, I guess the reason they call it an amp is because it amphlifies things. With the TV volume and the amp volume both at '1', the music was still so loud I am amazed I didnt blow my new headphones through a wall. Then I made the mistake of taking out the headphone jack and I almost blew my HEAD through a wall.
Yeah, I'm fairly sure the neighbors heard that one.
Bottom line, VF's? Good.
Wifes refusal to use headphones? Frustrating.
My intelligence factor? LOW.
:)
-Switch
*Sensible meaning that anything I want her to do is the correct thing to do, being that I'm always right all the time. :)
