- Guitar headphone amps are the perfect solution for practicing in private or on the go.
- Find the best guitar headphone amps on the market in our roundup!
- For more neighbour friendly amp solutions check out 7 Best Guitar Amps For Apartments (Portable & Discreet)
Guitar headphone amplifiers have exploded in popularity, thanks in part to advancing technology that allows for greater tone in smaller sizes.
Many guitarists don’t have the luxury of being able to practice through a real amp at loud volumes at all times, and this is especially true if distortion or saturation are involved.
Guitar headphone amplifiers offer a practical solution to this problem with portability that is unmatched. Even low-wattage combo amps can’t quite compete here, though they are also a great solution if you don’t need an amp that fits in your pocket.
Today we are going to sort through the best options for guitar headphone amplifiers.
(You should also check out our roundup of the best amp in a box pedals if you’re after big amp sounds in a compact package!)
Which Are The Best Guitar Headphone Amplifiers?
Our choice for the best guitar headphone amplifier is the Vox AmPlug 2 AC30. It offers the sound and feel in the vein of one of the greatest guitar amplifiers in history for a great price and with nice features.
For those short on cash, the Sonicake US Classic features a nice American amp sound for a low price, making it our best value choice.
And for those that truly value flexibility, our most versatile choice is the Valeton Rushhead Max.
So, here are our top choices for this list:
- Vox amPlug 2 AC30 (Our Pick)
- Sonicake US Classic (Budget Option)
- Valeton Rushead Max (Most Versatile)
- Vox amPlug 2 Classic Rock
- Blackstar amPlug2 FLY Headphone Amplifier
- Electro-Harmonix Headphone Amp
- Rockman Guitar Ace Headphone Amp
1. Vox amPlug 2 AC30 Headphone Guitar Amp
In the history of rock guitar, few amps enjoy the prestige and legendary status of the Vox AC30. Now, they’ve decided to take that reputation and put it into the smallest AC30 type guitar amp ever.
The Vox amPlug 2 AC30 Headphone Guitar Amp gives you the chance to practice, jam, and compose with the tone and feel of one of the most iconic amps ever.
The Vox amPlug AC30 G2 headphone guitar amplifier will help you nail the AC30 top boost sound, giving you that massive jangly high end - despite the fact that it occupies virtually no space.
- 3 amplifier modes for tonal variety
- Compact
- Up to 17 hours of battery life
Features
- AC 30 Top Boost tone
- Tremolo, 3 x Chorus, 3 x Delay, 3 x Reverb effects
- Runs on 2 AAA batteries
- 3 amp modes
- Over 16 hours of playing time
Review
The Vox AC30 G2 is a headphone guitar amp that aims to reproduce the iconic AC30 Top Boost Tone, all within a compact bug-type profile that conveniently plugs into your guitar.
Besides, it features 3 amp modes, built-in tremolo, chorus, delay, and reverb. It runs on 2 AAA batteries for more than 16 hours straight. Other features include folding plug, aux input, auto power-off, and more.
This unit has been popular among admirers of the AC30 amp and many are convinced that it gets the AC30 tone right, despite its diminutive price and size.
The overall convenience that it brings, combined with the legend that it represents, makes the AC30 G2 guitar headphone amp one of the best choices in the market today.
2. Sonicake US Classic
An 1/8 inch AUX input and a PHONES jack make it way easier for artists to play with their favorite backing tracks, making it a perfect tool for daily practice and pre-show warming-up.
- Simple and effective
- Versatile
- Cheap
The Sonicake US Classic is a guitar headphone amp ideal for those that prefer American-sounding amps.
This unit is simple and effective – it’s USB-powered and has an internal battery. This amp is a great choice for those that like simplicity, with enough versatility to practice clean or with some saturation. The US Classic is our best value option for this list as it is also very affordable!
Features
- Classic tweed amp clean and overdrive tones
- Built-in Reverb Effect
- Headphone Splitter & 1/8” aux cable included
- USB-Chargeable for 5 hours of play
- Internal battery – no AA or AAA batteries required
Review
The Sonicake US Classic is a headphone pocket guitar amp made to provide the tonal feel of an American classic combo amplifier with a tweed cloth covering.
To get closer to the intended sound, it is important to pair the US Classic with headphones that feature higher impedance.
The US Classic comes with a built-in reverb effect, a 1/8 inch AUX input, and a headphones jack. These I/O options make it simpler for players to jam along with their favorite backing tracks or music in general. The 1/4 inch jack is for plugging straight into your guitar.
The Sonicake US Classic headphone amp does not work with disposable batteries. Instead, it is a USB-chargeable unit, and the cable is included.
You get about 5 straight hours on a single charge. Additionally, a headphone splitter and a 1/8” aux cable are also included for extra connectivity.
3. Valeton Rushead Max
Offering plenty of tone options, effects, and a very decent sound, this is one of the best pocket amps out there.
- Switchable effects
- Super-versatile
- Affordable
The Valeton Rushhead Max offers versatility and great value and is really one of the best choices for those shopping for guitar headphone amps.
You can practice a variety of styles with this unit, as it offers nice clean and distorted tones. Besides, it works well with many types of guitars, from single coil pickup models to ones with humbuckers.
This is one of the most versatile headphone amps on the market.
Features
- Clean, Overdrive, and Distortion amp models
- Switchable effects with chorus, tremolo and flanger
- Switchable ambient module with reverb and delay effects
- Aux Input for jamming along with any audio player
- Onboard USB Charger for up to 5 hours of playing time
Review
The Valeton Rushead Max is a great compact guitar headphone amp for guitarists that like to practice and compose with many features and options at their fingertips.
This unit lets you choose between three amp types, “CL” (clean tones based on US-made amps), “OD” (crunchy overdriven tone based on popular UK amps), and “DIST” (based on modern high-gain amps).
In other words, you can use the Rushead Max to practice a variety of styles and genres.
In addition to all these features, the Valeton Rushed Max also offers built-in effects like tremolo, chorus, flanger, and switchable ambient effects like delay and reverb. Other features include aux input, and the ability to charge the unit via USB.
Although it offers many options for a guitar headphone amp, the Valeton Rushead Max is simple to use and features a user-friendly design with Gain, Tone, and Volume knobs as well as FX, Power/Amp Mode buttons.
4. Vox amPlug 2 Classic Rock
The Vox amPlug Classic Rock G2 headphone guitar amplifier will help you nail the classic UK-made amp sound, giving you that massive crunch - despite the fact that it occupies virtually no space.
- Up to 17 hours of battery life
- Classic UK-made amp sound
- Folding plug for better compatibility
The Vox amPlug 2 Classic Rock is a favorite among guitar players and with good reason.
This headphone amplifier allows you to play anytime and anywhere with up to 17 hours of battery life, meaning you can practice and compose for extended sessions.
Features
- Improved analog circuit for clear and present tone
- 3 amplifier modes for tonal variety
- New folding plug mechanism rotates 180 degrees to fit any guitar
- Auto power-off function conserves battery life
- 9 selectable effects (3 choruses, 3 delays, 3 reverb)
Review
The Vox amPlug Classic Rock headphone guitar amplifier will help you get that classic UK-made amp sound in the smallest form factor available to date.
This unit can give you serious crunch for your practice sessions, jams, and moments of riff inspiration.
The amPlug 2 Classic Rock features an improved analog circuit that provides you with a clear and present tone that will inspire you to work on your music at any time and place. You also get a selectable mid-boost, as well as onboard chorus, delay, and reverb.
The Vox amPlug 2 Classic Rock is especially appealing to guitarists who are looking for overdriven tones that resemble the sound used by iconic rock guitarists.
The mids are emphasized to reproduce the crunchy rhythm tone and cutting single note lines of an overdriven tube amp. It also comes with two extra amp modes that push the mids further if you prefer.
Additionally, the Vox amPlug 2 Classic Rock comes with a folding plug for better compatibility with different guitar shapes, battery-saving auto-power off function, and aux-in. This headphone amp works with 2 AAA batteries for up to 17 hours of playing time.
5. Blackstar amPlug2 FLY Headphone Amplifier
Thanks to Blackstar’s amPlug2 FLY, your practice sessions are about to get a whole lot more interesting. You get the great sound of a Blackstar — just plug in and you get amazing guitar amp tones right in your headphones.
- Amazing tone in a tiny package
- Ultra-portable
The Blackstar amPlug2 FLY is a great option for guitarists that love to play with high gain levels, as it’s capable of maintaining clarity when being pushed.
This guitar headphone amp features Blackstar’s patented ISF control that provides you with a great range of British and American amp sounds, and all of this in a compact and ultra-portable headphone amp.
Features
- Packs the sound of a Blackstar FLY into a compact headphone amplifier
- Folding design rotates 180 degrees to fit any guitar
- Auto power-off feature to save battery life
- Aux In jack lets you jam along with your music player
- Onboard delay, chorus, and reverb effects
Review
The Blackstar amPlug2 FLY is based on their top-selling FLY guitar amplifier that has become popular for its compact size and massive sound.
The ampPlug2 FLY features three selectable channels labeled Clean, Crunch, and Lead to give you a variety of sounds to choose from. Those after classic tones will find the typical British and American amp sounds present.
This compact headphone amplifier also offers delay, chorus, and reverb effects, to spice up your practice session or composing moments.
One of the key advantages of the amPlug2 FLY is that it can handle high gain levels, as opposed to other models on the market. Overall, this is a very solid choice for all styles of playing!
6. Electro-Harmonix Headphone Amp
The go anywhere Headphone Amp delivers a musical quality and attitude that defines the spirit of Electro-Harmonix!
- Ultra-light
- Easy to use
- Simple but super effective
The Electro-Harmonix Headphone Amp is a fantastic option for guitarists who value simplicity above all other things. This ultra-light unit can be your practice amp on the go and will be easy to use once inspiration strikes and you need to mash out a new riff.
Features
- Ultra-lightweight and portable
- Designed specifically for musical instruments
- Reproduces the character sound of your live instrument
- Handles high gain pedal board input
- Ultra-quiet
Review
The Electro-Harmonix Headphone Amp is a sleek little option with a simple design. There’s one input jack, one volume knob, and one headphone output.
It’s incredibly portable and easy to use. This unit is more well-suited for quiet environment using your pedalboard, pre-amp effects, or just playing clean.
This guitar headphone amp is powered by a 9V battery, and one of its greatest strengths is that it is designed to handle pedalboards, which will be ideal if you want to practice quietly while still using your performance rig.
It is built similarly to Electro-Harmonix’s nano-size pedals, with a metal exterior for reliability and longevity.
Overall this is a great plug-and-play guitar headphone amp that will let you play whenever and wherever.
7. Rockman Guitar Ace Headphone Amp
The Rockman® Ace line lets you hear your instrument's dynamic range and clarity to inspire you to 'pick up your guitar and play'.
- Delivers a crunchy, classic rock sound
- Unique with a vintage touch
The Rockman Guitar Ace headphone amp is a good choice for those of you that like to have something unique with a vintage touch.
This guitar headphone amp features a striking look, resembling a walkman portable cassette player from the ’80s. Dunlop even included some vintage-looking headphones to complete the throwback visual.
Features
- Built-in compression
- Volume control and auxiliary stereo input/output
- Route the output to a mixer for recording
- Pristine clean, semi, and heavy distortion
- Powered by a 9-volt battery or a Dunlop ECB005X Rockman Ace power adapter kit (not included)
Review
The Dunlop Rockman Guitar Ace headphone amp lets you practice, jam, and compose without disturbing your roommates or neighbors.
This is an appealing unit for those with a soft spot for vintage-looking gear, as the Rockman Guitar Ace resembles a walkman.
The Rockman Headphone Amp features built-in compression, volume control, and an auxiliary stereo input/output to play along with your favorite tracks.
With this headphone amp, you can route the output to a mixer for recording, or connect to your music playing device and play along for hours.
If you’re looking for a clear tone, this headphone amp isn’t the best pick however, this is a great option for those that play rock with a grittier sound and dig the vintage walkman look that comes complete with some of the fuzzy, over-ear headphones that used to be sold with walkman machines.
Searching for a great practice amp? Try our review of the Fender Frontman 25R.