The Most Versatile Headphone Amp? Valeton Rushead Max Review

[@GrowWithGuitar]

⚡ FREE Guitar Headphone Amp Buyer's Guide: bit.ly/3mD4AUj By the way, you can mix and match the different effects together, which I didn't test in the video 👍

[@KevPez-IS]

I work for the United States Postal Sevice as a mail carrier. I’m looking to practice during my lunch. This will hit the spot. I’ll be the coolest mailman out there!

[@BonJoviBeatlesLedZep]

Great demo portion showing exactly how the thing works and sounds

[@eddygtube]

I just started learning guitar a few weeks ago. Bought one of these so I could play without annoying the neighbors. I have no idea what gain, tremolo, reverbs are but your video does an excellent job in explaining those. Thanks!!!

[@metalguy5741]

Can it be plugged into a speaker or do I need to use headphones for it?

[@CoffeeCode3D]

​@@metalguy5741 it can be plugged into a speaker definitely

[@David_Downs]

@@metalguy5741 You can plug in into speakers with an AUX out.

[@flwolf2000]

Finally someone who doesn't play 5 minute samples for each of the different settings. Well done!

[@penguinsforhire1112]

Had to give this a like when you saved my eyes... those blue lights are intense :)

[@DrumAndStrum]

I got this after owning a VOX classic rock headphone amp, and I prefer the Valeton by far. The knobs feel sturdier, and I like how you can adjust the different effects with a knob instead of just the 3 levels each of delay/reverb/tremolo with the VOX.

[@GrowWithGuitar]

Plus you get a few extra effects. Glad you are enjoying it 👍

[@philipmark3641]

@@GrowWithGuitar call tomorrow

[@philipmark3641]

Thanks

[@DaveZiffer]

I have the VOX "clean" headphone amp, which really sucks at everything except as a straight-through amp with no EFX. The pushbutton design is ultra annoying, such that you can never be sure what effect is set, and part of the reason I cannot tell which effect is set is that all the EFX are so crummy. I can't believe that VOX even puts its name on this piece of junk.

[@KiraRodriguez1]

So glad I found ur comment. I was stuck between those two!

[@toneloke7489]

I have one, with my Squire Strat with TexMex pickups I get all of the tone I need, clean, and overdrive!!

[@BigDogDaddyD]

I use acoustic, both steel and nylon string. This little Valeton Rushead Max sounds great on all of them. I also use the Kithouse B6, but only because of it's Bluetooth. And I have a Fender Mustang Micro. The Fender has Bluetooth and a dozen different amp models, but the tone is not any better than the Valeton. And the Valeton mods & effects are easier to play with. I also daisy-chain the guitar-Kithouse-Valeton together. That way the guitar and Kithouse Bluetooth get ported to the Valeton. And I never attach my amplug directly to the guitar. I use a 6 or12 inch patch cord. Takes the pressure off the amplug 1/4 in jack...I've banged and crack a few over the years. If I'm sitting, I'll put a 6 foot cable between the guitar and amplugs, and put the amplug on my lap or on a stand. That way the amplug is easier to see and adjust. The Valeton is around $30. The Kithouse is around $50. And the Fender is around $110. And they all sound great on my acoustics.

[@dewdude2112]

I just gto one and I am also gonna get a patch cable to get it off the jack. Possibly attach to strap somehow?

[@edwardkay2743]

Good video! Your explanatory visuals clearly show the relationship between settings and sounds.

[@davehunt6993]

Great videos - keep up the good work. I found your demos very useful. Subscribed 👍

[@GrowWithGuitar]

Thanks!

[@futuresense]

It would be nice if the buyer's guide could have more detailed description on the reasoning behind the top 3 picks. Such as why is your favorite headphone amp the Amplug 2 Clean ?

[@GrowWithGuitar]

These were just meant to show what I would personally pick. I didn't really think much more about explaining, but I will keep that in mind for the future. Thanks. I personally picked the Amplug 2 Clean from the perspective of a practicing tool. For example, I am practicing legato. I try to practice with a clean amp to make sure I have the technique down. Same for any other technique, I think having a clean channel is helpful to see how good your technique actually is. Other than that, I think it has a nice clean tone and, again, as a practice tool, I like the simplicity of not having a bunch of options. But I know a lot of other people could choose other models based on how they would like to use it.

[@yurnero7897]

Thanks for the review, waiitingg for amazon to refill it!

[@GrowWithGuitar]

Haha. Where are you purchasing it from? It seems to be in stock for the US.

[@yurnero7897]

@@GrowWithGuitar amzn france! could only get my hands on Xvive metal preamp for months now :(

[@GrowWithGuitar]

That sucks. Hope they get more stock soon.

[@markthoel9437]

I bought this over a year ago and love it. I even play it through a good quality Bluetooth speaker by connecting the headphone out to the speakers aux in. Sounds way better than cheap practice amps. A lot of usable sounds to be had for little money

[@ponzo1967]

How much difference do headphones make? I noticed this device has 1/8 headphone jack I'm wondering if good 1/4 headphones would make a noticable difference.

[@Zekerdy]

does this thing work as a pedal too?

[@ellie_rigby.jaecds.]

Hey, Thanks a lot. Great reviews. I found them very helpful and informative.

[@mixedmartialnutrition1746]

Valeton always making good stuff

[@pierricklax6079]

Hi I do hesitate between this Valeton or thé Amplug2 Black Star. What would be your choice for Rockin general (Rock Punk Metal Blues...)?

[@GrowWithGuitar]

I would go with the Valeton because 1) It costs less 2) You can mix multiple effects at once (Chorus and Reverb, etc) 3) It is USB Rechargeable.

[@pierricklax6079]

GrowWithGuitar Thanks a lot for your answer.

[@GrowWithGuitar]

👍

[@hanjo4059]

great video with good explanation and demo 👍

[@GrowWithGuitar]

Thank you! 👍

[@muhammetbebek4196]

Hello, I'm a electric guitar beginner, I wanted to ask you if these amps, or rather amps in general, distort and destroy the identity of the guitar? I mean for example with these mini amps, is there any point in having a more expensive electric guitar? Will there be a real difference with a $150 guitar ? Sorry for these beginner's questions and thank you so much for your help.

[@GrowWithGuitar]

Guitar amps amplify the guitar signal. They won't distort it unless you put in extra gain. Although each amp will color the guitar tone in different ways based on a number of factors. For these headphone amps, you won't see much difference in tone for a more expensive guitar. If you are getting a more expensive guitar, I would also invest in a better amp at the same time. Anyway, bottom line is that the tone is mostly affected by 2 things (the amp and the guitar pickups). After that, effects will have a lot of affect on the tone.

[@muhammetbebek4196]

@@GrowWithGuitar Thank you very much for this quick answer and these explanations, it helps me a lot, thank you!

[@xilee5993]

@@muhammetbebek4196 keep on mind that an Amp is generally considered as an instrument itself. So depending on what u want, you have to pick the right one. But this one is good as a begginer headphone amp. You can't play with people or something...

[@billypoe3703]

GREAT VIDEO! Awesome playing also. 😁

[@GrowWithGuitar]

Thank you!

[@arual41]

Can it fit into the regularly slanted guitar slot plug or did you have to use an adapter extension to make the plug in fit?

[@dagony7383]

To me rhe most versatile and better sounding of all the amplugs..no app needed and old school controls..love mine for metal,80s rock and blues

[@cuneytaklselim3700]

İs that ok with using for bass guitar if not what do you reccomend.?

[@wyattlee6842]

Hey! Should I get this instead of vox clean amplug? Honestly I'd sacrifice other gain for a clear tone , however based on the other reviews I've read it seems like the vox amplug is fragile and there's a lot of hissing. So what do you think should I get?

[@GrowWithGuitar]

If you are looking for a good clean tone, then hands down, you are going to want the vox amplug 2 clean. You can get clean tones from the valeton, but even on the lowest setting, if you strum a little bit hard, it has some distorted bits on the end. If you want a true clean tone, you want the vox amplug 2 clean. Both headphone amps are going to have some white noise, but if you have the volume below 5, it is less noticeable, especially while you are playing. As far as if the vox amplug 2 is fragile or not, that really depends on how rough you are with your gear. You will know the answer to that question haha. If you are concerned about the connector jack, you can just get an extension 1/4" cable like I did, so there isn't a chance for you to hit it on something. The link to that is in the description.

[@wyattlee6842]

@@GrowWithGuitar Thaank you! I think I'm might stick with the vox clean amplug then. Thank you for the replyy , you're awesome man , keep doing what you do.

[@DaveZiffer]

I have the VOX "clean" headphone amp, which really sucks at everything except as a straight-through amp with no EFX. The pushbutton design is ultra annoying, such that you can never be sure what effect is set, and part of the reason I cannot tell which effect is set is that all the EFX are so crummy. I can't believe that VOX even puts its name on this piece of junk.

[@TomMilleyMusic]

Do you know if this works with the extension speaker vox makes for their headphone amps? I'd love to also be able to use this as a little desktop amp

[@GrowWithGuitar]

It should work as the connection is from the headphone out into the cabinet's aux in. So, there is nothing proprietary there.

[@TomMilleyMusic]

@@GrowWithGuitar Sweet, thanks

[@BigDogDaddyD]

Yes it will. But for the same price, you can get a better small 5 watt external amp. The Vox extension is a 2 watt 3" speaker.

[@sidneiribeiro3883]

In your opinion which is the best mini amp phone guitar ? Thx

[@cemartmed]

Great guide!

[@dagony7383]

This is my second favorite amplug behibg the nux mighty plug 2

[@black_dynamite8680]

Mod sounds so nice

[@jollibeebuendia7403]

I planned to buy the vox clean amplug 2 however , there's no stock for it for now. I was disappointed but I guess I'll stick to Valeton. :

[@GrowWithGuitar]

Both are great options and have their strengths. Hope you enjoy the Valeton.

[@jollibeebuendia7403]

@@GrowWithGuitar yeah I agree! Because of your review I had another choice for an amplug. Thanks!

[@DaveZiffer]

I have the VOX "clean" headphone amp, which really sucks at everything except as a straight-through amp with no EFX. The pushbutton design is ultra annoying, such that you can never be sure what effect is set, and part of the reason I cannot tell which effect is set is that all the EFX are so crummy. I can't believe that VOX even puts its name on this piece of junk.

[@rhiwderinraytube]

It is good, but Clean is not as clean as it could be. Great value for money though and the ability to adjust individual sounds is veryuseful.

[@dardabz8907]

I love to play acoustic guitar,can you recommend what amplug to use?

[@BigDogDaddyD]

I use acoustic, both steel and nylon string. This little Valeton Rushead Max sounds great on all of them. I also use the Kithouse B6, but only because of it's Bluetooth. And I have a Fender Mustang Micro. The Fender has Bluetooth and a dozen different amp models, but the tone is not any better than the Valeton. And the Valeton mods & effects are easier to play with. I also daisy-chain the guitar-Kithouse-Valeton together. That way the guitar and Kithouse Bluetooth get ported to the Valeton. And I never attach my amplug directly to the guitar. I use a 6 or12 inch patch cord. Takes the pressure off the amplug 1/4 in jack...I've banged and crack a few over the years. If I'm sitting, I'll put a 6 foot cable between the guitar and amplugs, and put the amplug on my lap or on a stand. That way the amplug is easier to see and adjust. The Valeton is around $30. The Kithouse is around $50. And the Fender is around $110. And they all sound great on my acoustics.

[@paulthompson1a]

Hi, does the auxiliary in go through the affects when they are on with the guitar, delay etc,or is it dry want to use with drum machine with no effects

[@Eraname]

Hello. Thank you for video. If I connect the usb port to this charging terminal and connect it to my computer, can I use it as an audio interface?

[@GrowWithGuitar]

Thanks for watching. The usb is only for charging.

[@Eraname]

@@GrowWithGuitar Thank you for your answer. I hope this KZbin channel will grow further.

[@AmperahGaming]

@@Eraname sadly it doesn’t have an internal dac as far as I’m aware :)

[@martinafan64]

Great review, sounds awesome. I'm definitely buying it. Can someone recommend a really good set of headphones to use with it? Preferably under $200.

[@GrowWithGuitar]

I personally use the audio technica m50x which is under $200: amzn.to/3iopBkb (affiliate link), but these are monitoring headphones, so they provide a flat/closer to realistic sound.

[@martinafan64]

@@GrowWithGuitar Thanks for the suggestion. I ordered the Valeton earlier, and will probably order the headphones you suggested because I don't think my $30 Philips headphones are good enough to use with the Valeton lol. Thanks again!

[@petervdveenmuis]

Purchased one for my cigar guitar box. I'm a total newbee. 😛

[@paolosantovito2598]

Hi! Can it be used with a Fender stratocaster?

[@GrowWithGuitar]

It should fit from what I am told and I have read.

[@jardeshna]

Can you comment on the latency of this vs say an Audient iD4 interface (idk what to compare it to)

[@alexanders7130]

Does anybody also have a bit of distortion in the clean channel of the rushhead when using humbuckers? (even with the gain knob all the way down)

[@jt1087]

Great review, I was wondering how many Watts this amp has ?

[@decibel0746]

I don't think it has any watts. It doesn't have a speaker to produce sound. You have to connect headphones or connect it to an external speaker.

[@GrowWithGuitar]

There is no wattage information given for the product, but a quick google search seems to show that a headphone output gives less than 0.1 watts (20-40 mW).

[@nealflett1813]

What I would like to know if you connect pc or mobile phone to play jam tracks , does the sounds stay vibrant and clear or does it sound muddy . That would be a deal breaker for me .

[@GrowWithGuitar]

It sounded decent to me, but I only tried drum patterns and jazz backing tracks, so it could be different with different types of tracks. I don't think it would be that much muddier though.

[@nealflett1813]

@@GrowWithGuitar I only started playing guitar at 55. I am now 62 . In the last few years I have moved on to backing jam tracks . I mainly play through headphones so I dont disturb my neighbour's or I suppose I am looking for the perfect tone . I did consider buying 2 identical mini amps. So I could separate the signals . Or a small audio mixer . I have had a few vox headphone amps .I was disappointed with those . But thanx for the reply

[@GrowWithGuitar]

Ya. In your situation, these mini headphone amps are probably not what you are looking for. An audio interface/mixer with some decent software on your computer is definitely a lot clearer. No competition.

[@ernestojr.angeles9707]

Can you use the USB to directly record to phone or pc daw?

[@onurag7176]

blackstar amplug fly 2 or vox amplug 2?(for clean)

[@GrowWithGuitar]

Personally, I like the Vox Amplug 2 Clean better for clean tones. I prefer the way they handle their tone control and the fact that you can just plug and play without thinking of other options.

[@onurag7176]

@@GrowWithGuitar thank you so much for the replies, u are really helpful

[@GrowWithGuitar]

Glad to help 😊

[@ma271]

Do you think this amp also fits on the Stratocasters with jack on the side of the guitar and not on the bottom? seems like a tight fit

[@GrowWithGuitar]

I haven't tested it for myself, but from what others have said, it should fit.

[@ma271]

@@GrowWithGuitar Yes it seems to fit thanks

[@scrumpymanjack]

It must do - any mini amp that didn't work with strat-type guitars would be designing themselves out of about half the global guitar market.

[@WeCulture_]

How does it sound with a bass?

[@mojomendoza3198]

Nux mighty plug review pls. Thanks

[@GrowWithGuitar]

Just for you 😉.

[@fordman7479]

Wish you could do OD and dist at the same time

[@manuwah3942]

Could i use this as a kind of pedal for a small amp?

[@amz748]

Hi, how do you know when it is fully charged?

[@GrowWithGuitar]

The LED lights should all be solid on a full charge.

[@amz748]

@@GrowWithGuitar thanks 🎸

[@amz748]

Hi again, mine goes from fully charged to flat in about 4 days without even using it, have you noticed this problem? Jay.

[@GrowWithGuitar]

I no longer have it, but when I did, I am pretty sure it held its charge when not using it for more than 4 days. If it is off and is running low on battery after 4 days, there is probably a problem with the battery.

[@amz748]

@@GrowWithGuitar thanks for your reply, it is weird and i think i will ask for a replacement, Jay.

[@jezinatortv]

Can you connect it to a speaker?

[@timelanguid4813]

does it have any drum patterns? which amplugs have those? thanks.

[@GrowWithGuitar]

No, this doesn't have drum patterns. The only amplug that I have tried that has drum patterns is the vox bass amplug.

[@timelanguid4813]

@@GrowWithGuitar I am looking for a usb charging amplug over battery, which do you think is better Valeton or Lekato? Thanks

[@tylercharlton9404]

Personally I recommend a 1960s Fender Pro Reverb. Much nicer tone

[@fordman7479]

be cool idf you could do OD and Dist at the same time

[@a4_music21]

Can I use a loop pedal with this?

[@onurag7176]

how do you connect to computer to record guitar?without a audio interface

[@GrowWithGuitar]

From my experience, you are going to need an audio interface. The sound card on your computer isn't enough to handle your guitar signal.

[@jadetraveler]

There are USB guitar cables that might be a simple solution

[@MM-sq5pf]

Does this require special headphones? Thx

[@olssong7941]

Nope, anything with aux works

[@johnmcaleese8459]

What headphones do you recommend. I accidentally blew up a set of AKG's within the first 5 min of having them. I started to gag. PEACE.

[@GrowWithGuitar]

I personally use the audio technica m50x, but I am sure there are many other studio headphones that are good too. I've never blown any headphones before, so I hope these will be a fine recommendation for you haha.

[@AmperahGaming]

@@GrowWithGuitar what’s the Supported impedance of this amp? Got hd600s and dt880 pros with 250 ohms 😅

[@GrowWithGuitar]

@@AmperahGaming I am not sure. There is no documentation for it, so I assume that means they didn't find a reason to include it?

[@potsmq]

Does it actually sound that good (like in the video) when you plug your headphones in? I've never happened to try one of these headphone amps before myself

[@GrowWithGuitar]

Well, I literally am recording what is coming out of the headphone output of this device, so I would like to say yes. The only difference is that it is possible that the headphones you use can slightly change the tone, as well as what type of guitar/pickups you use. But I think it sounds good.

[@samermohamed7644]

@@GrowWithGuitar How are you recording what comes out of the headphones? I bought a Rushead Max and I would like to use it to record into my computer, even if it's not quite top-quality. I was hoping I could use it in lieu of an Audio Interface as well for the time being.

[@GrowWithGuitar]

I am recording it through my motu m4 audio interface. Unfortunately, you will need some sort of audio interface to record it into your computer. Just connecting it directly isn't going to work as the signal won't be strong enough

[@samermohamed7644]

@@GrowWithGuitar Thanks for the quick reply! That's unfortunate. I was hoping I could forego an audio interface for the time being, but I guess it's an unavoidable expense. I'll save up for a Focusrite solo, I guess.

[@GrowWithGuitar]

@@samermohamed7644 It will definitely be a useful and versatile investment. It will open a lot of new opportunities to experiment with software based amp modelers as well.

[@cesarolivares3870]

Can I plug this amp to a bass?

[@GrowWithGuitar]

Yes, you can.

[@cesarolivares3870]

@@GrowWithGuitar Thanks a lot, man, I just got mine, it is awesome!

[@GrowWithGuitar]

That's great to hear!

[@ouidjaminn]

Mine wont make any sound, and I cant find any videos on how to set it up. It also didnt come with any instructions. I dont know what to do, if someone could help me out id really appreciate it.

[@ranatha]

Do you feel any delay or noise?

[@GrowWithGuitar]

I don't feel any delay. There is a little bit of white noise, but that is the case for all similar headphone amps and you can't tell as much while you are playing.

[@kittysoftpaws3677]

I like how you're testing it and you just start jamming in the middle of it lmao

[@carloscervantes6283]

Can I use the bass with this?

[@GrowWithGuitar]

Yes, on their product page, it is listed as being able to work with both guitar and bass. Although, I have not tried it personally with a bass.

[@thomasharrington5510]

If you have an active bass, you can plug straight into the output jack and get enough volume to hear, but it'll be Mono. If you only need a clean sound for Bass, I'd go with the Electro-Harmonix headphone amp. It's only got volume control, no tone or gain controls, but it's all-metal, very sturdy, and built in the USA. Only $45, which is just about $7 more than this one.

[@StopFear]

Good videos , Joseph. I think your channel will go far. But please don’t do positive reviews on things when companies offer to pay for good reviews.

[@davideliason5849]

What did you need to record the audio?

[@GrowWithGuitar]

Here is my setup Guitar➡️1/4" Mono Extension cable➡️Valeton Rushead Max➡️3.5mm to 1/4" Cable➡️Motu M4 Audio Interface➡️Computer Ultimately, it depends on your setup. Most of the items are linked in the description, but here is the link to the 3.5mm to 1/4" cable that I used to connect the headphone amp to my audio interface: amzn.to/3kcMV4i (affiliate link). From my experience, you won't be able to just connect it straight to your computer, you will need some sort of audio interface. Hope that helps.

[@davideliason5849]

@@GrowWithGuitar Awesome. Thanks for the info. Subscribed

[@htlfreelifestyle9344]

Love yr video that alof

[@scarredwoodmichael6825]

I love mine

[@GrowWithGuitar]

🙂

[@kresnocondro]

This valeton vs vox amplug 2 clean. What do u think is the best buy?

[@GrowWithGuitar]

If you want effects the valeton.

[@kresnocondro]

@@GrowWithGuitar i bought valeton and i was very satisfied. I just use earphone, and it can produce clean, lead, and metal sound from one small box. Best buy

[@GrowWithGuitar]

Awesome! It definitely can be used to produce a lot of different sounds. Glad you found what you were looking for.

[@MarceloNajarro]

@@kresnocondro Hello, thank you for commenting on your experience. I'm interested in what you mentioned about earphones. You mean those simple headphones like the ones you get when you buy a cell phone? I'm going to buy the Rushead, and for now I'll only be able to use it with one of those simple headphones until I can get a suitable one.

[@kresnocondro]

@@MarceloNajarro i use audio tecnica earphones,price ranged under 100 usd at that time

[@TezTezTezTezTez]

No Bluetooth?

[@scrumpymanjack]

Have to say I'm kind of disappointed that this doesn't work with bluetooth headphones etc. Seems to be missing a trick there.

[@humdinger77]

Does this device allow you to listen to music through it to play along?

[@GrowWithGuitar]

Absolutely! You can connect your phone to the device using the Aux In and a 3.5mm cable to play backing tracks or songs. There is a link in the description for the 3.5mm cable I use.

[@pablo963]

@@GrowWithGuitar Hi! Have you considered using a cheap 3€/$ bluetooth receiver? I use one instead of the cable for the aux, and don't feel a loss of quality or background noise and you avoid a cable dangling around. By the way very nice review!

[@GrowWithGuitar]

Yes. I have considered it, but you would need bluetooth headphones to pair with it. Also, I haven't tried it myself, so I couldn't recommend it to others. I am planning on making a video on that in the future. Thanks for the idea.

[@pablo963]

​@@GrowWithGuitar not really. Maybe I didn't explain myself properly. The bluetooth receiver is just the substitute of the cable that goes from the headphone jack of the media device (i.e. your phone or mp3 player) to the aux in of your amp. If you google "car bluetooth receiver" you'd find the same device I use. My headphones are just old fashioned wired ones, as bluetooth ones have latency (and other types are too expensive for me).

[@GrowWithGuitar]

Oh. You are talking about the aux in for playing music along with it. That would be cool too. I think that should work no problem. I was thinking you meant for connecting your headphones through Bluetooth.

[@sidneiribeiro3883]

Phaser 🧐

[@dagony7383]

Nux mighty plug 2 blows away all other amplugs!!

[@GrowWithGuitar]

Still have yet to try it, but definitely will be checking it out in a future video.

[@DaveZiffer]

Why do designers keep putting ultra-obnoxious blue LEDs on their equipment? Are they blind, or are they just idiots?

[@cousineddie7898]

Because blue is a color that can be seen by colorblind people. Red green and Amber are difficult or impossible to see if your color blind..

[@demonsaint1296]

Ah yea not gonna swivel.

[@BassGods]

Can't wait to find a video where someone actually shows you how to set this thing up. Smh

[@Budaboose]

Good Job! Keep at it, don't let haters (aka leftists) get to you.

[@GrowWithGuitar]

Thanks!

[@baronvonlichtenstein]

There is only one headphone amp. The Rockman X100. Tell me something that sounds like that. If you don't have one, you are comparing toys to the real thing. I've used them for decades to record album quality guitar sounds.

[@olssong7941]

Those cost hundreds, this one costs 30-40 usd

[@johnrogers2826]

Nice, thanks.

[@thiccchungus588]

Clean channel sounds good, others are pretty trash... but for $35, damn