Many guitarists relish the opportunity to practice silently using headphones. It’s a fantastic way to hone your skills without disturbing others, and modern amp modelers and effects processors often boast headphone outputs for this very purpose. However, some players, including yourself, might have noticed a peculiar phenomenon: a certain ‘plastic’ or ‘digital’ edge to the sound when monitoring through Guitar Headphones, particularly compared to the sound emanating from the amplifier’s speakers.
This isn’t a new observation. The user in the original post describes this as a “digital background noise” or a “plastic sound,” especially noticeable in the attack of distorted notes or power chords. They experienced this with a Spider amp and even with a Go device, albeit to a lesser extent. The user noted that while “90%” or “95%” of the sound seems right, that last bit contains an odd artifact. This subtle but noticeable difference can be perplexing, especially when the same setup sounds cleaner through speakers.
What could be the cause of this perceived ‘plastic’ quality in guitar headphone sound? Several factors might contribute to this phenomenon. Firstly, the quality of the headphone output circuitry in some amplifiers and multi-effects units may not be as refined as the main speaker output. Manufacturers might prioritize the speaker output for overall sound quality, potentially leading to compromises in the headphone section. This could result in added noise or distortion that becomes more apparent through the direct and intimate listening experience headphones provide.
Secondly, the nature of headphones themselves can accentuate certain frequencies and imperfections in the audio signal. Unlike speakers, which disperse sound in a room, headphones deliver sound directly to your ears, making you much more attuned to subtle details and potential flaws in the audio. What might be masked by the speaker’s interaction with a room’s acoustics can become starkly clear through headphones.
Furthermore, the user’s observation that increasing the volume sometimes makes the issue less noticeable is interesting. This could be related to the signal-to-noise ratio. At higher volumes, the perceived ‘plastic’ noise might be masked by the overall loudness of the guitar signal. It’s also worth considering headphone sensitivity and impedance matching with the output of the amp or device. While the user tested with reputable headphones like Sennheisers and Bosshifi, impedance mismatches or sensitivity differences could still play a role in how the headphone output interacts with specific headphones, potentially exacerbating any existing imperfections in the signal.
Ultimately, the ‘plastic’ sound in guitar headphones is a real and relatable experience for many guitarists. It highlights the complexities of audio reproduction and the subtle nuances that can affect our perception of sound. While headphone outputs offer invaluable silent practice, understanding their potential limitations and the factors that might influence their sound quality can help guitarists make informed choices and potentially mitigate these sonic artifacts to achieve a more satisfying headphone practice experience.
