Freedom to create… wherever and whenever!

Creativity is an actual superpower… Seriously! If you don’t think that pulling music from thin air simply by moving your hands across frets and strings, keys or even hitting things in time isn’t overpowered magic, then we don’t know what to say anymore. You’re a sonic superhero (deal with it!) and therefore gear should never become your kryptonite and hinder your creativity. It should allow you to express yourself freely exactly when needed.

This is why we made the STEREO HEADPHONE AMP – a simple, compact and great-sounding dual headphone amplifier with AUX in, Bluetooth, pass-thru as well as Stereo Ins and Outs. Meaning you can practice, explore and create in full ear-gasmic stereo. This new little box in KMA’s utility line will add high-quality headphone monitoring to any rig, wherever and whenever you want it.

Main Features:

• Exceptional and Powerful Headphone Amplifier
• High Quality monitoring for the end of your pedalboard
• Dual Headphone Outputs, with large level control
• Aux Input – Bluetooth Audio or 3.5 mm Stereo Analog
• Aux/Main Mix/Blend Control
• Premium Analog and high-headroom audio, with high-impedance input circuitry
• Flexible internal signal routing – full Mix or Buffered Thru Outputs
• Auto Detect TS/TRS 6.35 mm Inputs and Outputs – Stereo or Mono
• Made in Berlin, Germany
• Powered by regular 9V PSU (250 mA max, at full load)

 

 

Our powerful amplifier circuit provides clean and plentiful level to your headphones for monitoring, even in noisy environments.

There are also 2 sockets provided, so you can share your practicing and performance with a fellow musician. These outputs can also be used for a multitude of other things too. For example, you could connect directly to an IEM system or even use them as extra feeds for camera audio, streaming setups or many other similar suitable purposes.

 

The tiny INPUT LEVEL knob allows you to tweak the input gain to match whatever you have running into STEREO HEADPHONE AMP, be it an instrument, amp-sim or a full signal chain full of effects.

The in-built CLIP LED delivers visual feedback and will blink red if you’ve set the input a bit too hot. But you can also run it hot on purpose and send the pre-amp into saturation. It’s actually very musical and has a similar vibe to a blown out or pushed channel strip on a mixing console. So, even though it’s just a small simple control, don’t be shy to experiment with it a bit.

 

Placed directly before the Main Outputs, the AUX Input is a super solution for feeding a backing track or any other stereo signal into the outputs of the STEREO HEADPHONE AMP, making it perfect for many purposes including practicing.

Whether streaming via the built in Bluetooth or connecting via the mini Stereo analog 3.5 mm jack, the resulting audio signal will be present via either of the two Headphone Outputs and the Main Outputs.

The AUX MIX control allows you to blend anywhere between the core input signal and the AUX Input. In the centre detent the signal is 50/50 equal. With the knob turned fully right (CW) the input signals are muted, while turning it fully left (CCW) mutes the Auxiliary audio signals.

 

Don’t want the Aux Input to be present on the Main Outputs?

No problem, just press the Output Mode push button from FULL to THRU in order to remove the AUX path from the main outputs easily, effectively turning STEREO HEADPHONE AMP into a strong, clean buffered stereo out for your rig.

 

If you’re anything like us, then you probably already have a pretty decent pedal collection… and with “like us” we mean that you have fuzz pedals instead of forks in your kitchen drawer, because we’re humans of culture, Mom!! So of course, we had to make our very own headphone amp full stereo to accommodate everything from direct and dirt simple to stereophonic surreal soundscapes.

Want to use it in Mono? No problem. How about Mono In and Stereo Out? A cinch! STEREO HEADPHONE AMP automatically detects what you have connected up and will sum the unused path to the centre. Even if it is in Mono – Mono mode, the Aux input will also still be in Stereo via your headphones, so practice away without losing your head!
 

Last, but by no means least, we added another trick up the STEREO HEADPHONE AMP’s sleeve for live musicians. If, like many performers today, you use IEMs, you may want more of your own level or have an easy and simple way to blend your own monitoring levels.

Many musicians can experience a slight delay between their own signal and what comes back from the monitor mix depending on the type of connections used and this is even more prevalent with many digital consoles. In addition, if there are not enough aux sends on your rig, sometimes you may not be able to hear yourself in stereo either.

So, by using the analog AUX input for your monitor mix in and the STEREO HEADPHONE AMP’s headphone out to your wired IEMs (or connected to your own IEMs wireless set up) you will have more direct control over your own levels. In this case though, just set the Output Mode push button from FULL to THRU to not pass the Aux input section to the Main Outputs – no more arguing with the engineer for “more me” – you have your own control!

Wowsers, even though we’ve not yet mentioned how cool it is that the KMA Bear’s eye lights up, it still seems so much more than the “Bear Necessities” of what might normally be considered a run-of-the-mill utility device.

Come on in to finally sink your own claws into true headphone monitoring for the modern musician!