I'm thinking of getting a small headphone amp with about 4 channels. The amp will be sitting on a stand in the studio room (not in the control room). I'm considering these options:

Presonus HP4
SM Pro Audio HP4
ART Headamp V
CME Matrix Y
Behringer HA4700

Which of these would fit my purposes best?

The Presonus HP4 is a smokin' nice little amp.

Do not pass GO, do not collect $200.

I'd pick up the Presonus and forget those others, most of which I've used.

War

+1. I've got the B-word headphone amp too. It's not *terrible*, but the HP4 is better.

Frank

I like the Presonus HP4 for three reasons:

(in no particular order)

1. Easy to hook up
2. Easy to use (even the drummer can figure it out)
3. The price (can't go wrong for a hundred bucks)

There's no fancy "more me" options, but at that price, I don't think you can do any better.

Another couple of things I like is that it has Monitor outs with gain control, so if you only have 1 set of monitor outs on your interface, you're golden. Personally I use it for my smaller "check" monitors. Also, the mono summing button is quite nice to have, should you not have that option with any other hardware. ALWAYS important to check your mixes in mono before calling them "done".

Good luck,
-Michael

RANE HC6...I got mine for under $100 used on eBay. Bulletproof, clean power, and 6 channels allows you to record the whole band. It is a step up from these...

Don't forget the Sound Devices HX-3 if "about 4 channels" means that you'd consider 3 channels too.

Certainly not as cheap as some of your options, but it is not that expensive either. Battery powered help at all? Most people, probably not, but I find that nifty.

HX-3 Headphone Amplifier | Sound Devices, LLC

No, I haven't used it, but I have used Sound Devices mixers and recorders and find their stuff top notch.

mackie HM54 solid and only like 80$.

mackie HM54 ftw, trumps all

Crap. Where the hell was this when I bought my HP4?

And here I was feeling all proud about doing my homework.

They're right. This is definitely the most bang for your buck out there.

It seems like the Mackie HM54 is not available in Sweden (or Germany as I'm ordering from Thomann) so should I just go with the Presonus HP4 then?

I believe both of the HM series Mackie units are discontinued and no longer available.

I have the HMX-56 unit and love it. Don't know why they stopped.

I would just rock on with the Presonus.

And yes, it's not a bad monitor controller on the cheap if you don't need switching.

War

I picked up the Samson rack mount unit. Small amount of hum in the line though, so I still use the headphone output on my FireStudio for mixing. I use the Samson for tracking. It's plenty loud, plus the extra control features are handy.

-ScottyD

This thread helped me too. I'm gonna pick up the Presonus unless I can find a Mackie around.

I have been looking at this headphone amp.
SM Pro Audio HP6 6-Channel Headphone Amplifier


SM Pro Audio HP6 Headphone Amp from zZounds.com!

Anyone know if its any good?

Get one while you can they have been discontinued.

RANE HC-6 HEADPHONE AMPLIFIER HC6 - NIB - eBay (item 190232649233 end time Jul-03-08 12:13:15 PDT)

Trust me when I say...this is the bomb. Smokes any of the ones mentioned...it sells for $400 new. You can get them for $100...and that is for 6 channels. A step up...

I was thinking about getting the presonus amp but that mackie one looks like its a bang for the buck. having 4 stereo mixes is pretty good for the price.

I'm also curious about that one...

Well looks like it scared WAR so i went with the Rane 6 channel off of ebay.I won the auction for $160.Should be here this week.

I still didn't buy an amp.
My needs have changed and I'm looking to buy a 4 channel headphone amp that can play a stereo mix and/or individual input for every channel.

I need that for my band, we'd like to rehearse with in-ear monitors and it'd be nice to each have our own mix that I would make with the aux sends of a small mixer.
I don't want anything expensive, I just want something solid without noise.
Any idea?

What about DIY: JLM Audio Shop - Headphone Amp kit

For rehearsals? Behringer has an under $100 amp with two inputs and 4 pair of individually controlled outputs (I believe they are paired up, but I'm not sure.) It is a cheap little half-rack device that would do the job. You'd have 2 mixes. Each mix can be selected by a pair of outputs and at least the four outputs on the front panel have individual volume controls. There are four more outputs on the back, but I don't know where they derive their volume control. I'm normally not a Behringer fan, but it looks like a reasonable answer.

Yeah, the Miniamp AMP800. I have one that I use as a second hp amp for my live area in addition to my Presonus Monitor Station. The hp amps on the Presonus are definitely noticeably better, but the AMP800 sounds fine for tracking. And it's $65, with 4 amps and two possible mix inputs, selectable per channel. If you need 4 mixes to 4 headphones, get two. Cheap. Works. I've had mine for 4 years with no issues.

Thanks guys the behringer amp looks ok for the price, 2 mixes might be enough for us, we're 3 so the bassist and drummer could probably use the same mix.

I saw the Art Pro Amp6 headphone amp too, it's more expansive but does anybody know if it's a good amp?

Just picked up a used HP4, and am very happy with it. Can get them well under $100 used, and is a solid choice. I would recommend above the art pro amp as I checked out a buddies before deciding on the presonus.

I concur. I had one of these. It was pretty nice. That rolls one that does like 8 headphones is good too

I got this badboy:

Samson S Amp 4 Channel Headphone Amp

It's dirt cheap and does the job as far as I'm concerned.