I saw a good deal on an EBS Session 30 MK3 for 180 € and was seriously considering it, but then I got to thinking. I’ve already got the Vox amPlug headphone amp, so will a 30 W practice amp give me anything that the Vox doesn’t already do? What’s the more experienced opinion?
Edit: since I live in an apartment building, I would be playing through headphones anyway, and I’m not in a band or anything like that, so I’m just practicing by myself.
For practice I think this is a very personal question. Many people practice with headphones so as to not annoy the neighbours/partners. Personally I hate using headphones and much prefer using an amp. I can’t explain this but it somehow sounds more real to me.
I would certainly be playing mostly with headphones in any case, for exactly this reason.
If you want to stick with headphone amp the gold standard for me is the Boss Katana GO. The sound quality is exceptional. Vox is a bit on a lean side when it comes to bass tone and timbre.
Reap physical amp can do both, allow you to practice quietly and play it loud. You can improve the playing experience on instruments like Bass and drums especially, when playing at volume as the sound waves hits your body. That why pros like Billy Sheehan are using rumble pack on their back to simulate the feeling.
Hence…
I have and use both. Like @Al1885 said, the Vox doesn’t sound all that great through headphones whereas my amp is much better/cleaner (Rumble 25). I do like to run the Vox into the aux jack of the amp to use the built-in back beats.
On several Vox amp you can actually plug it in the back of the amp for additional effect. Mine mini Beatles has one too.
Well… I just couldn’t help myself and pulled the trigger regardless 
I’ll see how I like it when it arrives and decide whether to keep it or not.
there is something visceral about feeling the sound
As far as practice amps go. I see no need for them. I use a 4 channel mixer that I plug instrument into and computer into. I can mix myself perfectly with whatever I’m working with. I use quality headphones and hear and feel what I need too just fine. And as far as a performance rig. In todays world there has never been a better time to be a bass player. We have such a range of high end amplification available today that there is no reason to fear not being able to find one that will suit any needs. Unfortunately technology swings in all directions. Amps are a thing of that past just as they come into their own. With todays amp modeling technology and the quality available with todays in-ear monitors, amps are already outdated. Personally I’m glad. Since moving to in-ears 4 years ago I have never come away from a gig with ringing ears. The ability to mix yourself is here. I suggest you use it. People will tell you amps are the only way to get good tone. Old school is great. Ignorance will kill you. I own 2 800 watt Mesa Boogie stacks. I will probably never use them again. They have been sitting for quite a while. I’ve taken portions of them to jams. But as far as performing. Amps are so outdated.
I haven’t owned an amp in years and am perfectly happy.
I think that if you plan to gig, it’s probably not a bad idea to have one. You won’t always need it depending on where you’re playing, they may have an in house PA… just plug your DI in and go. If you don’t but still want to play without headphones, I’d go studio monitors.
If I were going to gig now I would buy a pair of 1000W powered PA’s and run my mixer in to them. Then run the guitar, the mics, and the computer output (for the synths) through it too, just like I do now.
Not gigging yet but I run wet and dry signals through 2 DIs to a mixing board. When I am able to, I plan on running that setup with the FOH XLR going to my mixing board. I’d love to run PAs like that but 2 1000W PAs sounds cost prohibitive. At least for ones good enough to do what you’re talking about.
Not at all, about $400 each for decent ones.
Is that for PA systems or PA speakers?
Powered PA speakers, which is all you need.
https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/DBR12--yamaha-dbr12-800w-12-inch-powered-speaker
Just think of them as giant monitors.
Yes, that too, basically hang the powered PA’s off the mixer Control Room output and if the house has a PA too then run the mixer main out to it, and use the PA’s as stage monitors.
This is nice because now you just need to lug two relatively light PA’s for the entire band, rather than an amp per person. Each of those DBR’s is just 35lbs.
