Musicians usually associate the name RockBoard with pedalboards and accessories that make everyday touring easier. With the RockBoard HA 1 In-Ear Amplifier, the company is breaking new ground and providing a flexible and compact means of listening to the monitoring signal via in-ear headphones. The headphone amplifier, which measures 14cm in length, runs on two batteries, allowing it to be operated wirelessly, while the combo socket provides a flexible signal input and enables instruments to be connected via both XLR and 6.3mm jack cables. A volume control, headphone output, and mono/stereo switch are located at the opposite end of the amplifier, enabling flexible and reliable signal monitoring.
An XLR/jack combo socket, which can be used to connect a signal via an XLR or 6.3mm jack cable, is built into the bottom end of the amplifier and comes complete with a metal push tab for the XLR cable to ensure a secure connection. The two controls, the headphone output, and a battery level LED are located at the opposite end. The volume control is blue, making it easily recognisable even on darker stages. The RockBoard HA 1 In-Ear Amplifier can be switched to mono when used with a mono source, such as the AUX send of a mixing console, and can be used with any in-ear model courtesy of its standard 3.5mm headphone output, which also exhibits a particularly low impedance of less than 0.1 ohms.
The RockBoard HA 1 In-Ear Amplifier provides a simple solution for all musicians and singers who are looking to hear their music and vocals clearly, as well as a convenient way of monitoring mono mixes via the AUX send of a mixing console or for monitoring stereo signals. For added convenience and practicality, the headphone amplifier also comes with a sturdy belt clip for fixing to a belt or waistband, enabling the musician to adjust the volume at will – an action further facilitated by the upward-pointing volume control for particularly easy operation. The entirely wireless design, which calls for two optionally available AAA batteries providing a runtime of 12 hours, ensures even greater freedom of movement on the stage.
RockBoard is a brand belonging to Warwick Music Distribution GmbH, which is based in Markneukirchen in Germany's Vogtland region. RockBoard's range focuses on pedalboards, which are available in numerous different designs to suit any application and budget, and are complemented by an extensive range of pedalboard accessories, from slick patchbays for expanding the boards and high-quality patch cables for loss-free connection through to high-performance power adapters and the "QuickMount system" for rapid effect changes. In short, RockBoard offers virtually everything that players need to easily set up their own individual pedalboard.
A monitor mix can be created in stereo using an external mixing console and outputted to the compact RockBoard HA 1 In-Ear Amplifier via an unbalanced XLR connection, or created in mono and outputted using an AUX send via a balanced XLR connection. Users also have the option of connecting a mono signal directly to the RockBoard HA 1 In-Ear Amplifier via the 6.3mm jack using the "thru" output of an electronic musical instrument such as a keyboard, digital piano, or synthesizer, for example. An XLR splitter, which is available as an optional extra, can also be used to split the signal from a singer's microphone, allowing one signal to reach the RockBoard HA 1 In-Ear Amplifier for direct in-ear monitoring by the singer without effects, while the other is directed to the FOH mixing console. Two AAA batteries are required for operation, and the Rockboard HA 1 In-Ear Amplifier is also compatible with rechargeable batteries.