The guitar has managed to retain its top position even after the advent of advanced musical instruments.
It has been used to play songs of all genres and is also a popular choice among people wanting to learn an instrument. Whether you want to play solo or in a band, a guitar is always up for the task.
Today, dozens of tools are available in the market to help you learn and enhance your playability, such as mixers, guitar amps, recording devices, etc. But how do you connect your guitar to these external devices?
Of course, that is made possible with the help of USB or Thunderbolt output ports. But what if your device does not have an output port? It is seen that many traditional mixers, PCs, and other devices don’t have ports on them.
This is where connectors and converters come in handy. They are the tools that are used to connect to devices with no ports.
Talking about connectors and converters, there are lots of them in the market. They have evolved a lot over the past few years, and modern models pack many cool features.
The Apogee Jam Plus and iRig HD 2 are the two highly popular models widely used worldwide. In this article, we intend to compare these two models, so you know which one is worth investing in. Let’s delve right into it!
Apogee Jam Plus vs iRig HD 2
| Features | Apogee Jam Plus | iRig HD 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Amplitube | No | Yes |
| Blend mode | Yes | No |
| Price | $99 | $2000 |
| LED indicator | Yes | Yes |
Apogee Jam Plus
Starting our comparison with the Apogee Jam Plus USB input, it is a high-end USB input with plenty of features for the best playability. It is manufactured by Apogee, a company known for manufacturing top-quality audio solutions.
The company has been around since 1985 and has established itself as one of the industry leaders in the audio interface and converter market.
The Apogee Jam Plus USB input comes with a 3.5 mm jack that allows you to connect to any external device and a single input for your guitar.
Whether you want to connect it to a mixer or your Mac, this USB input can do it all. And yes, you can use it with any guitar type, be it acoustic, electric, or bass. What’s more? You can even connect it with a piano.
Compatibility
The Apogee Jam Plus USB input is compatible with Mac, Windows, and iOS devices. However, make sure to read all requirements before using it, as it may not be compatible with some older versions of Windows.
Furthermore, you can also use it to record audio in a digital audio workstation.
Construction
Talking about its construction, the Apogee Jam Plus USB input has a rugged metal body. Using it couldn’t be any simpler, as it only has two knobs on the front side of its body. The round knob is to control the input level.
Pressing it will engage the overdrive settings used to optimize the signals. On the other hand, the second knob engages a low latency mode that eliminates the delay which may result from recording.
To enter the low latency mode in your Apogee Jam Plus USB input, simply press the button, and it will activate this mode.
The unit features LED lights that illuminate to indicate that the mode has been activated. Press the button again, and you will go back to the normal mode.
What’s even better? The Apogee Jam Plus USB input has a plug n play interface for your convenience. You do not need to install any drivers or some other software in order to use it.
In addition to that, you won’t have to go through any hassle of configuring it. It goes without saying that configuring a device can be a time-consuming and complicated process.
Fortunately, the Apogee Jam Plus USB input does not require any configuration.
Performance
If you’ve had the experience of using any Apogee product in the past, you’d know that its products are highly innovative. The same is the case with the Apogee Jam Plus USB input.
It boasts the blend mode for low-latency recording. It offers resolution up to 24-bit/96kHz for excellent sound quality. All in all, you get a noise-free quality sound.
The Apogee Jam Plus USB input comes with three cables so that you don’t have to buy them separately. One of them is used to connect to your PC.
Then, you get a lightning cable to connect it to the iOS devices. And if your PC supports a USB-C, that won’t be a problem either, as you get a cable for that as well.
iRig HD2
Next, we have the iRig HD 2 digital USB input. It is manufactured by IK Multimedia, a popular brand that develops and sells audio solutions.
The company came into being in 2006 and is among the fastest-growing companies in the musical arena. Let’s take a deeper look at it and see how it differs from the Apogee Jam Plus USB input.
Compatibility
First things first, the iRig HD 2 digital USB input is compatible with iOS devices and PC. The devices include iPad, iPod Touch, and Mac laptops. It also comes with an audio stream input/output driver for the best experience on PCs.
The iRig HD 2 digital USB input is an excellent option that ticks all the boxes. It is the next-gen digital guitar interface that lets you plug and play anytime, anywhere with incredible sound quality.
Construction
As far as the construction is concerned, no other USB input beats the iRig HD 2 digital USB input. It features a 1/8″ headphone output, a dedicated top-quality preamp, and a volume level dial.
If you have updated to a newer device with no integrated headphone output, you can still use your headphones with this digital USB input.
A microphone stand mounting clip, and Velcro strip are included in the package that allows you to enjoy its features in all situations. This makes the iRig HD 2 digital USB input an ideal option for using in a studio or on the go.
Performance
Now coming to its performance, the iRig HD 2 digital USB input is as good as anything. It sounds exceptionally well and captures pure, noiseless, high-resolution guitar signals at 96kHz sample rate and 24-bit analog to digital conversion.
It effectively reproduces your guitar’s unique tonal qualities, and you can rest assured that you will be getting the best tonal quality.
The iRig HD 2 digital USB input is a great choice if you are a professional player. It has a dedicated jack for guitar amps, which is a great feature as more and more guitar players use guitar amps nowadays.
With this jack, you can plug directly into your guitar amp using a standard cable.
And yes, it also has a THRU FX switch that enables you to control the type of signal going to your guitar amp.
Whether you want to send processed or unprocessed signals, the iRig HD 2 digital USB input is up for it. This enhances your playability by giving you total control over your sound quality.
Amplitube is another cool feature of the iRig HD 2 digital USB input, which comes fully equipped with tools to help you craft the perfect tones. This eliminates the need to purchase a mixer for editing your vocals.
Final Verdict
The Apogee Jam Plus and iRig HD 2 are two highly popular USB inputs with many insane features. Both are quite capable and have excellent tonal characteristics.
However, the iRig HD 2 has a slight upper hand, thanks to its AmpliTube and amp jack. If you are a playing professional, consider opting for the iRig HD 2. Furthermore, it comes at an affordable price and gives you full value for your money.
I want to buy one of these for my 11 year old son Christmas present. (1) iRig Pro I/O with iRig PSU 3A (to charge the ipad while using) (2) iRig Pro Duo I/O
with microphone (Can Garageband input both guitar and audio? ) (3) Apogee Jam+ (F) The advantage of the iRig Pro I/O is you can charge the Ipad Pro at the same time, while the advantage of the Jam+ is to play silently in your room (allowing you to play more often). iRig Pro Duo I/O is you can also combine with a mic, but will both inputs work in Garageband? Keep in mind, his Ipad Pro 9.7 has both Lightning connector and headphone jack. Not sure if he can use headphones in the headphone jack (or Bluetooth headphones) while using Lightning connector (Question) If you were to buy one today for an 11 year old, which one and why?