Testing breadboard circuit w/o amp?

[thesameguy]

What up gangstas! Simple question for a simple man: can I test the circuit I currently have breadboarded without amplifying the signal? With the components for the circuit, the input, and the 9V battery, will the run-of-the-mill DIY pedal (say, a simple Bazz Fuss or a Distortion + for an example) have enough sweet hot muscle to drive my dollar store in-ear headphones?

I am curious about OD/Fuzz/Distortion/Boost primarily, but am also curious about other effect types. Or maybe not all distortion circuits are created equally and have different baseline levels of gain or volume?

And, now I am thinking (watch out! )....perhaps it's an impedance thing?? Like I am under the assumption that most DIY circuits are written with an 8 Ω (eight ohm) speaker in mind unless stated otherwise; are my headphones too hi Z?

On the same idea but flipped. No - reversed! I have been using the aux from my phone and trying to just play a youtube video for my audio input....do I have to use a guitar or a pickup or something similar and not my phone??

Y'all are thugs (a good thing), and I appreciate the light I know I will be shone. Shown.

[mauman]

Welcome!

And, now I am thinking (watch out! )....perhaps it's an impedance thing?? Like I am under the assumption that most DIY circuits are written with an 8 Ω (eight ohm) speaker in mind unless stated otherwise; are my headphones too hi Z?

It's the other way around - headphones have a very low input impedance (under 100 ohms) while your pedal is looking for a device with something more like 100k or 1 Meg. So pedals will do a very poor job of driving headphones. A small practice amp is useful for testing pedals, those will have the 1 Meg or so impedance to match the pedal.

[mediy]

I have a small headphone amp with a guitar input that I use for this

[mauman]

I have been using the aux from my phone and trying to just play a youtube video for my audio input....do I have to use a guitar or a pickup or something similar and not my phone??

Your phone aux output is fine as long as it sounds good to you. Using a guitar pickup isn't important unless your pedal depends on interacting with the specific characteristics of a guitar like inductance and variable output impedance; a Fuzz Face is especially sensitive to these for example. Some people use a looper pedal, or a CD output to test pedals.