I bought a PM7X trumpet mute, the one with a jack input for headphones. I tried pluging in headphones and I can't hear anything. I then looked for info, and I think I need an extra piece of hardware called "personal studio" that uses batteries.
Do I need that as well? I think I messed up by buying only the one thing.
You need the other half too :\
Clearest response from the Q&A section on Yamaha PM7X SILENT Brass Pickup Mute for Trumpet & Cornet
The PMX Series Silent Brass Pickup Mutes aren't designed for use without the SBX2 Personal Studio. If you don't already have an SBX2, we'd advise choosing the SB7X Silent Brass Kit for Trumpet and Cornet - this includes both the mute and Personal Studio:
It's probably cheaper to buy the pair as a kit, so if you can, I'd send the single piece back [In the EU you have a no-quibble right to return within 7 days if you bought it online.]
The socket on the mute is a microphone output jack not a headphone output jack, which is why you need the personal studio box in-between the mute and your headphones.
FWIW, I bought the Yamaha Silent Brass PM7 (mute) + ST7 (personal studio) for my trumpet years back, and although I still use the physical mute every day when I practise at home, I long ago stopped using the electronics part. Both PM7 and ST7 are now discontinued.
Part of the problem was one of expectation - I thought I could plug the mute and personal studio together and I'd sound like I was playing in front of one of those expensive studio capacitor microphones. The reality is far short of that, unfortunately.
Whilst the physical mute reduces the volume considerably, it's not 'Silent' by any stretch. And it does change the intonation and feel (back pressure) of the instrument, but considerably less than the other practice mute I have, a Denis Wick. Plus the mute makes the trumpet bell-heavy.
And the electronics in the belt pack were audibly hissy, and the reverb was too flattering - when you practice you need something forensic that doesn't hide your flaws. After all, you practise to eliminate those flaws so you need to be able to hear them.
And I found it a minor faff plugging everything together at the start of each practice session.
I'd suggest keep the mute, and don't buy the electronics as they're not worth the outlay.
