Keys, Synths & Samplers

[facao]

Hope everybody is doing well...

I am trying to decide what keyboard amp (or something to that effect) to get and I have narrowed it down to these two. I think they are both good, but I would like to hear what you guys have to say about that. Unfortunately I have never heard a Barbetta (only read many great reviews over the past 3 years or so)Only thing is that I read it doens´t have a balanced line out but I don´t think it would be a real problem, do you? I played through one of those JBLs though...

By reading the specs I can´t really understand their difference: Combo Amp X Powered Speaker. To me they seem to do the same thing: You plug them to the wall, connect to your board and voila... OK, I know there´s more to it, but I don´t know what. I hope some of you can help me make a decision.

By the way: It will be used for gigs in small places (150patrons tops).
Thanks and Happy 06

Eduardo

Ps: I was also checking into the Motion Sound KP200S, but read some dissapointing reviews and decided to give up on it. Any big fans of the KP200S out there?

[Pawnz]

I have a Barbetta Sona Elan SE-32 and have been extremely pleased. In fact, I have two Barbetta amps (home, practice/gigs). In addition to a quarter-inch line out, the Sona Elan SE-32 has an XLR output, four channels, global tone controls (i.e., Low, Mid, High) and more power than you'll ever need. Very flat response as well, which is good for piano. I also like it because I have preference for a 15" bass speaker. Additionally, it's rather compact and not overly heavy if this matters to you. This thing kicks ass!

[facao]

Thanks Pawnz, one more Barbetta fan... I am almost convinced. hehe I still await anxioulsy for more replies...

[GigMan]

Originally posted by facao
Hope everybody is doing well...

I am trying to decide what keyboard amp (or something to that effect) to get and I have narrowed it down to these two. I think they are both good, but I would like to hear what you guys have to say about that. Unfortunately I have never heard a Barbetta (only read many great reviews over the past 3 years or so)Only thing is that I read it doens´t have a balanced line out but I don´t think it would be a real problem, do you? I played through one of those JBLs though...

By reading the specs I can´t really understand their difference: Combo Amp X Powered Speaker. To me they seem to do the same thing: You plug them to the wall, connect to your board and voila... OK, I know there´s more to it, but I don´t know what. I hope some of you can help me make a decision.

By the way: It will be used for gigs in small places (150patrons tops).
Thanks and Happy 06

Eduardo

Ps: I was also checking into the Motion Sound KP200S, but read some dissapointing reviews and decided to give up on it. Any big fans of the KP200S out there?

Dude - you just hit the mother lode w/me...

I own and use:

1 pair of JBL EON15 G2's
1 Motion Sound KP200S stereo kybd. amplifier
1 Motion Sound KP100S stereo kybd. amplifier

I've had the EONs for about 3 yrs. - love 'em! Usually use one as a stage monitor (on a milk crate) for my keys rig, for band gigs. Sometimes use both up on speaker stands as a small PA for vocals and keys, drum machine, acoustic guitars, CD music, etc...

I got the KP100S in May for small gigs: cocktail hrs. before wedding receptions & other solo or small-gig situations (sometimes I have sax w/me at the cktl. hrs.).

I loved the sound so much on the KP100S I decided to splurge for its big brother, the KP200S, a couple months ago. An expensive "splurge" indeed (they run about (900 bucks USD), but I needed to spend some $ to avoid the taxman's bite anyway...

I love the KP200S's sound - it is really excellent - but I found that it is NOT that powerful - if you're trying to cut thru a rock band, you'd be better off w/the Barbetta, which is known for it's sheer power and ability to cut thru on stage. When I used the KP200S for the 1st time w/the wedding band I play with, the bass player (who stands right next to me) said he found the KP200S to be much warmer, that the JBL EON15 G2 I usually use is a bit more harsh on the highs... probably because the EON has a horn, whereas the KP200S has a tweeter.

Read all about the KP200S in this thread

So what I do now is:

- bring the KP200S to wedding band gigs or smaller gigs
- bring the KP100S to cktl. hrs. or really smaller gigs
- bring the EON15 G2 to rock band/louder gigs

:cool:

[facao]

Gigman,

thanks for the great reply, great info...
I need to do some "deciding"... You are right about the EON´s now that I think about it. I do remember it being a little too crispy for my taste. So now I am between the Barbetta and the Motion Sound 200 (I fear the 100 won´t have enough power).

I am about to check out that KP200 thread...


Peace. Eduardo

[Mark M]

I own a pair of Barbetta 32s and love them. Light weight, loud and great clean sound. What more do you want?

[GigMan]

Originally posted by Mark M
I own a pair of Barbetta 32s and love them. Light weight, loud and great clean sound. What more do you want?

Good deal -
What keys do you run into them?

And do you run in stereo - that's the point of having two, right? With a mixer or just straight to the Barbettas?

[Mark M]

I'm in an ambient/experimental duo. A Voyager, Q, Ion, MS2000 and K Station all go through them.

[GigMan]

Originally posted by Mark M
I'm in an ambient/experimental duo. A Voyager, Q, Ion, MS2000 and K Station all go through them.

So, you're running 5 keyboards in stereo to the two Barbettas?

Woah - that's 10 cords, eh? Or do you have a snake or maybe 5 stereo paired cords?

I didn't realize the Barbetta Sona 32's had 5 inputs - in fact, according to their web site:

http://barbetta.com/Live/Sona_32/sona_32.html

...they only have 4 inputs. So how is this possible? :eek: :confused:

[phatmann]

Because of its clarity in the midrange, the 31C and 41C can cut through anything. It turns out that having two small speakers (8"/10", as opposed to 12"/15") provides good bass and midrange without getting muddy or boomy. And the tweeters provide plenty of treble. Bonus: the 31C is a svelte 35 lbs.

The downsides? Some hiss at high volumes and the controls in the back. But neither of these bothers me much. I love this amp.

[Mark M]

I use a mixer.

[GigMan]

Originally posted by Mark M
I use a mixer.

Aye -
And do you run your stereo mix for both onstage monitoring AND for the audience/crowd as well?

Or do you run an additional line (mono) or lines (stereo) to the main PA as well?

[Mark M]

I use headphones off the mixer to monitor. The left main goes to one Barbetta and the right main goes to the other. If I was in a rock band I'd use a separate mono feed to one Barbetta as my monitor. The mains would go out to the band's board.

[GigMan]

Right -
I used to do the exact same thing in a wedding band: run a mono Aux. send to my JBL EON15 G2 & then send L/R stereo mains to the band's front-of-house (FOH) PA. They claimed my keys sounded great in stereo out front. I had to take their word, as all I ever heard was the mono JBL, right by me as a kybd. amp/stage monitor. :thu:

[youdog]

Do u still have and LOVE 31C & 41C? I will be buying a 41C with in 10 days. Some time has pass is it a lasting love?

[youdog]

Facao are u still deciding?

[facao]

Would I buy a Barbetta ever again? NO, i would not. I will start with some facts: It is loud for being a small speaker but I "blew it" very quickly. I was using to do gigs around NOLA...
Now, all of what im saying happened circa 2006 so it's been a while...So then I contacted mr. barbetta himself and that's where I started having problems. At one point, he asked me to ship the whole thing to LA (which I did) and it cost me about $90 dollars, and i picked it up (i happened to be in LA when it was ready - after driving a whole lot) so I would pay another $90 dollars...
After working for a couple of times, the tweeter started rattling again (exactly what happened before). At that point, I contacted him again to get no answer (via email)... Then I took it to this guy in NOLA who fixes amps and etc... He "fixed it" for around $50 and the same thing happened... So at that point I decided to buy a QSC K12 and have been happy every since. I use a little mixer (mackie or bheringer) and can run as many keyboards as I'd like. I can honeslty say that the K12 has never dissapointed me. Great volume, great bass, great sound.
So here we go... don't buy a Barbetta. Mr. Barbetta is not really trying to "do you right"...
Hope it hepls!

[GigMan]

Would I buy a Barbetta ever again? NO, i would not. I will start with some facts: It is loud for being a small speaker but I "blew it" very quickly. I was using to do gigs around NOLA...
Now, all of what im saying happened circa 2006 so it's been a while...So then I contacted mr. barbetta himself and that's where I started having problems. At one point, he asked me to ship the whole thing to LA (which I did) and it cost me about $90 dollars, and i picked it up (i happened to be in LA when it was ready - after driving a whole lot) so I would pay another $90 dollars...
After working for a couple of times, the tweeter started rattling again (exactly what happened before). At that point, I contacted him again to get no answer (via email)... Then I took it to this guy in NOLA who fixes amps and etc... He "fixed it" for around $50 and the same thing happened... So at that point I decided to buy a QSC K12 and have been happy every since. I use a little mixer (mackie or bheringer) and can run as many keyboards as I'd like. I can honeslty say that the K12 has never dissapointed me. Great volume, great bass, great sound.
So here we go... don't buy a Barbetta. Mr. Barbetta is not really trying to "do you right"...
Hope it hepls!

Wow - talk about resurrecting the dead... (this thread) :eek: :facepalm:

I too am happy using QSC K12 and K10 spkrs. - used 'em last night for PA, 12's as mains and 10's as stage monitors for vocals and keys. You can't go wrong w/the K series! :thu: