Keys, Synths & Samplers

[bytus]

i recently posted regarding connecting my new casio xw-p1 to a 10x10w home stereo amp.

unfortunately the results particularly in the low end were pretty grim.

i've seen mono keyboard amps selling at around £100.

questions
a) is a keyboard amp & synth amp more or less the same thing?
b) i was going to buy 2 keyboard amps instead of a stereo combo?

advice and/or suggested alternatives kindly appreciated.

(the setup will not be for gigging)

[zoink]

My advice would be to get a decent pair of powered monitors. I suppose you could also buy two "keyboard amps" for running stereo sound, but I don't think it's going to sound very good.

[bytus]

My advice would be to get a decent pair of powered monitors. I suppose you could also buy two "keyboard amps" for running stereo sound, but I don't think it's going to sound very good.

cheers zoink - not sure what you mean by powered monitors?

[zzzxtreme]

Bytus, they are "speakes with built-in integrated amp

Some examples are yamaha msp3, esi near05, krk rokit, behringer ms40

[bytus]

Bytus, they are "speakes with built-in integrated amp

Some examples are yamaha msp3, esi near05, krk rokit, behringer ms40

cheers you guys - definitely going by way of the powered monitors.

[learjeff]

For home use, a pair of powered studio monitors as mentioned above would be great. Just be aware that you can't run them terribly loud (though, way louder than your 10WPC system). For stage, most folks use a pair of smaller powered stage speakers, like EV ZXA1, QSC K8 or K10. The studio monitors are more accurate; the stage speakers are WAY louder but still quite nice.

[RetroVintageOld]

If you are playing at home stereo will be nice. But for playing gigs stereo isn't necessary. For gigs I just picked up one of these. Alto TS112A 12 http://www.guitarcenter.com/Alto-TS112A-12--Active-2-Way-Speaker-106721442-i2344769.gc?&source=4WWRW... I am pretty impressed for the money.

[learjeff]

Yeah, I shouldn't have said that for stage most folks use a pair. I like stereo live, but it's not necessary, and if you don't know what you're doing, can cause problems. Also, even if you're running stereo in the PA, you don't need stereo in your monitors.

[Karma1]

For home studio use, and occasional small gigs, I use a pair of Roland CM-30 powered monitors. They sound really good for their size and also serve as a mixer for other instruments. http://www.rolandus.com/products/productdetails.php?ProductId=663

[Darkstorm]

For home powered monitors are great. For stage monitor a pair of 10" bass guitar combos like peavey Minx110's are great. If house Pa isnt available, & loud and a lot of air movement needed a pair of JBL eon 15" powered Pa speakers would be my first choice.

[ramkeys]

I use JBL EON 10"s and no other speaker on stage.Plenty loud. Buy one and get the other as you learn. Richard

[bruto]

An old tried and true method is to use a bass guitar amp with one ten inch speaker. A used 30 - 50 watt combo amp will do nicely.

[Synthaholic]

I use JBL EON 10"s and no other speaker on stage.Plenty loud. Buy one and get the other as you learn. Richard

I use a pair of those (EON 510) onstage, paired with a JBL 15" subwoofer. Love 'em!

[SpaceNorman]

An old tried and true method is to use a bass guitar amp with one ten inch speaker. A used 30 - 50 watt combo amp will do nicely.

I have no doubt that the "tried and true" approach you've outlined will produce sound and is better than no amp at all ... but I can't imagine it being a viewed as a suitable approach for anybody who's tried the power speaker approach.

[holdsg]

I use a single QSC K12 for practice. When we play live the QSC K12s become the mains for our PA, and I have 2 QSC K10s for floor monitors, one for me and one for our guitar/singer. you could say I'm partial to the QSCs.

[GigMan]

I use a single QSC K12 for practice. When we play live the QSC K12s become the mains for our PA, and I have 2 QSC K10s for floor monitors, one for me and one for our guitar/singer. you could say I'm partial to the QSCs.

I also have a pair of QSC K12's that I use for mains and a pair of K10's I use for floor monitors - if I'm running PA... if it's a gig where I'm just showing up as "keyboard guy" - I used to use my Motion Sound KP200S stereo kybd. amp - which sounds great... but now I bring the pair of K10's w/a small mixer - sounds even better! a killer kybd. rig - - and I can send my signal up to the FOH/main house PA from my little mixer. I'll be doing that exact configuration Friday night, in fact. If it's a big stage or outdoor concert - I'll still use the KP200S as my kybd. stage monitor behind me & run a Line Out from it to the main PA, to get keys in the FOH and stage/vocal monitor mixes.

[holdsg]

Cool GigMan, yes, I didn't mention the small mixer, but that's a key part of my rig too. I use the Allen & Heath ZED10FX, which has a very nice EQ section to go with great pre-amps.