Choosing an amp - any advice?

Hi

I'm planning to buy a new keyboard amp. Main use is for rehearsal of rock band, and maybe for some gigs too (but I have no experience of that, yet)... It would be nice if it was light - but I assume, that "heavier is better" thing is true...

My budget is about 500/600$ (where 600 is a "really worth to buy" thing ).

I was thinking about few of theese:

1. Hartke KM200 (most expensive, in Poland price is almost 700$, i almost bought it, but there was sudden price change due to "crisis" thing...)

2. Roland KC350 (almost 600$)

3. BEHRINGER K 3000 FX (it has good price - about 500$)

4. Peavey KB 4 or 5 (from 550 to 700$)

5. Laney AH-200 (about 650$)

6. CRATE KXB 100 (about 650$)

Can You classify theese amps in order of "best to worst", and "why" explanation? I can't check them myself (there's no good music store in neighbourhood), so must rely on Your opinion.

Maybe there are other amps really worth to consider in that price range? Maybe there is something cheaper and better?

The less i'll spend, the more will go for keys.

It will be connected to Yamaha PSR-S700 (which i desperately want to change... for PC3/PC3x maybe).

Thank You for ANY help.

Best Regards

PS. sorry for my english - i'm better listener and reader, than a writer...

Forget the Peavy. Forget the Behringer.

JBL Eon 15 G2. It is more powerful and more versatile than the KC350. Don't get the new JBL Eon 515, get the G2.

Well, I just went through this. I decided to go the PA speaker route.

I ordered mine from onlyfactorydirect.com (brand is podium pros) after hearing some pro guys on another forum talk them up. I got the 8" ones, I think they are out right now. Normally I'm a "name brand" guy, but these things are great. Quite loud, but unfortunately the band is bugging me to get something bigger, so I may get the 12s or even 15(s). I will order the podium pros again though, good build quality and the price is ridiculously low. I'm now addicted to stereo though, so this is a problem price-wise (ie, I'll need two big speakers)

My buddy has a behringer amp, I think it's the one you listed, and after he tried the speakers with his keys rig he said they sounded much better than his amp, though with a bit less low end and less volume.

If the brand scares you, check the JBL, Mackie or on the cheaper side the Tapco Thump.

Edit: I only paid $108 a speaker, and free shipping fyi.

Strenge - unfortunately, there is no possibility to buy the speakers you were talking about.

frogmonkey - great, but it's more expencive... I'm worry, that it's too expencive for me (and I have to buy mixer, right?)

What about Mackie SRM450? I'd read somewhere here, that it's another good solution... Are there big differences between SRM450 and SRM450 v2? And i still need a mixer, right?

Plz, help me...

I run a mackie srm 450 without a mixer. It works fine.

For the jbl eon, you'd only need a mixer if you were connecting a lot of stuff to it. You only mention one board being connected. The JBL has two 1/4 inputs and an xlr input with volume controls for each. The eons get a lot of respect.

I've never seen that mackie, but the pictures ony show it having only a single xlr input.

The JBL Eon 15's that sold for $300 new should be gettable for $200-$250 easy. Get a pair. Under budget and more rig then youd have with the ones you where concidering, and stereo rig at that.

My mackie has one input. I have one board. works for me. I actually did go in thinking eon,, i left with the mackie ,, why? It was 40 percent off retail new.

I'm seeing new Eon G2's between $500 and $650. You don't need a mixer. The older, grey, first-generaton Eons are also good, and cheaper (used)-- but they only have a single xlr input and no EQ.

The Mackies are good, too. But they're in the same price range as the G2, are less powerful, and they only have a single XLR input so you would need a mixer.

We destroyed our Mackie sub after a few months of gigs. Our Eons have taken 5 years of hard use without a single complaint. Just sayin'.

frogmonkey - i live in Poland and I'll buy the amp here... Unfortunately, prices on local market for JBL's are between 850 and 900 USD. I don't say that You are wrong or JBL's are bad - they are just expensive. For 500$ i probably just buy a piece, but for 900$ - I must be really sure of choice. MAYBE i'll buy it... I just have to read more about them, and consider all other choices.

If You have any more suggestions, feel free to write, i'll be really grateful Thank You

ps. I'd read somewhere, that Mackie's aren't very solid...

Mine hums like a mofo. Stay away from this one.