Roland KC Amps: Difference between 100 series and 150 series?

Hi all,

I'm looking at some roland amps at a local store. I know the even 100 series like 100, 300, and 500 are older, but what features, sound quality, specific differences are there between them and the 60, 150, 350, and 550?

Thanks,

Caleb

up.

I think the 00 series has bigger tweeter, made from very bad materials. The 00 tweeter blows up very easily and due to number of reports Roland made the 50 series with better tweeter.

Apart from that not much difference, but I dont think the 00's are manufactured anymore.

They increased the power of the three models from 60W (KC-100), 100W (KC-300), and 150W (KC-500) to 65W (KC-150), 120W (KC-350), and 180W (KC-550). On the KC-550, they also added a ground lift switch on the direct outputs.

If you want more info, go to www.rolandus.com. The specs for their older gear is in the "Legacy" section.

Wow, did not know that. I was going to grab a perfect condition used kc300 because it was at a great price. Otherwise, if I get a newer one, I'll get the kc-150..

1.5 times more crap.

why??? I heard roland amps are the best keyboard amp...

why??? I heard roland amps are the best keyboard amp...

I have a KC-350 that I have been punishing for six months every weekend in a classic rock band.

The good: Well-built, loud, four stereo inputs, stereo link capability, three-band EQ, line outs, tape input, mic input, very compact. Sounds great for synth leads, organs, and vintage Rhodes. Very loud and takes a beatin'.

The bad: Mediocre at best for acoustic piano sounds, strings, and/or more subtle patches. No wheels until you get to the largest model.

The 350 is 120 watts - I'd have trouble recommending the smaller model to anyone who's playing in a bona fide rock band with a drummer, bassist, guitarist with anything like a Marshall, etc.

I'm looking for something for great acoustic piano sounds...I was always under the impression that the roland kc amps were the best. :poke:

I don't really need loud, I just need something good for acoustic piano. Help???

What's good for just straight piano sound?

Some forum denizens might not like this, but ...

Up until a few weeks ago I'd been playing my RD700SX thru a borrowed Roland KC-500 while I saved for something good of my own. Then the guy who owned it needed it back and I gigged with my old TOA. It started out well but crapped out during the last set. This was a Friday nite. We had another gig on Saturday so I had to have something pronto. Had to go with the limited funds I had set aside ...

So I somewhat reluctantly checked out a Behringer K3000FX at a GC store. I was a bit leery but I'd also heard that one thing they do extremely well is keyboard amps.

There was an RD on display and they happily dragged an amp out of the box and hooked it up. I played it a bit and, astonishingly, liked what I heard ... a lot. Then I walked about 50 feet away while the salesperson played ... I was sold. Even stacked up against the Roland, the sound was night and day. And the rest of the band agreed.

Warm and fat all around ... crisp and brilliant up high, excellent midrange, and thunderous yet not muddy in the lower register. And the EQ sliders allowed me to tweak the bass because my left hand nearly blew the bass player off the stage the first time I played a Rhodes EP patch.

Our drummer told me he'd never heard the piano cut thru the mix so well and consistently.

So far, I'm very, very satisfied. Especially with the way it handles acoustic piano.

It's also a heck of a lot easier to handle, with a marginally smaller footprint ... and in some venues that's crucial.

So my sciatica is also very, very satisfied ... as is my pocketbook. Half the price of the big Roland, twice the sound quality.

Apologies to the "B-bashers" out there, but no offense intended, I'm not ready to join that faction ...

1. Compact powered PA speakers such as JBL EON G2 or EV SXA 360, whether a stereo or mono pair.

2. Boutique 3 way bass cabs like Accugroove Tri112 or Acme B1 / B2, whether stereo or mono pair

3. For gigs that aren't that loud, some people like Motion Sound KP200 or Traynor K4.

The point is: why would you spend big bucks on a great keyboard and then expect it to sound good through a cheap amp?

Take a powered PA speaker, make it heavier, downgrade the important components - amplifier & speaker, add knobs, useless features and a heavier cab, double the price, and now you've got a keyboard amp.