Keyboard Amp vs PA Speaker

[Paul0]

Hi

Basically I need to find an amp or powered PA speaker with at least one line input and one mic input, at least 100 watts, as flat a frequency response as possible at around £250-350. I don't really know very much about amps, especially keyboard ones so I thought maybe someone here could help.

I’ve had a look around and found keyboard amps from Barbetta, Roland, Alesis, Crate, Peavy and Behringer and the JBL Pro Eon 15 G2 powered PA speaker. Does anyone have any experience with any of these?

I ultimately want to use the amp/speaker for live keyboard [Nord Electro 2], bass, acoustic guitar, vocals, sax and drum machine so I think I basically just need the flattest frequency response possible. I’ve heard great things about Motion Sound keyboard amps but I really can’t afford one! If anyone’s got any recommendations that would be great.

Thanks.

 

[Atterion]

Barbetta-about the best keyboard amp here, 2 thumbs up

Roland-Pretty much the grand daddy of amps

Alesis-cheap money, but not bad, 2 cautious thumbs up

Crate-only heard one, it was alright. Seemed to lack the "Big Sound" factor that some of these others have.

Peavy-If Roland had a brother...This is my manufacturer of choice. I run 2 KB/A 300's and really like 'em. They don't have the greatest response, but it's defeciencies in no way hurt the sound. I've never had a problem with either of them in the last 8 years, and I run half a dozen synths, a 5 string bass, acoustic, and 2 vocals through it (One through an Alesis Ion vocoder), and they usuaully perform exceptionally.

Behringer-Why even waste your time

JBL Pro Eon 15 G2-One of the groups I perform with uses a pair of these, with a JBL MPro MP418SP active 18" sub (660 watts : ). Oh Yes!!! If you have the $$$, go for this setup. They are excellent. They are very warm and deep sounding (even without the sub). They'll compliment just about any sound you could imagine running through them. Excellent wide angle projection too. I recently saw a band perform with just a single pair of these (Drums, Bass, Guitar, 2 Keyboards, and 3 Vocals), in a Sheraton Ballroom (I'd say 1,000 person capacity), and they sounded prisitine, no matter where you stood in relation to the band. 2 Thumbs up, and I'll take off my shoes and give an additional 2 Big Toes up!!!

 

[Atterion]

Oh and I forgot, The Motion Sounds are great amps, not quite a Leslie, but much more dependable, and transparent.

 

[warble]

I used to play through a Yorkville 4-channel amp, and a Yamaha s12e speaker - worked pretty well for awhile, but I needed more kick. Now (and for awhile now) I've been playing through a Peavey KB100. I'm not too fond of the harsh highs through it, but let me tell you, the thing is a tank and it KICKS. Can't speak for the new(er) line of Peavey amps, but I suspect I'll the KB100 will be kicking for years to come.

I would highly recommend a Roland as well. In particular the kc-550 - great amp! I used one a few times at a church I previously played at, and the amp sounded wonderful - great kick, great tonal quality. This might be a good fit for your needs.

That's pretty much my experience.

 

[bsr2002]

This is a cool amp if you can find one: http://www.bothner.co.za/products/fender/kxr200.shtml

I 've had mine for 6 years and since I don't run stereo at live shows it serves it's purpose with my 4 keyboards.

Cheers