More advice needed for buying stuff. A keyboard amp

  • Thread starter Thread starter Vigilante
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Vigilante

Gear nut
My Yamaha S90 will be coming in the next couple days, and a bunch of us are already forming a band. But I need a PA for my keyboard.
Its got to be powerful enough to join the loud sounds of the group, but still sound nice without the feedback and distortion. I also want it just for my own solo playing simply to hear what I play, you know, just basic speaker function for practice or fun.

I'm keeping my options open, you fine people educate me. Searching on zzounds for "keyboard amp" pulls up options like Behringer KX1200, which is 120watts and 4 channels, FAR more then the options of the other similar priced amps. But it gets mixed reviews.
A buddy of mine says I need at LEAST 150watts to get "above" anything. What do you think?

I see keyboard amps for like $150 bucks and their like 40watts. Is that even anything at all?

Note that I have TWO floor speakers with a 16", 10" and 4" drivers in each. But I have no amp. So should I buy a PA and get the mono speaker. Or should I just buy a head to drive my speakers and have stereo? So far I haven't seen much price benefit to buying only the amp, versus a amp+speaker PA setup.
What do you think about that? PA or amp only for my speakers?

As for effects, channels, eq and so forth, I'm open to all options. At least 2 channel would be good, if I ever sing along with playing, but would need phantom power XLR input as well as 1/4" for that.

As for price, well, you know the drill, little as possible right? I don't mind buying a used setup if it's a known good quality model. But basically I HAVE $200 to start with. Any more and I'll have to save up. But the Behringer above was $199 at zzounds. Perhaps something better at 200watts could be had on ebay for $200?

Recommend me some models to look for, and models to stay away from. Recommend what watts I could get away with. Note that for our jam sessions, we're playing in a fairly open, carpeted room. The electric guitar guy and bass have their own PAs, not sure how many watts. The main singer/guitar playing is going through, I think, a 250watt amp into a 4x12 speaker cabinet, so obviously he's the loudest. Drum has nothing cause he's already dang loud as it is. So what should I get to fit in this crowd?

Also, slightly diff question. If I buy a PA with 200watts and 4 channels. Does that mean that my keyboard, ALONE, gets a good 200watts output, but if I plug in a couple mics with it, that 200watts gets split up and so everybody has less power?

Talk to me :)
 
This post is to show all the choices I have in mind:

PA
Behringer KX1200
http://www.zzounds.com/a--2676837/item--BEHKX1200

Alesis Sumo 100
http://www.zzounds.com/a--2676837/item--ALESUMO100

Head

Behringer A500 (top choice, lots of watts)
http://www.zzounds.com/a--2676837/item--BEHA500

Samson Servo 300
http://www.zzounds.com/a--2676837/item--SAMSA300



I could possibly go for the Sumo 300 also if I saved a bit, has some extra stuff.

[note] What should I know about buying a head only in regards to my tower speakers? I hear terms like "near field" and "monitor" and "passive" speakers, what is that and how could I know what type mine are? Speakers are speakers right? lol
 
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Anybody have any thoughts on amps?

I just found out that our church uses a Sumo100, I wasn't to impressed, because last time I played keyboards, I couldn't get any knobs on the thing to do ANYTHING! They were all dead apparently and the volume was only controlled by the keyboard's own volume. Don't know what that was about.
So I'm leaning towards the Behringer or just a head.
 
The A500 is looking like the best bet right now. Any thoughts on that?
 
I'm kind of in the same decision process. I have an older Peavey KB-100 (which is rated at 70 watts) and it's okay for volume, (running it on 5 or 6 is loud enough to overpower drums) but isn't all that clear - certainly not like listening through headphones. And I really noticed the clarity issue when playing a P-90 through it.
The big drawback I've found in most combo keyboard amps is they aren't stereo, and alot of patches sound best as stereo.

One band I played in, both keyboardists went through the PA, stereo, into 15" with tweeter mains. That sounded good. Another band, the keyboardist went directly into a powered speaker with a 15" and tweeter - sounded good, but he wasn't stereo, and some powered speakers will only take one input, so for multiple keys, you'd need an external mixer..which leads to:

so I'm debating on buying a PA powered mixer, with 2 ABS type main speakers which can be set up on the floor as monitors (or used upright as mains). this way, I'd have inputs for multiple keyboards, stereo output, more power than I'd ever need, good EQ, clarity, and I could use the PA setup as a vocal PA when I wanted - versitility.
 
I'd highly recommend a Roland KC-350. If you don't need that much power, then a Roland KC-150 would be another great choice.

I have the previous model of Roland's keyboard amp, the KC-300. It sounds great, is built very solidly, and has nice well thought-out features as far as inputs, routing, etc. Also, I've been using mine for years and it is still going strong. Very solid.

Other good keyboard amps to consider are made by Barbetta. You also see Peavey keyboard amps from time to time, and they seem to be fine as well. Although I personally prefer the Roland amps due to their features and smaller size relative to the power they put out.

For keyboard gigging I'd really recommend getting an all in one amp and avoiding the whole amp head and speakers thing.

Also, I'd avoid Behringer keyboard amps. That's mostly because every Behringer piece of gear I've ever seen has had flimsy construction and that the *last* thing you want in a keyboard amp.
 
Thanks for the thoughts.

I can probably tell you that I won't be "gigging" at all, I don't see that in my future. This is just for my home, and possibly if occasion arises, take to a friends house or something on hollidays etc...

So on one hand, I don't NEED the function of a PA with built in speaker. As mentioned, I'd much rather have the stereo. And I definitely can't afford dual PA and bridge them or whatever.

Last night I hooked up my floor speakers to another amp and drove them pretty hard, the speakers did very well, and handled highs and lows without distortion. So I'm leaning much toward just a head. Which was the Behringer model I mentioned.

The Samson model looks nicer IMHO, and it probably a better name then Behringer, but it has less watts and based solely on descriptions, less features as well, but costs MORE then the Behringer.

I also browsed Peavey stuff, out of my price range.

So at this point, for my needs, help me find a head. For my ~$200 price range, I "should" be able to get about 200watts per side or 400watts bridged mono. I may take 150w/300w IF, IF it is a very good sort of classic quality head.
Behringer just doesn't have a good rep around these forums, to bad all there stuff seems to always fit my bill perfectly.

And no good on ebay, I run a search about every day, and ever if there is an item, they are charging MORE then retail from my fav shopping sites. So I'd like to get it new if possible.
 
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