Most of my gigs are small jazz trio/quartet things. These are reception events where loading in and out and setting up quickly is helpful...and so I like to keep things as light and simple as I can while still getting a good touch/sound combination from my DP and amps. I have found that I must have stereo to get the touch/ear feedback loop I need to enjoy playing. Currently I use two Gallien Krueger MK200s, at 26 lbs each. It's getting to be time to upgrade.

I have been considering getting an Acoustic Image Corus and combining with it a small powered stage monitor like a Galaxy Hot Spot. My reasoning is that from the audience's perspective, the sound of mono or stereo doesn't matter--it is strictly a thing of me needing a sound that eases that internal touch/ear feedback loop. I'm thinking that taking one line to the AI would give a high quality, widely dispersed sound (as some have noted and as in Fortner's Keyboard Magazine review), while sending the other line to a small powered monitor would provide the other half of the sample sound that would give me the sound I want.

I'm wondering if anyone has tried this or something like it, or what your thoughts are.

Keep in mind, these are not the loud gigs that many people on this board play. These tend to be wedding receptions, corporate receptions, with a lot of talking. The band is there to be live background jazz, not a feature but ambience.

What keyboard do you use?

Yamaha P80.

What is your budget?

If you want cheap, ugly, and bad-sounding - get the Hot Spot.

While the Acoustic Image Corus LINK might be a fine amplifier (I've not heard it), sending one side of a stereo signal to it and the other to a Hot Spot is just very, very wrong.

Instead, why don't you get a pair of JBL PRX512M speakers LINK and put them on their side, fairly close together behind you on the floor, facing the audience and angled at the band.

That way you won't be too loud and you will project a cohesive stereo image to the audience. You may not think that a cohesive stereo image is important in a small jazz trio or quartet gig. However, if you're playing at low volumes and don't send your signal through a PA, I believe this is very important.

Alternatives include the QSC HPR122i LINK, or perhaps the new QSC K series of speakers LINK.


Tom

That sounds like that might be a good way to go although I would look for other options other than that Galaxy HS. I've always hated the sound of my vocal through that thing, can't say I've ever heard a keyboard though. I think T.C. makes something called the Helicon that might be a little more hi-fi sounding.
http://pro-audio.musiciansfriend.com/pro...?sku=601087#new

Again, can't say I've heard a keyboard through it but one RnB band I play in, the singers out front have 2 of them on the floor. I've never heard them complain, but maybe they're just happy to have any kind of monitor.

The one time I tried the RD700GX through the Coda not the Corus, it sounded VERY GOOD just mono. The performance space/room of the music store had a high ceiling and wood floor that I was set up on.
The sound was very open so the RD700GX had less of an electronic vibe to it.

Also noticed the new extension cabinet out, maybe something to look into:
http://www.acousticimg.com/products/prod_ten2ex.html

Yeah, I would definitely give those new 8 or 10" QSCs a listen.

I heard a jazz pianist playing a Nord Stage with a single Coda in a duo with an acoustic bass player. It sounded detailed but somehow harsh with no lows. I suspect the harshness was due to the nature of the Nord Stage ? And the no lows was a factor of the amp or how it the EQ was set up. It doesn't look like an amp that would prouce much low end.

I am currently looking at the QSC K8 and FBT Verve 8ma. The FBT has a distinct advantage as it can be used in wedge configuration. The K8 cannot. The QSC K8 is the only speaker in the K-series that cannot be used in wedge confirguration.

Also, the Verves are wood, while the QSCs are plastic.

I had a pair of the little FBT powered speakers. They sounded very much like the little Mackie and JBL powered speakers, all sort of so so.

A bass player I work with said he had used the AI bass amp and that it sounded good, but didn't project very well. I don't know if that was the Coda or Contra, but now we have three varying impressions of what the AI amp is like.

I'd think it's probably a very nice amp, but sound projection could be an issue, and it's very pricey. Two would be needed for stereo.

Piano sounds are all about mids, lows, resonance, dispersion, and balanced stereo when possible. That can effectively be achieved through less expensive means.

I play in mostly jazz trio's and quartets. I've found that the most versatile setup for me is the Motion Sound KP500sn. I always thought the KP200 was nice but lacked power and low end. The KP500sn can get plenty loud and weighs about 48 lbs - less than the lesser powered KP200. It's form factor is somewhat large but no larger than two PA cabinets. The fact that it has a mixer built in is a huge plus. I can connect both 1/4" and xlr inputs and it has stereo outputs.

I used to use the PA style setup and thought the sound was great. Due to stage space (or lack of a stage - ha!) I used to keep most of the speakers next to each other thus really negating the whole "stereo separation" idea. However, with all of the cords, mixer, and physical size it ended up making the setup/teardown longer than I wanted to spend.

J+:

The ones you had were the the MaxX2As, correct? That is what I currently use. The Verves are newer, with concentric drivers.

If I was going to play just piano I would try the Bose system SK is using.

Thanks Bhodaway, but his P80 doesn't have internal speakers, so my 'super-duper mystery system' may not be so effective by itself. It's ideal for digital pianos with fairly loud built-in speakers.

You should try out the Roland AC-90. I've been quite surprised by this thing. What I put in sounds like what I expect to hear. It's not the colored sound you get from many keyboard amps and even some PA type speakers. When compared against my Motion Sound KP100S it's MUCH cleaner with a much better high-end. When I feed it full range material (recording or audio backing track) it sound like you're listening through a decent set of nearfields. The KP100S lacks quality high-end and sounds lifeless in comparison with similar material.

I am using the AC-90 with laptop generated sounds plus backing tracks and have yet to find anything that it doesn't make sound nice. It has a pole mount and even comes with a case. On the downside, you must use the stereo AUX inputs so you have no access to the EQ and FXs; you just have the volume knob and mute switch available. Obviously with having 8" speakers you're not going to get huge bass. The bass is what you'd expect from a pair of nearfields. There is a subwoofer output if you need more.

It's a nice clean full-range sound in a very convenient 25 lbs package for $600. This is a stereo amp with two 8" woofers and two tweeters. I recommend trying it out to see if it works for your situation.

As a point of reference, I also currently own the following:

JBL SRX-715 (pair)
JBL SRX-712M (three)
Adam SA2 (pair)
Genelec 8020A (pair)
JBL EON 10 (pair)
AccuGroove Tri110L (pair)
Motion Sound KP100S
QSC PLX3602 power amps (three)

Busch.

Also, when you try out the AC-90, make sure it's at ear level. This is a very small amp and it's not going to sound right on the floor. It has a built in speaker tilt but it's not enough. Put it on a pole at ear level.

Busch.

Busch, since you like the AC90, I wonder if the SA-300 has a similar sound.

http://www.rolandus.com/products/productdetails.php?ProductId=698&ParentId=33

I've tried it once and found that it was extremely light but maybe it's just me but I thought the sub made the bass sound a little synthetic to me. I thought the sound was much improved than the KC series however.

As I understand it the issue with the AI amps is not projection generally speaking, and they certainly have bottom end (they're bass speakers), but that you typically have an amp set up fairly close to you, and the downfiring 10"'s dispersion is such that it doesn't seem very loud or clear if you're close to it. Hopefully the new amp with a second 10" at the front will solve this issue. You might look at better - smaller hi-fi - options for the second speaker and set them up so that you have the left send (piano's bottom end) going into the AI and the right into the smaller speaker. I'll be checking out the new AI twoten as soon as it hits the stores, due out the end of July I think.

Well that makes perfect sense... the bass player couldn't hear how it was projecting.

But to get stereo with these AI amps for keyboard, I'd assume you'd need two - (mega bucks for stereo.)

I did own the SA-300 for a time but was never in love with the sound. I like the AC90 much better.

Busch.

Busch, do you use the ac90 by itself or with a sub? How big of a room
does it project?

[/quote]

I did own the SA-300 for a time but was never in love with the sound. I like the AC90 much better.

Busch. [/quote]

Busch, the SA-300 is up there in my list of possibilities. I would like to know what you didn't like about the sound, how you used it, and why the AC90 is preferable. I believe Montunoman is using the SA-300 and is satisfied with it.

I'd think the smaller speakers in the AC90 would give more mids/high mids than the 15" in the SA300, and it's stereo. Wish the EQ was usable though.

Busch, just curious, does the AC90 distort at higher volumes? It's a 90 watt amp - the Motion Sound KPS100 with 100 watts distorted when used loud. Thanks.

SK, the Roland SA-300 uses two 6.5 inch speakers and 2 tweeters on the top half, powered at 2 x 75 watts. The bottom subwoofer is one 12 inch ported design w/a 200 watt amp. I think you are thinking of a different amp.

The total package (both halves) is 41.8 lbs. Specs are here: http://www.roland.com/products/en/SA-300/specs.html

Thanks, I was wondering. When I searched it, the site had a description of the KC-550 above the SA-300, hence the confusion.

The SA-300 and the AC90 both look interesting.

Ditto on the KP500SN.
All things considered, a great one-box solution.
Tip: Having used the KP200S for a good number of years before upgrading, I noticed that a little 'Expansion' knob goes a long way.
At first, tendencies are to 'epand' at 5 or 7, but 2 or 3 achieves a nice result w/o undue coloration and distortion.
Ymmv.