Dana. Posted January 24, 2012 Share Posted January 24, 2012 Most of the amp/speaker questions are geared toward live use, but my question is different. I'm looking for a small amp to run an old synth through. I'll be using it at home so it doesn't need to be especially loud. Don't want to spend more than $100 or so. Was considering this. Other suggestions? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord_Nord Posted January 24, 2012 Share Posted January 24, 2012 I personally HATE the way keyboards sound through combo amps...with exception to a Rhodes through a Fender twin or a Hammond through a Leslie speaker. I would personally go with studio monitors like this: http://www.musiciansfriend.com/pro-audio/jbl-lsr-2325p-5-bi-amplified-powered-studio-monitor?condition=used#used OR a small powered PA speaker. Probably can get one used on Craigs List at a reasonable price. A.J. Blues Manager and Keyboardist The Tash Brothers Band www.myspace.com/TheTashBrothersBand Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparky2 Posted January 24, 2012 Share Posted January 24, 2012 Can't tell enough from your post, but if you are just looking to work on low-fi solos at home with an old synth (not bass stuff), I think the small Fender amp would be fine and give you a chance to scream if you want to. To handle hi-fi or material with low end or pecussive sounds you would definitely need a studio monitor/full-range PA speaker. Then you might want to add distortion for that old school synth solo sound. YMMV, but that's how I read your post. Enjoy the journey!Mark "Think Pink Floyd are whiny old men? No Problem. Turn em off and enjoy the Miley Cyrus remix featuring Pitbull." - Cygnus64 Life is shorter than you think...make it count. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeffLearman Posted January 24, 2012 Share Posted January 24, 2012 I highly recommend a used pair of Bose Lifestyle Powered Speakers, from ebay. These usually go for less than $100 and not unusually as little as $50. They're a good bargain even at $100. While I have these and also Bose 802's and my band uses a Bose L1 PA, I'm not a Bose fanboy. I find most of their products way overpriced, and never heard anything good come out of their little 2" drivers. These powered speakers (no longer made) make excellent computer monitor speakers, comparison monitors for mixdowns (NOT mixing monitors), and great little home keyboard monitors. They're loud enough to play with a friend or two in my home studio, assuming the guitarist keeps things under control (not typical, I know). They have the standard Bose 4.5" drivers. They have a lot of punch, bass good down to 80 Hz and treble up to 14K. Very full sounding, but not overhyped low end. Plus they're a nice shape for the purpose. They have stereo RCA plugs (permanently attached cable, which isn't my preference), so you'd need RCA-to-1/4" adaptor plugs. If your keyboard doesn't have stereo outputs, only one side would work, but you could use a Y adaptor. (Don't use a Y adaptor to drive one output from two inputs, but you can use it to drive two inputs from one output.) http://www.ebay.com/itm/Bose-Lifestyle-Powered-Speakers-Used-and-Working-Great-shape-/310374326195 - 5 days, $1 http://www.ebay.com/itm/Bose-Lifestyle-Powered-Speaker-System-Pair-White-/110812822790 - 11 hrs, $80 They come in white and black. I have two pairs and use them all the time; one for my computer monitors, the other for my keyboards at home. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeffLearman Posted January 24, 2012 Share Posted January 24, 2012 Sparky2 is right: it really does depend on what your "old synth" is and what kind of sounds you plan to use it for. For some old analog lead synth patches, I like a small tube guitar amp, make that puppy scream (without peeling the paint). But for strings & most polysynth tones I'd prefer a flat system like the Bose mentioned above. That Fender amp has built-in modeler to try to make it sound like a lot of different styles of amps. That would be great for a beginner who's trying to find what kinds of tones he likes, and which can change as his tastes change. It won't ever sound quite like a real tube amp, sorry to say, but it's at least a nice approximation for learning purposes. It also won't ever sound flat like a PA speaker. It's not meant to. I know what I like and so would have no use for that, but it might suit you, if you don't want a good clean full-range flat response (which is what most keyboard players want, especially for digital pianos and Hammond clones). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dana. Posted January 24, 2012 Author Share Posted January 24, 2012 I plan to use it for synth string sounds. I really just want to plug and play. I don't want to deal with a receiver, mixer, etc., none of which I have, nor do I want to spend money on. And again, this will be at a relatively low volume. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeffLearman Posted January 24, 2012 Share Posted January 24, 2012 The good news is nobody mentioned a receiver or mixer. Strings sound great though the Bose, especially if the keyboard has stereo outputs and uses them well. Unless you like a "lo-fi" sort of tone, strings won't sound very good through that little Fender. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken Beaumont Posted January 24, 2012 Share Posted January 24, 2012 For synth strings the Bose above would be better than the combo amp.Another is a set of active monitors similar to this: Alesis M1 Active 320 This one will also do double duty as an audio recording USB interface. Boards: Kurzweil SP-6, Roland FA-08, VR-09, DeepMind 12 Modules: Korg Radias, Roland D-05, Bk7-m & Sonic Cell Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dana. Posted January 24, 2012 Author Share Posted January 24, 2012 I (perhaps mistakenly) figured the Bose speakers would need to go through a receiver. I would also prefer to run mono. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken Beaumont Posted January 24, 2012 Share Posted January 24, 2012 I would also prefer to run mono. One of these? B1030A Boards: Kurzweil SP-6, Roland FA-08, VR-09, DeepMind 12 Modules: Korg Radias, Roland D-05, Bk7-m & Sonic Cell Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MoodyBluesKeys Posted January 24, 2012 Share Posted January 24, 2012 I have a Roland CM-30 monitor amp that sounds good (up until it is driven into distortion) on keyboards. New price is about double the $100, but I found it on EBay for closer to the $100. Can be mic stand mounted, I've used it for a small keys monitor before in places where house PA was used. It has three 1/4" inputs, 30 watts, 6.5" speaker. It is also built rugged enough to be hauled around, in contrast to most studio monitors. Howard Grand|Hamm SK1-73|Kurz PC2|PC2X|PC3|PC3X|PC361; QSC K10's HP DAW|Epi Les Paul & LP 5-str bass|iPad mini2 "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
allan_evett Posted January 25, 2012 Share Posted January 25, 2012 I have a Roland CM-30 monitor amp that sounds good (up until it is driven into distortion) on keyboards. New price is about double the $100, but I found it on EBay for closer to the $100. Can be mic stand mounted, I've used it for a small keys monitor before in places where house PA was used. It has three 1/4" inputs, 30 watts, 6.5" speaker. It is also built rugged enough to be hauled around, in contrast to most studio monitors. I have a pair of CM-30's. Very versatile little cabinets. I've used them for a variety of applications, including a simple, single keyboard mono input. While not high end, audiophile gear they still sound quite good for the money. I've used KC series amps in various situations ( only owned one, a KC-500, about 15 years ago); I think of the CM-30 as the little powered cabinet that Roland got right. I think it would work fine for the application. I paid around $150 for each of mine; I suspect you can find one for closer to $100, as indicated above. The good thing is that they're fairly rugged - with comfortable, built in handles. Both of mine survived some rather rough, unintended abuse; they're still working fine. 'Someday, we'll look back on these days and laugh; likely a maniacal laugh from our padded cells, but a laugh nonetheless' - Mr. Boffo. We need a barfing cat emoticon! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MonksDream Posted January 25, 2012 Share Posted January 25, 2012 +1 on the CM-30s! Especially if you don't need them very loud. They also have stereo-link, IIRC, so you can control the volume of the pair from one side. Instrumentation is meaningless - a song either stands on its own merit, or it requires bells and whistles to cover its lack of adequacy, much less quality. - kanker Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NBrooks Posted January 25, 2012 Share Posted January 25, 2012 Sorry to hijack the thread a bit..but on the subject of the CM30s, I was on the verge of buying them recently, but Roland has now launched two new systems; the CM110 and CM220. Looks a bit less rugged and less flexible than the CM30s, but provides a sub, and looks like it might be better for home use. Unfortunately not in stores to actually hear for a little while (maybe April/May)...but anyone have any thoughts? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikecorbett Posted January 25, 2012 Share Posted January 25, 2012 Get a logitech 2.1 or 5.1 Surround system. They can be had for your budget second hand and with the subwoofer, they will kill most of the other solutions being suggested. The only thing is you will need to get a jack to mini jack cable to connect your keyboard to it, but other than that it should sound fantastic, and I mean that. We are all slave's to our brain chemistry! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
16251 Posted January 25, 2012 Share Posted January 25, 2012 I like 12" speakers with a high frequency driver and in a compact size. There's nothing I really like out now like that so I searched and found a used GK MK and MP. I just played a gig last night with only the MK and it sounded great. I'm sure they don't sound as wonderful as QSC with 12's but they're a lot cheaper. The good news is I am finally "Roland KC" free. I wish I had more choices of amps that use 12"/horn but have a small footprint. AvantGrand N2 | ES520 | Gallien-Krueger MK & MP | https://soundcloud.com/pete36251 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikecorbett Posted January 25, 2012 Share Posted January 25, 2012 These second hand 5.1 speakers will sound great for example. I wouldn't even bother connecting more than 2 of the satellites. Oh , I just remembered you want to run in mono...so 1 satellite would do the job and sound just way better than anything else for this money IMO. We are all slave's to our brain chemistry! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dana. Posted January 25, 2012 Author Share Posted January 25, 2012 Thanks for the suggestions. Need to deliberate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zukskywalker Posted January 25, 2012 Share Posted January 25, 2012 These second hand 5.1 speakers will sound great for example. I wouldn't even bother connecting more than 2 of the satellites. Oh , I just remembered you want to run in mono...so 1 satellite would do the job and sound just way better than anything else for this money IMO. Wow! I never thought I would see this in this forum. But yeah, the Logitech Z-5500 can be had for cheap used. I found a system for under $100 bucks and it sounds great as a monitoring system as well as for listening to external media. Not audiophile but good nonetheless along with a decent sub. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeT156 Posted January 25, 2012 Share Posted January 25, 2012 Dana: That little Fender amp has FX built in, very cool. If you are using an "old synth", that means it doesn't have any FX. Having Chorus and reverb built in to a mono practice amp will make your home setup simple, as well as inexpensive. (Spec's say 24 FX-not too shabby). The only thing I would suggest is that if you decide to spring for the little Fender amp, make sure it has a return policy that will allow you to return it without paying a serious restocking fee. Just in case you get it and you don't like it you shouldn't be "punished" for giving it a try. Final note: That amp looks like its a good choice for what you want to do and what you want to spend. Cheers! Mike T. Yamaha Motif ES8, Alesis Ion, Prophet 5 Rev 3.2, 1979 Rhodes Mark 1 Suitcase 73 Piano, Arp Odyssey Md III, Roland R-70 Drum Machine, Digitech Vocalist Live Pro. Roland Boss Chorus Ensemble CE-1. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeffLearman Posted January 25, 2012 Share Posted January 25, 2012 You think synth strings would sound good through that, Mike? I don't. But hot leads could, and honky clav and certain polysynth patches. BTW, to many people, "old" is like 10 years old. My first synth in 1980 had stereo chorus ... what else do you need? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeT156 Posted January 26, 2012 Share Posted January 26, 2012 Well Jeff, as they say in the Music Industry, Application, Application, Application. Dana wants a small PRACTICE amp, in mono. I doubt that he will be using it anywhere big enough to justify something larger. Dana lives in NY, so if he's a city dweller and pays NY rent prices (or anything that costs money) his place is small and expensive. Sure, there are "other" choices. And there are more expensive choices......but would those choices be "better" choices based on Dana's criteria, location, and budget? Just sayin' Edit: I was thinking "vintage analog" initially. However, I own an Alesis Ion that I've used for live performance instead of risking any of vintage analogs for that purpose. The ION is suppose to have FX, but if you can notice them your ears are much better than mine. The FX are pretty lame on a VA that is less than 10 years old. When the Micron was released Alesis addressed the complaints they received about the wimpy FX on the ION and implemented a processor to handle the FX of their later released Micron. I use a Roland Chorus on my ION and it makes a noticeable difference. Cheers! Mike T. Yamaha Motif ES8, Alesis Ion, Prophet 5 Rev 3.2, 1979 Rhodes Mark 1 Suitcase 73 Piano, Arp Odyssey Md III, Roland R-70 Drum Machine, Digitech Vocalist Live Pro. Roland Boss Chorus Ensemble CE-1. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Loving Posted January 26, 2012 Share Posted January 26, 2012 http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/KB1/ "Forget it, Jake. It's Chinatown." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drawback Posted January 26, 2012 Share Posted January 26, 2012 Pawn shops are full of small amps. Take your synth in and try out a few. ____________________________________Rod Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bhodaway10 Posted January 26, 2012 Share Posted January 26, 2012 D-Bon, in the Keyboard issue with Keith Jarrett on the front, there is an article about the Wowee One speaker. http://www.woweeone.com/index.php?lang=us I guess the columnist placed it on his Privia. Anybody used one? www.brianho.net http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/brianho www.youtube.com/brianhojazz Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dana. Posted January 26, 2012 Author Share Posted January 26, 2012 http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/KB1/ I had a Peavey combo amp once. Never again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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