New KP 408 SX

[Allen Breton]

received the amp and when accenting on Piano Or Brass Patches the amp clips out. Volume a little over half,Bass at 10"oclock anyone else have this issue,,it kinda sucks for sure

[ElmerJFudd]

What instrument are you feeding it?   And have you tried reducing output of the instrument, slowing raising the input gain on the amp’s input and then slowly raising the output of the amp.  
 

Other things that may cause distortion - a bad circuit at the amp’s input.   Or you may be experiencing speaker “farting” if either or both of the speakers isn’t glued well, or a tear in the speaker material.  
 

it is an 8” design and it may be under powered for playing with a loud band.  Better designed for solo, duo, trio stuff.  With a loud band it may be best suited for monitoring yourself and sending to FOH as opposed to being your sole amplification.  

[cassdad]

Well, I’m the one who wrote a ravingly positive review of my new Motion Sound KP-612SX.  I still think it’s exceptional.  However, did a gig last night where when I was playing, for example, extremely LOUD brass/horn stabs, it shuts down.  I haven’t deciphered the exact recovery time yet, but it’s not TOO long.  I’ve found that if I just shut it off and turn it back on, the (what I assume to be a “limiter” of some sort) amp resets and works perfectly fine, with no distortion, and loud.  Then I just backed off on the brass volume a bit, and all was fine.  To be clear - it is very LOUD, and continues to have that capacity (while maintaining a respectably good, quality sound).  But it seems there is a limit - I’d think to probably protect the speakers when being driven so hard as to damage them.

 

In this particular instance, due to the small stage size, my MS KP-612SX got pushed in a difficult location, on the floor, off angle, being partially blocked by the drums, and several musicians legs, etc.  In other words, IMO it was being asked to do a Herculean job competing with drums, other amps and PA system in a loud classic rock band.  I have another live gig next Friday, and will be watching closely for any shut-downs (and recovery time if it happens again).  But to repeat, even after the shut-offs (limiters?), once recovered, it continues to operate at full volume with no distortion.  And I’ve played through it at home afterwards, and wow is it loud and clear.  Actually, amazes me how loud the band must be for me to drive this thing that hard!  I think better placement will solve any problem - but if not, I’ll be giving Motion Sound a call to see what’s up.

 

I may even need to get the matching extension cabinet, but then I’ll have a real “stage space” problem again (which was one of my main reasons for buying this particular amp) (although I realize I could probably just stack them).

[stoken6]

2 hours ago, cassdad said:

amazes me how loud the band must be for me to drive this thing that hard

My first thought. @Allen Breton how loud were you playing when this happened?

 

Cheers, Mike.

[bill bosco]

3 hours ago, stoken6 said:

My first thought. @Allen Breton how loud were you playing when this happened?

 

Cheers, Mike.

in a loud band situation i would think the MS amp would be for a personal monitor only , with an output going to a P.A. for the stage and for the room . at any rate , what was the  MS amp 

set at when it crapped out ? . i have an MS 610 , it's loud , i would expect it to be more than adequate as a personal monitor , but more than that , i don't think so .

[cphollis]

At a rated 200w per channel RMS into an 8" speaker, I would not expect it to cut through a noisy band.  Then again, why is everyone playing so damn loud?

[cassdad]

Agree the band volume is excessive, but I’m not in control of them.  Yes, we/they were playing VERY (too) loud, acknowledged.  I was trying to provide some explanation (a “limiter”) for the original poster.  At least the “limiting” occurs very quickly, and recovers quickly with thereafter no further volume or sound quality impact.

[The Gig Man]

Responding to a 1 year old thread I realize - but it seems relevant to my world, so here goes:

 

I have a Motion Sound KP408S and play a Kurzweil PC4 through it - most of the time have the KP408S cranked almost all the way up, as a stage monitor for me (I also put the PC4 into the PA system).

 

The Motion Sound KP408S has NEVER shut down down me due to overloading it, not once.

 

Motion Sound KP408S does, however - add noisy hiss into the PA when I use the XLR outs on the back of it to connect it.  

 

Luckily I figured out that the Kurzweil PC4 has a 2nd set of outputs - so I run Outputs A (L/R) to the Motion Sound and mirrored Outputs B (L/R) to the PA.

 

So I don't have to connect the Motion Sound KP408S to the PA anymore - I connect the Kurz. PC4 DIRECTLY to the PA w/Outputs B (L/R)... which is a MUCH better way to do it, I have completely independent control that way -

 

i.e.: 

If I turn up the Motion Sound KP408S to hear a little more on stage behind me, it does NOT affect the amount of keys going to the FOH mix out front.

[DroptopBroham]

On 10/15/2023 at 8:16 AM, Allen Breton said:

received the amp and when accenting on Piano Or Brass Patches the amp clips out. Volume a little over half,Bass at 10"oclock anyone else have this issue,,it kinda sucks for sure

 

This ladies and gentlemen is why the OP should've bought a Roland KC-990. #beastmode247

[cassdad]

27 minutes ago, DroptopBroham said:

 

This ladies and gentlemen is why the OP should've bought a Roland KC-990. #beastmode247

I did, DroptopBroham!  Used it one time, and returned it to Sweetwater….  Have you ever tried to lift it into and out of a vehicle?  It weighs over 92 pounds!!!!  I’m just getting too old to haul that kind of weight.  Additionally, the KC-990 only has 320 watts (2 12’s plus horns).  My KP612SX and it’s slave, the KP512S, provide 1,000 watts and 4 12’s (plus horns).  And weigh 52 & 45 pounds, respectively.  No where near the build quality of the Roland, but much lighter, and the sound quality (for piano), when working correctly, is astounding.

 

I previously used two KC-500’s, and found them to be rock solid (but with not that great sound quality).  I really wanted to like/use the KC-990, mostly because I know it’s built like a tank (and supposedly the new amp and speakers are much better than the old KC’s).  So I bought it, and tried it…..  just can’t lift it!  YMMV.

[DroptopBroham]

12 hours ago, cassdad said:

I did, DroptopBroham!  Used it one time, and returned it to Sweetwater….  Have you ever tried to lift it into and out of a vehicle?  It weighs over 92 pounds!!!!  I’m just getting too old to haul that kind of weight.  Additionally, the KC-990 only has 320 watts (2 12’s plus horns).  

 

I previously used two KC-500’s, and found them to be rock solid (but with not that great sound quality).  I really wanted to like/use the KC-990, mostly because I know it’s built like a tank (and supposedly the new amp and speakers are much better than the old KC’s).  So I bought it, and tried it…..  just can’t lift it!  YMMV.

 

I gig with mine and it's a light 92. Honestly it feels lighter in use than the specs say. I think it is the two handles and shallower dimensions but it is easier to get out of my trunk than my KC600. Once out of the trunk and on the ground, the casters do the hard work. I'll say that the KC-990 and KC-600 both have the power to get loud enough for a loud rock band with two guitarists. Lots of headroom. Sounds boxy on acoustic pianos, but for organ, synth and electric pianos, sounds amazing. So for me, any song with piano, I'm using an EP or CP patch.

 

The powered PA thing, love the light weight and sound for Acoustic Pianos but they just sound thin on the other sounds and despite the high wattage claims, seem to have less headroom than a KC. With a KC you get the built in mixer and XLR outs for FOH. Convenient, powerful and with a great thick sound, you just need to have to chest to be able to lift it in and out of the trunk.