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Joined: Apr 2017
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Hi all. Short version: Does anyone have any ideas for a _very_ small stereo amplification setup for digital piano?
Longer version: For Jazz gigs I normally use my CP-4 with 2 QSC K8.2 speakers. This sounds good and is fairly portable. Increasingly other pianists are using Digital Pianos with built-in speakers for small gigs and rehearsals. This obviously saves a lot of setup/tear down time. It's getting so it's expected for some gigs/rehearsals, people are annoyed that I can't do this. I like my CP-4 and don't want to buy another keyboard just to have one with built-in speakers.
SO, I was hoping I could find a very small stereo setup. As in can carry with one hand in a small bag. Ideally it would be a pair of small powered speakers I could set on top of the keyboard to provide sound both to the room and back at me.
Any ideas appreciated. Thanks!
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What about computer speakers?
If you're a zombie and you know it, bite your friend! We got both kinds of music: Country and Western! Casio Celviano AP-650
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What about computer speakers? That'd be my guess too. You could run them from the headphones out.
Enthusiastic but mediocre amateur.
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I would suggest the iLoud Micro Monitors for this. Very small and light, yet probably better than anything you'd find in a portable slab with built-in speakers. But you'd still have to put a little thought/effort into how to set them up so they wouldn't take much time, if the goal is to "save a lot of setup/tear down time." I would suggest velcro to keep them in place on the CP4. You probably can't leave them in place for travel (even horizontally), your carry case probably won't allow for it, so you'll still have to take some time to place it, but the velcro will allow you to quickly assemble a known, stable setup. There will still be some wiring time... keyboard to speaker 1, speaker 1 to speaker 2, and AC power. Maybe you can come up with a strategy to make that part as efficient as possible as well.
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I would suggest the iLoud Micro Monitors for this. The iLoud Micro Monitors are great speakers, more than worth the money, but... a pair of small powered speakers I could set on top of the keyboard to provide sound both to the room and back at me. ... won't do for this kind of situation. They're fabulous when you're sitting right in front of them, but I've tried using them to play Spotify in the background but they sound very unimpressive as soon as you move away from them. Just my 2 cents...
A long time ago, in a musical galaxy far, far away... Eminent-Solina B412, Yamaha DX21, Yamaha V50, Yamaha U1
21st century... Kawai CA58, Korg Liano, Arturia Minilab 3, Arturia Minilab MkII, Arturia Minifreak
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You can consider bringing only a single K8.2 and plugging in direct from the piano to the speaker. I do this all the time with my Nord Stage, connecting both L and R channels into the A and B inputs.
The other alternative is something like a Mackie SRM150 or the Behringer equivalents. More roadworthy than studio monitors and sits on a mic stand.
I understand neither of these are stereo solutions, but is it necessary for rehearsals?
Pramberger PS-157, Roland RD800, Nord Stage 2EX 76HP
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If you just want to play the built-in sounds on your keyboard, you could probably attach a small power amp like this directly to the analog outs on your keyboard. Aiyima A07Then just add a pair of small speakers. These are pretty good ones, but there are plenty of other options as well: Micca RB42You could easily fit a setup like this into a small duffle bag and it would probably sound better than any similarly priced computer speakers or powered monitors.
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I would suggest the iLoud Micro Monitors for this. The iLoud Micro Monitors are great speakers, more than worth the money, but... a pair of small powered speakers I could set on top of the keyboard to provide sound both to the room and back at me. ... won't do for this kind of situation. They're fabulous when you're sitting right in front of them, but I've tried using them to play Spotify in the background but they sound very unimpressive as soon as you move away from them. Just my 2 cents... Interesting, I hadn't considered that. Considering our standard for comparison here is speakers that are built into slabs (typically not the highest bar), I wonder if we could achieve something at least as satisfying as those with some placement experimentation. Like, what if we had them face upwards, as so many slab speakers do?
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Depending on how much wattage/power you want, maybe a small keyboard amp? I know this is probably way more than you need, but I have a Roland KC350 keyboard amp I've had for years that I use with my digital stage piano, and it is a super nice amp; lots of volume and clarity, and fantastic low bass. It also has a low impedance, 3-pin cable connector for a mic, and it works great!
Perhaps you could find a good used, smaller keyboard amp that would serve your needs. I think Peavey makes a good amp for the money, and I've seen used ones around 30-50 watts for around $100 or so. As someone else mentioned, I've heard of Mackie. I think Behringer is on the lower end of the quality spectrum, but also the lower end of price, so, it might be worth a try.
Good luck, and let us know what you decide on!
Rick
Piano enthusiast and amateur musician: "Treat others the way you would like to be treated". Yamaha C7. YouTube Channel
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The Single K8.2 is the best solution, all the home hi-fi/computer speaker/studio monitor solutions are not good. You would really tire of that quick and come off as an amateur.
I use my Dexibell P3’s built-in speakers for rehearsal and they are more than loud enough but that’s with a string bass and trumpet, all non amplified with-out drums.
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The Single K8.2 is the best solution, all the home hi-fi/computer speaker/studio monitor solutions are not good. You would really tire of that quick and come off as an amateur.
. . . Since you already own the K8.2's (which seem to be the "gold standard" for 8" PA/monitor speakers), using _one_ of them costs nothing, and will give you K8.2 sound quality. Try moving it to just behind you, just above head level. You should be out of the main lobe, but still be able to hear it. Or use open-back headphones or earbuds, to monitor yourself, and still hear everyone else. A Behringer B108D is much cheaper than a K8.2, and considerably lighter, but emenelton might be right about sound quality.
. Charles --------------------------- PX-350 / Roland Gaia / Pianoteq
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A Behringer B108D is much cheaper than a K8.2, and considerably lighter, but emenelton might be right about sound quality. I've used the B208D, great value and compact, but just so-so in terms of piano sound quality. Another relatively lightweight and low-cost model is the Alto TS308, which sounds surprisingly good for the money, sounding better that that Behringer. There's also the EV ZXa1, but that's starting to get up there in cost, but sounds great and weighs just 19 lbs. Still, it's mono unless you buy two, and if those iLoud Micro monitors can work (and I think they do go loud enough for solo piano, again enough to be competitive with anything you'd find in a slab), they just weigh a few pounds for the pair!
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A Behringer B108D is much cheaper than a K8.2, and considerably lighter, but emenelton might be right about sound quality. I've used the B208D, great value and compact, but just so-so in terms of piano sound quality. Another relatively lightweight and low-cost model is the Alto TS308, which sounds surprisingly good for the money, sounding better that that Behringer. There's also the EV ZXa1, but that's starting to get up there in cost, but sounds great and weighs just 19 lbs. Still, it's mono unless you buy two, and if those iLoud Micro monitors can work (and I think they do go loud enough for solo piano, again enough to be competitive with anything you'd find in a slab), they just weigh a few pounds for the pair! I was not criticizing the actual two way powered p.a. speakers. I like running my 8” two ways on milk crates on either side of me right on my immediate left and right. Think flanking at elbows.
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A Behringer B108D is much cheaper than a K8.2, and considerably lighter, but emenelton might be right about sound quality. I've used the B208D, great value and compact, but just so-so in terms of piano sound quality. Another relatively lightweight and low-cost model is the Alto TS308, which sounds surprisingly good for the money, sounding better that that Behringer. There's also the EV ZXa1, but that's starting to get up there in cost, but sounds great and weighs just 19 lbs. Still, it's mono unless you buy two, and if those iLoud Micro monitors can work (and I think they do go loud enough for solo piano, again enough to be competitive with anything you'd find in a slab), they just weigh a few pounds for the pair! Have you tried the Roland KC-220?
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I have always been a fan of the Roland keyboard amps. I had a large KC500 for 20+years. It has served me well. The smaller KC-200 or even the Cube 30 may better suit your needs, you can buy one Cube now and add another if you need stereo. The KC-220 as recommended previously also looks good.
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I was unimpressed with the Roland KC-220, especially at its price. It's not anywhere in the league of having the same quality as the EV ZXa1 or Alto TS308. I'd certainly take one of those and play mono, over playing stereo through the Roland. If you really have to minimize the size and weight, you can beat the Roland there with a Vox VX50KB, and it's cheaper, too.
Last edited by anotherscott; 04/14/22 12:52 PM.
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The Single K8.2 is the best solution, all the home hi-fi/computer speaker/studio monitor solutions are not good. You would really tire of that quick and come off as an amateur.
. . . Since you already own the K8.2's (which seem to be the "gold standard" for 8" PA/monitor speakers), using _one_ of them costs nothing, and will give you K8.2 sound quality. Try moving it to just behind you, just above head level. You should be out of the main lobe, but still be able to hear it. Or use open-back headphones or earbuds, to monitor yourself, and still hear everyone else. A Behringer B108D is much cheaper than a K8.2, and considerably lighter, but emenelton might be right about sound quality. Yes. Try this with your current speaker! For the last twelve years and hundreds of medium volume gigs this has been my go-to setup… I listen to myself in stereo using a pair of hard plastic ear buds that sit in the cup of my ear but don’t extend into them. Like the old style Apple ear buds. They don’t stop me from hearing the rest of the band, and allow me to hear my keys in the best way, every single gig, exactly the same sound. I can’t overstate the comfort of always hearing myself in stereo at the proper volume every time I sit down to play. And I know where the main volume knob should be set (yes, I play a CP4). This is all about putting me in a mental place where I love the sound of my piano and want to make the best music I can. My bandmates and audience hear me in mono. Yes, we can argue until the cows come home about this, but let’s do that another day. Or week, or month! My powered PA speaker sits on a pole just above my head. It’s tilted slightly sideways toward the band, but generally at the audience. I also use a cheap Yorkville 15 degree adapter that tilts the speaker down (15 degrees!) toward the audience. This does a good job at eliminating that slap-back reverb you can get from the back wall. In my case I have a really small Mackie mixer to set overall volume, but many powered speakers have this ability to set overall volume. Finally, how do I get stereo and mono together? Well, you can’t generally use the summing feature of the L/mono output for sampled pianos. Phase canceling of the two mics. So I, yes for a long time, have used the R output for band and audience. (So I’m hearing L and R, but they’re hearing just R). The R output still picks up your left hand clearly, but not quite as loud, and not quite as bassy, which when playing with other musicians is usually a good thing. If you look through your junk drawer you might find an old set of wired earbuds. Give it a try!
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I was unimpressed with the Roland KC-220, especially at its price. It's not anywhere in the league of having the same quality as the EV ZXa1 or Alto TS308. I'd certainly take one of those and play mono, over playing stereo through the Roland. If you really have to minimize the size and weight, you can beat the Roland there with a Vox VX50KB, and it's cheaper, too. It’s a good living room type solution and is an actual answer to what the OP asked for.
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Nord monitors seem to fit your criteria except for the (gulp) price.
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Increasingly other pianists are using Digital Pianos with built-in speakers for small gigs and rehearsals. This obviously saves a lot of setup/tear down time. It's getting so it's expected for some gigs/rehearsals, people are annoyed that I can't do this. curious as to why other players are annoyed. if ur on time for the gig/rehearsal and ready to play, and lugging your own gear, what is their problem? fwiw, just taking one of your current (excellent) speakers would be my initial response, in line with what a number of others have suggested
Last edited by jackopiano; 04/14/22 09:52 PM.
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Piano
by Gino2 - 04/17/24 02:34 PM
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Piano
by Gino2 - 04/17/24 02:23 PM
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