Nord User Forum

Now I know that everybody's going to say that big is better when it comes to amps - but I would like to get a small-ish amp for rehearsals and small venues.
I currently use a Laney AH200, which after I had found the optimum tone settings, I'm pretty pleased with. And I quite like the sound I get out of it - BUT...it's too big to get into the boot of my car - and I'd also like to get a lighter amp (the AH200 weighs 27kgs).
I looked at the Roland KC range of amps, but I get the impression from reviews I have read that they soon distort if you try to run it above 1/4 volume.
I am now looking at the Behringer K900FX Ultratone or the Behringer K450SX.
I'd like two line inputs and an XLR for a mike.
Does anyone have experience or views on these amps, or perhaps other suggestions?

QSC K8 or K12.

I've been through many amps (Rolands, Traynor K4, etc) and these QSC K-series amps are awesome.

A bass player frIend of mine tels me that a lot of guys are using a pair of Galaxy Pa6s powered monitors. Haven't heard it for myself , but it is appealing since they are so small and claim to have a fairly low frequency response. anybody used these?

Thanks for the replies.
ybakos : Do you connect your Nord directly to the input of the K8 using your Nord's EQ or go through a mixer?

Ok, now a question about even smaller amps...
Because I almost never play without headphones at home, I'm looking for small (active) studio monitors. They should just give a reasonable sound, for the occasions that I play some music with friends in my flat. I would like to know whether there is any cheap solution that anyone can recommend. I already have better speaker for on stage, so they don't need to have real power.

I actually also consider opening up my yamaha p-120 piano and try to provide it with an auxiliary input (which is, indeed, lacking). That would also do I guess, but don't really know how to do this.

I use a Mackie Active Speaker, SRM350v2, it provides a good sound and is lightweight. You will need a submixer if you are using more than one keyboard. Greg Phillanganes uses 2 Mackie 450's with in the Toto video 'Falling in Between' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nRGBAqZMWxU
, so I figured if he uses them it seems it must be pretty good. But they are so much lighter than an amp and much better for gigging, and also sound better.

Ah, thanks! And how about a small (4-8 inch) powered studio monitors set with a sub-woofer? Does someone have any experience with this?
I'd actually like to keep my living room free of too many large boxes...

I've tried lots. All keyboard amps suck at reproducing the Nord Piano. My simple home studio monitors sound better then all of them. Also, I want something really easy to carry that works in really small situations.

So I thought outside the box. Went to my local store and bought an MP3 dock (Harman Kardon Go Play). Used it this weekend as keyboard monitor with a band in a small venue that seated 100 people. It actually worked!

OK, we're not a loud band, and it didn't sound as good as my home monitors, and I poised it high and close. But it was way better then a Behringer or Roland amp, weighs nothing and costs nothing compared to a QSC. And the bass output is amazing for it's size.

I´v also tried lots of small amps and found the AER alpha the best. it´s really small and lightweight, sounds good and is absolutely reliable. it has only 40W, but it´s way louder than the mackie SRM150 for example (that has 150W).

I´m using it for small gigs or as a monitor. it doesn´t have the fattest bass, but it does okay for pianos and organ. plus there´s a second input for instruments or a mic, a 3-band EQ and a DI-output. it´s not cheap but totally worth its money.

Check out my post here --> nord-piano-forum-f10/piano-amplification-t345.html.