Nord User Forum

What are the top recommendations for high quality speakers for: 1) Home use and 2) Small venue gig. Thanks in advance.

I vote

alex149 wrote: for: 1) Home use and

Adam S3x

alex149 wrote:2) Small venue gig. Thanks in advance.

QSC K8.2

What Franz said, especially the K8.2s. You can spend more or less, but a) bang for buck, b) sonic quality c) flexibility and d) ease of schlepping, it's hard to beat a pair of these on speaker poles.

Easily the hardest working PA gear in my collection. Everyone who tries them out comes away with a big smile.

For gigs, you will need to go into the band's PA system if you aren't using an amp like a Fender Twin or Jazz Chorus.

Powered speakers on their own will struggle, and in my experience fail, to be heard in a loud band with Fender/Marshall guitar amps, Ampeg bass rigs, and a full-on acoustic drumset that's likely miked. They are great for small, quiet combos - you'll get better quality sound of out of them for acoustics and samples than you would from any amp - but forget about using them to present your keyboard sound to the audience in a loud group. You will be drowned out...powered speakers are not stage amps. Don't misunderstand wattage as the sole metric for potential volume - the 1000 watt Electrovoice speaker will be a whisper against a 30 watt Vox guitar amplifier.

The one exception is if you bring a full PA system of your own with top-line powered speakers like Quilters. This means also bringing your own mixing board, poles, long cables, and the aforementioned $1500+ pair of speakers. Plus a big car and sturdy back to carry it all in. Since in most venues the stages are rarely generous in size, you may struggle to get it set up and placed properly, and if there is a sound guy in the building, he will not be happy to see your private PA system competing against his. This expensive system will still not be anywhere near as loud as a Marshall amplifier, but the quality of the speakers and their upfront placement will effectively act as what they are - another public address system. It's an open question if your other band members should tolerate it...why are you so important to rate your own PA?

SO - my suggestion is buying a good powered speaker to use as a monitor, or as the "amp" in quiet combo situations, when you can place it on a pole behind you. For groups that rock, go into the house or band PA.