Best keyboard stage monitoring?

[jonathanelsender]

Hi
Does anyone have any recommendations for keyboard stage speakers?
I'm running a nord stage and roland vr700 through a mackie 450- am looking for something with a bit more detail and lighter in weight
Thanks
Jon

[jonathanelsender]

The Yamaha DXR10 seems to be recommended a few times on this forum - it is similar to the Mackie but a bit lighter and a little more detail... might not be enough of a jump for you though.

[anotherscott]

Hi
Does anyone have any recommendations for keyboard stage speakers?
I'm running a nord stage and roland vr700 through a mackie 450- am looking for something with a bit more detail and lighter in weight
Thanks
Jon

I think the little EV ZXa1 sounds great. I've A/B'd it with the DXR10 and comparable speakers from QSC, JBL, and RCF, I think the EV sounds best (particularly for piano) while also being smallest and lightest (not that the others sound bad). I also like it better than what I remember from playing through the Mackie. OTOH, others beat the EV in connectivity, deep bass, or max volume. The best thing I've played through is the JBL PRX625, but that's discontinued, and also heavy at 60 lbs. And big... won't easily fit in many cars. Though being floor-standing, at least you never have to hoist that weight up on to a stand, which is a plus.

[Falcon2e]

I'm using an EV VLX 15" powered monitor. Has 2 inputs and some EQ available. I'm using to 2 keyboards when I gig, so I'm not having to drag a mixer with me, just going straight to the box. Only weighs 38 pounds. Lots of power. Also running mono. Works great for me.

[hijlko]

Try the Line 6 L2T + L2M combination. Multifunctional and sounding great IMHO.

[Mr_-G-]

Hi,
I would suggest to search the forum, there is extensive good information on this which is being repeated over and over again, virtually every few days.
For those who have been for some time in the forum it can become tedious to read always the same questions, specially when they have already answered in detail.

I am moving the thread to the Accessories and Amplification. It is more relevant there.

[organuts]

Cromacord MXVS is the best amp I ever used for digital acoustic piano sounds: http://cromacord.de/ger/CROMAcord-Produ ... XVS-Stereo

Best active speakers are RCF TT08.

EVERYTHING else I ever tried like QSC K10, Yamaha DXR10, Roland SA300 etc. sounded boxy and kind of tinny with AP sounds. Nord Piano sounds are particulaly picky about amplification.

[Dreamer]

Well the RCF TT do cost almost three times the amount of two B-Ware DXR 10.. I've learned to love the EQ in my boards. With some patience and a smiley shaped eq curve you can tame the boxy sound, not totally but satisfying enough. Ok for rock and blues. Oh yes and put them on poles on both sides of the room, keys tend to be "everywhere" in the back and that helps to get this feeling, also for your band mates.

Of course, for pure Jazz piano, things are different and RCF are the weapon of choice for semi-pros. But even with that, I doubt that many people in audience will hear the difference in crowded and noisy venues. The cocktail piano scenario is special, though. But there I'd prefer L'Acoustics 108p.. If not a true piano

I always wonder what monitors do to the sound when you are used to headphones.. You have to take 2 hours and hear in store a variety of good stage monitors. Most of them sound crappy, really crappy compared to the headphone experience.
I remember attaching a CP-4 to this monitors in a big store and boy was I disappointed.
It is for good reason why Yamaha does so much research in amplification in their avant grands. Up to 8 different active speakers at locations where the respective real sound is produced. This is not overkill, just consequently going back the digital-analog chain. Sound is moved air, instrument resonance and distance to ear. You cannot expect that even the finest grand piano in our beloved red ones can get you the same experience without a respective setup. Btw, this also explains why nord pianos record so dammned well .. the sound has not to leave the machines

[peterpan]

After reading all these hints, tips and comments it seems to me there is no real solution for to get the real acoustic piano sound on stage except using a true Steinway grand. I wonder why NORD and other companies invest so much work and energy in producing realistic acoustic piano sounds with all this release- , attack-, string resonance- and so on stuff and don't care how to get this on the stage. Sad and disappointing!

[bubbajazz]

Don't care? I think your logic train derailed somewhere along the line. But Nord is not in the speaker business or the amplifier business -- they will necessarily rely on the speaker makers and amp makers of the world to provide good solutions. Apparently, this faith is not entirely misplaced because there are plenty of people out there who derive musical satisfaction and even bliss from their sound. There are TONS of posts written in this forum (and many tons more on other fora as well) discussing the subject of amplification. I can't begin to understand how/why you would blame the keyboard maker for your failure to find a speaker/amp combination which pleases your ears.

Bless,

Pablo

P.S. -- for the umpteenth time in this forum, I use Bag End and power them with QSC PLX2. The Bag Ends never fail to impress and the QSC are super lightweight for portability.