Nord User Forum

ericL wrote: This is one of those situations where you get what you pay for and a Roland KC amp will not deliver piano sounds well. If the Bose option isn't right for you, I'd recommend getting yourself into a pair of powered speakers such as QSC K8 or K10. You could start with one and save up for a second one, as monitoring in stereo is going to make a HUGE difference for you. You'd need a submixer if you're working with four inputs.

Did you try QSC K8 with Nord pianos?

ztusek wrote:

ericL wrote: This is one of those situations where you get what you pay for and a Roland KC amp will not deliver piano sounds well. If the Bose option isn't right for you, I'd recommend getting yourself into a pair of powered speakers such as QSC K8 or K10. You could start with one and save up for a second one, as monitoring in stereo is going to make a HUGE difference for you. You'd need a submixer if you're working with four inputs.

Did you try QSC K8 with Nord pianos?

I have been using IEMs for the most part, but I own a QSC K8 and K10...they amplify Nord pianos quite well...particularly if running a pair in stereo. Definitely better than a Roland KC amp.

maxpiano wrote:

cphollis wrote:I have a very used Bose L1 Model 1S for these situations.

I am afraid the Bose L1 1S alone is pretty above the OP declared budget range

Yes, a brand new one would be expensive. I paid $600 USD for mine, very used. I also listed off a bunch of vendors who make decent products in that form factor ranging from $800USD upwards.

That being said, I think people are being unrealistic when they pay big money for an exceptional keyboard like the NP5, and expect it to sound good through low-end amplification. You do get what you pay for -- both in keyboards and amplification.

For those who are recommending point sources (e.g. QSC K8 and similar), those are not ideal for smaller and more intimate venues, especially if you're background music. It'll work fine, but even a modest columnar line speaker in mono will sound much better and more natural for acoustic piano sound, especially if you work with the natural reverb of the room.

Save the QSCs and sub for live electric gigs

I wouldn't want to recommend a Yamaha Stagepas 400. I have one and didn't like it very much with my Nord piano sounds - they don't sound very 'piano'. Found they were wasted money, and now are used for anything but piano amplification (children's party, school presentation). Short after, I bought a pair of QSC K8.2, and I do like them for monitoring or soloing.

I'm quite sure you are better off with a small standard PA and a separate mixer than only looking for special amps with built-in mixers.

ztusek wrote:Ok, thx, Can you recommend good one for approx. same price range (670 EUR)?

You may want to consider the Alto TS408. They are $249 US everywhere and actually sound excellent for piano right out of the box. Lots of positive reviews, enough power for your application, and really good bang for the buck-

-dh

FZiegler wrote:I wouldn't want to recommend a Yamaha Stagepas 400. I have one and didn't like it very much with my Nord piano sounds - they don't sound very 'piano'. Found they were wasted money, and now are used for anything but piano amplification (children's party, school presentation). Short after, I bought a pair of QSC K8.2, and I do like them for monitoring or soloing.

I'm quite sure you are better off with a small standard PA and a separate mixer than only looking for special amps with built-in mixers.

Thanks FZiegler, in fact I mentioned it based on price and specs compared to the request, but if you say so based on your experience, then better go for a mixer and 2 better speakers, for sure.

Problem is to find a good combination that fits the OP Budget. As a mixer even a small Yamaha MG06U could be enough, but when I look at good speakers I have some difficulty to find something I like at that price (as cphollis said, wha you pay you get, finally).

My Roland KC-150 had (has) a terrible EQ spike centered on the "G" note that is 1.5 octaves above middle C.
I could even hear this in recordings that I made on a multitrack recorder from a line out from the KC-150, so it was in the circuitry not its speaker.
The KC-150 is now a piece of backup gear for me.

Thanks, can you recommend something in 1000 Eur price range what you've tested with Nord pianos?

DJKeys wrote: You may want to consider the Alto TS408. They are $249 US everywhere and actually sound excellent for piano right out of the box. Lots of positive reviews, enough power for your application, and really good bang for the buck-
-dh

I'm thinking about one Alto TS415....

I am very, very happy with this column system:
https://www.musicstore.de/de_DE/EUR/Fam ... 019474-000
I play solo piano or with a singer at weddings, the piano sounds very good, and we have a second one which we also use for small and middle band events.

Cheers from Germany

By the way: where are you located?