Recommended speakers for Nord Stage 4

[jrmcanada]

Thanks everyone for all the input. I can now refine my question based on some of the considerations you've raised.

My Nord Stage 4 is in my mid-sized living room and I use it purely for personal use there so my priority is how good they sound up close. I'm not overly concerned about sound quality from the other side of the room.

Due to both space and the WAF, I would like to keep this setup relatively small: just two speakers, no sub or any other equipment. I could probably fit the QSC CP8's in but would prefer a smaller solution.

My budget is around $1500.

I'd also like speakers that can decently reproduce a true piano sound. I'm no professional or aficionado so I don't need the sound to be absolutely top tier. But I'd like it to sound like a real piano to the average non-professional listener.

The suggestions so far are:

Nord Piano Monitors
QSC CP8
iLoud Micro
iLoud MTM mk2

Given the updated criteria above, what would you suggest? One of those? Something different?

Thank you again. I really appreciate the help.

[cphollis]

The QSCs are PA speakers, so not those.

The Nord Piano Monitors would get my vote for the NS4 73/88 but not if you have a Compact. The angled mounting brackets are ideal, and the sound is exceptional.

[cgrafx]

there are no small speakers that are going to properly reproduce a piano without a sub. the difference is night and day.

[cphollis]

What @cgrafx said -- plan on ~$500 USD for a small studio subwoofer that sits beneath your keyboard, or anywhere else you want to put it in the room. Subs are omnidirectional -- placement isn't critical.

Most popular studio monitors use 5" speakers, so you won't hear much below ~120Hz. Definitely part of the immersive experience.

[jrmcanada]

Just curious as I weigh my various options.

If I choose to go with the iLoud Micro monitors:

1. Can you recommend a good, small subwoofer (space is an issue for me)

2. How do I hook it and the iLoud Micros to the Nord? What cables/adapters/splitters would I need?

Thanks again!

[cgrafx]

I would look at something like these KRK subs. The 10" would be preferred.

Keep in mind this entire setup with the iLoud and small sub is going to be for near field playback and isn't going to get super loud, but should be more than suitable for personal use.

8" - https://www.krkmusic.com/products/s8-4- ... -subwoofer
10" - https://www.krkmusic.com/products/s10-4 ... -subwoofer

They have built in X-over so you'd run the Nord into the sub, and then daisy chain to the iLoud Micros

[catosim]

2. How do I hook it and the iLoud Micros to the Nord? What cables/adapters/splitters would I need?

You connect A pair of jack-cables out from the Nord to the input of the SUB.
From there you'll need an extra set of jack-cables, that's connected out from the SUBSs output, and into each iLoud speaker.

[jrmcanada]

Thanks for all the input. One more quick question. If you had to choose between the following two options, which would you choose? (The keyboard is just being used in a medium-sized living room and most of the time it's solely for the person playing it, so distance/volume isn't a real consideration.)

Option 1: Nord Piano Monitors without a subwoofer

Option 2: iLoud Micros with a subwoofer

I know Nord Piano Monitors with a subwoofer would be better than either of those two options, but budget and space make that unlikely. Although Ill probably end up snapping and doing that anyway. But assuming I don't, which of those two options would you go with?

[cphollis]

Option 1 by a wide margin, based on my personal aesthetics. You will find yourself upgrading to a small sub before long

[Shak69]

I was looking at getting the Nord Piano monitors too for my new Stage 4, I have read a few comments about hissing whilst not being played, is this common?