Nord User Forum

I didn't read first - I spent loads of money on inadequate amplification for my needs and now have a garage with 3 cheap crap amps and a pair of cheap crap monitors. I have read everything now, and although posts do answer my question, some are from a long time ago, so I wonder if things may have changed in terms of modern advances in tech?

My situation: Stage 3 HP76, I window shopped for ages, plonking away on my Roland FP, one day I saw a nord advertised on a local village social media page, almost new one, so bought it on my credit card because it was such a brilliant deal and it deserved a good home.

Thus my keyboard was a bit of an unplanned baby, I had no nappies, no idea and no parenting advice - which is what I seek from this forum.

I happened to have a pair of nice Bose headphones, which make my new baby sound very nice indeed in my small spare bedroom at home.

My dilemma: I play in a band, in between the drummer and a four piece horn section. We play anything from marquees in farmer fields playing to lots of drunken farmers, to rowdy pubs (normally to the same drunken farmers coincidentally.)

I go through house "PA" systems for gigs, and hope for the best in terms of mix and what people hear (no monitors). Its much nicer for me when the gig is small, so the horn section set max volume levels, and I occasionally hear myself through the PA.

I also play solo, or with a singer and acoustic guitar, to small back rooms in pubs where I need self amplification. I use a horrid battery powered Roland KC amp which sounds pretty awful, playing to an old couple and a stray dog (who are avoiding the drunk farmers).

My question: I want either a very small PA, which I can use as a monitor system for stage use, use at home in a small space fo practice, and also use it as self amplification for smaller low volume gigs.

Ideally, I would like to avoid passive speakers and an amp for space reasons, dont mind portability challenges or weight. My priority is getting the most from my Nord so if amp/passive is the answer, so be it.

Budget is a secondary issue, I will learn my lesson and save money over time if my needs can only be serviced by expensive stuff, but of course the lower the cost, the better. I have tried, and very much agree with those who say Nords sound better through stereo than mono, trying both on my rubbish Roland KC.

Thanks for anything you take time to share here.

Hi,

you may look for a pair of active speakers like the QSC K8.2, K10.2 or similar. They have a very good sound, sufficient power for different use cases, serve as either a small PA or monitor speakers (also as floor monitors if needed) and were heavily recommended her in the forum many times.

Yeah I've got a QSC k8.2. It sounds amazing and is suitable as a monitor or as front of house PA for small venues. A pair would be ideal!
I've also got a Yamaha DXR10 which is similar but cheaper... maybe not quitue as good and the fan is a little louder, but it's 65% of the price of the QSC.
Both are overkill for home use, but the QSC is the only thing I ever use at home or as a gig monitor (if not IEM) now.

Where in UK are you warjacqui? I'm southampton.

As has been repeated many times on this and other forums, the QSC K.2 series is pretty much the optimal balance between quality, performance and cost. The K8.2 speaker is the best pick IMHO and a stereo pair sound sublime. The 10.2 will get you a bit more bottom end and are slightly louder, but not enough (again IMHO) to warrant the extra expense and weight.

One alternative are QSC's CP8 speakers. They are essentially (but not exactly) the technology of the first generation K series. Not as feature rich as the K.2's but otherwise great sound quality and performance. They will save you a few quid over the K.2's as well.

As I've posted here before, I've moved on to the Electro Voice Everse 8 powered speakers. They are not as powerful or loud as the QSC's, but my use case does not call for super high volumes. I own a pair, but usually go out with only one speaker, and they sound great. They are about half the weight, less money and have a great phone app to control their many features.

To be financially responsible, you can always buy just a single speaker first, then add the second down the line as your budget warrants.

Other are fans of the line array speaker as well, and I'm sure some can attest to them. I never had an interest in them myself.

But, to your original point, skimping on amplification does not do justice to the fine instrument you own. Good luck on your quest.

Warjacqui wrote:I go through house "PA" systems for gigs, and hope for the best in terms of mix and what people hear (no monitors). Its much nicer for me when the gig is small, so the horn section set max volume levels, and I occasionally hear myself through the PA.

I also play solo, or with a singer and acoustic guitar, to small back rooms in pubs where I need self amplification.

Budget is a secondary issue, I will learn my lesson and save money over time if my needs can only be serviced by expensive stuff, but of course the lower the cost, the better. I have tried, and very much agree with those who say Nords sound better through stereo than mono, trying both on my rubbish Roland KC.

Consider ambient IEMs for when you go through the House PA systems. You will always hear yourself in stereo and the ambient ports in the IEMs will allow you to hear stage volume at a much lower level to save your ears. I set up directly next to the drummer and am at a comfortable volume all night, every night.

For gigs where self-amplification is required, I'll defer to the others' recommendations.

Rusty Mike wrote:One alternative are QSC's CP8 speakers. They are essentially (but not exactly) the technology of the first generation K series. Not as feature rich as the K.2's but otherwise great sound quality and performance. They will save you a few quid over the K.2's as well.

I don't have the CP8s, but find them interesting as well: They are fanless, so might suit better for home use. But you may need to get close to full volume for monitoring next to 4 horns. At least I would when playing in my 20 piece big band.

I'd say get two sets of speakers and make life easier. A pair of small studio monitors you can setup and leave at home. Then a pair of powered PA speakers like the QSC's personally I would got for the 10's not the 8's, but that's me.

Thanskf for excellent advice - whilst researching what I am learning, I came across these, far too big for me, but seem to be a very good price! https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/386064321196 ... R8bj3I_KYg

spradders wrote:Yeah I've got a QSC k8.2. It sounds amazing and is suitable as a monitor or as front of house PA for small venues. A pair would be ideal!
I've also got a Yamaha DXR10 which is similar but cheaper... maybe not quitue as good and the fan is a little louder, but it's 65% of the price of the QSC.
Both are overkill for home use, but the QSC is the only thing I ever use at home or as a gig monitor (if not IEM) now.

Where in UK are you warjacqui? I'm southampton.

Im in rural Northumberland, seven miles west of a place called Hexham, 35 miles from Newcastle. Only thing around here is "Hadrians Wall" - a river full of leaping salmon, cheapest HQ housing, good schools, doctors who know your name and can be seen the same day, and lots of nice pubs. This is the bottom of my garden. https://www.hadrianswallpictures.com/pr ... -st208-10/

Wow nice - too far for me to lend you any speakers to try though