My amp came yesterday evening at about 6:20 p.m.. Just seconds to spare for my 7:00 p.m. gig just minutes from my home.

My performance was at a swanky retirement home. The audience were sitting in a 180 degree crescent around me. There were also people watching from the floors above that surrounded the stage area. There were about 60 people in the audience. The KP100S was ideal for this situation because the speakers are tilted outward at approximately 25 degree angles so the people on the sides can get a good listen.

The amp looks very sturdy and is attractive.

I put the volume at 7. I was surprised at how high I had to turn the volume to get adequate volume. With my JBL, I would blow everyone away turning the volume that high. On the other hand, I never turn the JBL up high because I perform for elderly people in small to medium/large rooms. I think that if the KP100S handles the volume at 10 well, I can use it for all of my gigs.

I put the amp behind me on a wide chair about 8 ft. away. I put the expander on 4. I really noticed a lot of extra reverb. I wasn't that happy with that. I'll have to look into making my keyboard and voice settings on my PSR2000 more dry.

The audience really liked the show. I got a lot of rave reviews. But they also liked the show the last time with my JBL. I think that the people on the sides liked the show more this time than other times at the same venue. No one danced at this place, but no one danced the other times.

I thought the sound was rich overall. I could hear and appreciate the stereo.

The bass is not remarkable. Within a few months, I might look into switching to speakers that have a better bass response even if they are more heavier. I'd rather not have to have a subwoofer part of my regular setup.

I wasn't happy that a tiny piece of black paint (whatever that material is called) came off of the metal back panel after one trip with my luggage carrier.

It is quite heavier than my JBL Eon10 G2, but quite manageable. I put it on my luggage carrier without a cover which I don't have yet, and I was disappointed that it wasn't stable while transporting. I'll have to find a better way to get my gear on my luggage carrier.

As I want to find a solution so that I can transport the amp with all of the cables plugged in (for quick setup), I was disappointed that there isn't even space behind for the power cable, and the power cable when plugged in sticks out in a way that it would be damaged if transported while plugged in. Fortunately, I found a place on the web that sells power cables that are right angle at the female tip.

I have found a solution so that I can keep all the cables plugged in and stored behind the amp with netting attached to the back of the amp with velcro. This will take me a little while to develop, but it will be worth it.

This being an initial impression, so far the speaker gets my nod. It's good to have stereo. I'm going to have to make some changes - to my reverb settings and to my gear setup. It would be convenient to just keep my JBL Eon10 G2, but I think that stereo is the way to go.

I'll keep you posted.

Just some thoughts. A good angled amp stand seems to really help the performer hear all the frequencies better. The expander does seem to enhance the reverb but actually all it is doing is changing the stereo phase of the reverb which makes it more centered and noticeble. The EQ is active so when it is on 5 it is neutral and when you go above or below that you are adding or cutting EQ. The KP-100s weighs a bit over 10 pounds more than a single JBL EON10 G2 but the KP-200s weighs about the same as two of those EONs.

Between your comments and Scott's I believe the bass response of the KP-100s must be significantly less than the KP-200s which has more than enough for my gigs. Probably a combination of power and larger speakers at the tradeoff of being nearly twice as large.

The idea of having cables plugged into the amp while transporting strikes me as a bit of a liability - you couldn't put the cover on (it fits tight) and there's always the risk of breaking the plugs. Just something to consider. Otherwise, congradulations on joining the KP Club.

I have to agree with pro here about the bass...must be a 100S thing, because my 200S bass, will rattle the windows and give me that feeling that it's vibrating in my stomach, if I turn up the bass eq much at all.

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jam on,
Terry http://imjazzed.homestead.com/Index.html

Hi Larry ,

I am glad you recieved the amp ! Thank You.

Cables coming real soon . Dan

I did my second show with the KP-100S. It was in a medium/smallish room.

Well the KP-100S rocked. The folks at this rehabilitation center were really getting into the music. I turned down the expander to 3, and I noticed less reverb, and the sound was overall more pleasing to my ear.

The thing that worries me is the lack of power on this amp. I had the amp turned up all of the way to 7. I am worried that I'm going to be doing some gigs where the KP-100S isn't going to kick enough. Considering that it weighs 38lbs. as compared to 26lbs. for my JBL Eon10 G2, you would think that it would at least go as loud. The Motion Sound doesn't produce half the volume that the JBL does.

The Motion Sound amp sounds great turned up all of the way, but it doesn't kick butt volume-wise.

"The idea of having cables plugged into the amp while transporting strikes me as a bit of a liability - you couldn't put the cover on (it fits tight) and there's always the risk of breaking the plugs. Just something to consider."

Lecover is making my cover 1" deeper in back. I'm going to construct a netting attached to the back of the amp so I can stuff my cables there. Since my power cable and my two 1/4" cables will have right angle tips, there is really no risk of ruining them, especially since they will be covered by the padded amp cover as well. Anyway, with this design, I can quickly setup and take down without having to plug cables into the amp.

Best regards,

Beakybird

Larry: Great to hear that your show was a success. I too had another successful gig today with the Tyros & KP-100S alone, performing primarily jazz standards emulating a small trio setting (vocals/piano, drums, bass) for a faculty luncheon of about 30 professors at the Unviersity here, and both sound quality & volume level covered the room nicely while performing the song material they enjoy: Cole Porter, Gershwin, Jobim, etc.



As I mentioned on a separate thread, I recommend placing the the amp on an Ultimate Support 'Genesis 150' amp stand which imho better places the amp 6" off the floor and angled up approx 35 degrees. I found this (for some reason) improves the bass response. I've found (for me) that the expander set between 4 and 6 works (with vocals) for me. I also reduced the reverb setting on my Tyros and that seemed to clear up the earlier vocal problems I had with the Expander set at these settings.



Though turning up the bass knob will certainly add a (boomy) bass which can even rattle the windows, it's effect is not rich & deep, but more muds the mix. I believe this is limited by the size of the woofer (8") itself. My personal feeling about your idea of swapping out the woofers with another (better?) pair of 8" woofers is that it may not provide as much deep rich bass improvement as you might hope, because a lot of the problem has more do with the 8" size size itself. Another thing to consider is that switching out the speakers to slightly better sounding will increase the weight of the unit substantially because better sounding means utilizing a heavier magnet. For situations where you need a bit more bottom end, I'd might suggest a small subwoofer add on box instead. I use the 17 lb Tyros (TRS-MS01) subwoofer and it seems to do the trick. John Fisher (Motion Sound) advised me that they are looking into offering a subwoofer which will work optimally with the KP-100S, so you might want to contact him for a recommendation.

For smaller venues, the KP-100S alone (without a subwoofer) has met with pretty good results for both myself and the audience. I find it works especially well for exposed acoustic material: piano, bass & drums, and vocals. What I like most is the ease it is for gig transport & setup, and that the nature of the stereo enhanced amp allowing me to use it for both monitoring the mix & providing the main output to the audience as well. btw: I set the amp back about 4-5 feet a little to the right behind me. This way I don't recieve the full blast of the speakers, but still able to get enough sound for stereo effects monitoring. No problems with mic feedback either.




The JBL Eon 10 G2's wattage output totals 200 watts (125 to the woofer & 75 watts to the horn) so I'd expect that at 100 watts total output , that the KP-100S be putting out far less (1/2 ) volume. I believe at 100 watts, the KP-100S was only designed to handle small venues of up to 40 people, so I was pretty impressed & surprised you were able to play & sound good in a space large enough to accomodate 60 people. I myself will continue to take my 2 EV SxA100's (300 watts total per speaker) for the bigger events, and reserve the KP-100S for small jobs only. Unfortunately there (up to this point) is no one speaker system suitable for every job.



Interesting idea. I wonder just 'how much' time you'll save with the power cable & audio cable permanently attached to the amp. If it was a minute or two, this appears worth the effort, but saving only 10- 15 seconds is another story . Anyway, I look forward to your feedback after you have this setup and hope you'll post pics as well.

Larry, I've enjoyed reading your feedback & impressions, especially because it was 'you' who initially informed me about this new KP-100S model coming out quite some time back. It's beginning to feel like we're both new parents sharing expereinces and exchanging tips about our new arrival.

Scott

In regards to the amp's volume, I just noticed that as I never turn up my PSR2000 all the way, and since I have the amp plugged into the 1/4" outs, then the amp cannot be turned up all the way.

I never turn up the PSR2000 all the way because my vocals distort, and there is a very real chance of blowing a speaker. There is no way on the PSR2000 to independently control the amp and the keyboard. If I want to test the maximum volume of the KP-100S, I will have to do so by plugging it into the RCA inputs via an adapter. I will do this when I need extra volume. On the PSR2000, when you are plugged into the RCA inputs, you get maximum volume output, but no control of output volume.

I will purchase the Ultimate stand when I pass by a music store.

Unlike you Scott, I don't have and cannot afford to have another amp at this time - especially since I would hardly ever use it. I can afford a subwoofer, which I will buy. For auditorium and large outdoor gigs, I will rent a PA.

Don't dismiss a savings of 30 seconds during setup and take down. If you do 500 gigs in a year, 30 seconds becomes 4 hrs. and 20 minutes. That's a significant amount of time. If you keep the amp for 5 years, then it comes out to 24 hrs. A whole day that you spent fumbling for cables and plugging them in.

Just a thought,

Beakybird

Just want to mention that I'm getting great responses lately from my shows, apparently, even better than before. Maybe stereo does make a difference. My JBL Eon 10 G2 is for sale with it's gig bag on eBay.

Beakybird

Hello

I've been watching the posts on Motion Sound with much interest. I have yet to hear one. Actually, I don't expect to see one in Pensacola, Florida.

They must be quite nice to get all these positive reviews. I've also been trying to read between the lines here and use a little deductive reasoning along with a lifetime of being involved in music, playing in bands, doing the one man band routine and being in music retail since 1976. One thing I need to do in music retail is listen to what the customers needs are, and then steer them in the right direction. Often they need something other than what they think they need.

The thing that strikes me about Beakybirds situation is that it would appear to me, rather than sell the JBL Eon, I would think it would be a better move to get another JBL Eon 10G2 and have the stereo that one REALLY needs with the PSR2000. THere is an incredible difference in sound between using one speaker vs two speakers with the PSR2000. My thinking is, it would cost less to add another JBL, there would be twice as much power. The larger 10" speaker would give more bass, you wouldn't need an amp stand, you could just lay the JBL back. I know for me, I would rather carry two 24 pound speakers than one 38 pound speaker especially if it meant buying and carrying another piece of equipment, the amp stand.

As far as renting a PA, I off hand don't know what that would cost, but I would guess that to get a good powerful one would cost almost more than its worth unless its really a top paying job.

In a nutshell, this is my slant on it. Each person certainly has their own needs and reasoning, but this time I just can't understand why one would not do it the way I mentioned. I would love to know the reasoning here.

Either way, good luck, and I hope you are truly happy with the move you make for all the right reasons.

Scott Langholff

Thanks for the post, Scott L. I'm getting offers to sell my JBL plus gig bag for $375 off Ebay. This is about $175 less than I am paying for the Motion Sound plus gig bag.

Scott, I play a lot of small places, and two 26lb. (I think they weigh 26lbs) speakers would be very bulky and would add significant amount of time to my setup time. Besides, two JBLs wouldn't fit in my trunk along with my keyboard and stand.

So I was looking for a one piece solution to getting stereo.

I perform principally for elderly people who are consumed with fear of being blasted by loud music. Just the idea of coming into a small room with two JBL Eons I would think would scare a lot of folks- kind of like coming in with an electric guitar and a Marshall stack.

I have decided to try out the amp stand, but that is a flimsy afterthought as compared to actually having another speaker.

It would be good to have more powerful gear for the large outdoor gigs and auditorium gigs I do. But I can literally count on three fingers the gigs that I do where I couldn't get by with the KP-100S and a subwoofer. In those cases, it costs me $18 to rent two 100 watt Yorkfield amps at my local music store (just a mile away). I only have one job on my calendar where I'm contemplating doing this.

This is my reasoning, maybe it's faulty, maybe not. Thanks again Scott.

Beakybird

Just an added thought to Scott L's post: (1) EON (or even two) isn't the same as (1) KP-100s because the EONs do not have a built-in mixer/preamp like the KP does.

I have a pair of JBL EON10 G2's that I have used at gigs with my keyboard and no mixer and found the sound to be pretty weak - adding a mixer gave my keyboard signal the punch to take full advantage of the speaker's wattage (175 watts each). So you really need a mixer plus speakers plus cables to equal what the KP amps do.

My KP-200s at 200 watts has lots of volume and bass all by itself and I have as yet to play a gig that it did not have enough power for. None the less, the KP has stereo XLR outputs on the back so expanding the sound by adding EON's would be a snap. Since I also have the powered EON subs, my system is fully scalable. I have some summer outdoor gigs where I plan on using the KP-200s for my personal stage monitor and my full EON system for the front PA (KP:200 + 2/EON10:350 + 2/Subs:400 = total of 950 watts). I also expect to get a psuedo-surround-sound effect from my playing position with this setup (the stereo expander should be a gas to play with). Can't wait to try it!

[This message has been edited by The Pro (edited 04-28-2003).]

Hi Beakybird

This makes more sense to me now. The PA rental cost is a steal, much less than I would expect. I am not in that line of music retail. I sell Lowrey organs. This may be something for me to consider.

I guess I personally would be happy to carry in one small amp that does the job like in the old days.

Hi Pro

Thanks for your thoughts. For me, if I were to get a Motion Sound, I would guess the 200 watts would be the best , but the weight is what would stop me. I have a need for light equipment. I suppose if I ever really needed more punch I would probably get two Barbetta Sona 32C's @ 36 pounds.

Right now I use a PSR2000 and two JBL Eon 10G2's(at your recommendation, and I love the sound). I have been using the built in mixer on the KB. Are you suggesting there is a significant and noticeable improvement on sound quality and volume in using a mixer? If this is so, do you know if one of the Behringer mixers under $100 would do the trick for my purposes?

Although I know you haven't seen the KP100 what is your educated guess as to what the best move for me would be? Would I be better to go out with two JBL 10's and a mixer, or with a KP100?

I would like to hear a Motion Sound , but I don't think it would pay for me even to have one sent and try it for the price of shipping.

How would you compare using your KP200 instead of two JBL 10's with a mixer?

Also, I've often wondered what the best speaker placement is using the JBL's, preferably without poles. Do you think its worth using poles.

Thank you both, (and all) for the info. This really cuts down on testing and shopping time, and prevents me from doing something I wish I hadn't.

Sorry for being so windy, but inquiring minds want to know.

Thanx

Scott Langholff

Scott, I have an 8-channel Behringer. It is very useful and reliable.
DonM

Scott L,

I found that my X1/X4 when used with 2 JBL Eon10G's sounded better if run through a mixer.

Based on the Pro's recommendation I purchased a KP-200S to replace my 2 JBL's and a mixer.
I placed the JBL's a few feet behind me and about 5-10 feet away on either side when I performed. I place KP-200S directly in front of me about 1 foot away. To my ears the KP-200S has more of a sterio and live sound than the JBL's. Although the JBL's together were outputting sterio, from where I played I could tell the direction of the sound and that there were two speakers. (Perhaps that is obvious.) I expect that the sterio effect was more pronounce in the audience.

I recently put on a program in the chapel of a nursing home. It had about a 30' peaked ceiling that was wood covered - very live acoustics. The KP-200S sterio expand sound with the reverb coming from the ceiling was magnificent. The only way to describe it was that I felt bathed in the sound. It was very non-directional. I have found that the sound is very dispersed in the other situations also. Different than two speakers.

I have also found my vocals(I use a VoicePrism) seem to be more forward in the mix and easier to hear with the accompaniment when using the KP-200S compared to the JBL's and a mixer.

I wish that the KP-200S were lighter, but the extra weight for me is worth the better sound (to my ears). With the amp replacing 2 JBL's and 2 speaker stands, I can now move all my equipment with one trip with my cart.


When needed (which won't be very often), I will hook up my 2 JBL Eon 15G2's to the KP-200S to get better coverage in a large venue.

Good Luck!

RJM

Yamaha now makes an 8" PA type of speaker that puts out at least 100 watts. They weigh 20lbs apiece. This might be another option for those who want stereo but don't want to carry around too much weight. George Kaye mentioned it in one of his threads.

Yes and yes. I found that preamping the keyboard signal by using a mixer results in a far better sound with more control over EQ. Nearly any decent brand-name mixer will do.



Indeed all I know about the KP-100s is what I've read here - so far it seems a little underpowered but that may be fine for small gigs. With the EON10's you are running 350 watts versus only 100 watts with the KP-100s. I think the 200 watt KP-200s is more of a match to the paired EONs, and ironically the KP-200s weighs the same as a pair of EON10's - but the KP-200s is a bulky thing so that's a factor too.

There is no doubt in my mind that the EONs w/mixer would be a better and more versatile overall package than the KP-100s in terms of size and power, especially if you can only afford or only want just one system, but the KP-100s is a darn handy thing to have if you have regular gigs that you can use it on. It would be nice to have both (and they could be used together too).



I like the convenience and sound of the KP-200s a lot and it's size doesn't bother me. I have always said that a complete PA offers more versatility than the KP - especially for the singing performer - but having a one-piece amp system is quite nice and setup time is practically zilch. And the KP-200s' stereo expansion does give a new dimension to my keyboard sound. Tough question... and since I've used EONs for a long time that really says something about how much I love my KP-200s. I'll say this - I use the KP-200s more now than I do my EONs, but I have no intention of giving up my EONs.

However, I also play with bands often and the KP-200s is better for this than a PA. Not only does it act as a stereo direct box for sending my keyboard signal to the band mixer while giving me a stereo stage keyboard monitor, but I can also run the vocal monitor signal from the main mixer to the "click input" of the KP-200s and use it for vocal monitoring (the click input signal does not get passed to the direct outputs). So I use the KP-200s both for solo and sideman work - this was my main reasoning behind buying it.



I don't believe in poles unless you need to shoot your sound over people's heads/bodies, as in larger venues. Most often poles just direct the sound right into people's faces at small to mid-size gatherings. I like having the speakers on the floor tilted upwards and slightly behind me so they double as vocal monitors. You'll get less volume complaints this way.

[This message has been edited by The Pro (edited 04-28-2003).]

The Pro, I also prefer the speakers on the floor, I pop the casters off the rear end of my Roland cubes and it creates a perfect angle for coverage, and still retain the bass response I want for my solo work..In my band situation we do have Yorkvilles on poles[ 550 watts each], but we also use a Yorkville 600 watt sub woofer..This system with my Mackie mixer kicks butt..