I had my check out list with me as I entered Sam Ash music store..

I wanted to check out the Yamaha NP80 piano....the EV powered 8" speaker...
the Korg SV1 stage piano...the QSC k series powered speakers..
and a few other things I am interested in...

Here are ..as Jerry Springer says "are my final thoughts"..(no ..I don't watch Springer,
but sometimes the Steve show that follows)..

Back to business...

The Yamaha np80..key feel ..slightly better than the np30 (maybe)..
Pianist will not like the keys..but are better than playing the PSR keys..
The sounds are like the last 5 years of PSR sounds...

Playability and getting around on a gig..forget it..a novelty keyboard at best..
No desire to touch it again,,,,

The speaker demos were interesting..because I have a lot of units to compare too...

The Ev powered 8"..not impressed (actually couldn't compete with the Podium 802's at a 5-1 price point..).

Okay , but not up to the hype..Like a lot of EV products..

QSC k series..They are loud..at least in burst...
I don't know if they would sustain high volume other then burst..

They were "harsh" sounding and I didn't like them at all..
the bottom frequencies didn't exist.. they are rated at 61Hz..
and the sales guy said that was a joke ..probably 100Hz..

You need a sub woofer or a 15" power speaker to use the K8's..

The K12's were about the same..( I am trying to figure what UD is thinking..
He must have gotten a good deal)..
Dave you don't want to A/B them with the Podium 1204ca's..
Difference in Bass and non harshness will make your jaw drop..

Now the Korg stage piano...finally ..something that was good..
I think the Korg is a better sounding stage piano than the Nord stuff and even the Roland 700GX
but not the new 700GXF (piano kit) model (class of it's own)..

Korg has a winner here...
I wish the case was designed with a "flat" top instead of the "bubble" top..

I got a chance to check out the Roland Lucina AX-09,,and I really liked it..

Good sounds including the "Scat" voice..and easy to get at controls..

A novelty keyboard ..if you want to go out front on tunes..
I want to explore the USB drive wave/Mp3 player..and see what limitations it has..

It only has a screen to show 3 digits..so song selection would need a numbered sheet for titles..
I will check it out farther and report back...It could be a good strap on to use with the band..


I would be interested in hearing other folks thoughts about this gear..

[This message has been edited by Fran Carango (edited 07-28-2010).]

Thanks Fran...good info....

------------------
Bill in Dayton

Fran didn't Dave just buy the QSC k series speakers and loves the sound? who's right?

My final thoughts were the same as many other reviewers..I just took a look on the net...
The Sam Ash guy did the play controls..he was reluctant to show me the bass or lack of bass..but I made him..

They are very loud, but typical D class sound...I thought the sound was not warm ..but harsh...Yorkville's they are not..

They are designed to use with their sub woofer...

I also read that there is a conflict with the K12's and the sub woofer ..overlapping bass frequency...I would think they have a roll off button..like Yorkville...but apparently not..

Dave is use to not hearing "real" bass...so maybe he feels it adequate...like his Bose..

I now am aware that the K series does have a filter for bass roll off...unfortunately it filters at 100Hz..Our Yorkvilles filter at 60 Hz..

I would normally think that clarity in the sub woofer range will be missed between 60-100Hz..
I also notice the sub woofer only goes down to 48Hz...Now I see why one reviewer says they aren't great for the dance floor..

If you want loud...the K series delivers...

I will have to get together with Dave...so he can show me ...why....he loves them..

wow that is a big difference

I also checked the Roland BA-330 today and was super impressed (of course I have one on the way, as the Bose is gone).

Great clarity, plenty of power, nice punchy bass, lots of inputs, fx, pole mount or floor tilt up - a real winner and I'm excited about running stereo again.

You forgot "STEREO"

Read my post again, you'll see 'stereo' in my description

I have the AX-09. The mp3 works well, but there's a significant amount of work to balance the instrument volume to the mp3/wave volume. All can be saved however on a stick.

The best way I found to implement it is to record my songs on the 800, save them as a song and play the right hand out front. That way, the AX can just dedicate itself to the sound volume.

It's a very nice sounding board, with nice organs, synths, pads and scat, as Fran mentioned, but the acoustic guitars and pianos are a bit thin (IMO). Not sure if I want to take time to develop it into my act, but know it would be special to move out into the crowd.

Zuki if you do that with the AX09 please take a video for us of you out front would love to view it.

(I also checked the Roland BA-330 today and was super impressed (of course I have one on the way, as the Bose is gone).
Great clarity, plenty of power, nice punchy bass, lots of inputs, fx, pole mount or floor tilt up - a real winner and I'm excited about running stereo again.)

You guys are killing me!!! I sent my BA330 back because when I A/B'd it against a 12" and then a 10" PA speaker it couldn't come near the bass response they put out. I'm really starting to think I made a mistake sending it back. Did you go straight from the keyboard into the amp or use an outboard mixer like Fran does? The stereo effect is not pronounced enough to really make a big difference but I liked the mixer section. I loved everything about it except it had no serious punch with my G1000. I'd love to try it again but no way am I getting stuck for the return shipping.

Bill in NJ

I love my BA330...best little amp for my small gigs I ever used IN STEREO, great sound also...thanx Fran for turning me on to it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mOPmu3EuKYc

[This message has been edited by Dnj (edited 07-27-2010).]

Thanks all for your equipment opinions. I do take them into consideration when looking for new stuff. Fran - all I will say is, that if I am interested in something I will always try it out at least twice. Sometimes I find a change in attitude, mood, location... whatever, will change my opinion. Just a thought.

I just received my 330 and will give it a whirl, live this evening.

I don't like heavy bass and the little I played around at home was PLENTY in the bass department. In fact, on the ground tilted was as much as I'll ever need.

I'm more concerned about my vocals being crisp, as they were through the Bose. But I'm looking for more mid range and stereo. I also found the stereo effect to be better with the 330 (in my studio testing that is).

We can all report our findings, but it's a matter of personal tastes. We've all read opinions through these endless pages of 'mine is better than yours'.

I played my first job with the 800 speakers alone and again, I had unbelievable comments from the AD and others about how great the sound system I was using was (the 800 speakers are incredible). If that's an indicator of bass requirements, then the 330 will be plentiful In fact, yesterday I had the assistant (who sat through the whole thing) comment on how nice the sound was (800 only) and my voice blended well with the music. She said others come in and blare loud and drown out their vocals. This recent 800 experiment has redirected my sound system thinking - KISS.

I do love the inputs. This bodes well for other things I'll be doing that won't necessitate getting mixers, etc.

I'll give my opinion later tonight and the audience acceptance/comments

Jim, your point is well taken. A couple of weeks ago I had a few minutes to spare and stopped into a GC. They had a PA800 in stock, since it's been a while since I owned one I fired up the 800. I had forgotten how good those speakers sound.

On another note, yesterday while driving back from the Boston office of the firm I work for I was going by a GC store. Rather than get off the interstate I called to see whether they had a BA330 to demo. They did not, but the overzealous sales rep tried to sell me about every other keyboard amp he had in stock. I just couldn't get thru to him my only interest was demoing a Ba330, nothing more.

Steve for what you are doing the BA330 will be more then applicable & in Stereo.

Donny I have 2 Bose systems of which I'm very happy with. But............I do enjoy checking out and demoing what you folks who are in the trenches everyday recommend. At this point I would like to hear for myself what the Ba330 sounds like.

I had 2 bose systems also Steve .......happily they are BOTH Gone...

Stephen,If you are happy with the Bose, I wouldn't even check out the BA330..

The Bose has the edge in power 130 watts to 30 watts...but not that much difference in the volume..edge still to Bose..

The advantages of the BA330 over the Bose... are:
battery powered when needed.
effects.
multiple channels...
and routing of signal via outputs..
aux ins..

Stereo...

Same compact size , but quicker set up..

easier to carry...

better mids...


Second thought....
Maybe you should check it out...

Fran, I wasn't sure where you were headed when I started reading your post.......but I had an idea.....you were up to something. I will check it out sooner or later. Gotta admit you've got my curiosity going and now Zuki's using it.....I'm really curious.

just checking it out in a store isn't enough, you actually have to perform with it with your gear to see it's real potential...for small gigs up to 100pp I love it. Beyond that I bring out the bigger guns. Everything Fran stated above is true!

I would be interested in hearing other folks thoughts about this gear..

Namely the np80..Korg stage..QSC K series..

All I know today is my Birthday !!

buon compleanno to me ....thank you

Happy Birthday Donnie

Thanx Bernie..buon compleanno to me !