Tyros 4 - Home amplification

Like many new Tyros 4 owners I am a home player and for extra amplification in addition to the TRS MS04 satellites I am using a pair of Bang and Olusen S45 speakers, (one 7" and two 4" speakers in each cabiinet. The amplifier I am using is a budget NAD stereo amp.

Now, I know the B&O speakers are quality built and although they are 36 years old they still sound pretty good. I also realise that speaker technology must have improved out of sight in the last thirty years or so, and it would be nice to update this part of the set up and hopefully even further improve the great sound of this keyboard.

There is a company in the UK recommending KRK active monitor speakers (also available here in Australia) for the Tyros 4 and wonder if any of the forum members have any experience or knowledge of these products. There is a large range from 4" to 8" speakers and vary in price from $500 a pair to around $1500.

Any info on this subject would be appreciated.
Thanks in advance,
Cleon

Some studio monitors will work really well for home use. I bought the cheapest studio montitors that Guitar Center sells: Audiophile. They're 4". They less cost than $200.00 for the pair. They sound very nice. I wish I could get as good a sound with my (very expensive) Bose Compact...

I use a Logitech Z-2300 for some home use...I usually use my Yamaha MS-60S powered monitors.

The Logitech system is one of the best "bang for the buck" systems out there.

Ian

WATCH IT...you are treading dangerous waters...

The Bose camp will be all over you..

I think what you hear with the cheaper system ..are mids that are not as clear on the Compact...we tested this last year with proven results using a "room control" feature with my Edirol mixer...that made the Compact come to life...

Perhaps you are right... I think what I miss most though is the great stereo effect that I get with my home system. Maybe I'll get another Compact with a mixer and see if that works for me.

Sorry Acadia to get away from your topic

Ditto +1

If these are just for home use, don't go overboard in assuming that there has been a 'radical' improvement in speakers over the last forty years!

B&O stuff was some of the best stuff you could buy back then, whereas Logitech is some of the CHEAPEST stuff you can buy now. It's good, but for sound balance over a set of B&O's? I doubt it.

What's your current problem with the rig you have other than worrying about it being old? Does it distort? If not, what's the issue?

Hi Diki,

I have been in our local music store today and they have a T3 and an Audya connect to a set of Bose, £150.00 and it makes my pair of 350 SR sound tosh, I couldn't believe what I was hearing.Think I paid about £800.00 for the SRs. I will find out what model, perhaps home use only.

Tony

Found it

http://www.google.co.uk/products/catalog...ed=0CGQQ8wIwAg#

I have been testing SOLTON equipment the last few weeks - and I am very impressed indeed. The HoneySat is one of the best systems I have heard in that price range. Its not as good as Ketrons B&O based system, but then it is only a fraction of the cost. Their Stage Monitors (MF300A) are just amazing for the price.

Hands down, the best budget priced home system on the market (imho) is the "Clarifier" which is under £100 and looks smart with a Tyros or Audya.

Surely you jest!

Gary

Its got me beat when you buy a £4500 kb and then bash it through a £145 set of speakers, 10ft x 10ft room OK, but any more and surley thats it!

Many thanks to all who replied to my query. It was Diki's remarks that got me thinking again about my present set up. I realise now that I only wanted to change because my gear was old. As Diki pointed out B&O speakers are pretty top drawer and even after thirty five years they still perform well and don't distort at high levels.

I could have shelled out for a new system only to find the old one was better! So I've decided to keep the present set up and only change it when and if it finally cracks up.
Thanks again,
Cleon

When I gig, I use a rented pair of Bose L1's and/or a pair of Yamaha MS-60S powered monitors (which were about $800 each back in the day when I bought them; 20 years ago) so I'm not afraid to spend money on a great system, but, until you've heard the Tyros4 (or any other higher-end arranger) through a pair of these Logitech Z-2300's, you haven't really had an "awesome bang-for-the-buck" experience.

Yes, Tony, they are cheap at less than $200 (Canadian), but they have a terrific, full, balanced sound that is quite loud and does not sound cheap. Given Logitech's great reputation for reliability, it is a speaker system I highly recommend...in fact it is better overall (in my opinion, of course) than some so-called "pro" systems that cost far more.

Take a Z-2300 system home and try it on your present arranger (Audya?)...they also have a great return policy(here in Canada, at least) so you won't be taking much of a risk. I bought one for my Playstation II video game, and another for my PC as well.

Try them out and give us a review.

Ian

Ian, I can only add that Logitech's customer support is second to none, or at least on a par with Bose.
There are several who had a problem with the 2200s. They called them up and were all sent a totally new system and told to keep the old one!
I have two Z2200s and a Z5500. The 5500 is used for surround sound on my TV in the living room (WAY overkill, I know).
One of the 2200s is my computer sound system. The other I keep in a bag for a backup or second pa system. I have played up to 50 or 60 people with it with no regrets.
DonM

Anyone that has heard a pair of TOTL speakers from say forty years ago, Klipsch, B&O, JBL, Koss electrostatics, as long as they haven't been thrashed to death, you are still hearing exceptional speakers, even by today's standards. TBH, a LOT more attention was payed to flatness and color back then than does now except at the audiophile end of the spectrum (completely out of the OP's price range).

The only shortcoming from them might be a lack of extended low end range, as mastering standards only had to deal with LP's back then.

To the OP (Cleon), I might suggest if you feel your low end isn't quite up to task (and that would probably only be if you are doing a fair amount of dance music!) that a small powered subwoofer be added to your current rig to add a hair more depth.

And, kudos for taking the time to THINK about whether you really need to upgrade, rather than rushing out to buy the first thing our somewhat gear-crazy forum suggests. We have a habit here of recommending what WE use far too readily, rather than taking a careful look at the poster's TRUE needs, as if that will somehow validate our purchase more...

Guys! C'mon..!

Don't you even REMEMBER B&O stuff? It was on the front page of audiophile magazines all through the seventies. You EVER seen a picture of a Logitech system on the front page of one of those? Things might have changed, but they haven't changed THAT much!

Don't get me wrong... Logitech stuff is a good bang for the buck, and a cheaper alternative to the overpriced sub and satellite systems that the arranger manufacturers would LIKE us to buy (theirs!), but hi-fi it is NOT...

Yeah Logitech! Absolutely superb customer support.

Don, what impressed me most about the Z-2300 is the headroom, the quality of the sound, and that wicked sub-woofer (nice tight un-flabby bass).

I've had several clients drop by the house and, almost to a person, they have left with the intentions of getting the Z-2300.

A friend of mine has the Z-5500, which is even more awesome (Scott Yee has a custom cabinet made for his Z-5500), but it's overkill for what I would ever need...the Z-2300's are plenty for most home applications, and, yes, even great to use at a small venue.

To me, the Z-2300 was a nice discovery...I doubt very much if Logitech meant that it be a terrific keyboard system, but, it is.

Ian

I have the Mackie HR series...SUPER. and built to take it long term.
They have a VERY nice one that is around $450.00 each.

I second the Mackie nearfield recommendation (run a pair of HR824's myself), but close to a grand might be a bit pricey, given he's already got some nice-ish speakers in the first place...