I want a better SOUND!

[maJ estY]

Hey people,

I have easy life for a while now, actually about one whole year. I'll work from July until April, that means no homework and stuff, so I have much more time to play my keyboards in that time.
I have connected my Roland XP-30 with my stereo with cinch cable. So you can imagine that I don't have the best sound coming out of my synth right now. A good sound is actually important for me, but I know that really good boxes are important.
I don't want to spend too much money for boyes, so I wanted to ask if you can recommend me something? (I want to buy new stuff, so no ebay here ;) ). I only want to connect my XP-30 with them and they don't need to be loud, because I will only use them in my room. OR would you recommend me some good head phones? That would do it, too.

Thanks in advance for every recommendation!

Jan.

[MoonDark]

The roland Kc series are pretty nice!
I use a KC-300 and I don't have any problem with it , and my sound is pretty cool
you could check KC-100 for less volume (just 60 w) , less $$$ :wink:

[Rexx]

You just want better sound reproduction?

I'm in the same predicament in that I've needed better speakers and an amp for a long time.
I still connect my mixer output to my stereo system.

I intend on buying a powerful active subwoofer and some active monitors but I need to figure out how I can run my tv, dvd, cd, cassette through the same speaker system.

My problem always seems to be clean bass, if I play some heavy bottom end stuff most speakers distort and thats with my keyboard fader set at 5 and the mixer set at 7.

I wouldn't buy speakers from eBay because speaker's are something you need to try out before deciding to purchase.

[maJ estY]

OK, thanks for your advices.
I have got a Creatie Cambridge Soundworks Four Point Surround System (FPS1500) connected to my PC. They sound very good when I listen to music or play games, but I only have a SoundBlaster Live 5.1 soundcard (not Platinum), so I don't have the possibility to connect the synth with these boyes properly.

I will have a look at the KC-100!

Thanks again, you two. - Anyone there who wants to add something? :)

[maJ estY]

As I can see, the current KC series are KC-150. They're pretty expensive, on the other side I have no comparison... ;)
MoonDark: Do you have one or two KC-300? I ask that because I would love to have a stereo sound, because there are very many stereo sounds on my XP-30 (there's the Session JV expansion board with 8MB stereo sounds installed).

[Tusker]

I've had good experiences listening through monitors and even through home stereos. I generally have been dissapointed with a number of the Keyboard amps. As far as keyboard amps go I like Barbettas, but you'll pay a bit more for them than you would for the Rolands. The advantage of spending the money on the amp is that you can use it for gigs and rehearsal.

Still for now, no reason to diss a pair of headphones.

Jerry

[ImaX]

What Tusker said: invest the monery in good headphones. You can play using your home speakers, and if you want a really good sound (for great songs, sound programming, at midnight...) use the headphones.

[maJ estY]

Yes I think that would be better. But what Tusker said is also good: Boxes which I can use as monitors, at rehearsals and at gigs.
I will check those out.

Thanks!

[Over The Edge]

I own a pair of Barbetta Sona 41C's.
I love the power and clarity I get out of these
babies. Superior to the Rolands any day.


FL
www.franklucas.net

[maJ estY]

Seems like these are not available in Germany :roll:

[Over The Edge]

Last night, in addition to BT's latest album,
I picked up a pair of cheap $19.00 headphones
by Sony because my consumer models crapped
out on me the other night.

I gotta tell you I found a real gem in these.
Nice bass and upper range response.

They're the MDR-CD180 headphones by Sony
and available at Tower Records...and cheap.



FL
www.franklucas.net

[Lurion]

I tryed out both roland and peavey and I ended up buying a Peavey KB/300 A. It is incredible. Loads of power (I use it for rehearsals and its got plenty of grunt) and a very clean sound. The low section is excellent with the Scorpion woofer. You can get smaller KB series amps for a reasonable amount of money.

[Shreddy]

I have the Peavy KB/A 100 I really dont care for it at all. The amp is loud but the sound is harsh and cold. You might want to pursue the headphone route, I know Roland has some small monitors (low wattage) that are around $100US. Anyone have the Behringer Monitors?

If I had a chance I would go Franks route with a pair of Barbettas, not at this moment though.

Ed

[maJ estY]

I'm afraid that Barbetta and Peavey is stragely both not available here in Germany. :oops:

[Spacehog]

Peavey have international distribution, they should be available in Germany... as for Barbetta, I've never heard of them before this thread, much less seen them in the UK or in online stores, so I'd not expect to find them in Germany either.

Personally I'd be tempted to go for a pair of decent powered nearfields instead of a keyboard amp. Something like a pair of M-Audio BX8's would be ideal... if you wanted more low end, you could add a SBX subwoofer to the mix. They'd also have the advantage of being ideal as and when you come to upgrade your PC's soundcard etc for recording purposes.

Martin

[maJ estY]

They'd also have the advantage of being ideal as and when you come to upgrade your PC's soundcard etc for recording purposes.

Martin

Thanks for the recommendation!

I'll buy a new soundcard before buying boxes or headphones. I'll order the Creative Audigy 2 Platinum Pro during the next days. I thought of the Phase row of Terratec before, but I'd like to have EAX, so I think that this solution is the best one. In addition to that, this soundcard has actually everything I need/want.