Modartt user forum - What in theory should sound better?

Re: What in theory should sound better?

2012-07-25T08:10:00Z

Thanks for the great replies. The amp wasn't a solution at all, whenever it's plugged into my fast track pro I get pops and cracks. I've moved my speakers into the lounge so I'm currently using headphones.

I wonder if headphones might be the best solution. I have a set of Grados (http://www.whathifi.com/review/grado-sr80i) but I wonder if there's a pair which would be better for pianoteq at around £200-300? Or do headphones have problems of their own?

Cheers guys

Re: What in theory should sound better?

2012-07-18T02:00:07Z

I gave away my Roland KC 60... at home I use studio monitors and sub... playing gig I use one or 2 Bose compacts but not Pianoteq yet.. though I have it my Mac Book Pro...home I use an iMac 27

Re: What in theory should sound better?

2012-07-16T08:32:06Z

Run away from Roland KC series amps like from the devil. They sound like crap. Definitely not for a full range instrument like a piano!

Re: What in theory should sound better?

2012-07-16T01:39:22Z

Hello Murray,

I have had zero experience with either the Wharfdale 9.4 or the Roland KC-60; however, since the title of this thread asks "What in theory should sound better?", please allow me to shed a little theoretical light on this topic.

Upon reviewing the audio bandwidth for the Wharfdale 9.4's, I see 40Hz to 24kHz -6dB. The minus 6dB tolerance at 40 Hz concerns me, in terms of reproducing the lower fundamental tones of of a piano. The lowest A note on a piano has a fundamental frequency of approximately 27.5 Hertz.

[EDIT: Many speakers roll off at the rate of 6dB per octave. If, indeed, this is the case for the Wharfdale 9.4, it implies that the speaker is only relatively "flat" in frequency response down to about 80Hz (approximately the F or G only about 1-1/2 octaves below Middle C. End Edit.]

The Wharfdale's stated frequency response do not mean that 27.5 Hz is completely inaudible, but the lowest notes (played through the Wharfdale) will sound "tinny" in the lowest octave, because the lowest octave's overtones will be way out of proportion to the loudness of the fundamental frequency.

* * * * * * * * * *

Interestingly, Roland does not publish frequency response characteristics for its KC-60. If it had something to be extremely proud of, then Roland would publish these specifications. At the same time, please do not be fooled if a given speaker vendor advertises its frequency response as 20Hz-20kHz, but with no tolerance. I would imagine the Roland KC-60 to be down by at least 12 or even 18db at 20Hz.

I suspect the Roland keyboard's 40 watt amplifier might run out of headroom, when playing Pianoteq rather loudly. When attempting to reproduce a piano's lowest octaves, a 10" woofer will consume power quite quickly. If the amp overloads and goes into clipping, it will send a shower of high frequencies into the tweeter, and promptly blow it out.

* * * * * * *

In my opinion, I support Jake Johnson's ideas, because a small keyboard amp reduces the stereo soundfield to mono. You might consider borrowing a friend's keyboard amp, and pair it with your existing keyboard amp, in order to generate a stereo field. In this way, you will be able to check whether you derive a suitable sound.

Although my written response might not sound terribly positive about either product, hopefully you might glean some information that you find useful in your endeavor to find a workable solution.

Cheers,

Joe

Re: What in theory should sound better?

2012-07-15T08:32:10Z

just a make a "mono" test by connecting only one Wharfedale >< Roland, and decide by yourself! ;-)

Re: What in theory should sound better?

2012-07-14T17:45:21Z

The Sam Ash store here has several of its keyboards hooked up to various amps and monitors. It might be worthwhile finding a similar store where it would be easy to listen to the variations.

I was impressed by the sound of a pair of Peavey keyboard amps that sold for about $299 each. Sorry that I don't remember the model. In any case, single keyboard amps tend to get a bad report because they of course reduce everything to one source or to mono. On the other hand, I was told many years ago that the bigger the cones, given an adequate amp, the better, for a piano sound.

What in theory should sound better?

2012-07-14T17:16:08Z

I'm just rethinking my rig at the moment. Currently I'm going from my fasttrackpro into a marantz preamp through to a set of wharfedale 9.4s, I also own a keyboard amp a Roland KC-60. Out of these which should sound better? I've read Hi-Fi speakers aren't really suitable and I should be using studio monitors and wondered if a proper keyboard amp was a suitable solution.
I currently own 1 KC-60 but would consider buying a second if it would be an improvement over my Hi-fi. Or do I just buy a set of studio monitors?

Links:
Speakers:
http://www.wharfedale.co.uk/Products/Pr...fault.aspx

Amp
http://www.rolandus.com/products/produc...ductId=524

Thanks.

Murray

p.s. If monitors are the solution what would you guys recommend for around £300?