If you are interested on my take on this amp see my posting under Scott Yee's thread Sterio Spot Monitors Speakers for: MUTE Keyboards!

I concur with the Pro in recommending the amp.

RJ -

I am very interested in purchasing the Motion Sound KP-200s. I had earlier read The Pro's comments and then I did a little research on the amps and was impressed. I too am an accordionist and was wondering how the amp would work with my setup - Petosa Millenium Reedless accordion with Ketron XD3 expander. Are you using an acoustic/midi accordion or a pure reedless electronic signal? I do know that friends have had a terrible time mixing the acoustic accordion and their expanders - the old digital with analog problem. Even with a mixer is has proven difficult.

All in all it sounds like you are happy with the Motion Sound. I thought about the 100 but it didn't seem powerful enough for some of the larger gigs I intend on playing. I can always turn the 200 down, right?

Thanks.

As I have mentioned, I have purchased and am waiting for a Motion Sound KP-100S stereo amp.

I have a great idea to cut down on setup and take down time.

Instead of getting a cover for it, I am going to have a padded vinyl case made for it. It will either zipper down or pull down with velcro. Then I'm going to always keep cables with angled 1/4" plugs plugged into the inputs. When I get to my job, all I have to do is unzip the case, pull out the power cable and audio cables and plug them in, and then pull back the top of the case and adjust the volume. The amp would never have to leave the case.

When I'm done, all I have to do is unplug, roll up the cables, stuff them into the case, and zip it up.

I currently do this with my JBL Eon10 G2 which I keep in its gig bag. It really saves on setup and take down time. I figured, "Why take the speaker out of the case?" It won't improve the sound.

This might not be viable for a heavy speaker like a KP-200S which I would want rollers for - and a roady for that matter, but for a 36lb amp, I think it will work out.

Beakybird

What is the list price on the KP100's and KP200's?
Will be looking forward to your reviews of this amp.
Starkpper

Hi Beakybird (Larry): Sorry I missed your phone call last night. I assume it was to tell me about your vinyl case idea for the KP-100S's that we both ordered, right?

Hi Star:

List Prices:
KP-200S (55 lbs): $999
KP-100S (38 lbs): $699
http://www.motion-sound.com/keypro_amplifiers.htm

Beakybird & I both ordered ours from DanO: danosmusic@yahoo.com He offers a substantial discount off the above list prices. - Scott

I just recieved a KP200S .


Dano

------------------
Piano Man's Keyboard City
624 Frederick Rd .
Catonsville Md. 21228
410 747 0200
danosmusic@yahoo.com or keyboardcity@yahoo.com

Scott,

This is correct. Isn't it a good idea?

Scott, did you order the cover for the KP-100S made by Larry Lecover? He wasn't sure if he had the right measurements for this amp after all. He thought that it was a square amp and was surprised when I told him that it was a miniature version of the KP-200S.

He told me that he wouldn't make a cover without being able to measure the amp in person. By great coincidence, his shop is just 15 miles from my home and definitely not far away from some of the facilities I perform at, so if he doesn't have the right measurements, I will be able to take the amp to him and have him measure it in person.

Beakybird

REPLY TO THE ACCORDIONIST:
I am using the KP-200S with a petosa Millenium and a Ketron X4 module. Both the Millenium and the X4 sound great through the amp even at lower volumes. I play mainly for senior citizens in small venues and don't need volume, but do want a crystal clear sound and a good sounding bottom end (with out being loud.)

I use all 8 inputs on the KP-200S: 4 for the X4, 2 for the Millenium module and 2 for a VoicePrism. I use sterio expansion on the X4 channel to simulate the spread of sound you hear from a combo playing. I don't use any expansion on the Millenium/VoicePrism channel because it makes some of the Millenium accordion voices sound like they are synthesized rather than being acoustic. And some of the VoicePrism presets sound strange when sterio expansion is applied. Since both an acoustic accordion and a singer or small vocal group is more of a point source of sound rather than spread out like a combo, not applying sterio expansion is a closer approximation to reality.

Currently when I play with the X4, I don't use the Millenium sounds. I need more time to experiment with layering right hand X4 and Millenium sounds. I am still exploring the sounds on the Millenium and deciding which sounds are best for each song in my book when I play the Millenium only. Going from 11 switches on my Excelsion AC to 12 banks with 12 switches each on the Millenium means there is a lot to decide.

Good Luck!

RJM

One thing I should add about using the Motion Prop KP-series amps on stage: it clearly sounds best when raised off of the floor and angled upwards towards the back of your head, as suggested in it's owner's manual. There are a variety of amp stands that'll do the job - I use one by QuikLok. The reason is simple: your body will block the sound of the amp from your own ears if it is not raised and angled. This won't affect how the audience hears the amp but how you will hear it. This might negate BB's idea of leaving it in some kind of vinyl case while playing. At first I tried just tilting it back but found that it sounded muffled to me because my body was blocking it - it sounds much better on a stand, especially because the amp will likely be located pretty close to you on an average stage.

Although the KP-200s weighs 56 lbs, it's comfortable to carry (at least for me, but I'm 6' and pretty strong). I wouldn't add rollers to it but if you need help then a small handtruck would be enough.

I think I mentioned before that I really liked the padded cover that Larry at Lecase made for my KP-200s, and it fits like a glove despite the weird angles of the cabinet. The front of the amp is not protected and would be easy to damage so a cover is a good investment.

And least I forget: yes, I still love my KP-200s and I don't think I've ever seen or heard a better keyboard amp. I think the KP-100s will also perform well but besides the power difference I'd also be concerned about the difference in speaker size vs the KP-200s (2-6" speakers vs. 2-8") and the bass response. Guess we'll find out when you guys get your 100s' and you could always add powered spakers or subwoofers to it when needed, but since I still play with bands on occasion I'd still go with the beefier KP-200s.

Pro,

The vinyl case would not prohibit me putting the amp on the stand. I plan on purchasing the Quick-Lok stand.

Also, I think you are mistaken. The KP200S has two 10" speakers and the KP100S has two 8" speakers.

Beakybird

Does anyone use [2] kp200s amps on stage for Keybords AND Vocals in a large venue?
Do the 10" speakers in each amp give off enough Bass?

[This message has been edited by Dnj (edited 03-14-2003).]

Impressions?

Oops - quite right, my mistake. I should wake up more before posting in the morning.



I used (1) KP-200s for a medium-sized auditorium and it was fine for that with plenty of bass and power. I don't sing but I ran my keyboard into Channel 1 (stereo) and I setup an announcer mic that ran into the other channel. There is a lo-z mic input on Channel 2 of the KP-200s but there is no line I/O for adding effects to the input so if you have something like a Digitech Vocalizer with reverb that you could run your mic into before going to the KP-200s, that would work.

I wouldn't use two KP-200s' - instead I would add powered speakers and/or subs from the stereo lo-z outputs of the KP-200s if I needed more power or wanted to expand the sound further. If you need more inputs or more versatility with vocals effects then I would just use a regular PA for the front sound and use the KP-200s as a stage keyboard and vocal monitor.