Though an arranger keyboard's 'built in' speakers may be sufficient for a small room , adding even just one active PA speaker will greatly enhance the sound. Because the EVSxA100's are relatively light & easy to transport, I generally take at least one to all gigs (even the smaller venues).

The principal attraction to the 'built-in' speakers (for me & I'm sure others as well) is their function as a personal monitor, especially in larger rooms, when the Main PA speakers can't be heard properly from your stage position.

Since the only reason I need 'built-in' speakers is for monitoring purposes, I'm wondering if I could forgo requiring an arranger board which includes 'built in' speakers, and instead, perform & monitor (my keyboard & vocal mix) thru a pair of ultra lightweight non-obstrusive headphones. Does anyone here perform this way?

Will wearing headphones still allow you to adequately hear what's going on around you (talking with the audience etc)? How about cord-less headphones, will they work very well? Any potential feedback or interference problems?

I'd like to to get feedback & advice about using headphones while performing. Specific headphone brand and model recommendations would also be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

If the above headphone 'performance monitoring' scenerio will work, it seems that the new full featured yet lightweight Yamaha Tyros will be the logical arranger keyboard upgrade for me.

- Scott

Hi Scott,
I have used "earbud" type headphones quite a bit for monitoring myself. If they were cordless, is would be much better, but actually the cord is so tiny that it is not intrusive.
I have tried coming directly out of the headphone out, but seem to have better results from the headphone jack on the Mackie 1202. I sometimes use an extender cord so that I am not so closely tied to the mixer.
You are still able to heard people talk and other normal sounds. The headphones of course are stereo and the sound is phenominal. The ones I used cost about $10.00!
Don

Hi Don: MANY thanks for your valuable input. Do you get much/if any audience comments about using them? What brand/model do you recommend? At $10, it's certainly worth a shot to see if this setup is a feasible alternative to relying on 'built in' speakers for performance monitoring. If I do end up purchasing the Tyros (seems more likely by the day) being able to monitor thru tiny ear buds would certainly beat having to purchase & drag along the Tyros speaker system including sub woofer too. If I get the Tyros, I'd proably pass on the Tyros Stand and speaker - sub woofer system, unless someone here convinces me otherwise.

Please elaborate. What kind of problems do you have when coming out of the 2000's phone jack?

Hi Scott,
I have seen on TV many bands performing live and it looks like more and more of them (especially the drummers) are wearing headphones, I guess for monitoring purposes. In some cases they even use those models with a microphone included. I wonder how good the quality can be for singing...

Andrea,
I see the bands using them more and more too. Usually the drummer is listening to a click track on his/hers.

The quality for the ones with mics included like all other mics is directly proportional to amount spent. Some of the "biggies" are using them for preforming live though.
jam on,
Terry

I think you will find interesting reading the following article:
http://industryclick.com/magazinearticle...37409&siteid=15

-- José.

Here's another one. Good reading!
http://industryclick.com/magazinearticle...56635&SiteID=15

-- José.

José:
THANKS for the links to the highly informative articles about IEMs (in the ear monitors). Seems the stage venues in the article are more rock band oriented. I'm still trying to figure out if this 'IEM' scenerio would work for my more initmate one man band style setting or not.

DonM:
I'm wondering if you might have just MISSED READING my questions to you earlier in this thread (see above).

I'm really curious to find out if you would consider switching to an arranger that didn't have 'built in' speakers (like the Tyros or SD1) and feel comfortable enough to rely solely on 'in your ear' headphones for monitoring while performing. Do you think you would miss having built-in speakers? Thanks.

Scott,
I actually did reply to your question, but for some reason it didn't get posted. My computer has been doing some strange things lately.
I didn't actually have any problems with the headphone out on the keyboard, but coming from the Mackie gives a few more options, including monitoring other sources, such as guest singers or players that are not routed through the keyboard.
I sent you an email, but I will post it here in case anyone else is interested.

"I have a couple of different headphones. I think one is a Sony. They are the “earbud” type they are designed for portable CD players. The little ear pieces actually fit inside your ear. The audience can’t even see them if you are careful with the cord. You may have to buy an extension for the cord, if it isn’t long enough. Radio Shack has them.

I usually cut my speakers off on the job, unless it is impossible to position the mains where I can hear them without feedback.

I had the Roland G800, which had no speakers. I don’t remember if the X1 had them. It is not that important to me whether there are speakers. I use them mostly for practice."

Don