I've been closely following all the threads on speaker sound systems. Everything from the Mackie to the Yamaha Stage Pas etc.

I currently own the Logitech z5500s and a Roland KC 150 keyboard amp. Am playing mostly 1 hour instrumental gigs at senior venues, cocktail hours, corporate type events. But also play some longer 3 to 4 hour gigs. I'm happy with the Logitechs for the longer gigs, but for 1 hour cocktail stuff it's way too much work for the short gig. I even adopted Tony Mads setup for the logitechs to make easier to transport, but still too much work for an hour. Now,I started using the Kc 150 for the shorter gigs, but the sound sucks. To date the largest audience has been for about 125.

I'm looking for a 1 piece solution and not sure which way to go??? Maybe a Mackie SRM 350 450,JBL eon 10 g 2, Barbetta Sona 32C's? Any thoughts?

Thanks

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[This message has been edited by Stephenm52 (edited 05-12-2006).]

Barbetta 31C would be great. It's small, powerful and sounds better than the 32C.
DonM

What keyboard do you use? Many here have mentioned the Yamaha's sound poor in mono..Maybe it's not your amp..The Roland should sound okay..

PSR 3000 for a keyboard and I had expected better out of the Roland.

Will a single Barbetta 31c suffice or under ideal conditions a pair for stereo?



[This message has been edited by Stephenm52 (edited 05-12-2006).]

Try patching into two channels of the Roland amp..Left from the 3k into 1 channel and the right into channel 2..

Two is ideal. I have used one and it sounds good, by running left and right into separate channels, but using two sounds great.
DonM

I'm with Don, Barbetta 31c. I use the Bose PAS with bass bin as much as I can. But for smaller venues and gigs less than two hours, it's the Barbetta. Also, for large venues that insist that I use the house system, I have two 31c's that I chain since the PAS doesn't have a line out. The PAS, IMHO is still one of the best systems for OMB with vocals.
Ciao,
Jerry

Great minds do indeed think alike!
I love the Bose PAS. It's the ONLY reason I sold my 31Cs. I needed the $ to pay for the Bose!
DonM

I too think the Bose PAS to be the best system I have ever had in my 40 years of playing, and countless other speakers.

Bernie

Gonna give that a try later today. Would love the Bose PAS, but as a part time musician, just not in my budget at this time.

Fran:
I tried that and it did I have to say it did improve the sound of the Kc150. It's still not going to do it for me. I'll still keep it as a backup amp.

Meanwhile, Saturday I went to GC to purchase a Barbetta 31c. They had none and the salesguy seemed to think they were discontinued at least by GC. I wound up taking home on a trial basis a Mackie SRM450. Yea!! Good sound, but this morning I pulled my Logitech z55s and compared them side by side. I thought I was losing my mind that the 55s sounded better to me than the Mackie. I called Gary for a sanity check, he gave me his thoughts. Short story is I took back the Mackie to GC and have a Barbetta 31c on the way. Go figure who would have really thought $200 computer speakers would have the edge, at least to my liking.

Steve, maybe you are comparing the Mackie 450 at too low of volume..I am sure the Logitech will not stay with the 450 at a higher volume

I use 20 year old Roland CK100 Keyboard amps. At low volume they do not sound as good, but when I open them up and eq from my Mackie mixer..they come alive...I like them as much as anything I have heard.
BTW, you may also like what you hear from the Logitech because of Stereo and a sub woofer..
Pair up the Mackie with the Roland in stereo and see if you like what you hear.. balance the volumes though..the Mackie is more powerful.



[This message has been edited by Fran Carango (edited 05-15-2006).]

Steve......just wondering....did you play with two 450's in stereo?

Barbetta amps are a good choice also I should know

[This message has been edited by Dnj (edited 05-15-2006).]

I tried that you're right the 55s did not stay with the Mackie as I cranked the volume up




I tired that too on Saturday and I liked the sound better when paired with the Roland. Definitely the stereo effect that comes into the picture. Problem is I was trying for less pieces and an easier setup for those 1 hour gigs. I'll keep you posted once I get my hands on the 31c. They won't be in for 5 to 10 days.



[This message has been edited by Stephenm52 (edited 05-15-2006).]

No, Donny just played with a single 450, I gotta believe that with a pair of 450s in stereo gotta be sounding great. I tired the 450 based on the positive ratings you gave it, you're using a pair of them and I only had one. So it's not apples to apples comparison. Fran's comments about the Logitechs being stereo made a good point. Then again when I used the Roland KC 150 with the 450 the sound came more alive than either one by itself.


[This message has been edited by Stephenm52 (edited 05-15-2006).]

Originally posted by DonM:
Barbetta 31C would be great. It's small, powerful and sounds better than the 32C.
DonM



Just received by Barbetta 31c, so far so good. I'm happy with it. I like the sound and the size looks like it's going to fit the bill for my use. Thanks for your input everyone



[This message has been edited by Stephenm52 (edited 05-28-2006).]