Should be here early next week.

Don't know if I'll like it or not. We'll see.

Rog, what is it?

Gary

Sorry.

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/Spacestation3

Great let us know how you like it compared to other systems.

You will like it better than I did!

Rog
I have been using the SSv3 for over 6 months, as well as the Bose Compact on some different occasions. I have found the following to be true:

My assessment of the SSv3, or Bose,for that matter, is based solely on what I myself hear. The Bose is monaural and does a great job as far as it goes. It is easy to judge by setting it a little to the side and rear.

The SSv3, on the other hand, has two speaker ports and has to be set far enough away to "bloom". It also needs to have the left port deflected somewhat forward, or set it sideways with the left port facing toward the floor.

I set mine at least six feet away, tilt it up 4inches, and use "V" deflectors so I will get the full effect.

The point is that the audience will love it, but you may not hear what they hear. Hence the reason for careful placement.

Tx all.

I'll just have to give it a whirl as have others. I have a number of smaller places I play where all I need is one speaker.

Maybe this will work for that?

I've been thinking a speaker stand might be the thing?

Got 30 days to try it out.

For this to work for me, I have to be able to run vocals through it as well.

all you can do its play thru it and see if it fits your needs for music & vocals and curiosity......
otherwise good thing you have a 30 return

Space Station V3 review

Nice find Donny
I think it is an accurate assessment.

OK, I'm impressed. I've been trying out the SSV.3 in my den(a room roughly 15 X 20). Been using my Tyros 4. Amp settings are all 12 O'clock.

The sound will be hard to describe...but it's big...at least in that room. I think the whole key is that width feature. With the width shut off, it's like a nice mono amp...very clear, very nice sounding, and good range. But when the width feature is engaged, it's like there's two amps instead of one...the sound really grows.

I hooked up my Sennheiser e835 Mic and sang along...wow. It's like the sound just fills up the room. I was grinning ear to ear.

I've tried placing the amp in a couple of places...right now the amp is next to the Tyros. So far, I've liked the sound about everywhere I've put the amp.

My plan is to use the amp for small gigs when I solo. I have no clue as to whether or not I can duplicate what I'm hearing now in another setting....hope so.

One final note. I almost sent the unit back to Sweetwater...didn't know if I could justify it. I'm really glad I tried it out.

Thanks for following the thread.

Take care.

Rog L

Good luck..... Awaiting more after a few gigs at full performance volumes and you push it... Have fun

Thanks Don,

I won't be using it for a solo gig for a while. I'm sure that will be the test.

This is going to sound a bit over the top...(have just been playing melodies and styles, the SSV.3 next to the keyboard) best way to describe the sound is just gorgeous...so lush and well balanced.

Voices in the higher register, like the piano are so warm and full. The closest has been the Bose Compact for me, but that sounds tinny now compared to the SSV.3.

I imagine I'm a bit caught up in the newness of it all, but practicing has never been so much fun.

I'll keep the SSV.3 for playing for myself, if nothing else.

Rog ... glad you are loving it ... of course the true test will be 'out in the field - or as Donny would say "in the trenches" - in a good size venue ... best of luck with it ...

I wouldn't wait to long to take it out on stage 30 day return comes up fast.....just sayin'...have fun

I'm glad you like it! Wish I could have, but I'm glad we have so many good choices.

Good comments all. I've already told the guy I work with at Sweetwater that I'm keeping the unit.

I probably put four hours today on the SSV.3 just practicing. The sound of the unit made practicing just plain fun. Well just have to see how it works on gigs.

My wife and I have a gig tomorrow. I may use the SS3... we'll see. Usually I use the Compacts. I need 3 inputs, so I would have to bring a Compact for her to sing into.

Tx for the comments. As Don says, nice to have all these choices.

Take care.

Rog Lee

Been playing with my S970 hooked up to the SSV.3. I set the master EQ to the smile format.

Again this is just in my den but it surprises me how realistic sounding (to my ears anyway) are the voices and styles. The drums are so live sounding.

Also, I was reminded that the EQ system of the S970 is every bit if not more sophisticated than my Tyros.

Interesting

I am happy it is fitting your needs so far.
Bernie

Why not just use the new SS3v.3 and a small mixer for the extra inputs, etc,..? would love to know if it can handle it all..

Its the same effects section as the Tyros5, which is a huge improvement over the T4

Bachus. Very good point.

I should be spending more time exploring the capabilities of my Tyros and S970 than trying to figure out what new keyboard I'm going to get...that I really don't need.

If I don't use it for anything else, this SSV.3 has got me finding sounds in both the Tyros and S970 I didn't realize we're there...fun.

I will be providing background music at the end of the month for a party. I plan to try the SSV.3 there.

Take care all.

As for taking it out for a gig with Bass/ drums/Vocals do you intend to get a sub for it ?

Bill,

At this point, no. But most of my gigs are smaller rooms and smaller crowds. The 8 woofer on the Compacts that I use seem to provide enough bass and this SSV.3 unit seems to have at least as much bass, if not more, as the Compacts.

I don't have any gigging experience with the SSV.3 yet to know what to expect.

No way it has as much bass as the Compact. I couldn't use it without adding a sub.

Don sorry you had to be the "guinea pig" I highly respect your opinions alot that's why I didn't go forward and try one myself...

You might love it. Most people do!

I'll be using the SSV.3 for some gigs in April. Should get a better feel for the bass thing then. I have compared the SSV.3(but only in my den) to the Compact regarding bass and the SS3 sure holds its own.

I mentioned in my previous thread that I was bringing a sub because I thought it sounded better with style play and SMFs. It has been said many times that a sub may not be needed except for 100 hz and below, and, if you have a bass player. Only a very small percentage of players use an arranger. This puts the bass squarely in our hands via styles and sequences.

I have had more experience than most on this forum using this great system, and, while extolling it's virtues, there are times when it may need a little bass boost. Use in the field and personal taste will tell you.

BTW Don is right about the Bose bass being more pronounced, but unless you have two like he has, it lacks the spatial effect of the SSV3.

SS frequency range is down to 100 hz.
Bose Compact is down to 65 hz at -3 db, and 50 hz at -10 db. Considerably lower range, and it is quite audible to me.
In addition the SS is 40 pounds plus the sub if you add one, plus stands, reflectors, etc., that people are using to make it sound right. Compact is 24.5 pound plus 2.3 pounds for the extensions. That makes a difference to me.
Again, lots of people love the SS, but I don't believe it is optimal for a one-man-band, needing full coverage from bass to highs.

all good points .....what concerned me is that there isn't many at all reviews or demos on you tube OTHER THEN MANUFACTURERS? why is that...where are all the people who supposidly have this amp and their pros & cons?

Here is 153 pages of threads,of which, 95 % are good. The reason you don't hear more examples, IMO, is that the listener can not truly appreciate the effect through a recording.

There might be a few small negatives, but the sound is absolutely worth it IMO.

http://forums.musicplayer.com/ubbthreads...oar#Post2602284

Bernie I was talking about YouTube videos? Other than the manufacturer...

I listened to every YouTube video I could find re: the SS3. I couldn't find anything special about the amp.

When I tried it at home, that's when I understood what all the fuss was about. Anyway you cut it, the amp produces a full, big (and yes stereo)sound.

If I was doing dances in a large hall as my regular gig, I would add a sub plus more PA probably. That said, if dances were my main venue, I wouldn't be using Compacts either. I would be using the larger L1's with a B4 bass unit.

About four times a year, I play bass guitar with a dance band. We tried the Compacts, they didn't cut it. The band went to a bigger Bose unit with dual B2 subs

One other thought.

When I do smaller nursing home/assisted living gigs, I'm hoping to use one amp. I tried one Bose Compact, running two outs on my Tyros into one in on the Bose. It was OK at best.

My hope was that I could use my SSV.3 as a single amp for these smaller gigs. I haven't done that yet, but comparing(using the Tyros) one single Bose to a single SSV.3(my larger den) the SSV.3 wins every time....again to my ears and in my den.

Time will tell.

I would not use a single Bose Compact if I were using a stereo sound source, such as an arranger keyboard. It's not designed for that, and the arrangers are designed to be heard in stereo. Some do, but again, they are compromising their sound, in my opinion. (Sorry Gary).
The Compacts are also not designed to carry a full band. They Bose premise was for EACH player to have his own sound source.
It's important to optimize the sound system you use for the venue you are playing. If I ever play a really large venue again, I'll use two big Bose L1s and subs. Probably never will though. It's been seven years since I played something that large, a July 4 civic celebration at an open air park in Arkansas. Even though I sold both my big systems, neither is being used regularly and I can borrow them any time I need them. That was a stipulation of the sales.
If what you use is getting the job done, and it pleases you and your audience, by all means go for it! There are lots of great choices.

BIG DITTO !!

guitpic

You will find that the amp is very versatile and can handle most venues nicely. I have used all of my keyboards with the Bose Compact(1) and SSv3. The gigs were from small rooms and 30 people to large halls and 400 people.

The Bose sounds good, has good bass support, and carries a long way without dropping off. The SSv3 opens the various sound components and spreads them out in all direction. You have a summed mono vs stereo.

Don, no need to apologize - remember, I'm retired now, or at least I will be on April 8th.

All the best,

Gary

Interesting article regarding Stereo and mono systems.

http://www.mcsquared.com/mono-stereo.htm

Col

Tx Bernie

However it all works out, if I can reproduce the sound I get from my SS3 at home at a gig, I'll be one happy camper. It's the best sound I've heard from either my Tyros or S970.