http://mackie.com/products/portable-pa-systems

There was one in the music store where I teach and it sat for quite awhile. Like a lot of other all in one systems more designed for the acoustic guitar / singer types. No bottom end for keyboards and I think it was expensive for what it was.
I'm repeating myself but for portability and big sound the best all in one I've seen in person is the JBL Eon One.
They just finally sold a Maul System which also sat for awhile. It was the model with the 12" sub and it sounded very good but lost it for me in the portability factor.

Bill they sit because of ignorance Id say,....the LD systems speakers are among the best I have ever used for sure for sound & reliability,..I never liked the sound of any JBL units.. to each his own.
Anyway at least mackie tries to innovate with new gear all the time nothing wrong with that...

Merry Christmas

FEATURES

Powered: Yes
Power Configuration: Bi-amped + Full range side fills
LF Driver Size: 2 x 6.5″ (LF), 2 x 4″ (Full range)
HF Driver Size: 3 x 1″ dome compression drivers, radial curve design
Total Power: 720W Peak
Inputs: 4 x XLR-1/4″ combo, 1 x 1/4″ (Link in), 1 x 1/8″ (Aux in), Bluetooth
Outputs: 1 x 1/4″ (Link Out), 1 x 1/4″ (headphone), 1 x 1/4″ (footswitch)
Maximum Peak SPL: 126dB
Weight : 30.8 lbs.

Looks great on paper! May be light on bass. It looks like it is a traditional speaker and not like a line-array. $999 for a digital mixer... speaker with no sub... interesting idea.

In my duo, it looks like it would have to be placed in between us and slightly front. I guess it would make our duo a trio... me... Mackie Reach... my wife.

I agree, people know very little about whats out there and I think tend more to stick with names they recognize.
As I said the Maul System sounded fine when I heard it but I'm sure that heavy sub box and the fact of moving different pieces is what held it back.
JBL went Chinese but I've had good luck so far with my 515xts. Just tired of speaker stands and they project so much I can't get a true feel for my sound with the speaker right next to me. Also very little need for that much power in the venues here. Only twice did I really need it and I doubt if I'll be doing any more gigs like those.
If you can just for fun go listen to an Eon One and better yet bring your keyboard. I think you will be surprized as I was.
Merry Christmas back at ya and have a great New Year.

Eon One. This has to be one of the best keyboard amps I’ve used. I love the sound with my 4X. It’s also very flexible with inputs and controls.

The downside is the size of the amp...it’s a bit bulky. However, it’s still my go to amp.

I use a Bose compact or the Space Station. I am curious as to the advantage of the Eon One.

Bernie cant wait for your JBL Eon1 review could be the perfect system for your needs vs the other two mentioned.....
you know you want a NEW Xmas present lol you've been a good boy!!

Merry Christmas

[quote=Bernie9]I use a Bose compact or the Space Station. I am curious as to the advantage of the Eon One

Bernie
IMO the Eon would be more powerful and have better bass than either of the systems you have. The Compact was very popular but numerous musicians have commented on how the Eon overpowers it . The SS3 is a unique concept but needs to be placed in the right place to do its magic. Adding amp stands to tilt it and carrying baffles to disperse the sound properly or adding a sub to fill out the sound make it too complicated,for me. Look up my old review of the Eon vrs. my 515xt. Or do what I suggested to Donny. Go play thru one and be surprised.

Guys.... you have lost your way!!

As keyboard players don't you remember the days you used a keyboard amp?
Remember that full sound?
Remember the bottom and punch?
Remember it sounded like it came from the keyboard you were playing?
And not some mystery location in the air..

PA systems are "public announce" systems.... designed for voice and general background sound.. Today's standards... make it louder.... not better..

The newer gimmick concepts are designed for a solo instrument like guitar and a vocal..

Years ago we were peaked at sound on stage..
The bass player had his bass amp (near him and you could locate the bass player by the stage sound..)

The guitar player had his perfect sound with his own guitar amp...and yes we knew were he was on stage..

The keyboard player had all the detail sound he / she needed with a keyboard amp...an amp designed for full range sound.. usually two way, many 3 way systems.. and the sound was right there at the keyboard.. It felt like you were playing the instrument you were hearing... No need for the monitors usually needed with the current sound systems if you want to hear what you are doing.(maybe with the auto/ push a button stuff today ..you don't care..)

I still have the same Keyboard amps for the last 32 years.. As a keyboard player there is nothing better.. Especially on stage..

Buying lighter stuff... good for your energy use, but do you really think it sounds better?

There are reasons why the old gear was built in cabinets with design features, and extra components as in 3 way.. tweeter , horn, and woofer.. with crossover points... and 15" speakers (yes there is a difference).

I have never been happy with my keyboards coming from PA speakers up on polls... it leaves me unattached with the sound and keyboard..

Just rethink where we are going.. and for guys that still have keyboard amps (Bill you still have your Crates?)... listen to them again and compare to the new gimmick stuff...

I get my best sound out of my pair of Yamaha DXR 10 speakers. In stereo... in poles or on the floor as monitors.

I tried the JBL EON One. It was fantastic on music that was pre-recorded. My Pa4X piano sound didn’t sound the way I wanted it to. I had mine for 9 months and then sold it locally. The Maui 5 sounded better for keyboard sounds.

So Fran, how's that Yugo holding up? BTW, hope we can get together at the next meeting of the Flat Earth society .

chas

9

I love our members who have a sense of humor and don't take everything personally.

chas

What do you mean by that!!!!!????

chas

Inputs for one thing. I don’t have to run a separate mixer when my wife sings with me. The Eon One has separate channel EQ controls as well.

That 10 inch sub really produces a nice low end. It’s plenty loud for my needs.

Sound dispersion. In real use it seems I get close to 180 degree spread although the specs say less than that.

I EQ’d my 4X MAXX system to get the best sound I could out of my Eon One and 4X and have been very happy with it.

Only down side I’ve found is that it’s a bit bulky.

One final note...

The MAXX EQ system on the 4X is one of the best EQ systems I’ve worked with..including some outboard mixers.

Just a suggestion, before judging the sound of a PA with the 4X, try EQing the 4X to work with the PA.

I’ve got different MAXX EQ setups for all three of my PA’s. and I think the PA’s really come alive when using the MAXX EQ.

You are correct! I didn’t change the MAXX EQ to fit the system. I guess I was spoiled because with the Yamaha DXR... or my RCF... or my home Yamaha studio monitors... NO EQ adjustments were needed. Flat signal and it sounds fantastic.

I agree on the bulkiness of the EON One. But it did sound great on the pre-program stuff.

Fran
Sold those Crate KX220s before the move here. They were super powerful and flexible. BUT -- they were 70lbs and didn't have the sound quality of today's systems. Boxy is the term used a lot. Plus they're being on the floor limits your coverage especially singing thru them. When I used one and they could also power two additional speakers I put a 12" PA speaker on a pole along with it.

Shuey. Love,the DXRs but heavy, lots,of wires and those poles I hate. Great system if you don't mind those things.

Bill here is your review posted at Music 123....

5.0
Powerful keyboard amp/PA
By Bill Lewis
from New Jersey
For years I've been using a PA type setup(mixer w/15" cabinets) for my keyboards. To simplify my setups I tried the KX220 and it was so much better I bought a second one for the stereo effect. It has a much punchier and tighter sound for the keys. I do a 0ne-man-band type of performance for parties and with a 12" extension speaker on a stand it handles the bass, drums, keys, vocals, and DJ-ed CD's fine. I also have a Blues/RB trio where I play a Hammond XK3 w/bass pedals and a Roland piano. I usually use 1 KX220 with a stereo line out to the PA to spread the sound a bit. For larger rooms two KX's with no feed to the PA.The KX220 is compact in size, powerful and very versatile. Big wheels make it easy to move.

[quote=Fran Carango]Bill here is your review posted at Music 123....

5.0
Powerful keyboard amp/PA
By Bill Lewis
from New Jersey
For years I've been using a PA type setup(mixer w/15" cabinets) for my keyboards. To simplify my setups I tried the KX220 and it was so much better I bought a second one for the stereo effect. It has a much punchier and tighter sound for the keys. I do a 0ne-man-band type of performance for parties and with a 12" extension speaker on a stand it handles the bass, drums, keys, vocals, and DJ-ed CD's fine. I also have a Blues/RB trio where I play a Hammond XK3 w/bass pedals and a Roland piano. I usually use 1 KX220 with a stereo line out to the PA to spread the sound a bit. For larger rooms two KX's with no feed to the PA.The KX220 is compact in size, powerful and very versatile. Big wheels make it easy to move.
[/quote


Fran
I stand by my review "for that time" Things change and improve, lucky for us. The PA I was using before the KX220's was also Crate with 12" / Piezo tweeter cabinets, Not nearly the quality of something like todays Yamaha DXRs. If I was in a band situation where there was a "pole pa" for the vocals I could be happy with the KX220 again. But working solo and wanting the easiest in/outs they wouldn't do it.

The reason is - they didn't KNOW any better. It was the best they could do with what they had at the time. Sure, there's a mass value to a cabinet design, but the ratio of how good it sounds to how HEAVY it is, is shrinking every day. 15's are in no way "needed" to produce the best lows, or the punchiest tone, in fact - many smaller cabinets (if designed, and ported right) have a tighter, more defined bass response that I, personally, prefer. (the SVt 8-10 cabinet was the BEST bass tone EVER!)
I know how you love your old Roland Cubes, but they are so much more directional than the line array speakers. Being on the floor adds bass, but looses highs as the sound tries to pass through the audience. If you still had all your high frequency hearing range intact, you'd realize that. (*** I can say that to him, without a smily face - we're friends a LONG time)
The optimum speaker arrangement, regardless of size, or power is to have bass on the floor, and mids/higs raised up over head. (unless you're playing arenas, which I sure don't - and they STILL use this method pretty often) This is why the line array portables are my choice. I get the bass on the floor, and the rest throws over the heads of my audience. The coverage is better, the reflections are reduced, and the boominess is eliminated. I know bass makes you move, but most acts I see, pump way too much bass for my taste. I think they use the bass as a crutch to compensate for technique. Just my opinion. There are plenty of great performers, with great technique that choose this method, as well. If the sound person isn't on the ball, or the act is mixing from stage - this is an easy problem to miss, because bass increases as you get farther from the source. (everyone knows that, right?)

So Fran - yes, your cubes sound terrific. They're loud, and full of deep, powerful tone, but make sure you put price tags on them for your kids, so they can sell them (cheap) when you die. (again - friends a long, long time) No one I know will use them after your Roland personal museum is silenced. I might be interested in the G-70 ... my son has a mustang, and it's awful on snowy roads. He can carry it in the trunk in the winter for traction.
( ... ok, THAT one deserves a smily face)

That's what I thought myself. They sound too thin for me for the full range of a keyboard. I use EV's.......great for voice, but I prefer my small GK bass amp to play my Roland through.



So, then, what's hot in the keyboard amp arena in your opinion, Fran?