I (see)hear(YouTube) reviews of supposedly what a keyboard sounds like.

If a keyboard doesn’t have speakers, aren’t we really evaluating the external speakers the keyboard is using; more than the actual sound of the keyboard itself?

Seems to me, it would be better to purchase the best set of headphones available to actually hear what the keyboard sounds like.

Then go out and try to find speakers that best reproduced what is heard through the headset?

Agreed - everything we hear is based on the speaker/source we listen to. When I was teaching, I took my kids to see the Phila orchestra every year just so they'd hear what the actual instruments sound like. If all you can reference is a sound through speakers .... even real instruments mic'd - you have never heard that instrument. This is much more paramount with digital sound generators - the movement of air is what makes the sound, and the speakers you choose will all have a color effect on it. Personally, I enjoy using onboard speakers blended with a second source to create the sum of the two. That way I hear what I need, and the audience hears what I choose to send them. Sometime's it's different.

Purchasing the best set of headphones doesn't guarantee you'll hear a natural sounding instrument either. You may as well say the same about buying the best set of speakers money can buy. Fact is,different brands of headphones and speakers can add their own colouring to the sound.

Personally, l would rather audition speakers and see how they actually sound with the keyboard before buying, rather than spend a lot of money on headphones.

Russ

The sax in the on-board demo on the Tysros 2 is gorgeous and could fool almost anybody; the problem is, when I tried to use it, it sounded phony as hell. I always use the breathy tenor sax on my old Pa1x pro which isn't nearly as authentic but to me is more 'playable' and sounds better in the kind of music I play. I don't know what any of this means .

chas

lol cracked me up.

Nothing sounds close to a great pair of headphones - although onboard quality speakers sound great (love to hear the sx900). My Senn HDs closely match my live sound through the QSCs. I've only liked one monitor - Adams.

To get accurate sounds..
You need to play them like the real thing

Playing things in a piano or organ way will not work well, even if the soundquallity is there

To me this is what defines a keyboard player and sets him next to the organ and piano player..
Only difference the keyboard player can play an organ and a piano sound too..

In general arranger players are great keyboardists too..

IMHO a top of the line set of Monitors is just about as good as it will be to the real sound of the instrument. I used to have a set of HR824 Mackies, and they were superb and THX certified.
Sold them when I sold the PA2XPRO...

Thats the answer, near field monitors, but only when placed on the right spot.. with you in the centerspot.. the rest of the room gets an acceptable sound quallity at best... they are not meant to play in the open... but sameas with headsets, to be used when recording..

Open back headphones are widely used for mixing because they have an open air sound, unlike closed back which block out more outside sound. I have lots of closed back cans for clients to use, to reduce bleed-thru, but I always A/B my mixes with headphones (open), and the monitors.

I agree dave I have both......open for editing.....closed for recording, vocals no sound bleeding...etc..