Best active pa speaker for live keys monitor

[goldphinga]

Options so far:

Jbl eon 15 g2

Mackie SRM 450

Gonna be used with rhodes, nord stage, moog voyager/phatty so needs to be able to take the bass!

Thoughts pls!

[blackfish]

go eon. basic eq and kick back cabinet design. Mackies will sound better but they get really hot and go thermal on you if kept pumping on their sides too long. wow that sounds dirty........

[jasonraboin]

Since you said BEST powered monitor, I would have to vote for Meyer UM-1P. A more reasonable but still excellent option would be the KV2 EX10/12.

[analogbass]

For the best sound especially bass and power, you'll want a wood or similarly heavy cabinets, which the monitors above don't have. Using Mackies that sound better than EONs with subs will sound good, clean and full. For the best punch though i's still go with heavier cabinets, which are good enough on their own that they won't require subs.

Some of the brands using heavier cabinets offer speakers that aren't particularly big or heavy even when powered. Powered are more convenient.

There are several, including Meyer & Tannoy that makes a powered 15". One i like having heard the others is a Yorkville EF500P, a powered 15":

Yorkville Sound: élite

They also make comparable passive 10s, 12s and 15s.



Forget Eons, they're for those who don't know better. In that category of composite cabinets go with Mackies or Italian FBTs coupled with subs.

[tINY]

Look for 3-way speakers if you want good sound - especially up close.

I haven't looked at the sound-on-a-stick speakers lately, so I can't drop any names. But, a 12" or 15" to a 1" thoat horn is not a good combo and you need the depth for keys.




-tINY

[analogbass]

Originally Posted by tINY

Look for 3-way speakers if you want good sound - especially up close.

I haven't looked at the sound-on-a-stick speakers lately, so I can't drop any names. But, a 12" or 15" to a 1" thoat horn is not a good combo and you need the depth for keys.




-tINY

in theory this is true but in practice having heard many good 2-ways, not.

[tINY]

Up close - within 5 feet, I haven't found any that were "good". Useable, decent, yes, but not good.

Keyboard players are often picky about wanting to hear subtle stuff, not like monitors for singers and guitar players or drummers.





-tINY

[goldphinga]

So youd say the mackies are the best of the moulded type but may not have enough low end?

I think i need to go audition a few next week.

Im also trying to bear in mind budget and weight of these units as im on a mission to make my whole rig a lot more portable. Im aiming for nord stage/little phatty plus powered speaker.

Also another couple of options

1.the tapco thump 15's designed by mackie... i know its perceived as more low end but has anyone checked them out? I would honestly prefer a 15 than a 12 for the lows..

2. Wharfedale pro evp x 15

cheers