I know this subject has been discussed, but with no archive access I will ask.

Does anyone have any experience with the Mackie SRM350V2 powered speakers.  I need good stereo monitoring for the keyboards in live onstage venues.  I generally play in church, but the band can be loud at times.

In particular I was wondering how well they sound in comparison to Yamaha MSR 250’s.

I am concerned that they my be harsh or brash sounding.

The major difference I see in design is that the Mackies are bi-amped.

Thanks for your opinions....

Check out the Stage Pass 500 which is a 10 channel stereo mixer/portable PA which is also perfect for a stereo keyboard stage monitoring system.

http://www.yamaha.com/yamahavgn/CDA/ContentDetail/ModelSeriesDetail/0,,CNTID%253D545091%2526CTID%253D560071,00.html

I’ve not used the SRM350’s, but have a pair of the 450’s which work well for the application you’re considering. Can’t help you in personal comparison with the MSR gear either, but the spec looks similar. Didn’t look at cost… Do you have a firm budget?

Yamaha_US might be a bit biased, being a Yamaha employee… I’ve never heard him “recommend” another manufacturer… but the StagePas (Come on Athan.. spell the product name right...) has some appeal.

It would depend on your budget and where you see yourself in a year or two.  The SRM450 would compete with the StagePas 500 from a power/sound quality, but the Mackie is 12” vs Yamaha 10” speaker. Yamaha has included a mixer and some compression/eq, so there is some additional benefit to that if you don’t already have a mixer.

I tend to prefer having power to spare in my monitor rig, for those occassions where you need to cut through.. typically outdoors.  But a good soundman and the 350’s would work just fine too.

I have used lots of Yamaha speakers/monitors over the years and they provide clean power and sound.  Hard to go wrong with Yamaha audio stuff.  I pickedup the Mackie SRM450’s as they were used and going cheap, which is something to consider if you have a strict budget.

Thanks tbone,

I have a Mackie 1402vlz mixer that will be used to send the house my keyboard submix. The SRM 350’s would be a personal monitor. I like the idea of having a stereo monitoring system, regardless of what the main mix is.

The SRM450’s would be awesome but I am trying to get small....

questconsulting - 21 February 2009 05:19 PM

Thanks tbone,

The SRM 350’s would be a personal monitor.
The SRM450’s would be awesome but I am trying to get small....

Sounds like they would cut it then.  And I hear you on trying to ‘get small..’

Not sure what store you’re dealing with, but you might want to rent ‘em for a couple of gigs to see if they’ll cut it, or at least make them commit to equal value trade up if they don’t get the job done for you. Luckily, I live in an area where we have some pretty significant shops, so it’s easy to try before you buy.

Let us know what you ended up with.

I just picked up a Behringer (I know, I’ve heard it all before) B212A that has 400 watts of power pushing a 12” and a horn. I think I paid like $280 or so (just bought one and will pick up another for stereo). I’ve done about 4 weeks worth of gigs with it so far and it has plenty of power (you know it’s working when the guitarist and drummer both tell you that you’re too loud). Cannot attest to reliability at this point but so far so good. I used two Mackie 450’s for about 2 years (borrowed from a DJ friend) and I can compare the power very closely to those. You get an amazing amount of bottom-end out of them as well. Just throwing another option out there for you. They are lighter and cheaper (they also make a 15” version - but after hearing the bass this thing puts out I don’t know that it’s necessary). Worth a try at least.

I’d like to throw in my questions as well (Hope this is not a Hijack). From what I have read I see the following options in my price range:

Yamaha StagePas 500:
+ Compact, all in one, decent sound (it seems)
- only 10” woofers, “closed system” (no possibility to ad a different mixer, effects or a sub later)

2x RCF ART 310 + Mixer
+ Compact (12kg), excellent sound (it seems)
- only 10” woofers (I am wondering about bass response)

2x Mackie 450 SRM + Mixer
+ 12” woofers
- Sound quality seems to be a matter of debate, big & heavy (23 kg)

2x JBL EON G15 + Mixer
+ 15” woofers, not bigger than the mackies and 2 kg ligther
- Sound quality seems to be a matter of debate, still big & heavy (23 kg)

2x the Box PA 302 A (http://www.thomann.de/gb/the_box_pa302a_biamped_fullrangebox.htm) + Mixer
+ 12” woofers, price
- Sound quality o.k. for the price (I heard them A/Bed to the Mackies)

Traynor K4 Keyboard Amp
+ Great for Organ and Rhodes Sounds (it seems); just one piece of equipment to carry;
- Build quality varies; limited stereo separation

Roland SA 1000 or SA 300
+ light and compact, built in mixer
- less sound quality and power than the other systems mentioned above (from what I have read)

I have an XS8. I play
- in a rocky worhip band (quite loud): mostly organ, rhodes and piano
- at church (more decent): synth, organ, “orchestra-patches”, sometimes E-Bass with my left hand
- sometimes solo (up to 150 people): mostly piano, some rhodes

Thank you for sharing your experience and advise.
uli_p

I’d add the Carvin K1015 (15” woofer) or K1010 (2 - 10” woofers) to your choices.  Both have 7 stereo ins (14 mono (!)) and 1000 watts of pure power(not a misprint). I own a lot of different amps and these are my favorites for big sound.

I’m using Yamaha StagePas 300 both at home as monitors and at stage. It has a power mixer (8ch), it is compact and convenient for transportation and have enough power for a club performance. If you need more power for monitoring, you should consider StagePas 500.

Alex

I checked out the Yamahas but am going for the Mackie 350’s because I have a mixer and the 350’s are self powered (Bi-amped).

I expect good results from these 350’s for stereo monitoring purposes and, hopefully, will not need to trade up to the 450’s. Either way, I will be getting a pair this weekend and will let you all know.

I understand the need for big sound and will be relying on the kbd submix to the mains for that.

Another concern is that, although the ES7 will benefit from stereo monitoring, I am waiting for the new Nord Electro 3 which has great B3 and Leslie sim.  Those who already have the Electo 3 in Europe highly recommend stereo monitoring for best affect.

We shall see!

I have decided to go stereo for my monitoring on stage, regardless of what the FOH does. I have tried to play the XS mono in my home studio, and, yes, it does still sound o.k., but it’s another world in stereo. I know that I play better when I hear myself better and the sound is better.

Having read some more on the internet I am leaning towards the RCF Art 310. There is also a discussion on the same subject on the german Yamaha forum, that sort of pushes me in that direction.
http://88.198.8.78/UBB/showflat.php?Cat=0&Board=off-topic&Number=241085&page=0&fpart=all

Does anyone in this forum have experience with the ART 310?

@mo-z: I have a hard time finding information on the carvin amps you recommend. Are they still being produced? Where can I find out more about them?

uli_p

uli, they’re not made anymore, but they do show up on ebay or craigslist. I’m attaching the brochure.

KB1000-1010-1015.pdf  (File Size: 892KB - Downloads: 1256)

Thank you, mo-z.

Does anyone use a Traynor K4? The more I think about it the more appealing it seems to me, because it is just one box with all I really need. I have heard that there are issues with the build quality. Does anyone have experiences with it?

thank you
uli_p

I owned the K4 for about three weeks. It didn’t sound bad for organs and other sounds, but didn’t like it at all for pianos. Then it crapped out on me, sounded like a blown preamp. I returned it and went back to my JBL Eon G2 15’s. But they are heavy for me. Just picked up a pair of the new JBL Eon 510’s. Incredibly light. Tonight will be my first gig with them. Will see how it goes in terms of power.

Anyone using in-ears / headphones on stage as their monitor? I could grab a summed mix from the house using a Rolls headphone interface, or I could plug headphones into my submixer and adjust the keys to taste. The rest of the band will bleed through, no problem.

The places I play do not use Aviom systems or anything similar.

Bob