Nothing beats the thrill of a live band performance.
Unless, of course, you’re the keyboardist that gets drowned by other instruments and can’t hear yourself play.
See, if you can’t hear yourself play, you lose control of your sound, consequently spoiling the band’s overall sound.
Enter keyboard amps.
As their name suggests, the best keyboard amplifiers amplify the sound coming from the keyboard. They turn up the sound so the players can hear themselves.
For some players, it may seem like an obvious decision to upgrade to a keyboard amp, but some feel they don’t necessarily need a keyboard amplifier.
It’s understandable, especially when you consider the high expense of purchasing a stage-grade keyboard amp, and this is where some arguments start to make sense.
For instance, isn’t a guitar amp or even a powered speaker a viable alternative to a keyboard amp?
Pound for pound, these sound projections equipment may seem like better alternatives to the keyboard amps.
Powered speakers, in particular, have improved tremendously over the past few years, but that still doesn’t make them any better than the keyboards amps.
See, powered speakers tend to emphasize power over the clarity of sound.
On the other hand, a keyboard amp only needs to be loud enough for the keyboardists to separate their instrument from different musical instruments on live gigs.
Of course, power is a vital element for every musical instrument, but it shouldn’t be the defining spec.
Instead, the quality of sound a keyboard amplifier offers and the tools it avails for the keyboardists are more important than the amount of power it packs.
And make no mistake, keyboard amps aren’t just for the keyboard!
Instead, these instruments can amplify sounds on various instruments along the entire spectrum of the keyboard.
Now, if you need a guide on how to select the best keyboard amps, you’re in the right place.
Here, we offer a comprehensive guide detailing everything you need to know about the selection. Also, we’ve included five of our favorite keyboard amps we think you’ll love.
Table of Contents
Quick Comparison Table!
Top 6 Keyboard Amps For The Money
#1 Roland KC-550 - EDITOR'S CHOICE
- Quality
- Price
- Our Rating
We’re kicking things off with the Roland KC-550, a premium keyboard amp from a brand that knows keyboards so well.
The Roland KC-550 is among the most used and highly recommended keyboard amps out there.
We love it because of how it packs a punch, and above all, it has crisp, clear, and detailed sound quality across a volume range, and not just for keyboards.
Roland’s KC-550 price may want to make you look for other options, but if you’re looking for a versatile, high-performance keyboard, you can’t go wrong with this pick.
Features and Benefits
Design
From the word go, it’s easy to see that the KC-550 is a workhorse, and it’s certainly built to live to the giggers expectation.
First, it feels rugged with a metal grill and protective edges. It’s among the well-built keyboard amps in the market, and if the reviews are anything to go by, it’s extremely road-worthy.
This keyboard amp will stand up to the woes of constant traveling and live performances.
Keyboardists have dropped it and taken the KC-550 around the world, yet it holds up for years.
My only quibble with KC’s design is how cumbersome it feels. Weighing approximately 63 pounds and with just a single top handle, it’s challenging to lug the keyboard amp around.
Fortunately, you don’t need to worry about portability that much because the amp comes complete with caster wheels allowing you to roll it around easily.
Flexible-Plenty of Sound Connection
If there’s a flexible keyboard amp out there, then it has to be the Roland KC 550. This board offers an array of options when it comes to inputs and outputs.
First, it features a built-in 4-channel mixer. So it has four stereo link inputs for connecting to different instruments simultaneously, each with independent volume control. My favorite channel is channel 1, which features a balanced xlr mic input for plugging your microphone.
The second input is the stereo Input or the RCA jack, which can be used for connecting to a laptop or music player.
A 3-band EQ is also present, allowing you to control the tone of your sound output to compensate for whatever venue or room you’re playing in.
Roland RC-550 also has a fair share of outputs, including headphone output and a stereo link output.
But the most fantastic feature, in my opinion, is the STEREO LINK. It’s an impressive technology allowing you to link two KC amps for better stereo operation.
Sound Quality
This is one department the KC-550 shines.
It’s rated 180 watts, so it’s powerful enough, and the full stereo sound amplification is awesome. Provided your venue size is modest, you can use this amp for various functions, including birthday parties, weddings, or even backyard BBQs.
My favorite feature is the 15” woofer, which makes the amp adept at handling the bass notes.
KC-550 sounds awesome, and it’s not a surprise that most people use it for more than playing digital pianos and keyboards.
If the reviews are anything to go by, it has a good EQ, rhymes well with other instruments such as vocals, guitars, electric drums, and saxophones, thanks to its power, clarity, and range.
While the full stereo sound amplification isn’t the best, the consensus is the amp brings the best out of your instrument. Whether you’re using a piano, guitar, and organ, the sounds come out rich and detailed across a whole frequency spectrum.
Overall, unless you need a compact keyboard for home use, it would be hard to imagine passing over the Roland KC-550.
Regardless of the instrument you play, you’ll love how the KC 550 brings the best out of it.
Pros
- Powerful
- Ideal for use in a different location
- Clarity and better sound range
- 3-band EQ
Cons
- Bulky
#2 Behringer Ultratone K900FX - Best for Small/Medium Venues
- Quality
- Price
- Our Rating
The Roland KC-550 was a great pick, but it had a serious flaw: its size and weight.
Now, if you feel the KC-550 would be too cumbersome for your gigging events, you could go with the Behringer Ultratone K900FX.
It’s a lighter and more compact option than the KC 550, but you’ll have to sacrifice power as it only manages 90 watts. It’s not a problem, though, if all you want is to amplify the small to medium-sized venues.
But the Behringer K900FX isn’t all about size. We love this amp because of how it nails the value-for-price sweet spot. It’s loaded with awesome features, yet it only costs a fraction of our top pick.
Features and Benefits
Design
Coming at nearly half the price of the Roland KC 550, you would think the Behringer Ultratone K900FX is a flimsy pick.
We also thought so, but to our surprise, this amp’s build quality is awesome.
Out of the dozen reviews, few complaints about the amp’s longevity.
The reinforced corners and metal grills bolster the amp’s sturdiness, and you’ll love how it stands up to rough use and abuses.
Additionally, we think it looks better than the KC 550.
When it comes to size and weight, it’s something every musician would want for their live performances.
At 42 pounds, it’s not exactly what we consider light, but hauling this amp isn’t outrageous, especially compared to Roland’s 63 pounds.
Connections
Behringer K900FX doesn’t fail in this department, either, and its packed with plenty of connection options.
First, you get 3 channels, one less than the RC-500, each with separate volume and FX SEND controls.
As with the RC 550, Channel 1 has a balanced xlr mic input for plugging your microphone.
Other stereo input connections on the Behringer Ultratone K900FX include the RCA jacks for connecting the MP3 players or laptop, a dedicated headphone, SUB OUT for connecting to a subwoofer, and a 5-band EQ.
Behringer K900FX’s selling point is an effect section with 100 effects presets.
It’s an interesting addition that lets you dial it in the spot if you need a delay, chorus, or reverb.
Of course, for the price, don’t expect award-winning digital effects. But I find them handy when my instruments need a pinch of effect processing.
Sound Quality
If you’re looking for an amp for your new electronic drum set, this is it.
At first, you might think you need to get a 15″ speaker, but the 12″ woofers, 1″ tweeter, and 90 watts of power are sufficient to fill your home studio.
The keyboard amp is capable and fairly loud with crystal clear highs and awesome bass response.
As with our top pick, Behringer Ultratone K900FX is compatible with most instruments and will graciously handle anything from keyboards, guitars, pianos, vocals to drums.
The only problem with the Behringer Ultratone K900FX’s sound is it may not be loud enough for the large auditoriums or live band levels.
However, the reviews are mixed on this, with some saying it’s powerful and sufficient for a 150+ person auditorium.
But I wouldn’t be scared by the lack of volume. Of course, some of these complaints may be valid, especially if you’re playing the Behringer Ultratone K900FX in a large venue, or your bandmates are extra loud.
For most other scenarios, though, such as home practice and solo performances, the K900FX is a wonderful, inexpensive, and all-around option.
Plus, it also comes with a SUB OUT jack, which you can use if the 12” woofer isn’t providing enough bass for your needs.
Pros
- Compact and lightweight
- Inexpensive
- Crisp, quality sound
Cons
- Low volume
#3 Roland KC-110 - Best for Solo Performance
- Quality
- Price
- Our Rating
If you thought the Behringer Ultratone K900FX was small, you’ve not met Roland KC-110.
With a modest weight of 16 pounds, portability can’t get any better than this.
KC-110 is a perfect pick for hooking up to your digital piano or keyboard in your home studio, a bedroom studio, or small solo gigs.
And make no mistake, KC-110’s doesn’t compromise on the sound quality.
The amp offers pristine clarity in the highs, clear mids, and electrifying bass response.
And before I forget, this amp is so portable that it can even run on batteries.
Features and Benefits
Design
Roland 110 key selling point is the compact design.
Weighing a measly 16 pounds, it should be easy for you to tote around with the amp, whether to and from live events or simply from one room to the other.
As with other Roland amplifiers, this option doesn’t fall short when it comes to sturdiness.
With an all-metal grill construction, it’s sturdy and can take a beating like a champ.
It’ll survive the woes of gigging and live performances, including falls, drops, and accidental hits, without breaking down.
Connections
Roland 110 has plenty of connection options, making the amp such a versatile option.
First, it’s a 3-channel amp with three inputs for instruments.
Channel 1 is a mono stereo input, supporting ¼” line input or mic XLR input.
A great thing with channels 2 & 3 is they’ve L+R inputs, eliminating the need for multiple channels to plug in a stereo instrument.
Other handy input options include an AUX IN with RCA jacks (CD Input), making it easy to plug in a laptop or external music player on the Roland KC-110.
There’re many options for the output, but you get a main stereo L+R LINE OUT, which can be fed to an external mixer or recording device.
A variety of connection options isn’t the only Roland KC-110’s selling point.
We love how the control knobs are conveniently positioned for straightforward and easy use.
Plus, the amp features a handy tilt-back stand, letting you angle the amp up for better sound production when it’s on the ground.
Sound Quality
The Roland 110 is small but packs a punch, especially when it comes to sound production.
Of course, for its power, it doesn’t amplify sound as much and may not be an ideal option for those playing in a rock band or frequent gig.
But if you plan to amplify your instruments at home or small intimate gigs, it doesn’t get better than the Roland KC-110.
It’s rated 30 amps, and reading through some reviews; you’ll quickly see how people are surprised how good it sounds.
It’s a capable option and produces some impressive bass and fantastic mids and highs.
However, considering the size of the speakers, you might find that it lacks the bass.
Still, it’s loud enough for the small to medium-sized rooms such as bars, restaurants, small churches, and other intimate venues.
Power (Batteries)
110 pushes the envelope even further when it comes to the power source.
This amp can run on batteries, and if you’re in a remote venue where power outlets aren’t within reach, you simply load the 8 AA batteries.
Remember, when the amp is battery-powered, the power drops down to 20 watts.
Overall, the Roland 110 is such an impressive unit.
Of course, despite the size, we didn’t expect anything less, considering it’s a product from one of the reputable brands in the industry.
But we wish to reiterate that Roland 110 isn’t the perfect choice if you need to keep up with the drums, bass guitars, or electric guitars on stage. Instead, it’s a fantastic option for small solo gigs and intimate venues.
Pros
- Compact and lightweight
- Perfect for solo performance
- Quality sound output
Cons
- Different channels don’t have separate volume control
#4 Peavey KB 2 - Budget Pick
- Quality
- Price
- Our Rating
Our fourth pick is an interesting option, perfect for keyboardists looking for a quality yet budget-friendly keyboard amplifier.
The Peavey KB 2, a step up from the popular Peavey KB 1, isn’t the most powerful option, but with 45 watts of power, it’s suited for practice, solo performance, small venue performance, and monitoring.
It promises a lot of goodies to the players, and its performance is simply exceptional.
Features and Benefits
Design
Peavey 2 might be an inexpensive pick, but it doesn’t cut corners with the durability and choice of materials.
Sporting a sturdy all-metal grill construction, the KB 2 is built to stand any test you throw at it.
The amp feels sturdy and can take on a beating without compromising its integrity.
If the user reviews are anything to go by, this amp can handle multiple falls, drops and stand up to the woes of live performances without breaking down.
And that’s not all!
It’s a lightweight and compact option, too. It weighs about 34 pounds, meaning you shouldn’t have much difficulty lugging it around using the top-mounted handle.
Connectivity
Like its predecessor, the Peavey KB 1, KB 2 is also a 3-channel amp, so it can support up to three instruments simultaneously.
Channel 1 and 2 supports ¼” inputs, while channel 3 supports XLR input.
Each of the channels on this option has a knob allowing for independent adjustability of the volume and fine-tuning.
Peavey KB 2 also has plenty of power output options, including a headphones output, XLR MAIN LINE OUT, and effect loop.
Overall, you won’t lack a connectivity option when it comes to Peavey 2.
Whether you need to use the keyboard amp with a guitar, microphone, or even laptop, there’re plenty of connection options.
Sound System Quality
I’ve used budget keyboard amps before, and I can tell most of them sacrifice the full stereo sound quality.
But not the Peavey 2.
While not the most powerful option on our list, the 45 watts power and 10’ speaker makes it a medium-sized option, powerful enough for solo use.
It can also work well for live use, but it’s somehow limited to the instruments you’re playing, the keyboard amp along with and the size of the venue.
I wouldn’t recommend using the Peavey KB 2 if you’re part of a live band with loud guitars and bass, as it doesn’t keep up and is likely to get drowned out.
Peavey KB 2’s bass response isn’t the greatest, and this is primarily due to the 10″ speaker, so we wouldn’t also recommend it for the bass player and guitar.
However, on its own, it’s quite loud, and it makes sense using it at home, a bedroom studio, and in the small-to-medium-sized rooms.
And that’s not all!
Peavey KB 2 can handle various keyboard instruments ranging from digital pianos, vocals to electronic drums.
Overall, Peavey KB 2 is such an awesome keyboard amp, especially in its price range.
It’s versatile, easy to use, and reliable for solo performances.
Pros
- Budget pick
- Ideal for solo performance
- Reliable
- 3-band EQ
Cons
- Power limitations
#5 Roland KC600 - Best Roland Amp
- Quality
- Price
- Our Rating
We’re back to Roland again, but this time, with a vengeance.
The Roland KC 600 is among the brand’s flagship keyboard amps and one of the best keyboard amps in the market.
KC 600 comes with a host of desirable features and will satiate even the most discerning keyboardists.
But how does it compare to other keyboard amps on our review list, and how well does it perform in live events?
Let’s find out.
Features and Benefits
Design
KC 600 is built to work.
It’s a rugged option, sporting a strong metallic build quality, and will stand up to whatever abuses you throw at it.
If the user reviews are anything to go by, the KC 600 will take a beating and isn’t compromised even after regular drops, falls, or even banging.
My only criticism with the amp is it feels a bit bulky.
With a dimension of 23.23 by 23.23 by 17.52 inches and weighing 64 pounds, it’s a bit on the heavier side and feels quite heavy to lug around.
But on the brighter side, it’s worth mentioning the amp is lighter than the older KC models of similar size. Sure, it’s not anywhere lightweight but an improvement compared to the approximately 75 pounds of the previous models.
Connections
There’s plenty to love with this option, especially when it comes to the connectivity option.
First, the KC 600 is a 4-channel amp with the usual ¼ inch line inputs, XLR input, and mic vocals.
The stereo AUX input allows you to connect to music players and laptops, while a subwoofer headphone output means you can connect to an external subwoofer should you want more bass.
Additionally, it comes with built-in sound mixing options with four stereo aux input and an EQ with shape control.
There’s also an RC connection player can use to hook up external music players.
But the best feature, in my opinion, is the Roland’s Stereo Link connection that you can use to connect two KC series keyboard amps.
Sound Quality
KC 600 is a powerful option with amazing sound performance.
With the latest edition of the popular KC range, Roland has done some pretty fantastic work improving the overall synth sounds quality and power amp.
Sporting a 15″ speaker and horn tweeter, this keyboard amp will blow you away with a crisp and detailed sound.
The 45-watt power is also powerful. While it may not compete with loud instruments in a live session, it’s perfect for solo use or amplifying in small to medium auditoriums.
It also has a wider range of sound and a deeper bottom end, which many players like.
This is not to mention that it’s compatible with various instruments, including keyboards, bass guitars, and electronic guitars.
Overall, this updated version is better in more than one way, and it’s not a surprise it’s one of the most popular Roland keyboard amps currently on the market.
Pros
- Road ready
- Plenty of power
- Reliable
Cons
- A bit expensive
#6 Roland Mobile Cube Battery-Powered - Portable Option
- Quality
- Price
- Our Rating
Our final pick, the Roland Mobile Cube Keyboard amp, is among the most portable options on our list.
It’s a grab-n-go solution, perfect when you need an amp that won’t fatigue you carrying for long-distance.
You can even carry it on the one hand or the back of your bike with little effort.
It doesn’t sacrifice performance either, and within the small unit, it packs an array of great features.
But how does it perform as a gigging keyboard amp?
Let’s find out.
Features and Benefits
Design
As we mentioned in the introduction, the Mobile Cube is ultra-compact and lightweight, perfect for those on the move.
It’s just 11-1/16 x 4-1/4 x 7 inches and weighs a measly 5.51 pounds, so it won’t present any challenges when moving.
Heck, you can even stash it in your backpack.
Even better, it comes with a carrying strap for better portability and is easily mounted on a mic stand.
Connection
The Mobile Cube might be small and compact, but it comes with a host of XLR input and output connections.
This amp allows you to connect to different instruments, including keyboards, acoustic/electric guitar, and other mono/stereo instruments.
It allows you to connect to laptops, MP3 players, and microphones.
Overall, connectivity on this amp should be the least of your concerns.
Sound Quality
The Mobile Cube is a true stereo amplifier, and its dual 4-inch speakers are each powered by a 2.5-watt amp.
It’s not the most powerful keyboard amp in the market, and I wouldn’t recommend the amp for live performance or even gigging events.
It would be a hard call ever to use it for the small auditoriums.
Instead, it’s a perfect pick for solo performance or solo practice amp sessions as it doesn’t amplify sound as much.
While it’s not loud, the sound details and clarity are on another level.
For instance, the built-in stereo effects include reverb, delay, and chorus and produce crisp and detailed sound.
The amplifier also comes with a “center canceler” button that eliminates sounds of equal volume, and I find it useful for eliminating vocals on an MP3 recording for practice or karaoke.
Power Source
If the lightweight and compact designs aren’t sufficient for portability, Roland takes portability to a whole new level by including a battery option.
So, it doesn’t matter whether you’re in the remotest location of the globe, you simply need to plug six AA batteries, and you’re good to go.
Pros
- Portable
- Easy to use
- Clear and detailed sound output
- Battery-powered
Cons
- Not powerful
Best Keyboard Amp Buying Guide
With a gamut of options to pick from, choosing the best keyboard amp is intimidating, even for experienced players.
But it doesn’t need to be so.
In our keyboard amp guide below, we share everything you need to know about selecting the best keyboard amps for your needs.
But first things first, let’s understand what a keyboard amp is and how it works.
What is a Keyboard Amp?
In the simplest definition, keyboard amps boost or amplify the sound coming from the keyboard.
But it’s not for the audience. It’s for the players so they can hear themselves.
In bands with multiple instruments, it’s easy for the keyboard player to get drowned by others, therefore losing control over their sound.
Typical keyboard amps include a powered amp and a speaker, all integrated into a single cabinet.
And as we had mentioned earlier, keyboard amps are versatile and not limited to keyboards but can be used to play a wide variety of instruments along the entire spectrum of the keyboard.
Types of Keyboard Amplifiers
Keyboard amplifiers are generally categorized into two:
Low-budget amps
They are the less expensive keyboard amplifiers, only providing the basic EQ controls such as reducing treble and adding bass.
High-end Amps
The high-end amps are advanced options, coming with higher output powers and include separate controls for EQ.
They’ll help you amplify and modify each channel separately.
Picking Out the Perfect Keyboard Amplifier
Now that you understand what a keyboard amplifier is and the different types of amplifiers let’s look at the critical features to consider when picking an option.
Power
The first question you need to ask yourself when picking out a keyboard is what power you need.
The answer to this depends on the environment you’re playing in.
For instance, if you’re playing on a larger venue, you’ll automatically require a high-powered amp.
But for solo performance, practice, or small venues, you can get by with low-powered amps.
However, if you’ve a PA system, you don’t need a hugely powered amp, regardless of the size of your venue. The PA system helps to amplify the sound.
When using a PA system, you don’t want to keyboard amp to be too powerful and fill the entire venue with sound. Instead, your amp should produce just the right volume while ensuring a pleasant sound experience.
Remember, manufacturers provide the wattage power in different ways, so it’s vital to understand the difference between the commonly used terms.
For instance, peak watts refer to the amount of output power an amp can deliver during a peak. It doesn’t mean it stays at this level indefinitely.
On the other hand, the continuous or RMS watts tend to be a more realistic way of measuring the wattage as they define the average power output by your amp.
Size/Portability
Generally, keyboard amps are portable and small in size mainly because of their lighter solid-state components.
Additionally, they come in smaller cabinets with speakers integrated into them.
However, some models are more portable than others, making nice mini keyboard amps.
Unless you’re gig often, keyboard amp size matters less, provided the quality is good.
But we recommend beginners to start with lightweight and smaller picks for easier handling.
Inputs
A single input is generally sufficient for personal use, but it’s always handy to have extra MP3 player or microphone input.
Look out for common input connections such as:
- XLR
- Aux connection for a mic
- 1/4-inch
There’re less important inputs like the 1/8-inch.
If your amp allows for this cable, it’s a bonus. If not, no need to worry because your keyboard will probably have this input for silent practice.
Some keyboard amps also come with more complex XLR inputs that the average keyboardist doesn’t require. Having an RCA connection, for instance, is a bonus, but nothing to lose if your amp lacks.
Channels
Keyboard amps usually provide several channels, allowing you to plug in multiple keyboards, microphones, or even stereo sources such as MP3 players.
This lets the guitar amps control all the audio for practice and small performances.
In addition to independent volume control, each channel should have tone controls and an FX send level.
Tone and Effects
Your amp’s tone changes depending on the instrument you’re running through it, whether a guitar or keyboard.
You can set your amps to model the different size amps depending on what you want. For instance, if you need more depth, you can set your amp to model 4 by 12 speakers, and if you want it punchy, you can have it model smaller.
When performing, I would recommend not pushing the speakers to their maximum volume as you’ll most likely blow the speakers sooner than later.
Speakers
One of the important considerations when choosing an amp is the speaker system contained therein.
The most crucial elements here are the size and quality of the speaker.
Regarding size, you want to pick a speaker that offers the best volume output for your needs.
For instance, if you need an amplifier for personal practice, you don’t need an amp with a speaker. Instead, an option for plugging headphones would suit you very well, especially if you practice in a location where noise won’t disturb anyone.
Another consideration within the speaker realm is the speaker configuration.
The most common configuration for a keyboard amplifier is a 12″ woofer paired with a 1″ tweeter. This configuration offers the most cost-effective setup and can render sounds across the entire frequency response spectrum.
Frequency Response Range
Keyboard amps can cover the frequency range’s entirety.
Simply put, the keyboard amps can easily accomplish different sounds ranging from bass guitar, harmony, rhythm to lead playing.
However, to provide a good sound quality, ensure the amplifier has a wide enough frequency response range to accurately render the instrument’s sound across the spectrum.
Effects
When choosing a keyboard amp, you also need to consider what kind of keyboard playing you’re doing.
For instance, if your play requires many sound shaping and effects, you should consider each prospective amp’s effect capabilities.
Fortunately, most amps offer a bit of choice.
For instance, they allow you to adjust the effects manually, or through preset or a little of both.
So, when shopping for a keyboard amp, you need to know what sort of effect capabilities you need your amp to have.
However, the amp effects aren’t necessary if you’ve a keyboard that can do all that for you.
In that case, you may go with an amp with little to no effects capability.
EQ—Equalizer
EQ allows a guitarist to adjust the different tones within your music, including bass, treble, and mid-tones.
Some amps have separate EQ dials for each stereo input, allowing greater variation on your tone for enhanced sound output.
Do I Need a Keyboard Amplifier?
I know you might be wondering about the need for a keyboard amplifier, especially with plenty of alternatives in the market, such as a guitar amp or AP system.
You can, but keyboard amps offer significant benefits over another system.
Let me explain.
Why Not a Guitar Amp?
A guitar amp specifically works within the tone spectrum of the guitar, coloring and shaping the sound coming from the instrument.
Generally, they’re designed for the range of the guitar, about 85 Hz to 5 kHz.
The guitar works on a narrower frequency range.
On the other hand, keyboard amps have a much wider frequency range as they produce sound samples from various instruments ranging from pianos, organs, synths, drums, and strings.
For this reason, keyboard amps are better since they can produce the full spectrum of the sonic range to produce a clean, accurate sound, regardless of the sample you play.
It’s the opposite of what guitar amps are designed to do.
By using a guitar amp, you’re practically choking your keyboard, which has a much wider frequency to explore.
What About a PA System?
While powered speakers are louder, they don’t produce a fuller keyboard sound.
PA systems emphasize the power or rather loudness over the clarity of the sound.
PA system may not be ideal when you need a personal monitor to provide you with a clean, well-pronounced sound that should guide you as you play.
As with the guitar amps, the PA system doesn’t do this as well as the keyboard amps do.
What if I plug my keyboard into a PA system?
You wouldn’t be the first to do that, but this shouldn’t be an option for you unless you’re a solo artist.
Let me explain.
While it seems like a good way to amplify your piano sound, it takes away all the benefits you would get from having your stage monitor.
Since most keyboard amps feature multi-channel inputs and EQ controls, they allow you to synthesize and pre-process the keyboard’s sound before even relaying it into the PA system.
The quality of the amp’s sound and customization tools is crucial to a keyboardist that it packs.
Besides, no keyboardist wants their overall sound output to be in the hands of the venue’s sound guy.
With a PA system in place, keyboardists will have no control of the output, and it may be difficult to control the quality of the output.
On the other hand, having a dedicated keyboard amp for your instruments gives you better control of your band.
And that’s not even all!
Keyboards Amps are Versatile
It’s easy to think that keyboards amps are only suitable for use in keyboards only.
They may be called just keyboard amps, but they can be used with other instruments and other live music gigs.
Most of the modern keyboard amps feature multiple inputs and outputs, and the beauty of this is they can handle an entire spectrum of the sonic range.
Apart from keyboards, other instruments that can plugin with your keyboard amp include pianos, synths, bass guitars, electric guitars, and vocal microphones.
Some of the amps even have individual EQ controls for each channel, helping you tune each instrument independently.
So, yes, in more than one way, the keyboard amps are pragmatic, especially over the PA systems and the guitar amps.
Best Keyboard Amp Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: How many watts do I need for a keyboard amp?
A: It all depends on where you’ll be playing your keyboard amp and whether you’ll have a PA system in place. For solo performances, amps with less than 20 watts are ideal, but you need an amp with anywhere from 50 amps for larger venues.
Q: Can I use a guitar amp for my keyboard?
A: Yes, it’s possible to play a keyboard through a guitar amp. But keep in mind a keyboard has a broader frequency range.
Wrap Up: Our Choice
Our winner is the Roland KC 550.
It wasn’t hard coming up with the pick because, first, it’s from one of the reputable brands in the industry.
Secondly, it’s laden with features, and while it runs a bit expensive, I feel it’s worth every penny.
It’s compatible with most instruments, too, and has plenty of connection options to support use with or through other devices.
