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I have a CP4 that I have been running stereo through my two JBL EON G215s. I have not been satisfied with the acoustic piano sound. I know this is probably the hardest to capture all the nuances of in a live sound setting. The Rhodes and other patches are warm, fat, and punchy. No problem. It's just the AP. I run my CP4 straight into the speakers stereo. I tried running them through a mixer but no different. Does anyone have a suggestion for powered speakers that make the acoustic piano sound like it should? I want to do a side-by-side comparison at Guitar Center. I am NOT looking for loud.....I would use the rig in a smaller room solo gig (100 people) so I am looking for QUALITY of sound. I think I would need something larger than studio monitors. I have been researching powered speakers of late and talking to the guys at Sweetwater and I am focusing on the Yamaha DSR112s. Most keyboard player reviews seem positive. I know that sound is a subjective thing but I'd really like to hear from keyboard players in my situation. I would run my vocals through them as well. Any thoughts would be appreciated.
Posted : 09/01/2017 1:54 pm
I've used a pair of EV ZxA1s for several years, running stereo, playing mostly AP voices. They sounded considerably better with AP than any of the other powered speakers I shopped, and I've been quite happy with them. Of course, they're not RCF TT08s, but they're great for the price.
Posted : 10/01/2017 12:03 am
I use QSC K10's and I love them..
Posted : 10/01/2017 7:38 pm
Your dissatisfaction with the quality is probably more to do with the way things are hooked up rather than the speakers themselves.
When you say "run my CP4 straight into the speakers stereo" are you running the left output to the left speaker and the right to the right?
You must not connect to the speakers in any way that "sums to mono" or you get phase cancellation that makes the stereo piano sound really cheesy. I run my CP4 to two inputs on a mixer with the left panned fully left and the right fully right. The mixer output maintains this right/left separation to the speakers.
This issue only applies to the stereo piano sound and not to other instrument sounds which are basically mono to start with.
Tony
Posted : 12/01/2017 5:30 pm
Topic starter
That is correct. I run the left out to one speaker and the right out to the other speaker. When I ran it through a mixer I ran it through a stereo channel first. After that just to see if there was a difference I ran it in two channels...left fully left and the right fully right. The AP still does not sound full and warm. I don't think it has anything to do with the hookup. Since the EPs sound good that confirms that the hookup is correct. Why the APs don't I am still trying to figure out.
Posted : 13/01/2017 12:01 am
I don't really have anything to add. I play my CP4 through a mixer to a pair of Bose L1 Compacts for gigs and Rokit 6's at home. I also have used my home stereo system. In every case all CP4 stereo pianos sound great as long as I hook up as I described.
Tony
Posted : 14/01/2017 2:24 am
Topic starter
BM-if you are reading this thread...the CP4 manual says to run the CP4 at 70% on the volume knob. Would turning it lower and boosting the speaker volume cause a drop in fidelity of sound? Should we always run the CP4 at 70% and adjust the mixer/speakers accordingly?
Posted : 14/01/2017 4:55 pm
I use a pair of Yorkville YX10P speakers on stage. They're light enough, and sound amazing with the CP4's acoustic pianos. Highly recommended.
Also, Badmister has some great info on where to set levels in this thread from a while ago and goes into great detail to explain:
https://yamahasynth.com/forum/best-monitor-speaker-stereo-for-live#reply-1695
Posted : 26/01/2017 2:04 pm
