Keyboard Amplifier Reviews – Introducing the Best Keyboard Amplifiers

Best keyboard amplifiers for pumping up the volume of keyboard instruments. Here we have listed practice keyboard amps as well as more powerful options that are suited for performing in larger venues. These can be used with other instruments as well, and some models also allow you to connect a microphone.

Introduction

Enjoy playing the keyboards/piano? You can punch up the volume using one of these keyboard amplifiers. Find reviews of the best keyboard amplifiers here. We’ve included models suitable for practice sessions as well as powerful options for gigging.

A Keyboard Amplifier can be used for your practice session, for your studio, or for gigging. Things to look for include sound reproduction, portability, and power. Keyboard amplifiers come with several impressive features. You may go through our detailed guide on keyboard amplifiers.

Best Keyboard Amps for Home Use

Here we take look at the best keyboard amplifiers for home use (for beginners). These are great options for beginners who are looking for an affordable and versatile amplifier, be it for personal practice, or to jam with friends. These can also be used as a personal sound system.

These can be used for multiple purposes (can also be used with guitar, bass, band, etc), and come with multiple channels (to connect another instrument and/or mic), and headphone port.

Behringer KT108 Ultratone

Compact and portable 2-channel keyboard amplifier for at-home practice and small settings.

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The amplifier comes with a pair of 1/4-inch inputs, so practically you can even connect a guitar or a microphone to the amp (you will require XLR-to-1/4-inch adapter). Each instrument has its own level control. The downside is that its a small practice amp with not enough power. Read more

15 watt, Weighs just 14 pounds, two-channel amp (for keyboards, vocals, drum machines, or wherever a small sound system is needed). headphone output, 3-band EQ for no-frills sound shaping.

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Peavey KB-1 Keyboard Amp

Another nice, portable, practice keyboard amp is the Peavy KB 1 generates 20-watts of power through its 8-inches speakers.

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Peavey is a popular brand that makes a wide range of music equipment, the KB series in particular includes amps for keyboards.

KB-1 is a 20-watt amp, features 2 channels (connect keyboards, drum machines, backing machines, or use as a PA); lets you connect two instruments at one go. Two-band EQ per channel and Headphone out port (in case you want to practice quietly).

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Roland Mobile Cube Stereo

Roland Mobile Cube Stereo is an excellent general purpose amplifier that has multiple uses various.

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It can be used with electric and acoustic guitar, keyboards, computer audio, MP3 or CD playback, mini-PA, field recorder playback and much more.

Batter operated and portable (Weight 6.9 pounds). It’s great for practice sessions, but not suited for performances (not very powerful). Connects to computers easily.

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Best Keyboard Amps for Professionals

These keyboard amplifiers are much more powerful and suited for performing at bigger venues. When performing, you need a dedicated, powerful amplifier that allows your keyboards sound to be heard when playing alongside other instrument players.

You may connect to the PA system available at the venue, but having a keyboard amplifier gives you some control over how your keyboard should sound (rather than leave it completely at the hands of the guy managing the PA at the venue).

These keyboard amplifiers can also be used as a standalone pa system at smaller venues.

Peavey KB5 Keyboard Amplifier

The Peavey KB5 (150 Watts, 2×10″) is more like a personal PA system built in a keyboard amp.

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5-inputs allows it to handle microphones, other instruments and equipment. Additional features include stereo effects loop, ground lift, master level, XLR balanced stereo line out, DDT defeat switch and the capability to drive an external speaker.

Weight: 95.4 pounds, ruggedly built, and its speakers generate incredibly high volumes. It comes with wheels and a tall handle for easy moving.

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Roland KC-600

Roland KC-600 comes with 200 watts of power, a 15″ woofer, 1/4″ and XLR line outs. One of the best amps that professionals can buy. Big sound for the big gigs.

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Weight: 78.5 pounds, 15-inch speaker with a horn tweeter, Four-channels, includes EQShape switch for quick tonal adjustments. Convenient carrying handle and casters for easy moving.

You can connect a variety of keyboards and instruments, plus an XLR vocal mic. XLR line out for connecting to mixing consoles, a 1/4″ out for connecting to recording devices. The Stereo Link function allows you to connect a second KC-600 amp for more inputs and true stereo amplification on stage.

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Keyboard Amp: Buying Guide

All set to perform in public? Are you part of a band and have opportunities in hand to do a gig?

Be it for the actual stage performance or for your warm-up sessions, you will need to get yourself a good keyboard amp if you really want to make a huge impact.

You need a powerful as well as a portable amplifier that is capable of faithful sound reproduction.

Anything else is good only for home or for a very small space.

Most keyboard players like to practice with other musicians. In that case a portable tiny amp (around 15-20 Watt) will suit well. You can even use them for a piano bar type setting. These small keyboard amps are not real loud, but fine if you need clear professional sound in a small space. These small keyboard amplifiers are perfect if you want an amplifier to balance your vocals with a loud piano.

If you need more power for a bigger audience, then you will need a powerful, clean sounding amplifier. Such amps usually also tend be heavier by themselves. If you want your piano keyboard to be heard clearly and not get overpowered by the drummers and the other musicians in your band, you better get yourself this powerful Roland keyboard amplifier (around 150-180 watts).

If you are looking for a more cost effective option but yet want powerful amps, then you may also consider this Behringer keyboard amplifier (Fact: though this amp does have lots of punch, the true RMS power rating is lower than the advertised peal rating of 330 Watts).

Another thing with these powerful keyboard amps is that they start revealing the imperfections in your piano keyboard, in case you are not using a top notch keyboard. So it might tempt or force you to consider upgrading your keyboard instrument.

Also, the better amps have multiple inputs so that you can plug in microphone, guitar or a CD player which makes them perfect even for your band practice session.

Because these keyboard amps have multiple inputs, you can even connect your iPod to these amps. You could easily play your favorite songs and power a dance party since you get a very loud and clear SOUND out of these amps.

Read more on Keyboard amplifiers here.

Home System Speakers

Most of the keyboards have built-in amps and speakers and the sound produced depends on this amplifier.

For your personal use, the sound produced by the keyboard speakers is decent enough but you can make it sound lot better by giving it external amplification.

One easy way of doing this without going in for the keyboard amplifiers is to directly connect the keyboard to your home sound system; to one of its Aux inputs.

Even a not so expensive keyboard sounds really good when connected to your home system.

Though the home system is not recommended for public performance, you can still use it if you are going to play in a small hall and if the audience consists of your friends and relatives.

They are going to like you anyways!

Even for your school function, you can give the output of your keyboard to the microphones and play it through the normal speakers.

Keyboard Amplifiers – For Stage Performances

A Keyboard Amplifier is meant for serious stage players!

If you are serious about playing in public, if you want to play for a band or a gig, you will need to go in for Keyboard combo amplifiers to give that extra power to your keyboards.

When you decide to go in for external keyboard amps make sure that you buy only dedicated keyboard combos and nothing else.

Characteristics of a Keyboard Amplifier

Keyboard amplifiers are used to amplify a variety of digital piano keyboard instruments, including synths, arrangers, digital and electric pianos.

Since keyboard instruments cater to a wide frequency range, from very low bass notes to extremely high pitches, you will find a large woofer speaker (to handle the low bass notes) and a horn or tweeter (for the high notes) as part of your Keyboard amplifier.

You may get guitar amps or some other amps from your friends or other sources for dirt cheap prices but stay away from them. The frequency range of keyboard sounds is much greater than guitar so you’ll need a full-spectrum frequency range to reproduce your sound accurately. This automatically rules-out using a guitar amplifier.

Of course, you can have a look at used Keyboard amplifiers but make sure you thoroughly test its output before you make any buying decision.

In terms of output, the more watts an amp will produce the louder you can play without distorting. Look for combo amps with at least 60 watts power; this will give you a decent output.

Multi-band EQ comes in handy as you can customize the sound depending on what you are playing and what sort of output you require. Vocals, may not sound that great, but it may still suit your purpose 60 watts is good enough for most, some may require more power. For a bigger venue, you can feed your amp (with lesser power) through the PA for a much bigger sound. If you play the saxophone (or any other instrument) as well in addition to the Piano Keyboard, you may want something that can sincerely reproduce and amplify both the instruments, although you’re buying a keyboard amp. Most of the inexpensive amps do produce rich sounds even at low volumes…which is perfect when you’re practicing. However, they’re usually good for home use or for the studio. For gigging, you need something sturdy to be taken around for use in public.

Keyboard Amplifier – Inputs & Outputs

If you wish to connect to a common house mixer, which puts your sound in the mains and the monitors, you can choose a smaller keyboard amp that has line outputs.

You also get Keyboard amplifiers that have a simple onboard mixer with multiple inputs, so that you can connect multiple digital keyboards to the Keyboard amplifier and control their tone and level.

Various Keyboard Amp Brands / Models

Back to Home page from Keyboard Amplifiers / Speakers

KeytarHQ Editorial Team

KeytarHQ editorial team includes musicians who write and review products for pianists, keyboardists, guitarists & other musicians. KeytarHQ is the best online resource for information on keyboards, pianos, synths, keytars, guitars and music gear for musicians of all abilities, ages and interests.