Keyboard Amplifiers

Why You Need a Dedicated Keyboard Amplifier

A common mistake for beginners is plugging a keyboard into a spare guitar amp. While this produces sound, it rarely sounds good. Guitar amps are voiced specifically to boost mid-range frequencies and often add grit or distortion, which is great for a Stratocaster but terrible for a digital piano. Keyboards require Full Range, Flat Response (FRFR) amplification. This means the amp reproduces the signal exactly as it comes out of your instrument, without colouring it. A proper keyboard amp usually features a woofer for low frequencies and a tweeter for high frequencies (much like a Hi-Fi speaker). This ensures your acoustic piano sounds sparkle and your synth bass lines stay tight and defined, rather than muddy.

Keyboard Amps vs Active PA Speakers

There is often a debate among players about whether to use a dedicated amp or a powered PA speaker (like a monitor wedge). Both have their merits, but the dedicated amp often wins on convenience. Active PA speakers provide excellent clarity and power, but they can be cumbersome to control. A keyboard amplifier is an all-in-one solution designed to sit near you on stage. It places the volume, EQ, and effects controls right at your fingertips. If you need to quickly cut the bass or boost your volume during a solo, you can reach down and tweak the amp instantly. With a PA speaker, you are often reliant on an external mixer or controls located inconveniently on the back of the unit.

Managing Multiple Keyboards

Modern keyboard rigs rarely consist of just one instrument. You might have a weighted stage piano for the main parts, a synthesizer for leads, and a laptop running backing tracks. One of the biggest advantages of a keyboard amp is the built-in mixer. Most professional models feature 3 or 4 separate input channels. This allows you to plug your entire rig into a single box and balance the levels yourself. You effectively become your own sound engineer on stage, ensuring you can hear exactly what you are playing without fighting with the venue’s sound guy.

Choosing the Right Wattage

Selecting the right power rating depends entirely on where you play.

• Home Practice (15 - 50 Watts): For bedroom use or quiet rehearsals, low wattage is fine. However, bass frequencies require power to move air. If you play heavy synth bass, a very small amp might compress or distort even at lower volumes.
• Small Gigs & Rehearsals (50 - 100 Watts): This is the sweet spot for jazz trios or acoustic accompaniment. You will have enough headroom to play cleanly without the sound breaking up.
• Live Bands (100+ Watts): If you are playing alongside a drummer and electric guitars, you need headroom. A 100-watt (or higher) amp ensures you can compete with the rest of the band while keeping your piano sounds clean and crystal clear.

Expert Tip: If you plan on running vocals through your keyboard amp (which many models support via an XLR input), aim for higher wattage to ensure your voice doesn't get buried in the mix.