Awesome video. My opinion is KC110 is a solid state amp and speaker. Good for keyboards. Cube street ex is great for guitars and definitely not for keyboards. Cheers
Well I have finally made up my mind. Maybe it’s because I’m a guitarist but I am getting the Street cube ex. Your reviews are excellent and extremely informative. Thank you so much!
I need a keyboard amp for my band. Your review was excellent to show me that the Cube sounds crappy and the Roland has the sound I need but is not loud enough. I will try the Roland KC-200 or bigger. Thanks !
Hey its the second (or maybe more) time i see this demo N the KC 110 sounds way more full in tone / warmer than the crappy sound coming out the Street EX which sounds like a nasty PA IMO
Prefer the 110. Bought the Cube Ex thinking the larger drivers and extra 20 watts would make a difference in sound as well as volume. Got the volume at the expense of sound quality for the Roland percussion synthesizers i play. I use (2) kc110's now for the gigs without ac power and get volume, sound, and separation i need. The other gigs i play provide sound and if needed i can use the 110 as a stage monitor with line outs to foh. Used the power bank hack from your video to get the extra 10 watts of the KC 110 back. Their new KC 220 has the same problem.....Thanks!
hui trieu ...buy the one that's cheapest. 220 just a refresh of the 110. No real difference. Be aware that the 30 watts drops to 20 on both, when run battery only. Piano Man Chuck has an ez power bank hack for that. Really depends on what you're doing. Not many options in battery powered amps. Versatile, reliable, however lacks a little in volume, so mostly good for practice, small stage monitor, or a very small venue. Am ok with mine, but i use 2. Best you audition one, if posssible? Good luck!
As far as I can tell, KC-110 sounds more flat and it has more bass than the Cube Street EX. That said, it would be nice a new comparison with both being mic'd properly!
Great demo and review. I think the applications for each would be more of the deciding factor. The KC-110 seems to be a legit, low-volume solution for practice, acoustic gigs and a decent personal monitor or practice amp. Great review and setup as I can clearly hear a difference. Love the EQ options more so on the 110. Stereo is everything to me as I want to hear the effects of my Roland Juno GI (thankfully has awesome onboard EQ on main panel). I think the overall dynamics of the 110 trump the cube. I’m keeping my eyes out for a used 110 thanks to this review (currently using an AP Space Station V3). Thanks Chuck!
I always like York videos, thanks You for sharing... question.. I play an electronic saxophone midi. What amp/speaker that You recomend me to get for busking...I only going to use this instrument with backing tracks, not using pedals or mixers...only that simple, but needs to be powered by batteries...Thanks you
hello piano man,aim from argentina i have a question i play aocustic guitar and sing and i wanna buy a equipe to play in the streets,for you who its the ampli i need?
I sell my cube street after trying it. I never obtain a good clean sound with my guitars. Marketing only. It works but don't expect to obtain a nice round sound : plastic is plastic.
Is the kc 220 the newer version of this amp then? I’m shopping for my first keyboard amp (at present I just use headphones). Be used for at home and possibly band practice.
Purple Heart Scott ..KC220 is the newer version but seems to be exactly the same as the KC 110. Still drops to 20 watts using battery power!. Its versatile and I use it for small gigs all the time, including cruise ship greetings at the local pier , where it gets noisy. It'll probably be as good as can be had currently for your needs if you don't need high volumes. I've tried others and decided on the 110. Can't comment on the BA330 as none are here locally. Am curious about it also. Effects are still global. See Piano Mans videos on how to get the full 30 watts on battery power. It makes a little difference. He's got a lot of info on the KC110.
Hey Piano Man Chuck. You might wanna take a look at the "Elite Acoustics A4-8"?? I own one of these and the sound is super nice! Like studio monitors. Also use it for busking!
Actually the major difference between this two amplifiers is that their speakers are made of differently. Roland KC-220's speaker is way thicker than Cube's so it has full range bass response.
Great breakdown! I run percussion synths with parameters that can be controlled via the instrument. Don't need all the options the street provides. For outdoor gigs, the volume increase of the street is nice, however for the higher price I haven't found the sound quality any better, at least for my synths. Am currently running a KC110 with a Mackie Thump GO. Am either gonna' get get another KC110 or another Thump GO to match and retire one. Unfortunately no one has the Thump Go for me to audition together. Have had the KC110 for almost ten years without a single problem! Only wish Roland would stop using those plastic quarter inch jacks. Run my KC110 using your power bank idea and it works great. Thanks for sharing!
Great comparison, THANK YOU. May i ask a question: How did you like personally the "Roland Cube Street EX" when adding the EQ? Was it good enough for you? It sounde still not as clear as the K-110, is that right?
I guess you have figured this out by now, but your piano output (left/mono) should be plugged into input of ibanez eq. EQ output then goes to a mono input of the amplifier. Just be careful at the start not to push too much volume into the EQ. It might take some effort to balance your gain structure. Good luck.
Thank you Piano man Chuck! I listened through my Bose QC35's and I could really tell the difference in the sound of the two. I really like the crisp clear sound of the Roland 110 over the Cube. Thanks again!
Agree 100%. Totally evident in this video. Unfortunately, I bought a Cube Street EX before viewing this. Sounded awfully thin and I got rid of it and soon as I could. KC-110 sounds far better.
Very cool. I own a KC550 and it sits in the garage because it's destroying my shoulders. The 110 definitely sounds better on the video. Now, if I could get my FP7 to run on battery (right a UPC).
This has been maybe the most helpful review I've ever seen on any product. Every word was useful and necessary. Thank you! I understand the lows of the Cube aren't as good as in the 110... but I think I'm going with that one anyways! Thankssss!!!!!!
Hi Chuck - JENSEN UPDATE: I have the Roland Street Cube EX and the Behringer 1002B mixer, and use these for busking with my Roland VR-09, along with backing tracks from my Android phone on Google Play Music. Once I buy a clip-on microphone, I'll run my tenor saxophone through this rig for a little reverb, etc. (that's one reason the KC-110 is of less interest, to me than the EX as its reverb is global). I tested the EX through its headphone out into my AKG 271s, using various configurations/inputs of the EX, the mixer, and straight out of the Kawai MP11 - all sounded great, so I think the speakers in the EX are the culprit.... So..... I received the Jensen MOD8-20 4 ohm speakers yesterday. Last week, I incorrectly received the EIGHT ohm version last week, due to a shipping error, even though I specifically requested from the seller that I needed the 4 ohm version. So, anybody doing that mod needs to make crystal clear which speaker they need! Maybe I can find a use for the 8 ohm elsewhere, since the seller refuses to pay for return shipping. Before I do "brain surgery" on the EX, watching the instant video indicates that the EX sounds "plasticy" in comparison to the KC. Is this your experience as well? Is the KC's case made of a different material than the EX's ABS plastic? I still have time to return the EX and get the KC instead. Or, I might keep the EX and get the KC for paid gigs where I don't need as much volume. I think the KC's volume is a little weak for busking and the attendant street noise, the occasional interloping busker (especially the dreaded "bucket boys," to whom loudness is irrelevant, since they drown everything else out), so I do like the extra power of the EX. I run it on the middle power setting, which I think sounds a little better than the economy one. I've heard two local buskers (a flutist and a vibraphonist; both excellent musicians) use the Roland BA-330, which sounds great (they both amplify their instrument and use backing tracks). Can you do a review of the BA-330? It has 4 6.5 woofers, probably the same China made brand that Roland uses in the EX. The problem with the thing for me is the 30 pound weight (the vibes guy just drops his rig off with his car - he's not a mobile busker like me; and the flute guy brings, well, just a flute). Thanks, and keep up the great work! - Jeff
The EX case is ABS. I think the KC case is wood but I can't say for sure because its covered with a carpet-like material.... but it does have a much warmer sound to it. The KC *is* a keyboard amp meaning it should handle (the entire spectrum from lower to higher frequencies) just about any instrument you can feed it!
Jeffrey, I realize this is an old comment, but I wanted to try and reach out and hear more about how upgrading the 8" speakers turned out, did it help the sound? I'm considering using this for my tenor sax as well.... wanted to hear how your experience has been with the new setup.
@@computerandnetworksecurity1437 I just saw your comment, as I am currently considering the KC 220 (new version of the KC 110). The Street Cube EX replacement speakers are also 8", just like the original. They are Jensen Mod-20. See PMC's video on which ones to get, I forget if it's 4 or 8 ohms, but this is critical. Anyway, I don't mic / amplify my horn at all when busking; no need. I use the amp for backing tracks. And keyboard. And that is the problem. Acoustic piano is the 900 pound gorilla in the room. It's the hardest thing to amplify and sound GOOD. The SCEX is a GUITAR amp, with guitar effects (the COSM thing). It doesn't sound great on acoustic piano, even with the Jensens. But the Jensens are an extreme improvement in the bass. That's not the problem. It has to do with acoustic piano sounding tinny / hollow. I most often use the discontinued Roland Mobile BA for busking in NYC, as "weight matters" (size, too), when dealing with subways, stairs, walking, bus. 6 pounds, sounds great, loud enough to fetch the police. Thre SCEX weighs less with the Jensens (13 pounds), but it's still pretty big (as is the KC 220). The regular Street Cube is enough. The Bose S1 is great for busking, too, and has insane bass. Still not great for acoustic piano. But to repeat, you don't need to mic your horn when busking.
Hi Chuck, what do you think of the Roland BA-330? I saw in a comment on another video you said the BA-330 is more similar to the KC110 than it is to the Cube Street EX. I know that the BA330 and the KC110 are both 30 watts. Does that mean that the BA330 is not as loud as the 50 watt Cube Street EX? I ask because you also said that the BA330 is much better suited to keyboard than the Cube Street EX. In any case, would the BA330 be noticeably louder than that Cube Street (non EX version)? Sorry for the million questions!
I am annoyed that both Roland and the dealer didn't give me good advice in getting my Roland Cube EX. It is a good busking amp for vocal and guitarist. If you are a keyboard player/singer/songwriter type, KC110 is a much better choice.
@@andress.macnamara5477 Unfortunately you need real power and big driver to move bass sound KC110 need to use some of the power to move bass frequency. Roland Cube Street. Ex are optimised for vocal and guitar. When play loud, vocal and guitar are fine but it just cannot cover all the frequencies a keyboard need. Best to get PA speaker like QSC CP8 CP12. Lots of power and headroom.
Hellooooo piano man.. I have a question.. I apreciate your answer.. Which amp do you suggest for both keys-vocals and acoustic guitar-vocals;;; Because eack amp is for a specific instrument, but i am searchingfor one amp for both keys and ac. guitar thank you for your video...smaaak
AC 110 is better. Street cubes are way over priced and compared to a regular cube, there is no comparison. Don’t buy a street cube, save heaps and buy a battery and run two normal cubes. One 20w Cube x kills a Street cube EX. I’ve compared them street cubes are rubbish.
Nice video. I love the Roland cube steet ex, but I've been struggling with the need for 8 AA batteries when I'm outdoors, and now I've bought a working power bank from Amazon. Interesting,
Hello, I'm looking for a stable trolley case for air transport, in which I could transport a Roland Street Cube Ex as well as a microphone, microphone stand and an audio interface Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 with headphones. What can you recommend for me? Thanks, Julia ☺️🙏
Sorry Julia, that's not something I have any experience in. I normally contact a music backline rental company or music retailer like Guitar Center and rent what I need when I arrive somewhere via air travel.
This was a very helpful video. I have already purchased the Street Ex and am so impressed with its performance when I am using guitar and a mic. I have both acoustic and electric guitars and it handles them well. Now I am about to spring for a high end electric/digital piano and it is nice to know that the Street EX is so capable of handling that too! Have you run a Roland RD 2000 through it? Or the new Roland RD-88? Thanks!
It's not really a correct comparison since you have the microphone pointed more towards the KC110 so the Cube Street EX lacks a lot of the bass and tone because of that.
It may appear that way due to the camera angle, but I assure you the mic is placed exactly in the middle. This becomes more apparent when you look at the split screen showing the rear view on the right side of your screen (ie: at 2:35 into the video).
Dear All, I still cant decide on KC110 or Cube Street Ex. I am keyboardist. I would like to go busking on street, subway. I may also use it for Guitar, keyboard, vocal, digital drum and bass, full band setup. Not very sure would kc110 enough volume for my usage on battery. Please advice.
all i want to say here regarding you complaing of possably no tone controls left available for keyboards when the tone controlled inputs are used for guitar/vocals, is that all modern keyboards allready have inbuily eq and dont need external eq,. cheers
Just had a question. I want to play guitar, use a iPad to play music and have a microphone. In your opinion what do you think is the best route. I would like the iPad through bluetooth.
Neither of these models use Bluetooth. Start with checking out the Mackie Freeplay (it supports Bluetooth). I actually have a video where I compared that with the Roland KC110: th-cam.com/video/z274UPmM3rQ/w-d-xo.html
Well I like the kc110, but I wish it had 120 volt capability. Batteries are expensive and to get rechargeable batteries, you need a battery charger, with 2 sets of rechargeable batteries and now we're talking upwards of around $6 or $700.00 for the whole setup. I wonder if there is anything compatible with 120 a/c ability.
@@PianoManChuck Thank you so much for your reply. I dont know if my setup will work and I'm not sure how to set it up and if I need DI boxs. I have a roland kc 550, I have a boss br 800 recording studio, I will use as a mixing board, it has 8 tracks. I've ordered a heil fin mic, a dual DI box, a tc hilicon performance vg, a sennheiser in ear monitor and two 5' xlr cables a 10' stereo Jack cable and a 1/8" to 1/4" stereo Jack cable to download tracks to my recording studio. Witch brings me to the kc 110. I would like to hookup the stereo link with my kc550 because my strat dont sound right with the kc550 by itself, too much bottom. Im wondering if highs mids and lows, will sound right with the kc110. Thank you for your help.
Of the 2, which would be better if you're a bass player? My friend (a guitarist) already has a street cube, and I want to back him up on bass for casual outdoor playing. I'm thinking the KC-110 might be the way to go, but I'm just curious what you think.
Just got the Street Cube EX. $500. The low end is weak and the sound is quiet. I compared this 50w amp to my 30w Mesa Boogie, the Boogie much is louder at volume setting 2. I was disappointed to learn that the Street Cube EX's speakers were of such poor quality and low wattage rating. I just got it and the first time I got to turn it up I am hearing some awful vibrating from one of the speakers. Did I just blow a speaker? OMG. It's not even very loud. Usually with a real amp, I leave rehearsal and my ears are ringing. But with the Cube EX, I can only turn it up about half way before I get bass flub. Why did they put two 15 watt speakers in a 50w amp? I already knew that the Street Cube EX does not have Bluetooth, which was disappointing. I'm seeking alternative solutions. I need full range monitors (mostly flat response) with mixing capabilities. And of course, Bluetooth.
Good review except you forgot to point out the most basic and important piece of Information: One amp is for keyboard, the other is for acoustic guitar and vocals.
It is not made clear at all. It is like comparing a Ferrari to a Landrover. The two amps are build for two different purposes. First time I saw your review I came away with the conclusion that the KC-110 sounds better than the Cube. It does - when used for piano. I am a singer and a guitar player. But thanks anyway for the review. I will try to find out which one is best for me.
KC series amps are advertised as Keyboard Amps (even says so right on the unit!). Street Cube amps are advertised as guitar and PA amps. How much more clarity do you need? Like Comparing Ferrari to Landrover? Ur delusional!
Would THIS device solve the problem? www.amazon.com/dp/B001E95KF6?psc=1 OR, an Android App for the phone? I could see using an app for the phone and running the VR-09 through the combo jacks.... That would work for busking, where I don't mic my saxophone. Which creates a question for you: How well does the piano sound through the combo jacks as opposed to the line in? Any impedance issues, etc? Thanks...
That's a very pricey solution! A much better solution would be any of the battery-operated mixers out there (would give you more channels and EQ as well). I would particularly recommend the Behringer Xenyx 1002B - which would give you 5 more channels (technically 8 since the last 3 can be L/R stereo channels) - all 5 of which can be Mic or Line, all 5 have their own 3-band EQ, there's even phantom power, insert efx, and much more! Mic preamps on this unit are excellent! Pairing this up with the Cube Street EX turns it into one very professional PA (and all battery operated). Check out Behringer's video for it here: th-cam.com/video/5JEXmRwQZg0/w-d-xo.html And check out the unit itself over here: www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/1002B
I like that solution for "formal" gigs! For busking, how about their smaller (and lighter) units, such as the 3 pound 1002 or the 2.3 pound 502? Or do those devices require AC? The 1002b is 5.5 pounds. Weight matters for buskers.
I believe those are not battery powered units that you mentioned. There's other battery powered mixers out there with EQ built into them (you'll need to google it). You were willing to spend a lot more $$ on just a tone control device... but if you got the Behringer Xenyx 1002B (+5.5 lbs) AND the replacement Jensen woofers (-2 lbs), the overall weight gain would be 3.5 lbs and you'd have a much better system all around, for about the same price you were going to spend on just the tone control alone!
Actually there's another, very awesome solution - its battery operated and its under 3 lbs! Its the Zoom R24 or R16 (I just tested with an R24). Not only can you have 3-band EQ for each channel (there's 8 of them), but you also have an excellent 8-track recorder with 8 combo inputs, phantom power for condenser mics, all kinds of EFX, etc. Basically, its an 8-track recording studio with all kinds of EFX (including EQ), that doubles as an awesome interface to the Cube Street EX, in a 2.8 lb unit.
I used the Roland Cube Street EX and the Behringer 1002B tonight for the first time busking - the schlepping was easy (I bought the bag for each, but used my luggage cart as usual). The sound was awesome! And the control was great. I'd like one of those Z oom units for composing (also their Q4 to shoot videos) but of course they are much more expensive. The controls on the Behringer are easy to access as well.
I think the 110 is more versatile! I currently use a Kronos 2 and need a good practice amp or small gig amp and think the 110 would be ideal. Two linked together would be an adequate small gig PA. However, as I like some effects on vocals, I do not need to apply the effects to the Kronos! This would inevitably mean a separate effects unit for vocals would need to be purchased. Am I correct in assuming that you are unable to apply effects to the vocal channel only?
On the KC-110, the built-in effects (reverb/chorus) applies to the output (not the individual inputs) - so its either all or nothing. On the Cube Street EX, the built-in effects apply specifically to channel 1 or channel 2 (which can be your mic channel(s)), leaving all other inputs (such as your keyboard) unaltered.
Great review...I’ve had the KC-110 for several years...it’s been a great reliable and versatile amp. We’ve primarily used it in a practice/composition room to play a wide variety of synthesizers through it. We recently got the new Roland Boutique D-05 synth (D50 reissue) and all those classic and complex D50 sounds from the 80s sound amazing through this little amp. Yes it does piano and clavs and Rhodes sounds wonderfully, but it also has the potential of projecting the detail and nuances of other sounds just as well.
The mids and highs need rolled back to around 9-10 respectively o clock on the EX as a starting point so the sound is as dark as want it to be. I use channel one to play backing tracks and channel 2 for lead electric guitar. You are right, the unit is a god-send. The Ex has MORE BASS than the other unit. It has bigger speakers and a bigger cab, but the front of 8 in speakers produce much more 'low mids' between 100and 500hz. It is just that it has more low mids and 'mid mids' that cover the bass up. almost all the fundamental program material is between 100hz and 500hz. I keep my Bass at noon, and the other mids and highd roled back and I never need to worry about blowing out a speaker no matter how high I turn it up, but I never turn it up past 3 o clock. turning up the bass past 12 oclock can 'blow' the speakers just as much as distorting them with a lower power setting.
I'm glad I waited for your review before purchasing! Of course, Roland needs to combine these units. The Street Cube EX is designed for busking guitarists, hence its limitations as you describe. I busk with my new Roland VR-09 keyboard. I currently use an 18 pound, mono Samson XP40iw, which has global EQ. I use my Android phone for backing tracks. I DO need the EQ for those tracks. The VR-09 could benefit from a separate EQ, especially for the low end. That unit has no on-board EQ, and the bottom overwhelms the Samson (which has a great low end, albeit through a 6.5 woofer). So ideally, I need separate EQ for line in AND the combo jacks. SO: do you now of a lightweight EQ unit that I could implement between the Android and the Street Cube EX? This would make the whole thing pricey (especially if I swap for thee Jensen woofers, as you suggest in the other video), but that configuration might do I DO think I'd like the extra power of the Street over the KC. Great video as usual!
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Awesome video.
My opinion is KC110 is a solid state amp and speaker. Good for keyboards.
Cube street ex is great for guitars and definitely not for keyboards.
Cheers
I just remembered why I sold the EX, the lack of nice bass... the KC sounds better. I would use less volume and prefer better sound
Well I have finally made up my mind. Maybe it’s because I’m a guitarist but I am getting the Street cube ex. Your reviews are excellent and extremely informative. Thank you so much!
I need a keyboard amp for my band. Your review was excellent to show me that the Cube sounds crappy and the Roland has the sound I need but is not loud enough.
I will try the Roland KC-200 or bigger.
Thanks !
roland kc-110 sounds so much nicer!
Hey its the second (or maybe more) time i see this demo N the KC 110 sounds way more full in tone / warmer than the crappy sound coming out the Street EX which sounds like a nasty PA IMO
Prefer the 110. Bought the Cube Ex thinking the larger drivers and extra 20 watts would make a difference in sound as well as volume. Got the volume at the expense of sound quality for the Roland percussion synthesizers i play.
I use (2) kc110's now for the gigs without ac power and get volume, sound, and separation i need.
The other gigs i play provide sound and if needed i can use the 110 as a stage monitor with line outs to foh.
Used the power bank hack from your video to get the extra 10 watts of the KC 110 back. Their new KC 220 has the same problem.....Thanks!
waveriderz SHOULD I buy KC 220 OR KC 110? I see not much differences between 110 vs 220?
hui trieu ...buy the one that's cheapest. 220 just a refresh of the 110. No real difference. Be aware that the 30 watts drops to 20 on both, when run battery only. Piano Man Chuck has an ez power bank hack for that. Really depends on what you're doing. Not many options in battery powered amps. Versatile, reliable, however lacks a little in volume, so mostly good for practice, small stage monitor, or a very small venue. Am ok with mine, but i use 2. Best you audition one, if posssible? Good luck!
waveriderz Thank you very much!
As far as I can tell, KC-110 sounds more flat and it has more bass than the Cube Street EX.
That said, it would be nice a new comparison with both being mic'd properly!
Thanks for this review... Most helpful. ;-)
Great demo and review. I think the applications for each would be more of the deciding factor. The KC-110 seems to be a legit, low-volume solution for practice, acoustic gigs and a decent personal monitor or practice amp. Great review and setup as I can clearly hear a difference. Love the EQ options more so on the 110. Stereo is everything to me as I want to hear the effects of my Roland Juno GI (thankfully has awesome onboard EQ on main panel). I think the overall dynamics of the 110 trump the cube. I’m keeping my eyes out for a used 110 thanks to this review (currently using an AP Space Station V3). Thanks Chuck!
Lol. You read my mind. Just viewed the Mackie and the KC. Was wondering about the Street Ex and the KC. Ok now. Time to listen!
Roland should pay you, because now i've decided to purchase a KC 110 & a Street Cube. How about reviewing the JC 22?
Roland's Jazz Chorus amps are amazing, in my opinion.
Thank you! That was very helpful.
👍🏻💯
very helpful review chuck!
Thanks Chuck!
but KC110 only provide 1 microphone input, but cube provides more than 2.
I always like York videos, thanks You for sharing... question.. I play an electronic saxophone midi. What amp/speaker that You recomend me to get for busking...I only going to use this instrument with backing tracks, not using pedals or mixers...only that simple, but needs to be powered by batteries...Thanks you
hello piano man,aim from argentina i have a question i play aocustic guitar and sing and i wanna buy a equipe to play in the streets,for you who its the ampli i need?
I sell my cube street after trying it. I never obtain a good clean sound with my guitars. Marketing only. It works but don't expect to obtain a nice round sound : plastic is plastic.
Is the kc 220 the newer version of this amp then? I’m shopping for my first keyboard amp (at present I just use headphones).
Be used for at home and possibly band practice.
Purple Heart Scott ..KC220 is the newer version but seems to be exactly the same as the KC 110. Still drops to 20 watts using battery power!. Its versatile and I use it for small gigs all the time, including cruise ship greetings at the local pier , where it gets noisy. It'll probably be as good as can be had currently for your needs if you don't need high volumes. I've tried others and decided on the 110. Can't comment on the BA330 as none are here locally. Am curious about it also. Effects are still global. See Piano Mans videos on how to get the full 30 watts on battery power. It makes a little difference. He's got a lot of info on the KC110.
What if you used a stereo eq pedal with your keyboard?
Geat review Chuck! Very informative. For me, the cube is the one I'd go with for my guitar and vocals.
AWESOME VIDEO - YOU ROKKK CHUCK !!!
Thank you that was very helpful
One Is for keyboards AND another one Is for guitar.
Chuck your reviews are always excellent. Thank you.
Thanks Clive!
Hey Piano Man Chuck. You might wanna take a look at the "Elite Acoustics A4-8"??
I own one of these and the sound is super nice! Like studio monitors. Also use it for busking!
Actually the major difference between this two amplifiers is that their speakers are made of differently. Roland KC-220's speaker is way thicker than Cube's so it has full range bass response.
rock on, need more reviews like this - thanks
Nice review. Thanks
Great breakdown! I run percussion synths with parameters that can be controlled via the instrument. Don't need all the options the street provides. For outdoor gigs, the volume increase of the street is nice, however for the higher price I haven't found the sound quality any better, at least for my synths. Am currently running a KC110 with a Mackie Thump GO. Am either gonna' get get another KC110 or another Thump GO to match and retire one. Unfortunately no one has the Thump Go for me to audition together. Have had the KC110 for almost ten years without a single problem! Only wish Roland would stop using those plastic quarter inch jacks. Run my KC110 using your power bank idea and it works great. Thanks for sharing!
what kind of power bank?
Great comparison, THANK YOU. May i ask a question: How did you like personally the "Roland Cube Street EX" when adding the EQ? Was it good enough for you? It sounde still not as clear as the K-110, is that right?
Right!
Is it possible to put an inline eq between amp output and the piano imput...I have an ibanez eq footswitch that is has true bypass when not needed.
I guess you have figured this out by now, but your piano output (left/mono) should be plugged into input of ibanez eq. EQ output then goes to a mono input of the amplifier. Just be careful at the start not to push too much volume into the EQ. It might take some effort to balance your gain structure. Good luck.
Thank Chuck would like to see the other effects you mentioned by the end
Thank you Piano man Chuck! I listened through my Bose QC35's and I could really tell the difference in the sound of the two.
I really like the crisp clear sound of the Roland 110 over the Cube.
Thanks again!
KC110 has much fuller low and middle.
Agree 100%. Totally evident in this video. Unfortunately, I bought a Cube Street EX before viewing this. Sounded awfully thin and I got rid of it and soon as I could. KC-110 sounds far better.
Not just fuller, but more detailed.
Very cool. I own a KC550 and it sits in the garage because it's destroying my shoulders. The 110 definitely sounds better on the video. Now, if I could get my FP7 to run on battery (right a UPC).
What's a upc?
@@RA-el6zj Typo. I meant an UPS (Uninterruptible Battery Supply). I sold the KC550. Too heavy.
Very intresting
thank you Chuck ^^ aho
This has been maybe the most helpful review I've ever seen on any product.
Every word was useful and necessary. Thank you!
I understand the lows of the Cube aren't as good as in the 110... but I think I'm going with that one anyways!
Thankssss!!!!!!
So glad to hear that.... thank you!
Hi Chuck - JENSEN UPDATE: I have the Roland Street Cube EX and the Behringer 1002B mixer, and use these for busking with my Roland VR-09, along with backing tracks from my Android phone on Google Play Music. Once I buy a clip-on microphone, I'll run my tenor saxophone through this rig for a little reverb, etc.
(that's one reason the KC-110 is of less interest, to me than the EX as its reverb is global).
I tested the EX through its headphone out into my AKG 271s, using various configurations/inputs of the EX, the mixer, and straight out of the Kawai MP11 - all sounded great, so I think the speakers in the EX are the culprit....
So.....
I received the Jensen MOD8-20 4 ohm speakers yesterday. Last week, I incorrectly received the EIGHT ohm version last week, due to a shipping error, even though I specifically requested from the seller that I needed the 4 ohm version. So, anybody doing that mod needs to make crystal clear which speaker they need! Maybe I can find a use for the 8 ohm elsewhere, since the seller refuses to pay for return shipping.
Before I do "brain surgery" on the EX, watching the instant video indicates that the EX sounds "plasticy" in comparison to the KC. Is this your experience as well? Is the KC's case made of a different material than the EX's ABS plastic? I still have time to return the EX and get the KC instead. Or, I might keep the EX and get the KC for paid gigs where I don't need as much volume.
I think the KC's volume is a little weak for busking and the attendant street noise, the occasional interloping busker (especially the dreaded "bucket boys," to whom loudness is irrelevant, since they drown everything else out), so I do like the extra power of the EX. I run it on the middle power setting, which I think sounds a little better than the economy one.
I've heard two local buskers (a flutist and a vibraphonist; both excellent musicians) use the Roland BA-330, which sounds great (they both amplify their instrument and use backing tracks). Can you do a review of the BA-330? It has 4 6.5 woofers, probably the same China made brand that Roland uses in the EX. The problem with the thing for me is the 30 pound weight (the vibes guy just drops his rig off with his car - he's not a mobile busker like me; and the flute guy brings, well, just a flute).
Thanks, and keep up the great work! - Jeff
The EX case is ABS. I think the KC case is wood but I can't say for sure because its covered with a carpet-like material.... but it does have a much warmer sound to it. The KC *is* a keyboard amp meaning it should handle (the entire spectrum from lower to higher frequencies) just about any instrument you can feed it!
Jeffrey, I realize this is an old comment, but I wanted to try and reach out and hear more about how upgrading the 8" speakers turned out, did it help the sound? I'm considering using this for my tenor sax as well.... wanted to hear how your experience has been with the new setup.
@@computerandnetworksecurity1437 I just saw your comment, as I am currently considering the KC 220 (new version of the KC 110). The Street Cube EX replacement speakers are also 8", just like the original. They are Jensen Mod-20. See PMC's video on which ones to get, I forget if it's 4 or 8 ohms, but this is critical. Anyway, I don't mic / amplify my horn at all when busking; no need. I use the amp for backing tracks. And keyboard. And that is the problem. Acoustic piano is the 900 pound gorilla in the room. It's the hardest thing to amplify and sound GOOD. The SCEX is a GUITAR amp, with guitar effects (the COSM thing). It doesn't sound great on acoustic piano, even with the Jensens. But the Jensens are an extreme improvement in the bass. That's not the problem. It has to do with acoustic piano sounding tinny / hollow. I most often use the discontinued Roland Mobile BA for busking in NYC, as "weight matters" (size, too), when dealing with subways, stairs, walking, bus. 6 pounds, sounds great, loud enough to fetch the police. Thre SCEX weighs less with the Jensens (13 pounds), but it's still pretty big (as is the KC 220). The regular Street Cube is enough. The Bose S1 is great for busking, too, and has insane bass. Still not great for acoustic piano. But to repeat, you don't need to mic your horn when busking.
Hi Chuck, what do you think of the Roland BA-330? I saw in a comment on another video you said the BA-330 is more similar to the KC110 than it is to the Cube Street EX. I know that the BA330 and the KC110 are both 30 watts. Does that mean that the BA330 is not as loud as the 50 watt Cube Street EX?
I ask because you also said that the BA330 is much better suited to keyboard than the Cube Street EX.
In any case, would the BA330 be noticeably louder than that Cube Street (non EX version)?
Sorry for the million questions!
I am annoyed that both Roland and the dealer didn't give me good advice in getting my Roland Cube EX. It is a good busking amp for vocal and guitarist. If you are a keyboard player/singer/songwriter type, KC110 is a much better choice.
Don't you find the KC110 not powerful enough?
@@andress.macnamara5477 Unfortunately you need real power and big driver to move bass sound KC110 need to use some of the power to move bass frequency. Roland Cube Street. Ex are optimised for vocal and guitar. When play loud, vocal and guitar are fine but it just cannot cover all the frequencies a keyboard need. Best to get PA speaker like QSC CP8 CP12. Lots of power and headroom.
Watts dont mean Jack S#!T.. It DB that matters
Why is that?
Hellooooo piano man.. I have a question.. I apreciate your answer.. Which amp do you suggest for both keys-vocals and acoustic guitar-vocals;;; Because eack amp is for a specific instrument, but i am searchingfor one amp for both keys and ac. guitar thank you for your video...smaaak
AC 110 is better. Street cubes are way over priced and compared to a regular cube, there is no comparison. Don’t buy a street cube, save heaps and buy a battery and run two normal cubes. One 20w Cube x kills a Street cube EX. I’ve compared them street cubes are rubbish.
hi chuck.. can give a review to roland CM30.. ?can it handle a distorted organ sound played in the Keyboard.. ?
Nice video. I love the Roland cube steet ex, but I've been struggling with the need for 8 AA batteries when I'm outdoors, and now I've bought a working power bank from Amazon. Interesting,
P man chuck. Which of the two has a better vocal sound? I'm a baritone,,,if that matters....thanks for posting
yeah thats real a God send both amps for busker musicians.
which sounds like piano,,,, cube sounds nasal....roland bit closer to reality
Great vid thanx,how about the lightweight Vox vx50kb looks great,any thoughts?
Hello, I'm looking for a stable trolley case for air transport, in which I could transport a Roland Street Cube Ex as well as a microphone, microphone stand and an audio interface Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 with headphones. What can you recommend for me? Thanks, Julia ☺️🙏
Sorry Julia, that's not something I have any experience in. I normally contact a music backline rental company or music retailer like Guitar Center and rent what I need when I arrive somewhere via air travel.
What amp would you recommend for a C silver flute? Thank you.
Would you recommend the KC110 for Fender Rhodes?
Hmmm... the Cube sounds kinda like a guitar amp, but what do I know.
hey chuck any word on the roland KC 220?
This was a very helpful video. I have already purchased the Street Ex and am so impressed with its performance when I am using guitar and a mic. I have both acoustic and electric guitars and it handles them well. Now I am about to spring for a high end electric/digital piano and it is nice to know that the Street EX is so capable of handling that too! Have you run a Roland RD 2000 through it? Or the new Roland RD-88? Thanks!
siento que el cube street ex es mucho mas agudo el sonido
It's not really a correct comparison since you have the microphone pointed more towards the KC110 so the Cube Street EX lacks a lot of the bass and tone because of that.
It may appear that way due to the camera angle, but I assure you the mic is placed exactly in the middle. This becomes more apparent when you look at the split screen showing the rear view on the right side of your screen (ie: at 2:35 into the video).
@@PianoManChuck Interesting. Great comparison btw. So more inches in diameter for the speakers does not necessarily mean more bass.
Hello! Thks for this review! What do you think is the best option for me: i need a amp that i can play keyboard and guitar at the same gig?
Thks
Is this Steve Negus the drummer from SAGA?
Hello !!!! Cual me recomiendas ??? Gracias !
Art Busker el KC-110 es muchísimo mejor porque está diseñado para teclas
seiph80 Gracias por tu respuesta !!!
hi pianoman... you wich prefer?
Dear All,
I still cant decide on KC110 or Cube Street Ex. I am keyboardist. I would like to go busking on street, subway. I may also use it for Guitar, keyboard, vocal, digital drum and bass, full band setup. Not very sure would kc110 enough volume for my usage on battery. Please advice.
Try posting your question at www.musicplayerforums.com in the "the keyboard corner" section.
all i want to say here regarding you complaing of possably no tone controls left available for keyboards when the tone controlled inputs are used for guitar/vocals, is that all modern keyboards allready have inbuily eq and dont need external eq,. cheers
Low cost / entry boards have either no tone controls or awful preset eq's to choose from.
Does the effects (reverb / Chorus) also applies on the aux input?
I got it answered at the end of the video. Thanks! :) great as always!
Just had a question. I want to play guitar, use a iPad to play music and have a microphone. In your opinion what do you think is the best route. I would like the iPad through bluetooth.
Neither of these models use Bluetooth. Start with checking out the Mackie Freeplay (it supports Bluetooth). I actually have a video where I compared that with the Roland KC110: th-cam.com/video/z274UPmM3rQ/w-d-xo.html
Witch of the 2 amps would sound better for a Flute , 110? thanks in advance
A brilliant video sir!
Well I like the kc110, but I wish it had 120 volt capability. Batteries are expensive and to get rechargeable batteries, you need a battery charger, with 2 sets of rechargeable batteries and now we're talking upwards of around $6 or $700.00 for the whole setup. I wonder if there is anything compatible with 120 a/c ability.
It comes with an AC Adapter (both models do actually).
@@PianoManChuck Thank you so much for your reply.
I dont know if my setup will work and I'm not sure how to set it up and if I need DI boxs. I have a roland kc 550, I have a boss br 800 recording studio, I will use as a mixing board, it has 8 tracks. I've ordered a heil fin mic, a dual DI box, a tc hilicon performance vg, a sennheiser in ear monitor and two 5' xlr cables a 10' stereo Jack cable and a 1/8" to 1/4" stereo Jack cable to download tracks to my recording studio. Witch brings me to the kc 110. I would like to hookup the stereo link with my kc550 because my strat dont sound right with the kc550 by itself, too much bottom.
Im wondering if highs mids and lows, will sound right with the kc110. Thank you for your help.
Of the 2, which would be better if you're a bass player? My friend (a guitarist) already has a street cube, and I want to back him up on bass for casual outdoor playing. I'm thinking the KC-110 might be the way to go, but I'm just curious what you think.
I'm a pianist, not a bass player... so I wouldn't even take a guess on that one.
You need a Bass amp for a bass. Though adding a Seperate powered subwoofer could help.
Thank you for this work
A whopping 50 Watts?
For a battery powered amp, yes...it is impressive for 8 AA batteries.
Just got the Street Cube EX. $500. The low end is weak and the sound is quiet. I compared this 50w amp to my 30w Mesa Boogie, the Boogie much is louder at volume setting 2.
I was disappointed to learn that the Street Cube EX's speakers were of such poor quality and low wattage rating.
I just got it and the first time I got to turn it up I am hearing some awful vibrating from one of the speakers. Did I just blow a speaker? OMG. It's not even very loud. Usually with a real amp, I leave rehearsal and my ears are ringing. But with the Cube EX, I can only turn it up about half way before I get bass flub. Why did they put two 15 watt speakers in a 50w amp?
I already knew that the Street Cube EX does not have Bluetooth, which was disappointing.
I'm seeking alternative solutions. I need full range monitors (mostly flat response) with mixing capabilities. And of course, Bluetooth.
Can bass be played through the Street Cube EX?
I wouldn't recommend that at all - there's virtually NO bass to this amp, its designed for guitars!
How bout bass through the KC-110?
Yes it's a keyboard amp so it can cover everything
Good review except you forgot to point out the most basic and important piece of Information: One amp is for keyboard, the other is for acoustic guitar and vocals.
Rewatch 0:13 thru 0:26.
It is not made clear at all. It is like comparing a Ferrari to a Landrover. The two amps are build for two different purposes. First time I saw your review I came away with the conclusion that the KC-110 sounds better than the Cube. It does - when used for piano. I am a singer and a guitar player. But thanks anyway for the review. I will try to find out which one is best for me.
KC series amps are advertised as Keyboard Amps (even says so right on the unit!). Street Cube amps are advertised as guitar and PA amps. How much more clarity do you need? Like Comparing Ferrari to Landrover? Ur delusional!
CouchPotatoJr Whatever Mr. Couch Potato.
Would THIS device solve the problem?
www.amazon.com/dp/B001E95KF6?psc=1
OR, an Android App for the phone?
I could see using an app for the phone and running the VR-09 through the combo jacks.... That would work for busking, where I don't mic my saxophone.
Which creates a question for you: How well does the piano sound through the combo jacks as opposed to the line in? Any impedance issues, etc? Thanks...
That's a very pricey solution! A much better solution would be any of the battery-operated mixers out there (would give you more channels and EQ as well). I would particularly recommend the Behringer Xenyx 1002B - which would give you 5 more channels (technically 8 since the last 3 can be L/R stereo channels) - all 5 of which can be Mic or Line, all 5 have their own 3-band EQ, there's even phantom power, insert efx, and much more! Mic preamps on this unit are excellent! Pairing this up with the Cube Street EX turns it into one very professional PA (and all battery operated).
Check out Behringer's video for it here: th-cam.com/video/5JEXmRwQZg0/w-d-xo.html
And check out the unit itself over here: www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/1002B
I like that solution for "formal" gigs! For busking, how about their smaller (and lighter) units, such as the 3 pound 1002 or the 2.3 pound 502? Or do those devices require AC? The 1002b is 5.5 pounds. Weight matters for buskers.
I believe those are not battery powered units that you mentioned. There's other battery powered mixers out there with EQ built into them (you'll need to google it).
You were willing to spend a lot more $$ on just a tone control device... but if you got the Behringer Xenyx 1002B (+5.5 lbs) AND the replacement Jensen woofers (-2 lbs), the overall weight gain would be 3.5 lbs and you'd have a much better system all around, for about the same price you were going to spend on just the tone control alone!
Actually there's another, very awesome solution - its battery operated and its under 3 lbs! Its the Zoom R24 or R16 (I just tested with an R24). Not only can you have 3-band EQ for each channel (there's 8 of them), but you also have an excellent 8-track recorder with 8 combo inputs, phantom power for condenser mics, all kinds of EFX, etc. Basically, its an 8-track recording studio with all kinds of EFX (including EQ), that doubles as an awesome interface to the Cube Street EX, in a 2.8 lb unit.
I used the Roland Cube Street EX and the Behringer 1002B tonight for the first time busking - the schlepping was easy (I bought the bag for each, but used my luggage cart as usual). The sound was awesome! And the control was great. I'd like one of those Z
oom units for composing (also their Q4 to shoot videos) but of course they are much more expensive. The controls on the Behringer are easy to access as well.
I think the 110 is more versatile! I currently use a Kronos 2 and need a good practice amp or small gig amp and think the 110 would be ideal. Two linked together would be an adequate small gig PA.
However, as I like some effects on vocals, I do not need to apply the effects to the Kronos! This would inevitably mean a separate effects unit for vocals would need to be purchased. Am I correct in assuming that you are unable to apply effects to the vocal channel only?
On the KC-110, the built-in effects (reverb/chorus) applies to the output (not the individual inputs) - so its either all or nothing.
On the Cube Street EX, the built-in effects apply specifically to channel 1 or channel 2 (which can be your mic channel(s)), leaving all other inputs (such as your keyboard) unaltered.
Great review...I’ve had the KC-110 for several years...it’s been a great reliable and versatile amp. We’ve primarily used it in a practice/composition room to play a wide variety of synthesizers through it. We recently got the new Roland Boutique D-05 synth (D50 reissue) and all those classic and complex D50 sounds from the 80s sound amazing through this little amp. Yes it does piano and clavs and Rhodes sounds wonderfully, but it also has the potential of projecting the detail and nuances of other sounds just as well.
The mids and highs need rolled back to around 9-10 respectively o clock on the EX as a starting point so the sound is as dark as want it to be. I use channel one to play backing tracks and channel 2 for lead electric guitar. You are right, the unit is a god-send.
The Ex has MORE BASS than the other unit. It has bigger speakers and a bigger cab, but the front of 8 in speakers produce much more 'low mids' between 100and 500hz. It is just that it has more low mids and 'mid mids' that cover the bass up. almost all the fundamental program material is between 100hz and 500hz. I keep my Bass at noon, and the other mids and highd roled back and I never need to worry about blowing out a speaker no matter how high I turn it up, but I never turn it up past 3 o clock. turning up the bass past 12 oclock can 'blow' the speakers just as much as distorting them with a lower power setting.
I'm glad I waited for your review before purchasing! Of course, Roland needs to combine these units. The Street Cube EX is designed for busking guitarists, hence its limitations as you describe. I busk with my new Roland VR-09 keyboard. I currently use an 18 pound, mono Samson XP40iw, which has global EQ. I use my Android phone for backing tracks. I DO need the EQ for those tracks. The VR-09 could benefit from a separate EQ, especially for the low end. That unit has no on-board EQ, and the bottom overwhelms the Samson (which has a great low end, albeit through a 6.5 woofer). So ideally, I need separate EQ for line in AND the combo jacks. SO: do you now of a lightweight EQ unit that I could implement between the Android and the Street Cube EX? This would make the whole thing pricey (especially if I swap for thee Jensen woofers, as you suggest in the other video), but that configuration might do I DO think I'd like the extra power of the Street over the KC. Great video as usual!
Why not buy an EQ pedal?
more notes less words, please