Motion Sound KBR3D Keyboard Amplifier User Reviews at zZounds

"Absolutley the best keyboard amp on the market to be in one box." submitted February 10, 2007

By a customer from msn.com

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Musical Background: 30 years as a local musician, and twenty years as a National Artist stage and lighting company

Music Style: If I can hum it, I can play it...Pop, dance, country, classic country, classic rock, rock, southern rock, southern gospel, NO hi

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Sound: This is hands down the very best keyboard amplifier out there today. The Leslie sound is the closest thing to a real Leslie I've heard. The stereo channels match or excede any other keyboard amp out there, plus it is a stereo amplifier. Feature: I love everything about it except Motionsound failed to put an XLR DI output on the speaker output. It does however have stereo output xlr on internal microphones on the rotating horn. Why they didn't think of the bottom end, or the stereo channels needing a balanced Direct output I can't imagine. For this short coming, I give it an 8 rather than a perfect 10. Ease of Use: Any dummy can operate this amp and get a great sound. Quality: I get constant completments on the sound of this amplifier. I can even feed a cheap organ through the Leslie simulating channel and it sounds like something from a 60's rock album. Other keyboard players and musicians all bragg on this amp. I wouldn't consider any other keyboard amp. This amplifier is a life time investment for me. This amplifier is the understated, unknown best out there. Value: Expensive period, but I wouldn't take any other amp so I guess it's worth it. Manufacturer Support: I've had to call them as I had some transit damage, the Motionsound folks were quick to respond with support. The Wow Factor: It is a nice sized amp. I set the amp on top of the flight case when I play. It puts it a the perfect height behind me. I turn it lound enough to monitor myself and let the sound man take it from there. The soundman is always bragging on the "source" of sound I'm sending him. Overall: This amplifier is the cat's meow for the keyboard player who wants a great keyboard amp AND a Leslie sound that is very close to a real Leslie.

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"A No-Compromise Amp For No-Compromise Keyboard Players" submitted November 20, 2010

By a customer from gmail.com

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Musical Background: Semi-Pro, Wekkend Gigs

Music Style: Classic Rock 60s and 70s

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Sound: This is actually TWO amps: the rotary leslie and a dual-channel traditional amp. The leslie has a nice tone, but is a tad underpowered for really blow-out situations, otherwise more than enough. Fortunately, the leslie is internally mic'd, so you can feed that to the board for a ridiculously *huge* stereo leslie sound. The more traditional stereo keyboard amp is absolutely rock solid: strong, clean, resonant, slightly warm, projects very well through the other band members, doesn't need to be fed through a PA, etc. Oh yes, it can be *very loud* if needed. I have never, ever had to push this amp anywhere near 100%. Always nice to have a bunch of dBs in reserve, yes? I play mostly 60s and 70s classic rock with acoustic and grand piano sounds, some rhodes sounds, and big organ -- perfect. My synth is a monster through this as well. Expect to use your own effects: DSP, reverb, etc, other than the leslie, which is quite magical. I'm light on effects, anyway. As a guitar amp, my guitar playing buddies say it is quite exceptional as well. I mean, how many guitar amps are this clean, and have a leslie effect? Feature: The amp does exactly what I want it to -- no more, no less. Plenty of inputs, nice tone controls, and the rotary footswitch is very sturdy and easy to use as you're playing. There's a "expand" function which is somewhat useful, but I don't use it. Again, the traditional part of the amp is wonderful enough, but the mechanical rotary leslie kicks it into magical territory. The only step up is to buy and haul around the real deal leslie cabinet. Ease of Use: Uh -- if you can't figure out how to use this amp, there's no helping you. It's about as straightforward as it gets. Quality: Built like a tank. Will probably last for 20 years or so. I bought mine in mid 2010, so all the early problems were dealt with. Absolutely no issues, and I don't expect any either. Opened it up -- quality assembly and components throughout. This ain't no cheapo amp, folks. You won't find it at the mass retailers, either. If someone has this amp, they took the time to hunt it down and spend the big $$$. Value: Value is always subjective, but I wanted a no-compromise keyboard amp that sounded exceptional, supported my playing style, very reliable, powerful, transportable, etc. My other amp rig is a pair of Crown/JBL self-powered PA towers + mixer (about twice the price, no leslie, 800W each, and a LOT to carry around -- but mind-blowing sound). Yes, my bigger rig technically sounds better, but for a single-amp solution, this is about as good as it gets. Manufacturer Support: Their support is the absolute best -- because I haven't needed it yet! The Wow Factor: Absolutely minimalist design. They assume you know what the hell you're doing with amps and keyboards, and don't try to impress you with cheap or bling-y crap. This amp would have looked cool in 1965, and it looks cool in 2010. It's that sort of classic. Overall: I can't imagine a better keyboard amp for what I use it for. There's just no looking around for "better". As a matter of fact, Roland just released a thousand-buck dual-speaker keyboard amp unit -- I have no interest at all. If it was lost or stolen, I'd figure out a way to get the exact same unit again. Not everyone's cup of tea. If you can afford the best, this is it.

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"great keyboard amp" submitted July 19, 2003

By a customer from sbcglobal.net

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Music Style: blues, latin showtunes

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VERIFIED BUYER

zZounds has verified that this customer bought this product from us.

Sound: Great mellow Leslie sound, loud no distortion, excellent Feature: Casters should be standard equipment as this amp is heavier than a dead priest. The LEDs for rotary speed should also be standard although Motion Sound does have a schematic on their website. Quality: Handles are a bit hard to grip, but well positioned Value: a bit expensive Manufacturer Support: no dealings with the manf. owners manual looks like a rough draft on copy paper, but informative. Would like to have more suggestions on how to hook up to the two amps with one keyboard. The Wow Factor: I wanted it so bad I bought it Overall: Love it

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"Quite a nice amp for you organ players that don't own a leslie or even a B3." submitted June 11, 2003

By a customer from aol.com

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Music Style: Classic Rock/Jam Rock/Funk

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Sound: This amp sounds almost perfect (Getting a little horn buzz, but can't be heard at performance level). It takes a little getting used to the fast/slow and stop foot pedal buttons (used to a gas pedal design), but all-in-all quite a robust design. Makes my cheap-o Yamaha keyboard sound like a real organ. Feature: Has everything I could want with the exception of a real snarl overdrive distortion, but I get that from the combo-pedal I'm using. Quality: I was a little disappointed that I blew the horn in the first 6 months of ownership. It ran me about $117 dollars to fix it with a more sturdy one. The horn the unit ships with now is the more sturdy one (the next rev. 1.2), so most people won't experiance the same problem. It has worked wonderfully ever since it was repaired. Value: If you bought the first revision (with the 1.1 horn) I would say the unit is not reliable enough. However, the second version w/the better horn would be worth the money. Manufacturer Support: I emailed the company to see if they still made a "gas-pedal" type speed pedal for it, and they got back to me in a week -- not bad. Unfortunately they don't make the "gas-pedal" anymore. Oh, well. The Wow Factor: People who see it when I play out w/my band ask me about it all the time. They want to know what it is/who makes it/where to get one. Its quite a smart looking amp. Overall: After I repaired it, I would never want to get rid of it...Its THAT GOOD SOUNDING. It can play quite loudly.

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"The best unleslie you can buy," submitted July 29, 2006

By a customer from hotmail.com

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Musical Background: Player

Music Style: Blues, Jazz, Country, Swing

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Sound: OK Leslie sound, piano & synth channel seems to get lost, not great bottom end, I use a pro 3 to supplement the rotor and a monitor amp for piano. This is not a leslie, but it could sound a lot closer with a little more effort by Motion Sound. Subwoofer output, mixed XLR line out jacks, better mikes and control of same for horn, those cheap pots are a waste of time. For the price paid, should be more top of the line. Feature: Fast, slow & stop pedal, wow, lack of a light on pedal for fast/ slow/stop always has me checking to see what rotor is doing, light on amp hard to see from anywhere. Ease of Use: Good tube overdrive, but again, low light situations make it very hard to decipher panel settings, not pleased with chorus sound Quality: I got an early model, black finish on cabinet was garbage, ended up rhinolining it myself. Pots for mic controls on rotor fell in, not a quality piece of work. Ended up buying a amp case for it, which I highly recommend anyone that buys this does. Value: Overpriced because it has a rotor, like a leslie, better watch it guys, those stereo sims are sounding pretty good, and I love the weight ratio aspect. Manufacturer Support: Called Motion sound about problems with cabinet wear and pots, said pretty much "too effin bad, pal" The Wow Factor: Always get comments from sound men who want to know what the hell it is Overall: I'm going to use it for a while, not a recording piece of gear definitely, small venue OK.

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"The ultimate keyboard amp (so far)"

By a customer from drfiala.com

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Features

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Music Style: classic rock

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zZounds has verified that this customer bought this product from us.

Sound: Beautiful sounding. The rotating speaker "leslie" effect is heavenly with either my voce v5 or kurzweil Kb3 mode. The stereo expander effect works great with strings and piano - exactly as claimed. Feature: Very solidly built. Tube overdrive sounds good. Wish list: LED indicator on pedal for leslie speed; castors should be mounted at factory, if requested, not left for you to do. Quality: Fit and finish is excellent. I plan to gig with it...will report back. Value: Slightly pricy - but worth it for the "pro" sound and the leslie effect. Manufacturer Support: Have only dealt with the company by e-mail, as there were no local distributors. They were helpful. The Wow Factor: Looks great. Sounds great. What more do you want?

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