Roland KC-550 Keyboard Amplifier
Be heard on stage with 180 watts of clear, deep power, thanks to the Roland KC-550 keyboard amp, with four sets of stereo inputs for all your gear.
Overall User Ratings (based on 92 ratings)
Submitted July 12, 2015 by Oren Anderson in Benson, AZ
"As advertised"
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Out of the box I thought there might be a problem, I had to reset my keyboard mixer I'd adjusted the sounds for the little speakers on the keyboard and naturally had the bass all the way up. So I reset everything to mid range. Then adjust for Max Headroom. It sounded really really good once I bothered to 'dial it in'. I made no further adjustment it sounded so good and I've just been playing music ever since. The 3 EQ dials for Bass Mid and High actually are all I need, sure I like a bunch of lights and dials, but that's what seemed to die on the other brand - pro's said the complicated one dies in the middle of your job. I just got this thing and I'm not giving 5 stars until it lasts 5 years, right? Within two weeks I played at a 4th of July picnic. This was the easiest part of my equipment - the least complicated and lest fragile part. It kicks, and it is very LOUD. I'm betting you can damage hearing with it indoors or if you stand too close outside. I run the TV through it at home and thought I had an earthquake - since I don't use the caster wheels mine sits with a positive contact on the hardwood floor covering concrete. It shakes my small 2br house. I replaced a dead 250W PA with 4 big speakers, this is much better, the keyboard sounds seem True-er, better. I thought they just took the springs off a Crate, but this is so much cleaner sound. I love to play along with Youtube music video's - and I spend my leisure searching and playing along with,.. I am an audiophile and I love to hear every little sound. This thing delivers that crisp clean bright sound, so that I can go back - yet again - to a Beatles classic and hear qualities that I'd not heard before. Remember when you were shocked by digital? I was shocked by the quality sound. Look no further. [disclaimer - I just got it 1 month ago, but the reputation is good, it's Roland and should last just fine.] I can use my old spkrs or add a subwoofer - but I think I'm gonna by a second one of these and sell ALL MY OTHER GEAR. serious symmetry.
Musical Background:
♫ I just wanna be a ONE MAN,... one man band ♪
Musical Style:
very stylish
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Submitted May 5, 2007 by a customer from bamlett.com
"The stuff"
I just got it so it is hard not to like it at this point. It was the best I could find... in fact I'd ordered a 350 and they sent a 550. For a couple days I thought I'd just forgotten how large it was and then talked to the rep who said he'd upgraded me because there was a technical problem with the one I'd ordered.
Sound
I don't think you can find anything that gives comparable sound in its unique category. It was like hearing a 19' Bosendorf while playing my FP3. The bass and mid bass were the most like hearing a real grand. I know I've owned a couple. The higher I went up in pitch the less the keys sounded like the real thing but that makes sense since there is no way to get the surface area of three grand strings into that tiny little compression driver lens they use on the horn in the 550. Now if they'd used a compression driver with a 4'' titanium lens then you may get the sound of a real piano because you'd be able to deliver the kind of air a real piano delivers off the strings. The sampled sounds in a realistic sounding keyboard synth have already captured the resonance of the surrounding reflective surfaces so the only thing left to do is deliver roughly the same amount of moving air to get the density of sound (presence) for the highs. In order to do that roland would have to charge another 500.00 to put in a high frequency driver of that quality and the price of the cab would be very high. Therefore the sound of the roland 550 is about as great as can be expected for the price.
Features
You could go on forever adding features once you incorporate a 4 channel mixer in the system. However for the money I can add features like reverb, compression, and such.
The only feature that I think is truly missing from this cabinet is the ability to switch the amp from 110 volt to 220 for international touring. These days anyone who misses that is living in the dark ages and I have to say that Roland is sadly remiss in many of it's products for not equipping their musical products with obvious dual voltage (preferably auto sensing) features.
Ease of Use
It doesn't get much easier than this.
Quality
I just got the amp so I have yet to learn its weaknesses. New it looks great. I'd probably have preferred one of the newer rubberlike finishes instead of the more old fashioned carpet surface which looks great out of the box but on the road and even at home it picks up every speck of dust in the world and every piece of velcro that passes by grabs hold of it. Not to mention that my cats are constantly being reprimanded and sent outside for thinking I bought it as a scratching post.
Value
For the price I paid there was no equal anytime anywhere at any price that I know of that could compete.
Manufacturer Support
So far I have not needed support for any roland products. I once tried to inform them of an unscrupulous retailer (seriously criminal) in another country and Roland USA head office had no way to process my complaint nor did anyone ever get back to me.
The Wow Factor
I loved everything about it except the carpet. The carpet looks great but it is hard to keep looking great. For those who don't smoke but sometimes play where there is smoke -- that stench always comes home with them and it never comes out.
Musical Background:
R/E
Musical Style:
Jazz
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Submitted July 9, 2004 by a customer from cfl.rr.com
"Looking for a great amp? STOP...You've found it!"
When I wear this one out...I'll look at a new Roland!
Sound
I play Roalnd's V-Drums on this amp.The sound is great.We can plug the bass guitar in, at the same time, and both instruments sound great.
Features
The built in 4 channel mixer, stereo links, and aux in's, make it very versatile.
Quality
It's got a heavy carpet cover, all coners have metal protectors, easy roll casters underneath, and a steel grill on the front.
Value
Sounds better than other brands more expensive units.
Manufacturer Support
I experienced a power surge and burned out the power pack. I took it to a local Roland repair center and had it back in one day.
The Wow Factor
The unit is sleek and black. The front slopes back and projects the sound up and out. Like leaning a regular amp back against a wall.
Musical Style:
Gospel and counry
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Submitted August 7, 2017 by Gary Stevens in Long Beach, CA
"Sounds Like Home"
It doesn't get any better (at least not yet). The sound generated is as clean as you could imagine a sound being; no distortion and hardly any EQ really even needed to be done (depending on what you're playing). I'm running my Roland Fantom X8 through the KC550 and you can't do any better than Roland matched with Roland.
I've tried many different approaches to getting the keyboard to sound out as good as I wanted and expected it to. It started with two Hartke KM100 amps running stereo from the keyboard. Sounded great, in fact I posted a review on them. However, after having them for just a short time I began to get a feeling that the great sound would not last in the long run due to certain very small but noticeable distortions starting to form. I'd heard time and time again that Hartke wasn't the best, so I made the move and returned them.
I then tried running the keyboard through a PA system, using various speaker choices both powered and passive; needless to say it worked out (somewhat; more so for the passive, forget the actives - nothing but distortion) but the sound generated was nothing to brag about. I quickly returned the active speakers, and am now using the passives for vocal monitors.
I had never tried a KC550 before now, and my reasons were because of playing a KC350 that was probably not EQ'ed (didn't care to check), and found the sound to be horrible. To buy a full on PA system that I know would have worked, the amount of money to be dropped into that would be outrageous and too much for just needing a keyboard monitor.
I decided to play the KC550 and really mess around with it in the store; giving it a little more time than just a minute or two, made all the difference. I'm soon planning to buy a second KC550 to run stereo link, but even with just one its a beautiful sound. Granted, I've only owned mine for one day, so we'll see what the long run brings for this, but somehow I feel it'll all be just fine. Sounds like home.
I also picked the Roland KC550 as my top choice for headphone amp on my blog - https://bestamps.net/top-headphone/
Musical Background:
13 years, everything under the sun
Musical Style:
metal, rock, country, bluegrass
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Submitted May 2, 2013 by Winston Wallace in Napa, CA
"KC 500"
Verified Customer
zZounds has verified that this reviewer made a purchase from us.
This model predates the KC 550. I have had it for about 18 years, have played well over 1,000 dates plus enumerable rehearsals, and it is still going strong. I would love to have a new one to compliment mine but the economy, as a musician, is tough. I would recommend this amp to anyone, anytime. They made me enter a review for manufacturer support but I have never needed it.
Musical Background:
I am a professional keyboardist and have played professionally for 50 years. I started when I was 11.
Musical Style:
I have played virtually every kind of music, I even played at a Gypsy funeral once. You name it, I have played it.
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Submitted August 9, 2017 by Gary Stevens in Tampa, FL
"Love this stuff"
The Roland KC-550 is a keyboard amplifier with a 4-Channel Stereo mixer and 180 Watts of power, built into a 2-way, full-range speaker cabinet with a 15" Woofer and a 1" Horn Tweeter. A 3-Band Master EQ section and a global output Shape switch are included, and each mixer channel has a dedicated volume knob. A Stereo Auxiliary input has also been built into the mixer section.
Roland KC-550 Keyboard Amplifier got what I wanted to. I love its features and the quality of sound coming out through the speakers. I would definitely recommend this.
Musical Background:
Music Enthusiast
Musical Style:
Pop Rock
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Submitted September 28, 2010
"Good warm, rich, deep electronic voices but not good for acoustic piano"
Sound
This amp is great for strings, percussion, bass, electric vintage keys, etc. However when trying to play a full concert grand sound from my Yamaha Motif XS8 it absolutely fails to deliver...it is a huge dissapointment....the piano sound is like something coming out from a tin box. I am trying to sell this and buy high end PAs.
Features
The amp offers low, mid, high and power boost adjustments. The rollers are key!
Ease of Use
Easy, simple to use.
Value
For acoustic piano patches....the value is bad. Good for all other patches on your keyboard...warm bass and other electronic voices.
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Submitted January 11, 2008
Roland KC550 Keyboard Amp Customer Review
I have a 30 year old Acoustic Control Corp amp that is more dependable.
Sound
Very good sound.
Manufacturer Support
Tweeter blown after 6 months. From what I've heard this is a recurring problem with the KC550. Now, tweeter's on back order - come on!
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Submitted July 9, 2006
Roland KC550 Keyboard Amp Customer Review
the tweeter issue ruins it.
Manufacturer Support
tweeters blow so much that theyre constantly on back order.
Musical Background:
classical trained, thrash/metal keyboardist
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Submitted November 6, 2004
"Great sounding speaker for big venues"
This review has been selected by our experts as particularly helpful.
this speaker is more than what i need at the moment, in terms of power, ...it has a horn tweeter and a 15" speaker with 180 watts..... so it has the capacity needed for me in the future when i will be playing in bigger venues, ... whenever this speaker is in my room and my roland rs50 keyboard is plugged to it, i have the speaker only on about 25% of what it's capable of, ..because i don't need the amazing bass it is capable of while i'm practicing in my room, ....but it's capability becomes necessary in live performance situation when you're in a bigger environment, ...so it's pretty versatile. ...All in all, ...it's a very good quality speaker, ...i don't think there is anything you can say bad about it in terms of it's performance.
Sound
very clean, ..warm , ..articulate ...and powerful sound. ...i've only used it in my home. ...it has a tweeter, and 15" speaker, so if you want that loud deep bass sound, it's there.
Features
has a main eq, ..high, mid, low, ....4 channels..stereo, ..one of the channels also has a low impedence input, ..ie for mics ...individual channels have volume knob only, ..and then there's a main volume knob. ....you can run a non powered output from the speaker, ...i wish it also had a powered out to run external speakers as well, ..but it doesn't have that...but you can connect it to other kc speakers to run it in stereo ....overall, it has almost everything a keyboard player needs.
Quality
it looks tough and i haven't had any problems with it so far, ...if i had to, i would depend on it for live gig use.....although it's always good idea to have some sort of backup. ...but this speaker looks solid
Value
i got it for a good deal ..but i think it's also worth the going price as well. it's a good product....i really haven't come across any "keyboard amps" per se, that sound better than the roland kc series, in particular this one.
The Wow Factor
i tell you what, ...if you want a 'powerful' sounding keyboard amp, ..this is the one. But the thing is, not everyone 'needs' a 'powerful' amp, ...this amp has a very clean warm nice sound to it, ..but it also has the capability to make the walls shiver and give you a headache due to the enormous bass that this is able to deliver, ..not everyone needs that kind of capability in a speaker, ...especially if you're just going to be using it as a practice amp at home. ....but if you're going to be playing live at bigger venues also and need the volume and punch and clarity, ....you'll need this
Musical Background:
active musician
Musical Style:
christian
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Submitted April 13, 2004
Roland KC550 Keyboard Amp Customer Review
This review has been selected by our experts as particularly helpful.
Sound
I knew of this amp's legacy long before I bought it, and it met every expectation. I tried it in the store, and it reproduced the lowest piano note with a true rich tone. TONS OF BASS!!!!ABSOLUTELY AMAZING PUNCHY TIGHT LOW END!!!
I am using this with a full band, and it cut through the rest of the instruments even with half volume.
Features
This amp has four channels, one of them being a mic input. I imagine it would be great as a solo gigging PA, but haven't tried a mic in it yet. However, I bought this for a guitar synth, so both the keyboard player and my synth are going simultaneously, and this amp handles us both with ease.
Value
I didn't check out any other amps, but I'm pretty sure this one sounds better than just about anything else out there. But I still wish it were cheaper :(
Musical Style:
Everything.
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