Roland KC-550 4-Channel Mixing 180 Watt Keyboard Amp (Discontinued)

91
GEARANK

91 out of 100. Incorporating 225+ ratings and reviews.

Street Price: 

$650
Roland KC-550 4-Channel Mixing 180 Watt Keyboard Amp

Gearank High Notes

Gearank Recommendation

The KC-550 appeared on our recommended list for Keyboard Amps Under $1000 when we first published the list in May 2016 and remained there until November 2018 when it had been superseded by the KC-600.

Rating Source Highlights

Website Source *Rating Value
Audiofanzine Sam Rossi 100/100
Audiofanzine songboy 80/100
*Displayed values are prior to the Gearank Algorithm's adjustments it makes when evaluating the source.

Overview

This was superseded by the more powerful Roland KC-600.

This 180 Watt amp comes with a 15" woofer for producing strong bass tones but also has an output for a subwoofer if you want additional power on the bottom end.

A handy feature is the dual balanced XLR outputs which allows you to send the signal over long snake cables to a PA mixing console without the need for a stereo DI box.

It sports an output select switch and a shape switch for making quick tonal adjustments.

It also has a stereo link I/O so you can chain two of these together for full stereo sound. Although you can get a single stereo amp for less than two of these, some people prefer to use two amps for stereo so they can be placed at a much larger distance apart than the two speakers of a stereo amp. It also has stereo aux inputs for backing tracks.

It's a versatile amp used as a small PA system, for monitoring, and also as a submixer on stage.

Customer reviews show that the Roland KC-550 is being used as a workhorse amp by keyboardists, bass players, electronic drummers and more.

Specifications

  • Output Power: 180 Watts.
  • Number of Channels: 4.
  • Inputs: 1 XLR, 4 x 1/4", 2 x RCA (stereo aux), and a stereo 1/4" TRS.
  • Outputs: Balanced 2 x XLR, Unbalanced 2 x 1/4" TS, 1/4" subwoofer out, 1/4" TRS stereo out, and a 1/4" TRS headphone out.
  • Speakers: 15" Woofer and a 1" Tweeter.
  • Tone Control: 3 band EQ.
  • Size: 21" x 23" x 17.5".
  • Weight: 63 lbs.
Unfortunately it has been discontinued, so if you're looking for a new amp then take a look at what we recommend in our guide to The Best Keyboard Amps.