# What makes a keyboard amp different from any other amp? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 26, 2011, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-a-keyboard-amp-different-from-any-other-amp/576032 "2011-03-26T03:46:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![King\_Friday](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/43a26b/32.png) [@King\_Friday](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/King_Friday)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2011, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-a-keyboard-amp-different-from-any-other-amp/576032/1 "2011-03-26T03:46:48Z")
I’m looking for a small PA amp for a little league field and [this one](http://www.guitarcenter.com/Behringer-ULTRATONE-K900FX-Keyboard-Amp-PA-System-103643185-i1171331.gc) looks like the ticket, but it’s called a keyboard amp. It has microphone inputs, so should I be worried about being able to broadcast vocal announcements or music through this amp? ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2011, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-a-keyboard-amp-different-from-any-other-amp/576032/2 "2011-03-26T04:11:07Z")
Your link is busted, but I found it anyway. Looks like it should work with no issues, but it has a lot of features that you’ll probably never use (it’s designed for Keyboardists / DJs). ---
**Author:** ![yoyodyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/a9a28c/32.png) [@yoyodyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yoyodyne)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2011, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-a-keyboard-amp-different-from-any-other-amp/576032/3 "2011-03-26T04:15:18Z")
Keyboard amps have a larger frequency range than guitar amps, and will be better for playing music. For this particular amp you’d be paying for features you don’t need though, and I think 90W might be low for a ball field. ---
**Author:** ![King\_Friday](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/43a26b/32.png) [@King\_Friday](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/King_Friday)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2011, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-a-keyboard-amp-different-from-any-other-amp/576032/4 "2011-03-26T04:20:35Z")
> [@yoyodyne](#): > > Keyboard amps have a larger frequency range than guitar amps, and will be better for playing music. For this particular amp you’d be paying for features you don’t need though, and I think 90W might be low for a ball field. I’m looking for something that the parents can hear, is portable, has good reviews, and had a reverb (I want that stadium effect). I’ve seen a few separate units with two speakers and a amp/mixer, but I’m trying to keep it simple. There’s a local Guitar Center so I can always give it a test run I suppose. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2011, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-a-keyboard-amp-different-from-any-other-amp/576032/5 "2011-03-26T04:36:14Z")
Maybe you could rent one and try it out? ---
**Author:** ![I-VI-ii-V](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c89c15/32.png) [@I-VI-ii-V](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I-VI-ii-V)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2011, 4:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-a-keyboard-amp-different-from-any-other-amp/576032/6 "2011-03-26T04:49:56Z")
A Fender Passport might be what you are looking for: [150 watts](http://www.guitarcenter.com/Fender-Passport-150-Pro-Portable-PA-System-105653653-i1500773.gc) [300 watts](http://www.guitarcenter.com/Fender-Passport-300-Pro-Portable-PA-System-105653646-i1500774.gc) [500 watts](http://www.guitarcenter.com/Fender-Passport-500-Pro-Portable-PA-System-105653638-i1500775.gc) ---
**Author:** ![King\_Friday](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/43a26b/32.png) [@King\_Friday](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/King_Friday)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2011, 7:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-a-keyboard-amp-different-from-any-other-amp/576032/7 "2011-03-26T07:19:02Z")
> [@I-VI-ii-V](#): > > A Fender Passport might be what you are looking for: > > [150 watts](http://www.guitarcenter.com/Fender-Passport-150-Pro-Portable-PA-System-105653653-i1500773.gc) > > [300 watts](http://www.guitarcenter.com/Fender-Passport-300-Pro-Portable-PA-System-105653646-i1500774.gc) > > [500 watts](http://www.guitarcenter.com/Fender-Passport-500-Pro-Portable-PA-System-105653638-i1500775.gc) That second one looks nice, now I just need a $500 coupon. This is just something simple for a few parents at a 6-8 little league game, seven times a year. ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2011, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-a-keyboard-amp-different-from-any-other-amp/576032/8 "2011-03-26T15:40:15Z")
**I-VI-ii-V** may be psychic. When Isaw what the OP wanted, I immediately thought of those Fender units. Possibly a bit spendy, but they’re durable, convenient and do a quite decent job for a luggable all-in-one rig.