Roland Cube Street EX - Review

[@alysesands6456]

This just helped me decide which amp to replace the KC 220 (that came in a bundle with the Juno DS88) with, The store ran out before shipping and I had to choose between this and the PM-200. This is the winner. Thank you so much Chuck!

[@PianoManChuck]

Glad I could help!

[@david-ky7rt]

Great review Chuck (Dave, UK.)

[@WaltPitts]

finding your reviews very helpful chuck!

[@kickbiker7920]

Quite a detailed clip. Thank you Chuck. Hi from London England!

[@Denvermorgan2000]

I got the roland BA 330 and its great for my setup.

[@dubettoni]

Thank you friend ! A nice Sunday to you !

[@nessimko7628]

Great in-depth review, thanks !

[@electricgeorge5589]

Thanks Chuck, you always tell it like how it is.

[@rumpusmachinenz]

Hi Pianoman, great review you really dug into it. We are looking at this amp for busking as a duo set up with two mics and two guitars and a backing track on ipad. Do you think we could use the two main mic plugs with EQ for mics but then put our electric guitars through zoom pedals in into each of the LH and RH Line ins? Thanks

[@electricgeorge5589]

Always good,a lot of good information. Thanks

[@Hrcak1]

Can I use microphone for acoustic guitar instead pick up?

[@thisismyboomstick3989]

Great review. I wonder has anyone reported any issues with the sound cutting out when on 50w at no more than 50% of the volume level from line in? I use an mp3 player for my music as a street performer i do use the 50w setting - which lets face it 50w for 8AA batteries. Massive reason for buying it. Need to know if i'm using it wrong or if is a common fault???

[@thirdgearband]

How is this for two vocals combined?

[@eranmazor2322]

Thanks for your review it was really helpful. There are much more advanced solutions of power units, why would they choose to go with aaa's magazine.

[@Ame3thyst3]

Thanks Chuck! I am grateful to you for sharing your knowledge about keyboard equipment. I am a singer/pianist that is looking for as cheap as possible equipment for putting my songs on youtube. I used a cell phone first...okay lol...no problem. Then used a camcorder for my second song....lol again. Still not getting good audio for my vocals. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I do have a Casio Privia 88 keyboard and a Shure mic. I know I am screwed at this point. Thanks for your vids for they are so helpful and your piano skills are awesome! Have a great day! :)

[@paulwatson9217]

Ok at 6:25 you say people are replacing the stock ROLAND speakers with Jensen MOD8-20 and that’s fine in it’s self but, you then go on to say 4 to 8 ohms? That’s where you lost me because ROLAND amps like any amp are designed to run at specific loads e.g. 4ohms or 8ohms or even 16ohms not 4 to 8 What I’m trying to say is is it 4 or 8ohms per channel? So the speaker impedance can be correctly matched so the amp runs efficiently. Remember if the impedance is too high the amp will work harder and be quieter than it should be BUT if the impedance is too low you will destroy the power section of the amp so the right impedance is kind of important here, sorry to pull you up on this but worth mentioning.

[@JeffreySaxophoneTallNewton]

Great review, Chuck! As usual, you've uncovered some "quirks" that the manufacturer does not.... Is there any workaround for the lack of EQ on the line ins (such as an ultra portable stereo EQ)? My Roland VR-09 has no EQ controls.... I also use backing tracks and need those EQ controls for BOTH the keyboard and the mp3 player (Android phone). This is pretty much a deal-breaker for me, and that doesn't even count using one of the EQable combo inputs to mic my saxophone for gigs where that's needed... Thanks, and keep up the great work1

[@ODWALLA123]

Thanks, Chuck.

[@barrygeer4330]

can you not go via a stereo eq unit from the keyboard to the line in sockets?

[@Offbeatmilan]

What avour solving the eq problem using a stereo eq pedal before the line in input? ;)

[@triplejudy]

Can this amp. be ussed with a 4 piece rock band without being mice'd up?

[@middlefingerassault4379]

Can this be used as a digital drum amp?

[@edgesamantha]

Have you tried Roland's BA330 at all? If so, which do you think would be better for a keyboard/vocals busking session? Both are supposedly 50w and can be run off AA batteries, but the BA330 seems to have more keyboard friendly inputs, master volume and master eq. It is a bigger/heavier amp though.

[@PianoManChuck]

BA330 is 30 watts, not 50.... and is much better suited for a keyboard.

[@PianoManChuck]

Actually, the BA330 is closer to the Roland KC110 (now the KC220) than the Cube Street EX. This video should give you a little more insight on the sounds: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rWbVi6F3gpaLjLc

[@edgesamantha]

I currently use a kc-110 for busking, but it struggles. I think I need something with more guts. I must have gotten confused about the wattage on the ba330. Thanks for the heads up. Makes things harder. Not sure where to go from here. I play keys and sing, so I want something with built in reverb, an 1/8" aux in for backing tracks and enough channels for a mic and stereo 1/4" cable from my keyboard. Something that has a nice sound for female vocals and keys and the power to be played at 75% or lower in an outdoor situation without being completely drowned out by outside noise. Any recommendations?

[@PianoManChuck]

Actually I do have a recommendation for you - a product that's a lightweight portable AC power supply. A friend uses this to power his rig (keys and a Roland KC-80). Someone else uses it to power an entire pro rig with (I don't remember his gear list but I know that Bose L1's were part of it). The product is the Coolis HP150 which I reviewed at this link: kzbin.info/www/bejne/emWylIRjaZmDobM Another idea is the Mackie Freeplay, which there's mixed feelings about how it sounds - some people love it, some people hate it. But it claims 200 watts (which I doubt), but its definitely much louder than the KC110. Here's the link to my comparison of the Mackie Freeplay vs the Roland KC110: kzbin.info/www/bejne/sGOaZYiGorJmqLM Hope this helps!

[@edgesamantha]

Thanks for that. I'll check them out! In my research since this video the Bose S1 Pro is looking like a good option. I will have to sacrifice stereo sound, but I could manage with only mono sound for busking, so not ruling it out. Thanks for your help!

[@delphinoaleon6436]

6 double a batteries equals 9 volts. 8 double a batteries equals 12 volts. Now to find good rechargeable batteries and where in.

[@ConeyIsland1952]

does this amp have AC power also?

[@PianoManChuck]

It comes with an AC adapter.

[@barrygeer4330]

hi there, my instrument has 2XLR balanced outputs, i also have the street cube EX, hence to hook up to the line level inputs of the amp, will the inputs accept TRS balanced jacks ? ps have searched for an answer in the manual and internet but to no avail !! please help...thankyou

[@PianoManChuck]

Only Roland tech support can answer that for sure. In the meantime, get an adapter cable - XLR female at one end, 1/4" male on the other - problem solved. Any major music gear retailer would have it.

[@barrygeer4330]

thanks for your prompt reply chuck, i'll chance the cable you mentioned ( a balanced cable ,XLR one end and 1/4" TRS male on the other end ) ....fingers crossed ! ...cheers!

[@PianoManChuck]

No - its XLR one end and 1/4" TS male on the other.... unless you know that the Roland will accept a balanced TRS 1/4" input. Again, you'll need to contact Roland tech support to know for sure but in the meantime count on it taking a 1/4" TS jack.

[@barrygeer4330]

cheers chuck, thats clarified the dilemma for now, will take your advice and contact Roland tech support....

[@JeffreySaxophoneTallNewton]

Chuck, I just received my Roland Cube Street EX and Behringer 1002B! I tried using just the Roland with my Android phone and an "EQ" app, but that did NOT cut it. The Behringer is essential for the Roland. You were "spot one" as to the light bass and tinny treble. I'd like to get those Jensen speakers - what are they, and where can I get them (if you know)? Or, what forum did you ding about them? One question on the amp itself: which do you think is better - running the keyboard (Roland VR-09) into the Behringer or directly into the Roland, into those instrument/mic channels? If the latter, I suppose I'd get RCA output cords for the phone from the Behringer? Thanks again, Jeff. PS - I bought the Roland bag, too. Cool.

[@PianoManChuck]

Google "jensen mod8-20" and you'll find them. Google "jensen mod8-20"+"cube street ex" and you'll find the forums they were mentioned. As to your question - whichever sounds better would be the way to go (in other words, try them both).

[@PianoManChuck]

I've concluded that if you don't need all that power (50 watts, which is excellent!), go with the KC-110. If you do, you'll need the Behringer mixer or equivalent, and most likely the Jensen replacement speakers - which now make it a lot more expensive! For me, I need the power (50 watts on battery power can't be found anywhere else).

[@JeffreySaxophoneTallNewton]

I do need the power. I am replacing my Samson XP40iW (40 watts). I wouldn't want to go lower. It might be nice to have the KC-110 as well, though. Maybe next purchase (but I want to buy a video camera to record myself playing and for a non-musical business project to post on uTube). Did you do the Jensen switch? I see those are the speakers! Do you like the Zoom Q4 video camera? Your videos look and sound great - what do you use? Thanks, Chuck!

[@SaccoBelmonte]

I chime to recommend you the Zoom MT100BT, I've got two of these, one for my guitar and other for the line input. The MT100BT costs 129 from amazon and offers a lot for that price. Also battery powered. (two Alkaline AA=7h - here two NiMH AA=5h) www.amazon.com/Zoom-MS100BT-MultiStomp-Guitar-Bluetooth/dp/B00AJHHWIC/ref=sr_1_1?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1475945487&sr=1-1&keywords=zoom+ms100bt www.zoom.co.jp/sites/default/files/products/downloads/pdfs/MS-100BT_operationManual_English.pdf As for the use of it with the line inputs, I use the "Exciter" module that comes with it and bring the highs and lows, it gives the line input an instant "HiFI PA" sound. (I have Genelecs here so I can tell how close the Roland sounds with the exciter)

[@JeffreySaxophoneTallNewton]

I'll check it out. Why two:? Doesn't it have enough inputs?

[@Razerblue6]

Hey Chuck, have you had any experience with a Motion Sound amp (especially the MS KP-500SN)?

[@Oderay69]

Hi! No phantom? Only dynamics mics?

[@PianoManChuck]

That's correct. If you need phantom power, you'll either need a separate phantom power supply, or a mixer that can supply phantom power. Most PA's like this won't have phantom power.

[@commonsense8871]

I HAVE THIS AMP AND ITS A BARREL OF CRAP THERE IS NOT ENOUGH AMP SIMULATIONS ON IT FOR GUITAR AS THE MUCH SUPERIOR STREET CUBE AND FOR VOICE YOU DONT HAVE DELAY IN SHORT ITS MORE POWERFULL BUT WHATS THE POINT OF MAKING LOUDER A CRAP SOUND IN THE FIRST PLACE GIVE THIS AMP A MISS ITS CRAP

[@hippiekarl7]

The 'amp-sims' are for kids playing at home; the extra headroom is for busking. Get your drive tones from a batt-powered MultiFX; that's simple 'common sense'......

[@andregal1395]

So , do you think that this amp doesn't good for electric guitar player? Maybe it's better to buy the Bose s1 or JBL eon one ,and use it vs pocket Pod , which I already have? Give me your opinion please! Greetings!

[@yanagisawaelimona8003]

25 Watts +25 Watts =50 Watts 😂😂😂 Absolutely no. its 25 Watts when you install 4 speakers its 100 Watts? 😂😂😂

[@PianoManChuck]

Amplifier ratings are constant, it has nothing to do with the number of speakers attached to it. In this case, a 50-watt stereo amp (stereo meaning 2 amplifiers - a 25 watt amp for the left and a 25 watt amp for the right).

[@sdcustompedals115]

Demo is very less. Tooooooooo much explained.