Yamaha DTXpress/DTXplorer/DTXtreme

--- In DTXpress@yahoogroups.com, "ralphpegden1" <ralphpegden@b...> 
wrote:
> Hi,  first post,  has anyone tried the MS50DR yet,  I can't find 
any 
> reviews.  Also any idea what the price is in the UK?  looks like 
its 
> around $300 in the US.
> 
> I'm basically doing some light orchestral drumming in an Xmas show 
> soon and wanted to use my newly acquired DTEXPRESS2 (which is 
great) 
> to get lots of xmassy effects on different kits,  but I don't want 
to 
> use the full PA setup I use in the band,  as the setup time is too 
> long and its heavy and way over the top etc etc.   The MS50DR looks 
> perfect for what I need,  also the PM-3 Roland setup looks good  
but 
> it is expensive.  around £600 in the UK.  Any other options > 

Hi Ralph and welcome,

I don't think anyone has tried the new Yamaha monitor(s) yet. I 
believe that they're expected to hit stores here in November. The 50 
watt version, which lists for $300, may be too anemic for live 
performance, even in a modest setting, but maybe not. The 100 watt 
version at $600 would seem to be a better bet. I agree with you about 
the Roland PM-3. It, like most of Roland's e-drum line, is too 
expensive for what it is, although it is great for small venues and 
practice. On the ebay or used market, it may be affordable. If you 
want to keep the cost down further, you can use a keyboard amp, which 
will usually have the frequency response to reproduce the DTXpress 
with some fidelity. Ultimately, what you want is a woofer big enough 
to handle the bottom end (you might be able to get away with 10 
inches, though bigger is better) and a tweeter graceful enough to 
lend some shimmer to your cymbals. A three-way speaker in your budget 
wouldn't hurt, but that feature alone won't guarantee success. As far 
as power is concerned, anything less than 100 watts--for a subwoofer, 
anyway--will compromise performance at anything like a usable volume 
in a room with people and other instruments, and it may show signs of 
strain when turned up too loud. Listening is always the best way to 
decide, but if you run a search on "amp" in the archives, you'll run 
across much discussion and suggestion.

Ed