Roland BA-330 Battery Powered Portable AUX Stereo PA System, Black

For me it was mainly deciding between the Roland BA-330 and the Roland Street Cube EX. I actually had my heart set on the Cube EX until I was able to get into a store and try one there. I'm REALLY glad I did that. While the Cube EX was very lightweight (~16 lbs) I started to get that "amp rattling" distortion as I turned up the volume. You know...the type of distortion where you're afraid you might blow a speaker if you push it any further. And I was only at about half volume on the amp as well as the keyboard. Sound replication wasn't very accurate, as most instruments and settings sounded muddy. Drums definitely rattled the amp, especially the kick drum (again, that blow-a-speaker terror). Another concern that I found in another review was that if you mounted the Cube EX on a stand, you would lose the STEREO sound since it can only be mounted on its side. This is a big deal for keyboardists. There is also no EQ for the STEREO line-in which is important if your keyboard doesn't have its own EQ controls.The BA-330 was the complete opposite. Although considerably heavier (~30 lbs) it isn't incredibly heavy as far as a lot of amps go. It can be mounted from the bottom, so it won't lose the STEREO sound if you put it on a stand. (I have to mention that if you do want to use a stand, go for the "Proline" stand, as it has a compatible sheath to fit Roland brand amps/speakers. Other stands lack this sheath, so the amp would be wobbly and unstable. Also the Roland brand speaker stand is more than twice the Proline price so...yeah)The BA-330 has crystal clear sound replication (I've tried all the instruments on my keyboard: drums, strings, guitar, bass, drums, etc. They all come through very clear). My voice comes through super clear as well. Each input has a convenient "tone" setting which seems to alter the brightness of the sound. There is also a master two band EQ for more overall tweaking. At half master volume, half line-in volume, and full keyboard volume, the BA-330 puts out immense sound without any distortion. I think a lot of this is due to its heavier/sturdier construction. I can definitely see this easily filling a small venue with sound (church sanctuary, dining hall, small theater, dance studio, etc.)Did I mention that this can run off of 8 AA batteries? If you get rechargeables, you're good to go for busking. True it isn't super lightweight like the Street Cube EX, but honestly I don't think the trade-off in sound quality and volume output is worth it. REALLY loving the BA-330!For perspective on what I appreciate/look for sound-wise, here's a list of the keyboards/equipment that I own and use regularly:-Roland RD-800-Roland Juno-DS 61-Yamaha HS5 studio monitors-Sennheiser E835 Dynamic Mic-Audio Technica AT4040 Cardioid Mic-Audio Technica ATH M50x Phones-Sony MDR7506 Phones

I'm a professional classical violinist, and I busk regularly around Chicago. I mostly play with music minus one backing tracks of string quartets and piano, but I also play duets with another talented violinist. I've bought a couple of Behringer MPA-40bt pros, and used them a few years for busking. While I enjoyed the sound of the Behringers, they are mono, and they cannot get loud enough before ugly distortion sets in. Distortion is also a problem as they are running out of juice. Plus, their 12v batteries barely hold a charge after the first year or so, and all replacement batteries I've tried don't play nearly as long as the original.So I decided to try this Roland BA330. I've taken it out busking a few times now (I've already made back what I've spent on this amp), and let me tell you, it is everything that Behringer isn't! Ultra clean sound with more bass, and very usable effects and mixing capabilities. And the volume, wow. I originally placed this amp behind me with the master, channel, and di box volumes at half of max, and I cannot stand the sound pressure level. My ears start ringing! There is absolutely no distortion at these levels, but the raw volume is too much for me. I now place this amp to the side of me while busking, which is plenty loud for me and much louder for the crowd in front of it. People downtown state that they can hear me a block away, and that is through rush hour traffic. How much louder do you expect a battery powered amp to get??? I do have it up at ear level on a speaker stand. For some reason I have to turn the aux in channel level almost all the way up to match my violin's channel volume, but I am playing through a Baggs DI box/preamp, so that makes sense. My backing tracks have a little reverb on them, and it sounds great to be able add some to my live instrument to match that wonderful sound, while still sounding fully acoustic. I'm using Powermax rechargeable 2700 mah batteries I purchased from Amazon, and they last over 2 sessions (over 8 hours, and I run it loud). Amazing. I took other reviewers advice and bought an On Stage reversible speaker stand, the Roland is a perfect fit for the large end, whereas to was a loose fit on my Pyle speaker stand even with an adapter. I also bought a custom cover for it from Connie's Covers on ebay for $45, which fits and protects this amp perfectly. I'm confident I now have the best classical busking rig possible. Great product, Roland.

We use this frequently for our business. Excellent sound quality. Flexible inputs and an output for video/photographer or additional speaker line. You'd never guess this was AA battery powered. A little spendy but after going through three BEHRINGER EUROPORT MPA40BT-PRO's, I finally gave in. No regrets so far! UPDATE 09/13/2017: I have continued using this speaker week after week for wedding ceremonies and still have NO issues at all! I recently purchased a second one and attached a battery powered wireless digital transmitter to both of them to create a true wireless speaker set. They work unbelievably well! Additional Update, 12/23/2017: Still my favorite speaker system. Have purchased more of these and not one single problem. I DJ about 60 weddings/year with this and continue to use them for ceremonies and remote speakers. I've added a wireless audio receiver with a battery to make them truly wireless.

I had read a lot of positive feedback on this PA. It was confirmed when I received mine! This PA sounds great with vocal and acoustic guitar. I have two friends I play music with and this was the perfect solution for when we get together at my house or at a gig. In my humble opinion the sound quality is excellent with plenty of power. I love its compact size and features. I picked up a Rockville RVES05 Black Heavy Duty Tripod Pole-Mount DJ PA Speaker Stand for around $50 bucks and it works great for this PA. The fit is a little loose but quite adequate to support this lightweight cabinet . For extra inputs I added a Mackie Mix 8 mixer and plugged it's output into one of the stereo inputs. This PA system is quiet as a mouse! I just purchased a stand bag, so I will be able to carry around the whole system with only three items: a stand bag(which also holds my mic stands), a gear bag and the Roland BA 330!

I use this to play live electric guitar in coffee shops. I have a constant stream of compliments from people who ask where the sound is coming from, and when I point at the BA-330, they respond with "all that sound coming from THAT?".The purchase came about because, initially, I was trying to do everything through my guitar amp. Unfortunately, when you play live, you need a microphone to speak to the audience and sing through. Since my guitar effects has amp emulation, it just made more sense to get a PA and run direct it.I am running the volume at around 80% for a 50' x 50' square room. Sometimes, it's not loud enough, but that really isn't the fault of the PA, it's the fact that the coffee shop is large and people talk loudly, constantly, and it's a bit echoie in there.When I get enough money in tips, I may buy a second one as you can chain them together for left / right output. THAT should make it impossible to talk over me. LOL.Improvements? The only reason I'm not giving it 5 stars is because it needs an effects loop ( to control overall volume with foot pedal, or to use your own reverb as that can change per guitar setting), and sometimes at large volume it pulls the volume back when the signal is too hot into the MP3 jack. I know that is to protect the unit, but it sounds weird when it happens and is distracting.The travel bags with wheels for this unit are no longer available, but the unit is so light you really don't need one.Would I buy another one? Yes.