Roland BA-330 Reviews 4.5/5.0 based on 23 customer reviews
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Garyfrom April 28, 2013Music Background: Singer AwesomeThis product is awesome. I have done 6 busking gigs outside in the rain, the wind and the sun. On each ocassion the level is powerful enough to be heard across the street a little over 50 metres, through traffic noise at only half volume for mic and total volume. I place it on a stand, which might help? I have ran it each time for five hours non stop on a set of duracel rechargables. Each time it runs out of power at exaclty five hours. It doesn't fade out over time, it just dies instantly, which is ideal as there is no adjusting. I read an earlier review about battery power only pushing out half power? Odd? I think maybe the guy had the eco switch on? On full switch, half volume, which is plenty, it will rune for for five hours on rechargables. I also done an indoor gig, 50 people max, again, less than half volume was easily enough. The sound soft and mellow, not tinny....like the Yamaha Stagepas I heard the other night!! You can't go wrong with this...IT WORKS
Scott Lewisfrom Toms River, NJ March 14, 2013Music Background: Full time early childhood music and movement educator/performer HOLY COW!!The B330 is exactly the kind of small, portable, powerful integrated P. A. that I have longed for. I am very fussy about quality music reproduction and this unit is super duper clean. Throw in the convenience of having an option of running the unit on AA batteries along with four mic/line input channels, RCA or 1/8 inch input for iPod or othet....and I am truly blown away. As an early childhood music and movement educator and performer, this unit is a perfect fit for my line of work. You won't believe the bass thump this little guy produces!
George Riosecofrom United States July 30, 2012Music Background: Musician for fun Roland BA 330 RulesBought this unit for a music festival so we could play tunes from our playlists and to plug some acoustic guitars and mics and play a few tunes of our own. We were all blown away at the sound quality, ease of use and the battery life. I could not recommend this product more. I am buying another one so we can link them.
Michaelfrom Chicago October 11, 2011Music Background: A/V Technician, Musician, Recording/Sound Engineer Totally Worth It!Needed a good P.A. for use in our conference room for about 80 people. Also needed it to work without feedback issues that a Lav without a dedicated sound tech on hand can cause. This system works great. Had originally ordered the Behringer Eurolive, but that caused feedback with the Lav. This P.A. easy to set up, sounds good, and have had no problems. I also plugged some instruments into it and jammed for a bit, the reverb on it works pretty great for both instruments and vocals.
Abraham Casanovafrom Miami Fl August 19, 2011Music Background: Mixing Engeniere And Professional Singer Just Excelent !Wow ! Sounds Good !
PWfrom Carmel, IN July 22, 2011Music Background: Hobbyist Outstanding in every way!A great portable amp with tons of features and fantastic sound quality. Can be used at parties with an iPod/iPhone, or for live music. The best money you will spend this year.
Jacob Smith Jrfrom South Jersey June 23, 2011Music Background: Military Retired musician playing gigs 3 times a week I'm A Believer!!!I just played my first gig with the speaker and I'm in love! I've been playing restaurant dinner music gigs for 11 years now. I'm always looking for a small setup and battery powered systems. This speaker blows away anything I've used so far. I play saxophone and use my laptop for background music. I also use a Roland SD-50 for sounds and and a back up for my laptop. I feel like I should be working for Roland, the BA-330 and and SD-50 what a great combination! I have a sidewalk performance next Friday and outdoor gigs on the 4th and 11th of July. I can't wait to use this system. Tonight's gig was battery power only, I check the battery level after the gig and it hasn't even moved yet! Thanks Roland for making my gigs easier and more fun!
Macfrom New Hampshire March 17, 2011Music Background: 45 years as a pro recording, performing singer songwriter Who Knew???A long-time solo and band singer/guitarist, I've begun gigging again (20 dates) in the last year, in restaurants and taverns around northern New England. One of the major intents, given I'm 'solo' this time around, is limiting the amount of load-in / load-out work required to get the job done. I'm not getting any younger, and I work a full-time job during the day, with long commutes. So, in looking for a 'B' system to cover smaller/quieter venues, I've meticulously researched just about every small system out there, and either owned or demo'd a good half-dozen. Bose, Fishman, EV, QSC, JBL, etc. Of all the systems I've heard, thus far, The BA-330 seems to have nailed the "smaller is the new huge" market segment. I demo'd this unit last week and will pick it up today.The demo took place in a large, high-ceiling room that could easily have accommodated 80-100 people, had it been an actual venue. I used Shure Beta for vocals, and played my usual gigging axe - a CC-48 Ovation (thru a Zoom A2 pedal), along with backing tracks pumped in through the BA-330's RCA inputs, provided by a small netbook computer. Less brittle, and more ballsy than an L1 Compact, and far warmer than the Fishman SA-220, I was flabbergasted by very broad and equal dispersion, as well as the raw volume provided by a piddling 30 Watts of power. In fact, I am entirely confident that this unit will handle all but the very loudest/largest venues I play. And for those places, I have a larger system. But for my money, the BA-330 provides, by far, the best feature set and performance per purchase dollar value presently available on the market. If you're looking for a small, great sounding compact & fully portable PA for solo/duo applications, you're crazy if you don't at least demo this rascal. Well done, Roland!
JF Kiltofffrom yreka Ca November 15, 2010Music Background: Solo performer 30 yrs Roland BA-330 the answer to small venues for solo artistsI bought the BA-330 several weeks ago based on the positive reviews found here and on other sights and I couldn't be happier with this unit.I agree with the other positive reviews listed here and i have been able to eliminate a monitor. The anti-feed back works very well so the unit can set behind you with your mikes set slightly of center . This gives you a direct sound you can hear with out using a monitor or a sound man. The BA-330 works best when it is positioned above the floor 25 to 40 inches. If you don't think It's loud enough add A powered speaker to positioned in front of you. Great unit.
Vern Sowersfrom George County, Ms. USA July 28, 2010Music Background: Singer, songwriter, guitar player Roland BA330 does the job and more!The Roland BA330 has made me a very happy individual. It does all that they say it does and it is not a disappointment. This self contained unit has clean sounds, adjust it the way you want you'll be impressed with its' ability to perform. The Ba 330 looks good and makes you sound good! Thanks Chris for you guidance and advice in this purchase.
Chico Brasilfrom Brazil June 19, 2010Music Background: Pro musician Review The Roland BA-330Today I bought a BA 330. My first impression was very good. The sound is clean and bright. In next Sunday I'll have the opportunity to test in a live event for 50 people. I will connect my Psr S910, a Godin nylon guitar and a sax.
Pi Thor Projectfrom Michigan June 15, 2010Music Background: Jazz-Rock Fusion / Musician Incredible!This is an incredible PA system in the portable battery powered category. I had this unit sitting on a picnic table playing outdoors with guitar and a CD backtrack.The sound output is excellent and it drew attention from people on how it was powered. Eight AA batteries and you are set for many hours of jamming. Typical Roland product, built solid / top quality. RCA hookups for AUX IN are a huge plus. Much better than 1/8” input jacks that you see on other company brands. You can also adjust your auxiliary input for bass & treble. Another huge plus! This BA 330 and other portable Roland products fill a niche. I can travel outdoors now without searching for an AC wall outlet. Perfect for the soloist... and with small AA batteries... Roland certainly optimized the technology for sound output. A very fine product. As always, Sweetwater delivered quickly and their sales department is the best.
Dan Karnsfrom Denver, CO January 15, 2010Music Background: Full time performer, award winning jingle and audio videoproducer, extrepreneur and more. Roland BA 330 Is Great!I've got decades of performing experience and thousands of gigs under my belt and the Roland BA 330 is the best portable PA I've ever owned (or used). It's amazing when listening to internet radio too. It's $400.00 cheaper than anything that supposedly compares (and nothing does). Get one!
Fran Carangofrom Levittown, Pa December 30, 2009Music Background: Pro musician My first impressions of the BBA330My first Impressions of the Roland BA330..The unit arrived well packaged.. It appears very well made.. The AC power supply has a special connector to the amp...If you forget the power adapter and are on the job..good thing it works great on batteries.. The sound quality of the speakers is excellent..Crisp, clear mids and highs, a nice full rounded bass..the bass does not kick like some 12" and 15 " units, but is very even sounding..The bass is as good as most smaller units with 10 or 12 inch speakers...Like the Roland Cube 60 or 150... The combination of the 4-6 1/2" speakers and 2 tweeters..fill the room nicely..Roland's claim of 80-100 people is very accurate.. The unit is only 30 watts total output..15 watts a side....but it is amazing the quality and volume of the sound from this 29 pound amp. Rated at 109 db...will make most people shake their heads in disbelief.. Roland knows how to get big sound from low powered units.. This is a digital amp, that most likely relies on software aided sound technology.. The effects are decent, and very usable.. The anti feedback feature works well too.. The tone control also works well as does the master eq.. This amp is ideal for nursing homes, dinner parties, restaurants, even bars and clubs...If you are doing dance material..use the line out to another (larger powered speaker..for more bass)... The BA330 is a bit pricey, but sometimes you need to pay more for a high quality, feature laden sound system..and that is exactly what the BA330 is.... It is a keeper !!!! 
Joefrom Mt. Morris, NY May 18, 2013Music Background: a lot of years pro musician. Pretty Dam Good!Here's the thing. I play almost ALL my shows in small and senior venues. They don't want it loud anyway. Even so, they ask me to turn it down from time to time when I use the BA-330. I am a keyboardist and vocalist, and I, too, have encountered the "compressor" issue that you will see in some of these reviews. I suspect it kicks in to protect the unit from damage at high volumes, after all, they are only 6.5" speakers, and 15 watt amps per side. That said, the over-all sound is perfect for 9/10 of my gigs, and when I perform outdoors, I could/should add another amp for outdoor bass response, especially if it is a larger crowd, and put this baby up an a speaker stand. Bottom line, for the price/size/weight/sound/convenience and ease of use, I'd buy it again in a heartbeat.
Ryanfrom San Pedro Sula, Honduras June 5, 2012Music Background: AVL Consultant Great Battery Powered SystemI am a missionary in Honduras and we needed a system to take around with us that was battery powered. We use iPods, guitar, and vocals. This system has been an incredible addition to our ministry,
Dennis L. Ruellofrom New Orleans, LA 70123 December 7, 2012Music Background: Music educator with Masters + 30 and professional player with military band and show band experience. Roland BA - 330I recently purchased the Roland BA - 330 for an indoor gig at City Park in New Orleans. The reception hall is medium in size and had about 200 in attendance. The system work perfectly. The combo consisted of a horn player ( me on clarinet and tenor sax ), a keyboard player ( with bass sounds in lower half ) and drums. The balance was perfect, not too loud or soft. We recevied many compliments from the orginaziation for which we performed. The only negative thing about tne BA - 330 is that the control knobs are on the back. That being said, it is a great piece of Stereo PA equipment.
The J Taylorsfrom Fort Wayne, IN May 21, 2012Music Background: Professional Entertainers Great unit; mixed reviewSo here's the deal; The J Taylors gig 3-4 times a week, and as a duo we needed an affordable all-in-one P.A. for smaller gigs--one that for economic reasons could also serve as a monitor for larger gigs. After a lot of research, we settled on the BA-330 because of the price, number of channels, battery capability, and Roland's reputation for good-quality sound, as well as the anti-feedback feature. We run two mic's, two guitars, and audio from the Macbook through this unit. Overall, it sounds great, and the delay feature adds a nice retro feel to our vocals for the classic rock, country, & oldies covers we do. One significant drawback (and reason it's not a 5-star review); the BA-330 does have some sort of limiter that kicks in at higher volumes when the signal's too hot from either vocals or guitars. Best suited to background music or restaurant shows where lighter music will be performed. Acoustic guitar sounds amazing through it, but as expected, electric guitar should probably be amplified separately.
Allan Jamesfrom Berryville VA April 19, 2012Music Background: Musician, Composer, Producer A great idea. It works, powerful enough for many different musician situations.I like Roland. I have many Roland products. And this unit seems a bit expensive, but it does a great job for mobility, clear, clean audio. I don't use the effects. They are not very good to my ears. If you are really needing some echo and reverb and you can afford this amp, you probably have better boxes for the effects. I wish they would drop the effects and lower the price!The idea of having a nice powerful sound in such a compact unit with multiple inputs is super. Bring it outside and jam on your porch or small gigs, parties, small venues, etc. So far I am impressed and happy with the purchase. I use it with acoustic, ipad, mics and keys.
Marefrom Little Rock, AR September 13, 2011Music Background: 30 + years musician Just What I NeededI needed a smaller, more compact p.a. to save my aching back. I just did a gig with the Roland BA-330 andI LOVE IT! I LOVE IT! I LOVE IT! i LOVE IT! 
Riley Wilson- www.guitarmadesimpler.comfrom Frisco, TX February 17, 2011Music Background: pro musician BA-330Mike Picotte, my sales rep, said he was impressed by this unit and so I got one. It does a fine job for its intended purpose, namely amplifying up to five sound sources for up to 90-100 people. Having an extensive mixer, effects, input and output jacks and weighing less that most combo guitar amps, the BA-330 sounds clean and clear on a variety of material. Best of all, the battery option allows you to have this sound anywhere! I have used it for weddings in the middle of nowhere and it works as if it was AC powered. I already have gigs booked this year where I will use the battery option again. I use mine with vocal, guitar and backing tracks off an iPod and can record my entire show live into a Zoom H1 recorder. My setup and take down is fast and lightweight, thanks to the BA-330. Now if Roland could make a compatible subwoofer for this unit...
from July 30, 2011 3/4 of an AMPWhere to begin...Aesthetics/Form 4.5/5 The Roland BA330 has a very well designed exterior and a simple, easy to use mixing section. Clear function and legibility is obviously a strong point for this "mobile PA'. It has a very comfortable carrying handle on top as well as a convenient place to set your mp3 player so it doesn't fall on the ground when you decide to put it on the amp. The face of the unit is sleek and simple. Thick rubber feet and a truck-liner coating insure durability. Lastly there's a kickstand that allows it to be at an angle as a floor monitor... but you have to bend way over to position it. Suggestions Slice a side of the cabinet so it can lay on its side for floor monitoring position and lose the kickstand? Maybe make the mixing panel removable like the STAGEPAS? it's kind of a pain to go behind it to make an adjustment. Features 3.5/5 Two mic/inst channels and two stereo channels make this a reasonable tool to any keyboardist who may also sing or play guitar. The Aux in is very flexible with stereo RCA or a single 3.5mm jack with a small attenuation control knob. Master High/Low equalizer are OK. anti feedback system works, but doesn't save problem feedback, just kills it a little after it starts... but not flawless. The effects section is a simple rotary knob controlling both amount and what kind of effect (reverb, delay, wide). Reverb is OK, but I couldn't get the delay to work. WIDE effect isn't noticeable if you're within 5 feet, but is slightly noticeable further away. Effects are ON/OFF per channel. line out to send mix to a house system. Stereo Link function is cool... but I never got to try it out. One flaw is that the EQ knob is not very musical. Boost the lows and lower the highs... or boost the highs and lower the lows. Not my favorite way to find a sound. The battery powered feature is a huge success. It worked just as they say it does... Runs for about 9-10 hours on eco mode (which slightly reduces the max output. only wish the compartment were easier to remove. Power supply is a small external box befor you get to the wall with a heavy duty XLR type connector. Suggestions Why is there not headphone output? Direct outputs would be awesome. Effect amount knob per channel? Easier to remove battery compartment. Two band EQ. Sound/Performance. 3/5 When I plugged this this in I gotta say I was really excited... After reading all the reviews I was ready for my mind to be blown. I first tried my korg SV1 into ch.3 (the first stereo channel). Volume about halfway, my piano sound came through clear and robust, but I noticed that when the signal entered the PA a hiss was produced... nothing terrible, but a slight hiss none the less. Organ sounded great. So i plugged in my mic and checked it. Clear b ut a little bottom end boost that wasn't pleasant. so i turned my EQ knob up and got a close to desired sound. At this point I hit a major turn around in my experience with the Roland BA330. I turned up the volume. Vocals compressed automatically, and badly. Distortion from both the limiting and speakers occurred when my master volume was at 3/4 level and my channel levels were at about 2 o'clock. And there was no volume change between 3/4 and full volume. I was amazed. How can something sound so great at low levels then crap out where it counts? I expected more from Roland. Bottom line... I bought 70% of an amp. Performance 3.5/5 I put this thing to the test at band practice. I sing lead vocals and play keys. Once we started I kept having to re position the amp so the rest of the band could hear. We play loud, but not THAT loud. loudest thing in the room was a 30watt fender amp on 5 and it was twice as loud as my BA330... which was set at its highest level before limiting. again this is about 75%. Practice was difficult. Overall I give this amp a 2.5/5. It has a FANTASTIC set of features. Needs a few things here and there but everything is super easy to use and is housed in a great box. But unfortunately the box is about the best part of the amp. Granted at lower levels it sounds pretty good, but i wouldn't play anything other than jazz or solo piano through it. Granted my review was rough on the poor Roland. It just wasn't made to stand up to playing with a band. It's definitely more of a solo PA for a small crowd... maybe 30 people. maybe more in the right room... Either way, Im returning it and getting a JBL powered speaker and a small format mixer. Probably start building a solid PA for the whole band. This shouldn't retail for more than $450 I'd say. 
William Wilsonfrom San Diego April 8, 2012Music Background: Pro Guitarist Not QuiteI've been using the Roland BA-330 for about two years. I bought it from Sweetwater when it first came out. Mostly I use it for solo guitar, but occasionally run another guitar and/or bass. Here are the problems as I see them:1) Run more than one instrument through it and you get this horrible limiting happening. 2) Sound quality. I found it rather too bright and brittle to go in direct, and the EQ isn't that helpful. 3) Wimpy. Read the specs, 15W + 15W = not enough for outdoor or large venues. 4) Distortion. Push it to hard (which you'll have to do if you want anyone to hear you) and it distorts. Ugly. Two years later and I'm finally going to shell out the money to get something better. I'll probably keep it to use as a battery amp / spare. 
Roland BA-330Portable Stereo PA System with Four 6.5" Speakers, Aux Input, and Battery Power Support 
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