Rolls PM50S Personal Monitor Amplifier System

by Rolls

Product Features

• Power: 9 - 18 VAC/DC
• S/N Ratio: 90 dB
• Bandwidth: 20 - 20 kHz
• Gain: 15 dB 1/4 inch, 50 dB XLR

Product Details

• Item Weight: 1 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• ASIN: B0002BG2SQ
• Item model number: PM50S
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,741 in Musical Instruments (See Top 100 in Musical Instruments)
  • #45 in Electronics > Accessories & Supplies > Audio & Video Accessories > Headphone Accessories > Amps

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

The Rolls PM50S Personal Monitor Amplifier mixes a stereo line-level monitor signal with a mic level XLR microphone signal to a set of headphones or earphones.The PS50S has a monitor level control, mic level control, mic pass through XLR jacks, two headphone output jacks, and a stereo TRS 1/4-inch monitor input jack. This is an ideal amplifier for any musical performer, including drummers who need to hear a click track or choir singers who need to hear themselves perform. A power adapter is included.

What's in the Box
Rolls PM50S amplifier and AC adapter.

Product Description

Perfect for mixing a stereo or mono line-level Monitor signal with a mic level XLR microphone signal to a pair of 1/8 inch outputs, Rolls PM50s Personal Monitor Amplifier has a monitor level control, mic level control, mic pass through XLR jacks, two headphone output jacks, and a stereo TRS 1/4 inch monitor input jack. Rolls PM50S Personal Amp Features XLR Mic In and Pass Thru Ground Lift on XLR Thru Mono or Stereo 1/4 inch Monitor Input 1/4 inch and 1/8 inch Phone Outputs Lots of output level, it's loud Includes AC Power Adapter An Effective solution for drummers who need to hear a click track, choir singers who need to hear themselves, etc.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THE Monitor System for Singing Drummers On a Budget!, June 7, 2011

By 

T. Goodrich "I Remember Carts!" (Jonesboro, AR) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Rolls PM50S Personal Monitor Amplifier System

Over the years, I have transistioned from loud, hearing-wrecking wedge monitors to isolating full headphones to in-ear monitors. As a singing drummer, monitoring vocals (mine and everyone else's) as well as whatever else I can get from a monitor mix has always been a challenge. A few years ago, I started using a Mackie 1202-VLZ mixer, with an old DBX compressor/limiter and a complicated system of patch cables to get the desired audio (which sometimes included a click track) into my Shure in-ear monitors. This worked well, but required a lot of stuff to carry around, and a lot of time to set up and tear down.

About a year ago, I began to look around for an easier solution, and found the Rolls PM50S Personal Monitor Amplifier System. I was familiar with the Rolls line, as I have worked at radio stations that used their other headphone amplifiers, AM/FM receivers and other gear. I ordered one, and when it arrived, I was amazed at how compact--yet well-built--the unit is! The box is metal, not plastic. At first, the "jumpers" for changing inputs from stereo to mono, turning phantom power on/off, etc., seemed a little strange, but after reading more on their website about why they use jumpers instead of switches (the recessed jumpers are much less prone to breaking compared to switches), it made sense. I just carry some small needle-nosed pliers with me, in the rare event that I might need to alter a setting.

As a singing drummer, being able to quickly use the "more me" feature to boost or cut my vocal level balance against the monitor input is a God-send! The Line Input uses a 1/4-inch jack, but I have an XLR female-to-phone plug male adapter, allowing me to get a mix back from the board regardless of the output configuration. For some gigs, I also use a click track (which comes from the Tempo app on my iPhone these days!). I simply plug the 1/8-inch-to 1/4-inch stereo patch cable from my iPhone output into the Instrument input on the Rolls, and with the input on that set to mono, I get a great click track feed with its own independent level!

As for set-up/tear-down, I have gone from carrying around the Mackie (in a carry-on suitcase bag!) and a bunch of cables, to a very compact rig: I bought one of those aluminum briefcases they sell for around $25 at Harbor Freight Tools that has the customizable foam rubber cushioning on the inside. I created places to store the PM50S, AC adapter, a few cables, my Shure SM-58 bag, and a 20-foot XLR cable (coiled up after the gig). The case only weighs about 5 lbs., and it has everything in one case for my entire monitoring setup! Talk about easy!

I have had to get used to not having any compression or limiting, but that just requires some careful level-setting on my part. I believe Rolls makes a similar-sized compressor/limiter unit to work with the PM50S, and I may order one down the road; but for now, I give this 5 stars. It does what I need it to do, the sound quality is great, and the ease of carrying, setup and tear-down has made a big difference in the amount of time I spend assembling and disassembling my monitoring system. I highly recommend it to any gigging musician who doesn't have the big $$$ to spend just to be able to hear properly on stage!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Little Box For A Great Little Price!, May 2, 2011

By 

E. Foldes (Arizona) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Rolls PM50S Personal Monitor Amplifier System

I'm a working musician with a tiny budget, who needed a very inexpensive and simple solution to hearing my own vocals and the total music mix at gigs. Forget the wireless systems, which start in the mid-hundreds and go into the thousands. I work with backing tracks which, along with my vocal and sax mics, are fed into a pre-amp, power amp, and a PA speaker. The headphones jack on my preamp feeds the Rolls' "monitor" input, and I listen to the Rolls' output via a single combined-stereo right earbud. (You can also monitor the mike separate from the mix, as the PM50S has a dedicated mic input with it's own output volume control.) I just started using the system last weekend and it works fabulously. Instead of straining to hear my voice and my tracks, and wondering if I'm singing in tune, I now have a crystal-clear mix going into my right ear and I can just relax and concentrate on my performances. Now I must say, I stand in 1 spot when I perform, so for me the wire is not an issue-- If your performance involves bopping around on stage or mixing with your audience, obviously a wired monitor ain't gonna cut it. But it's a God-send for me: It's a small box, just sits on top of my equipment stack and takes 10 seconds to plug in, set up and go. If you're a working musician and want a simple, cheap solution to hearing yourself on stage, and you don't mind a wire, this will be the best $50 you'll ever spend!

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Degrades sound quality, March 18, 2010

By 

E. de Moya - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Rolls PM50S Personal Monitor Amplifier System

I'll keep it short.

1) Plugged headphones into laptop
2) Listened to music
3) Sounded BAD@$$

4) Plugged laptop into line level input on Rolls Amp
5) Plugged headphones into rolls
6) listened to same material
7) Sound Like: Lost low end response and signal degradation (distortion)

<==== I'm an audio engineer and I've been in the business for quite a while. I know enough about gain structure to know that i was not driving the rolls input too hard. This headphone amp is not right for you if you're looking for a quality reference signal in your headphones.