Personal Stage Monitors?

Many years ago I was in a trio where we all had these nifty little Kustom mic-stand-mounted powered PA monitors. They sounded pretty crappy but were convenient on small stages and crucial for a vocal-centric band. Wish I still had mine, but it went away long ago.
 
Now I'm in a band that uses conventional wedges, and I just don't hear them well enough so I'm once again in the market for a personal monitor. I was pleasantly surprised to find out how many are on the market now, so many that I'm experiencing choice-paralysis.
 
I can't afford to spend a lot of money, perhaps up to $250 or so. Less if I can get away with it. It needs to be on a mic stand because floor speakers are no good for keyboard players and take up too much space. It only needs to carry vocals and will only be 3 feet away, so high power isn't a priority. More important is XLR + 1/4" inputs and preferably a thru connector.
 
Favorite so far is TC-Helicon's VoiceSolo, but it's also the most expensive ($250) and has features I don't need, like built-in FX. Somewhat less-expensive ($160) is the Nady PM-200A, but it's physically larger. Nady also makes a very inexpensive version for only $85. The modern version of my old Kustom monitor is only $90, which I think is about what I paid for the old one. Behringer makes one with all the right features, but, you know, it's Behringer.
 
Looking to hear about your experiences with personal stage monitors.
 

bitflipper
Many years ago I was in a trio where we all had these nifty little Kustom mic-stand-mounted powered PA monitors. They sounded pretty crappy but were convenient on small stages and crucial for a vocal-centric band. Wish I still had mine, but it went away long ago.
 
Now I'm in a band that uses conventional wedges, and I just don't hear them well enough so I'm once again in the market for a personal monitor. I was pleasantly surprised to find out how many are on the market now, so many that I'm experiencing choice-paralysis.
 
I can't afford to spend a lot of money, perhaps up to $250 or so. Less if I can get away with it. It needs to be on a mic stand because floor speakers are no good for keyboard players and take up too much space. It only needs to carry vocals and will only be 3 feet away, so high power isn't a priority. More important is XLR + 1/4" inputs and preferably a thru connector.
 
Favorite so far is TC-Helicon's VoiceSolo, but it's also the most expensive ($250) and has features I don't need, like built-in FX. Somewhat less-expensive ($160) is the Nady PM-200A, but it's physically larger. Nady also makes a very inexpensive version for only $85. The modern version of my old Kustom monitor is only $90, which I think is about what I paid for the old one. Behringer makes one with all the right features, but, you know, it's Behringer.
 
Looking to hear about your experiences with personal stage monitors.
 

Don't know how your mixer is set up, but I used to use small headphones so I could hear my vocals clearly over the drums, bass, keyboard, and brass. I used a custom mixer that I designed and I could tap off the vocal channel. (We're talking the 80s here)

Many audio interfaces used this technique nowadays and in-ear monitors are common.

We also used stage monitors mounted on a mic stand, but with this set up I could mine away from me and not worry about feedback. Didn't have to shout into the mic.

Walt

I created "Monitor in a bag" for myself.  It includes a VERY small Mixer:
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/502
(I have the older version of this).
 
A signal Splitter for XLR (Mike)
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/SplitPro
(Again I have the Older version of this)
 
Cable it up:
Split your Mike and run 1 to FOH and one Channel 1 of small mixer.  (Note this will NOT pass through phantom power, My mike takes batteries as well).
Run the Monitor Feed (Line not amplified!)  into Channel 2 (1/4")
 
Put it all in a nice Bag that can be mounted/placed on mike stand and you have fully adjustable "More of Me" set up for ~ $100.  I use headphones with this.  You could just as well send it to amp and speaker...
 
Not sure this is what you are after, but it works well for me.  Leaving it all set up is nice too.  I just unhook the two inputs and unplug it (I have a single power cord running out of this). Zip up the bag and I'm ready to go.
 

mettelus
As soon as you said "small stages," I was curious if you had considered in-ear monitors?

This, Shure has them for $99.  I have a pair and like them better than the personal monitor that I used on stage.  The FOH guy likes them better too.

I found the TC on sale at AMS if you care:
http://www.americanmusical.com/Item--i-TCE-VSFX150-LIST
 

i used an older version of this one:
 
http://www.galaxyaudio.com/products/hs7
 
 

Be careful with your hearing...
Last time I sat in with some previous bandmates (playing keys), the keyboard/guitar player had a hot-spot (similar unit) and the upper-mids were like an ice-pick.  It was cranked to ear bleeding levels and was painful to endure.

batsbrew
i used an older version of this one:
 
http://www.galaxyaudio.com/products/hs7
 
 

I used a pair of Galaxy Hot Spots for 20 years for my 5 piece group. Then for the last 5 used an OEM (small wired headphone) for my vocal. It worked well.

Walt

I'd suggest a pair of M audio BX5A's. The only issue would be physical damage to the drivers. They don't have covers - so you may need to make some. I find that they sound just right at close proximity and have plenty of power.