Hi,
Can someone tell me the pros and cons of the Yamaha PSR 9000 and the new Korg PA-80. I would like to buy one of them. Can someone tell me which one is a better keyboard?

I need a keyboard that has preset styles which play with chords.

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Sri

A further addition:

I had purchased a Korg Triton-Pro Music workstation. I liked it but it did not suit me as it didn't have any preset styles. So even if I had to play a small song(live performance), I had to record the beats and chords.

I then purchased a Yamaha PSR-740. I liked it but the sound quality and sound banks are not as good as Korg.

I am still in a fix weather to purchase the Korg PA-80 or the Yamaha PSR-9000.

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Sri

I'll give my spin:
The Yamaha is bigger, heavier & more expensive to start with - however it comes with the vocal harmonizer as standard equipment; the Korg is an option. The things that interrest me most about the PA80 are:
1)smaller size
2)Dual inputs for Voice & guitar with effects
3)Dual sequencer - sounds like a neat idea
4)Lower price
5)Expected better handling of polyphony in layering situations, and overall "cooler" rhythm patterns. This has been my opinion for a few years now. Korg was always a little "hipper" than the rest, escpecially in the bass parts. I thought the X1 was terrific also, but there were a few irreconcilable differences in the operating system that I couldn't deal with. So......we wait. Make sure you try them both for quite a while before you decide - these are complex machines.

I haven't played either keyboard. I happen to own the PSR 740. I was kind of surprised when I read the specs on the PA-80 that there are only two rhythm fills. The PSR-9000 has four rhythm fills. I think there's a lot more you can do with a song when you have four fills as opposed to two. Two rhythm fills might sound repetitive. Does the PA-80 have multi pads like the PSR 9000? There are a lot of cool things you can do with the multi pads.

Yes, the PA80 will have 4 multi pads too.

Thanks for your opinions. I guess the fills was a good point. I don't know how important it is though.

I would like another advice:

Can you suggest me other keyboards that fall into the PSR-9000 and PA-80 category so that I can try out each one of them and then decide.
Moreover can u tell me where I can try out these keyboards? I tried at many music stores, but everyone tells me that these products are to be ordered from the company and that the store does nto have a floor model on display. Do you know of any store that stocks these products. I live in Chicago so any store near by would help.

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Sri

the main differences
-PA 80 has 61 notes polyphony, PSR9000 128
-PA 80 has less effects and DSPs than PSR9000
-PA 80 can't sample
-PA 80 is less powerful synthesizer than PSR 9000 (less filters, less layers)
-PA 80 doesn't have the excellent vocal processor and harmonzier than PSR 900 has
-PA 80 has better drum sounds than PSR9000
-PA 80 has dual sequencer
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[This message has been edited by Shakil (edited 01-09-2001).]

Sri,

You should be able to find a Solton dealer in the Chicago area. The X1 is a fine keboard and the new Sd-1 should be even better. I would certainly check these out.

Tom

I'm repeating myself, myself but the 126 note polyphony on the psr9000 is a scam - it sucks it up worse than my 32 voice Korg. Voice allocation is terrible.
And don't forget - the vocal /guitar processor is an add on - should be great too because it adds two more dedicated effects to the unit.

I've played the 9000 every night for about 8 months and have not yet run out of polyphony.
DonM