I rambled on .......just a bit, didn't I?
There are so many interresting stories that happen after dark!

So they share the XG voices and patterns and that is it.

All that....and LESS!
Wait for the new 2000 model, and see what that sounds like. (or listen to what it LOOKS like - whatever) The 740 was based on the 8000, and that's old news already. I know you've been searching for a better acoustic piano sound, and I don't think the 740 will do it for you.

The PSR740 represents one of the best value for money lightweight "portable" keyboards on the market. I emphasize portable, since the PSR8000, 9000 and 9000 pro can hardly be deemed portable "jump on a plane with one under your arm" keyboards. In terms of sound quality, the PSR740 has the same sounds as the PSR8000. The big workstation keyboards, i.e. the 8000, 9000 and 9000 pro add aftertouch, larger flash storage of styles, harddisk and scsi options, voice editing, sound sampling, more powerful editing functions, high resolution display, extra voice layering and dsp effects, better vocal harmoniser features, individual outputs, extra midi ports, more intros and endings per style, more registrations, easier style programming and editing, more powerful organ drawbar sounds and editing and bigger more powerful onboard amplification and speakers.
The Pro model is essentially a 9000 but with a 76 weighted note keyboard, superior piano voices and cool voices, better organ sounds and the ability to take plug in sound/voice expansion boards.
The PSR2000 is likely to replace the 740 and offer much of what the 9000 currently offers, but in a lighter more portable package. It's unlikely that the 2000 will feature the expansion options such as harddrive and scsi of the 9000, nor the 128 polyphony, but with an entry level price set at the initial RRP of the 740, its going to be a superb machine for its price. The 1000 will replace the 640, and again offer a lot for the money, but losing such features as the 64 note polyphony, organ flutes, vocal harmoniser and a few other cherries on the cake.
It's surprising that someone has attempted to draw direct comparisons between the 740 and the 9000/pro, but I can see your point. Almost all PSR keyboards from the 540 upwards feature very similar voice sets, infact the XG set is identical. This of course is why psr communities have become so popular, because users can interchange song files between others without difficulty. You might think your getting the same voices on the bigger models, but listen carefully and you notice the overall quality, effects and definition improves remarkably. The Sweet!, Cool! and Live! voices are really outstanding on Yamaha psr keyboards and are almost unmatched by any other keyboards in this range. Again, moving up the scale you get more and more of these for your money.
Styles across all models will sound very similar, because these often use XG only voices and have to be compatible with Yamahas sff or style file format. This means though that you can take a style from a 540 and use it on a 9000 pro, and vice versa. Hence why you may not hear such a significant difference between models in this range. However for performers, the larger psr models offer the kind of features essential to comfortable live performance. Yamaha have clearly defined the intended targetted audience for their models and hence theres something for everyone.
Hope these few words help..........

Regards
Simon
SVPworld



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Simon G.K. Williams
simon@svpworld.com
Creative Music & Multimedia
http://www.svpworld.com
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My compliments, Simon! I was very impressed with your comparative evaluation of the Yamaha line (540, 640, 740, 8000, 9000, 9000Pro, 550, and soon 1000, and 2000). In a very few paragraphs, which readers can see elsewhere in this topic, you provide a very thorough and informative comparison of the features and capabilities of the various models. I think your words certainly will help those trying to decide which model may be most suitable for their particular needs.

"Styles across all models will sound very similar, because these often use XG only voices and have to be compatible with Yamahas sff or style file format. This means though that you can take a style from a 540 and use it on a 9000 pro, and vice versa. Hence why you may not hear such a significant difference between models in this range."


Which is exactly Uncle's Dave point: Common XG voices! and if patterns use the XG voices, no wonder when I tried the patterns I liked in PSR740 in PSR9000PRO, they sounded IDENTICAL... I mean not similar but IDENTICAL. That means that PSR740 is an excellent keyboard and PSR9000PRO is

Let's not get nuts, now! Is the arranger section the "whole show"?? Just because the patterns sound good - does that mean that anyone that plays it will sound good?
I think you're stretching the poit a liiiiitle out of perspective. The 740 is a good intermediate keyboard, with some very good sounds that are "borrowed" from the higher end machines. It will never be in the same league because it is missing too many features that PLAYERS(remember them???)want.
In order for a board to be truly professional it needs to address many needs of many different players. Lots of control - lots of variation - lots of ways to customize...... etc.....etc.
If all you want is patterns - sure the 740 has nice stuff. So does Casio, and Bontempi and lots of other low end machines. The real difference is the player features that you miss. As a lightweight alternative to a professional keyboard, the 740 comes in at a good pricepoint, but still misses the boat in controller areas. The new PSR2000 has added the option to shut the sustain off the left hand so, at least a bass part can be played on it now. Maybe I can utilize that for my nursing home shows......who knows.

Uncle Dave,

Thank you for your perspective and you are right. The control matter big time. I remember one of my older keyboards gave me grieve simply because I could not shut sustain from right side playing strings.

I thank you all for the explanation, inputs and perspective. My next new topic would be Motif verses PSR9000PRO. Make sure you all participate.

one more question,

what about the sweet instruments in PSR740, like sweet trumpet and sweet flute? Are they the same as PSR9000PRO?

Thanks

so no "live" drums or "cool;" guitars in
styles on 9000? But you could edit them,right? Or are you stuck with xg sounds for styles with the better sounds reserved for playing?
I do not understand why sounds have to be low quality to meet the GM standard!