The only thing I want is;
A Roland G 1000 with;
1. All capabilities of the Genesys
2. The soundquality of a K 2600
3. A drawbar set
4. Even more dedicated knobs
5. A large lcd screen (no touch pls...)

Hi Terry

Almost my reactions exactly.

Clif

I've already decided to buy an EM 55 in the new year...My previous keyboard was a Roland E500 so atleast for me the sounds are going to be better... Roland really should have dedicated 48 mb to the EM 55's 3500+ sounds as in the VA 5 and VA 7 instead of 20mb as in the VA 3.

I can easily live with the EM55's 3500+ sounds (some do sound very good) and the poor calculator like screen but..........
The biggest disappointment for me in the EM 55 is that you cant adjust the volume of the parts eg drum,bass, etc..when playing or recording. Its crazy that a R10500 ($1100) keyboard cant do simple things like that....I know I'm getting slaughtered with the price but it would be too expensive to ship one to South Africa

I would have gone for a VA5/7 but the price is crazy lol.

Terry,
Very well said. Seems like they get snatched from the jaws of success (by their own hands - sigh).
Rolandfan,
Don't do it. Wait for the next Roland keyboard. Look what you have said, "Roland really should have dedicated 48 mb to the EM 55's 3500+ sounds ". Yes they should have, but didn't. Why not? $$$$$$$$$$
Like I've said before, do you really need 3500 sounds? I would prefer 48 mb dedicated to 300 outstanding sounds. Wouldn't you?
My PSR540 has 106 styles on board. THe EM55 only 64, the rest are on disc. Why? They didn't want to spend on wave ROM. Is ROM THAT expensive?
Starkeeper

Good Points Starkeeper....I think I will wait.... Whatever I buy next will be for the next 5 years...I hope Roland have not just one but a whole new ranger of arrangers out next year...Good point about the EM55 only having 64 styles on board....its weird for a keyboard of that price to have only 64 styles onboard...lol even a casio has more...but I still would buy a Roland anyday over all other boards

Yea, I agree with you. I hope Roland comes out with a whole new line of arrangers, from bottom of the line, strictley home use, to a top of the line Tyros competitor and something in the middle for me (an intermediate player).
Starkeeper

Rolandfan,
Have you listened to this keyboard in person ?

This was one of the worst arranger I have ever heard in my life (besides the real cheap CASIOS and Yamahas).

I listened to the onboard speaker and I said yuck !!

Some here said it sounds lots better thru amplified sound system.

Night and day compared to the Yamaha PSR550, PSR1000 and PSR2000. I did not explore all the sounds but the piano, bass and drums were really embarrassingly terrible coming out of the internal speakers.

Wow Lukitoh. "Worst arranger you have ever heard"? Well, it's not THAT bad. You must have heard one with bad speakers. I did play an EM55, and was not impressed, but it wasn't the worst arranger I ever heard.
I realize that it's subjective, but what did you not like about the pianos?
Starkeeper
P.S. I played the EM55 in two different stores and was suprised that it sounded better at one place than another. Room dynamics can make a big difference, but I still was not impressed enough to buy it.

Rolanfan,
I'm flattered that you are seriously accepting my evalutaion. If it's going to be your keyboard for the next 5 years, then yes consider your next purchase very seriously.
I also like Roland, but they have to give me good value for my money or I'll go Yamaha.
Starkeeper

I just remember everything was really muddy/muffled. The drum rythms was really subpar. Nothing excites me at all. I do not use the auto accompaniment as I only use manual bass, right hand piano and drum rythms (like UD).

And I came driving 40 miles to see EM55 since it was one of the candidate keyboards for under $1k (my budget). I was really underwhelmed. After hearing and playing PSR1000/2000 and KORG PA80, the EM55 pales in comparison. I played EM55 for about 45 minutes to make sure I am not missing anything. It was not hooked up to any amplified system. I was listening to the onboard speakers.