Anyone have experience with both boards? If so what is the biggest differences? Is there a serious difference in sound quality? I'm considering buying either one of these boards used on ebay. Any recommendations? It appears the difference in the average costs on ebay is that the Fantom costs about $260 usd more than the XP80.

Thanks friends.

Bob
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Bob,

We've been using an XP-80 at the church for around 4yrs. Fantom is a lot newer than that. I've played the Fantom at Sam Ash.
Here are some differences I consider important:
1. Fantom has new XV sounds - very expressive
2. Fantom has an advanced apreggiator - allows for realistic guitar strums.
3. Fantom takes both SR and SRX expansion boards.
4. Fantom's top ocatve can be used for playing drum fills.
5. Fantom has much newer technology

It's interesting to hear that XP80s are somewhat in demand. I was talking with a keyboard sales rep at Sam Ash on Saturday. He told me he'd have no problem selling our XP80 if we wanted to. There must be something about that keyboard a lot of people like. It has great sounds, but an outdated screen and sequencer. Of course, if one is going to sequence using software, then that's a mute point.

Personally, bro., for the extra $260 I would go for the Fantom.

Tim

The XP80 has superior control features. Sliders, buttons, etc. It takes the original exp boards, and when fully loaded is a killer performanve piece. The Fantom has newer things, but the design is not as friendly as the XP. Do you need :live: control? I recommend the XP.

Hi,

Get the Fantom. It's twice the keyboard.

The Fantom is using the XV-5080 Engine.
The XP-80 is using the Super-JV Engine.

Differences Fantom vs XP-80:
Rate: 44.1k vs 32k
WG: 4 Stereo Tones vs 4 Mono Tones
Base ROM: 64MB vs 16MB
Expansion: 1xSRJV+2xSRX vs 4xSRJV
ROM total: 208MB vs 80MB
Effects: 3xMFX vs 1xEFX
FX Algorithms: MFX=90 vs EFX=40
Display: 320x240 vs 320x80
Output EQ: 2-band Parametric vs none
Output DACs: 24-bit vs 18-bit
Digital Outputs: S/PDIF vs none
Seq: 120,000 notes vs 60,000 notes

etc. etc.

David

------------------
Li'l Chips Systems
www.lilchips.com

Thanks for the great responses. I didn't mention the fact that either the Fantom or the XP80 will be in most cases my secondary board. Currently I'm selling my Yamaha S80 (I've already sold some other equiptment I'm not using enough), and with the procedes I'm getting a Yamaha S90. So I'm looking for a semi-weighted board with at least 76 keys to compliment the S90.

I've used an XP-50 before and currently own an RS-9 w/ a JV1010. (I'm getting away from controllers and sound modules, although if I go with the Fantom I may keep the JV1010 for the added polyphony for my home studio).

I will be using the secondary board (XP80 or Fantom) primarily live. The control (buttons as opposed to scrolling through screens) is what has me leaning towards the XP80. I doubt I'll get the chance to hear a side by side comparison. I've always enjoyed the XP/JV sounds and as I was closing my mind to anything but an XP80, I happened to remember the Fantom and started reading the specs and reviews from Harmony Central. A few people have commented that the XP80 is easier to control beacuse it's "push button" as opposed to "screen scrolling". Ease and quickness of use are critical to me. I play in our churches Praise/Worship band and switching sounds, adding and removing layers, and changing dynamics at crucial points of the song are critical. I had no trouble with the XP-50 here or the RS-9 for that matter, so I'm certain the XP80 will be as easy. I dumped the XP50 because I got tired of missing the bottom bass notes on the 61 key keyboard.

I do all my writing/sequencing from the PC so an onboard sequencer is no biggie for me, but playback is desired. I don't do any drumming and I haven't delved into appregiators actually.

I also only occasionally tweak sounds here and there. I'm not into creating new sounds. I basically am a preset user. I'm a piano player turned keyboardist so I don't really make full use of a synths capabilities I'm afraid.

I can see better now (thanks to you guys) just how much more advanced the Fantom is compared to the XP80. I just have to keep in mind that because of my style and how I use synths, I really may not take full advantage of these advanced features.

Thanks again for the responses they've been helpful and re-affirming... I'm still leaning towards an XP80, but I have time. Hopefully I'll have this upgrade complete within 2 months.

If anyone still has more info to add, that'd be great too. I really do appreciate this forum.


Bob
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[This message has been edited by RW (edited 07-17-2003).]

Bob if you were going to use the keyboard as a controller for your set up, I would go with the xp80[probally the best controller on the market and know one "nose" it]..Since you are going for sounds "stereo samples" is a plus..Go for the Fantom..

Hi Fran,
I'm not really looking to use the XP80 (or Fantom for that matter) as a controller. When I say control, I'm really talking about just using the board live. I mean things like splitting, layering, and switching sounds on the fly. I'm familiar with the XP's performances where just switching parts gets you a quick sound change. The RS-9 has a nice "dual" button to go in and out of a layer quickly (of course you aleady have to have the two parts to layer all set up in a performance. There's also a split button which , right on the fly, splits the board. Tap it again and you're back to a full keyboard.

Very good point though you made that if I'm just playing the sounds that exist and not really utilizing all the functions, that perhaps quality of the sounds should be more important. I just need ease of use the most though.

Thanks heaps.

Bob
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If the choice is a Famtom controlling a JV1010 vs. an XP80 controlling an XV5050 - there is NO contest. dump all the extra gear, and get the second choice. Best sounds .... best control!

the choices really boil down to these
1) RS-9 controlling a JV1010 (current set-up)
2) Fantom only
or
3) XP80 only.

Application will be live with a band. I need to switch sounds easily and quickly. I'll need to layer and split and go back to one sound, one zone quickly. Having live playback of pre-recorded sequences is desired. I currently have the RS9 w/JV1010 setup but of course this provides no sequence playback ability.

Another advantage going the XP80 route, is perhaps in the future a sound module (XV5050) could be added and controlled better than the Fantom could control it.

I'm still leaning towards the XP80. I guess this is why their is still some demand for them.

Bob
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