It seems there is a new Upgrade for the PSR 2000. It even looks like this new upgrade will be introduced early October 2002 in the Benelux (Europe). Maybe he means this rumor is about a new physical version (new synth; I'm told there was a Ver.2 and Ver.3 of the 9k Synth itself aside from different versions of the OS) which might incorporate some new OS software.

In http://www.oostendorp-muziek.nl, you read: “Op zaterdag 12 oktober geven wij een demo van de nieuwe Yamaha Tyros met als demonstrateur Bert Smorenburg. Ook zal de nieuwste update voor de PSR2000 te krijgen zijn”.
In english: We invite you for a Tyros demo on October 12, 2002 and THE NEWEST UPGRADE FOR THE PSR 2000 WILL BE AVAILABLE THEN.


Is it true? Do you know something about an upgrade for psr2000?

Wow haven't heard anything about that.... Maybe this new upgrade will allow the OS to be upgradable like the current model was supposed to be.... Hopefully if there is a new version of it, they make it available to the US market...

Squeak

Bluebird: This is exciting news! I'm a big fan of the PSR2000 because it sounds so great, and because its so dammed portable. Unfortunatley ONE major weakness which has always frustrated me is its anemic limited onboard storage capacity. In addition to implementing a software upgradeable OS (flash-ROM), I hope the new 2000 will also offer a much larger internal flash memory capacity (currently only 1 mg). Increasing flash memory to 10 mg or greater would make the PSR2000 better suited for the gigging one man band performer who needs to quickly access a sizeable collection of custom styles/regs on the fly (without having to load floppies). I'm crossing my fingers that this will become a reality on the new improved PSR2000. If so, I'll probably opt for the new improved PSR2000 over the Tyros. Curious to hear others thoughts about the 'news' of an improved PSR2000. - Scott

hey Scott. yeah, that would rule. but would that mean that we could bring our current boards somewhere and get them flashed, or that we would have to actually buy it all over again? Z

Zack: I somehow suspect that we won't be able to take in our 2000's and have it upgraded, but would have to purchase the improved 2000 as a separate new keyboard. Though not the perfect solution for current 2000 owners, it makes sense as a giging musician to go with the improved PSR2000 (if it provides substantially increased onboard memory as well as flashable OS upgradeability) and then keep the current 2000 as a backup keyboard. I'd even be willing to pay a little more $ for an improved PSR2000 if Yamaha would re-designed the keys & buttons to be more rugged (durable) yet still maintain the ultra light weight (24 lbs including built in speakers). - Scott

If Yamaha was smart they'd handle this like they did when they released the Yamaha Motif.. The Motif replaced the Yamaha EX-5, and to get the EX-5 owners to upgrade to the Motif, Yamaha was giving discounted prices to those who currently owned the EX-5.... They should do the same with the PSR-2000.. If there is going to be a version 2 then they should give a lower price for those who who spent the money on the first model which didn't even perform as originally stated in the specs, but we won't get on that topic because it's already been exausted...

Squeak

Yamaha if you are listening the discounted price to those who have the original PSR 2000 for the new PSR 2000 makes perfect sense because of the flap over the Flash Rom upgrade on the existing PSR 2000. I don't know how far into development Yamaha is on the new PSR 2000, (if there is one), but a wish list would include of course being able to Flash Rom the new one and like Scotty Tee said more internal RAM, ie., at least 10 MB. Also doubling the Polyphony would make it a big seller for sure. And also doubling the wattage of the internal speakers, (like the 9000 has or similar). I am sure this can be done with minimal added weight to the keyboard. Adding a third foot controller would be nice "and needed". Providing a 'better' music stand on the keyboard, ie., one that actually keeps the music in place through a whole song without the sheet music falling off. Compatibility with the new GM2 standard. The ability to Layer 2 voices with the Main voice. A new Triple layered Stereo Grand Piano voice. The current 2000's Grand Piano voice is good but nowhere near, lets say, the 9000Pro. Also the ability to add a 2.5 inch Hard Drive (an option) would sure be nice. Quadrupling the Wave ROM, giving us more cool, sweet voices, the addition of USA Programmed Styles, new and improved Drum Kits and could it be possible to have a "DIGITAL OUT?:-)" I am sure all this could be done for around a $600 to $700 cost increase of the keyboard. It would be a HUGE success in my opinion, eg., "arranger keyboard players prefer built-in speakers" (I know I do). They also act as monitors when playing through an external system. (New customers would buy it in droves in my opinion) plus giving a discount to current 2000 owners would cause a myriad of us to upgrade to the new one too. Total cost: $1,895 to $1,995 to new customers. Cost to existing owners of the 2000: $1,395 to $1,495. Of course that's including "all" of the new features I listed:-)

Mike

Hold your breath guys, I just KNOW Yamaha is listening to us.
DonM

Idatrod,

I'm not sure, but I think you just described a Tyros with built in speakers. Heck yeah, I'll take one for under $2000.

After reading all these posts and seing how things are growing from a software update to a brand new PSR2000, I spoke with Yamaha here in the USA and to everybody here's best information, they know of know upgrade for the PSR2000 and it is my opinion as most of you know, Yamaha will replace the PSR2000 with the PSR------- in one year from now as it has been their business practice to replace products every two years. So, I wouldn't expect any kind of new product to be shipped. I could be wrong, but I don't think so!
George Kaye
Kaye's Music Scene
Reseda, california

Hi George: Oh well, It was nice dreaming about anyway ... hey who knows, dreams have been known to come true. If Yamaha wants to call it a PSR2500 or another number, that's fine too, just as long as it stays the same size & weight, includes 'built in' speakers. The PSR2000 remains imho a winning combination of great sound at a terrific price point . . . adding more onboard flash memory would make it even SO MUCH better. Yamaha, are you listening? - Scott

I share Scott's dream. I would sell one of my PSR2000s in a flash to buy a new one with more flash memory. The lack of flash and the need to do the floppy shuffle, is the only thing that gets in the way of my shows.

George, is there anyone I can contact (via mail) who is in product development for these keyboards, because I'd like to make some suggestions before they start producing the successor to the PSR2000. The reason I ask for mail as opposed to email, is that I imagine that these people would be hesitant to get emails from pestering plebes like myself.

I imagine that the successor to the PSR2000 will have the flash memory we all want plus the panel voices of the PSR9000 or 9000 pro. Hopefully they'll throw in a couple mega voices. I imagine that we'll get a lot of the styles that are currently on the Tyros plus a few new ones.

USB would be great. A hard drive option would probably be wishful thinking, but it can't hurt to make wishes.

A little sturdier? Well, that's probably in Yamaha's best interest. I'm sure that I'm not the only one who has brought one of these in for repairs.

We hope that they learned from the OS fiasco to either iron out the bugs before hand or give the customer an upgradeable OS.

I also wish that Yamaha would put a Start Over button in their style control section. This would make it so much easier to play songs that have an odd time signature inserted in the middle. As it is, it's almost impossible. You have to press the STOP button, change chords quickly and flawlessly, and then press the STOP button again to deactivate it. At the same time, I'm trying to sing and play an accompaniment with the right hand.

Thanks George for any info on how I can contact Yamaha with suggestions.

Beakybird