Compare as much as you want, but it will surprice me big time if
Yamaha (or anyone else) release a mid range model that match the
top of the range models for tousands of dollars less. If so, it
most be compared to the other brands they comete against, not
their own models.
Even if compare to the the "past generation" such as Tyros2, it
would be a kind of shoot it's own leg. Yamaha still want to gain
profit as well as keep a certain distance between the model range.
It's simply a matter of business.

Cheers
GJ

Yep...it would be simple if a person had both a Tyros2 and an S910 side by side.

Gunnar, it's not simply a question of the sound quality that makes for the price difference. T2 has more sounds, effects, a sampler, more parts, aftertouch, and many many other things that can justify a price difference. We are simply talking about ONE issue... is there a noticeable tone QUALITY difference between the two?

They have many sounds in common, it would be interesting to find out, when playing IDENTICAL patches (at least by name!), through the same EQ and effects settings (or even better would be to turn those off for a more naked look at tone quality) whether they are discernibly different. After all, many of us can do without a sampler, aftertouch, more keyboard Parts and many of the other things that distinguish the Tyros line. If even ONLY the sound quality is the same, an S910 might be a VERY affordable alternative to a $4k T3

No matter how I dressed up my Pontiac sedan, and I did, I added everything I could think of both inside and out, it never rode like my friends Caddy which was two years older.

You can compare features and find the + and – of each keyboard but when that’s done I feel the flagship models have a better overall sound. – (Which important to me) This is why they call it their flagship model, it puts them in the upper class.

I sold my Tyros 2 to a local friend -- then I got my s900, it was great I liked everything about it especially the overall sound. After a month or two passed I decided to go to the Hilton Hotel where my friend was playing, I wanted to know how he was doing with the Tyros2. If you are a decent musician it normally takes about 15 seconds to decide you have made a mistake. When I walked the room I knew I made a mistake. We both have the same amplifying system and he was using my settings. The Tyros 2 sounded great. And so this story ends with a Tyros 3 in my home.

If dollars are an issue skip the above.

John C.

One more thought;
If you take away all the variables like amps and settings do you really think that a staff of paid professionals in the larger companies go out of their way to make a second level keyboard sound as good as their top-of-the-line model?

To some they may compare because they hear with their own ears.
(Which is not wrong, just is.)

John C.

Since Scott has a Tyros2, it would be to his benefit to take it to a music store that has the S910, and, using headphones, he can A/B the two instruments to his own satisfaction.

The Tyros3 sounds different than the Tyros2, otherwise I could use the former to compare voices with the S910.

I can say the SA Jazz Rotary, and SA Rock Rotary sound pretty darn close to the Tyros3's...I'm not sure if the Tyros2 had those voices.

For gigging, the S900 and/or the S910 are terrific, but as I said earlier, Scott is used to having three voices layered in the right hand...the S-910 can only do two.

That might be a deal breaker.

Also, if you're used to having aftertouch to control sounds, the Tyros2 has it...the S910 does not.

From online demos that I have heard, I would say that the S910 compares pretty favorably to the T2. It has essentially the same amount of voices, maybe 15 less. There are no T2 styles that, when loaded into the S910, have a voice or OTS missing.

Soundwise, the S910 has the advantage of the new style format which makes the guitars strum more realistically.

The T2 has the advantages of 1) aftertouch, 2) 3 part layering, 3) more dsps, and 4) aftermarket samples

The T3, on the other hand, has so many additional voices that I don't think the S910 can compare with it. Us PSR lovers will have to wait three years to get a David that can take on the T3 Goliath. By then, there will be a Tyros 4 - which many are hoping will have an improved equalizer and really live sounding drums and even more Mega and S.A. voices.

Beakybird

[This message has been edited by Beakybird (edited 10-12-2009).]

Thanks for the input so far. Keep it coming. Yes, I'm wanting to know how the 910 compares to the T2 in the best way a person reasonably can, realizing that everyone hears a little different and uses them differently.

And yes, I could consider the T3. Or another T2 as far as that goes. I have to get straight in my head what I am wanting vs what's available. Right now, it's a bit up in the air, but until I can try a 910 or T3 this sharing of ideas is a big help.

On the T3, I'm thinking I will love it, although I saw someone post that it has an overall different sound and they happened to like the sound of the T2 better.

I also am not pleased with what they did with the reg mem buttons. I use them to switch back and forth between horn sections quickly, sometimes only playing a beat or two with one preset and switch back and forth with the other horn sections I have set up in the reg mem buttons. People go ape over this effect. I commonly have people, including those that hire me walk around, (and sometimes groups of people will circle me) to see what the I'm doing, to see how I can do that and to see if I'm actually playing. I love the response and kind of chuckle as I see them shaking their heads in kind of disbelief.

I hope the next generation if Yamaha thinks there is enough people that actually want and actually use the drawbars, which I think is minimal at best, I hope if they keep them they put them up and to the left of the screen. I hope they are listening!

Scott

Hi Beakybird

I am thinking you wanted to say that the T2 styles and ots all worked on the 910??

Uh, yeah, that's what I wanted to say.

Hey, Scott, could you post a demo of that effect you're talking about with the horns that people go ape over.

Beakybird