Mostly dead on, TWD...although ex-organists are a large part of the buyer base, there are quite a few ex-band synth/combo organ/workstation users, and yes, quite a few guitar players...and, I've sold a couple of Tyros (one T2 and one T3) to former drummers, so the drum issue is not as relevant as some here believe.

Ian

Several years ago I read something about why Yamaha, and many other arranger keyboard and synth manufacturers, decided to get away from the Hot-OOTB sounds and go with a default sound of flat. It had nothing whatsoever to do with home organ players.

If I recall, the last hot out of the box arranger keyboard made by Yamaha was the PSR-2000. The PSR-3000 was a bit subdued in comparison. When questioned about this on another forum, someone stated that most of the tweaking and tuning of the overall keyboard or synth sound was usually done with a stand-alone, powered mixer--not in the keyboard. However, because Yamaha also had a relatively large contingent of home users that did not use external amps they improved their onboard effects system and expanded its capabilities beginning with the PSR-2000. It has improved dramatically with nearly every ensuing model over the past decade. Made perfectly good sense to me.

Gary

Correct Gary...and also there are several presets in the MIXER/EQ section to allow for various setups, and to provide a good base to start tweaking, if you so desire.

Ian

So, in effect, you are saying they voice them so lifeless and flat so that they sound good out of the built-in speakers (which would have to be a LOT more powerful and better frequency response to sound as good as a full system)..?

Yikes!

Why not make them full and punchy to START with, and then use the comps and EQ's to flatten the sound out for the built-ins, rather than the other way round, which is MUCH harder to achieve?

No Diki...in effect we are not saying that...you are.

Ian

Yep, I'm of this same opinion. As is the MAJOR music dealer I use, who is a power Yamaha seller out here.
And the guy (whose opinion I share) that manages the Arranger and Pianos section is a gigging muso, who happens to use Yamaha personally and is very much an unabashed fan of Yamaha keyboards.

Our view is they (the Yamaha arrangers - Tyros series and PSR 7 and 9 series) sound stellar using the inbuilt speakers, or the powered speaker system available for the Tyros line.

But hooked up to an external PA, the sound falls away dramatically, WITHOUT some serious tweaking of the outboard mixer, and the EQ options onboard.

Although to be fair, I also think the same re the G70 and in particular, Version 3, with most of the basses sounding great through cans, but through the PA need some tweaking to bring them under control.

Dennis

Right on Dennis...the Tyros and PSR sound stellar through their own speakers...not lifeless.

There are several EQ presets available in the mixer which are designed to work very well with Stagepas 300/500, and home stereo systems.

I use them all the time for clinics...I get a terrific punchy sound just using the factory presets.

Ian

Ian,
So how do they sound using powered monitors like my Mackie HR-824's? (250 watts each)

Does it take a lot of tweekig to use flat monitors? Or...anyone with the answer on this?

My Korg PA2XPRO came OOTB with the master EQ OFF! When I turned it to ON and tweeked the setting only a little bit POW! great sound.

Lee S.

For what its worth Lee, when I had the Tyros 2, I turned off all the compression for live PA work. And I used the EQ.....ummm "Live" I think it was called, or maybe "Stage"..

Ian is right in that it does not take much to change it up for live PA. All I am saying is it does NEED to be done in my view.

Using on-board speakers, or the system especially for the tyros line will present no sound quality issues at all, in my view.

Dennis

At home I use Yamaha MS60S powered monitors which are set to flat...both tone controls at 12:00.

For the S910 and Stagepas 300/500, I think I used Concert or AuxOut PA...I can't remember what I used on the T3, and it's not here at the moment...neither do I have a Stagepas system...the stores provide the PA.

I was also using the S900 with two Bose L1 systems in stereo for some solo theatre gigs...I set the S900 at Concert, which is a mild smiley face.

It sounded really really good with superb coverage and an excellent stereo effect.

I sold the Bose for what I paid for them.

I'd like to see Yamaha make a similar line-array to the Bose.

I have never used/tried Mackies, although they are well reviewed and a few buddies of mine use them.

I'm really tickled with Yamaha's tight and detailed sound...it's not for everyone, but, it works very well for my style of playing...it's awesome for recording too.

Ian