That's a HUGE gap in price to the next lower arranger. I'm not really sure what Roland are thinking here. A $1500 price hike for the next best arranger after the BK-5. Roland's last 76 MOTL arranger was in the $1800 range...

Admittedly, the last price structure was E50 for $1500 and E60 for $1800, with the E60 being little more than an E50 with 76 keys. Then the jump to the $3500 G70 (although street after the move to the MI division was usually closer to $3000), for which you got a HUGE increase in build and performance. Maybe I'm being unkind to the BK-9 initially, maybe all the new toys will make the $1500 price hike over the BK-5 worth it. But I can't help thinking that maybe $2000 tops (in the S950 ballpark) would have been a more palatable mark for the next level up in Roland Arranger technology.

Maybe they have a 61 BK-9 in the works to hit this demographic? That might be a good move.

But, despite my elation that MIDI recording, the Chord Sequencer and a decent B3 clone have returned to the line, I must confess, I cannot understand why the touch screen has been dropped. Particularly as Korg seem to have no issues using them even on their low end arrangers, let alone the TOTL...

The dual non-touch screens screams 'cheap', IMO. And makes a significant impediment to comparison to the G/E series.

Is the new BK9 display screen COLOR?

No.

What's the sales tax rate in the US, as only this has to be added to the $2150.40 price tag.

Bill

each State/City here in the USA has a different sales tax rate.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sales_taxes_in_the_United_States

And most order on the internet, avoiding state sales tax in many states (though not all).

Sadly, the BK partner software only does mostly what you can get to from the front panel of the BK anyway. That and some typing help. This is NOT a substitute for a touch screen by ANY means.

A $600 peripheral to substitute for a touch screen that USED to be fine for a $1300 arranger (albeit B&W)?

Tell me the sense in THAT?

After seeing the picture and features I find the BK 9 not so interesting any more. But maby the sound is OK.