My thoughts on this subject:-
PA4X, great looking keyboard , nice keyboard feel, good sounds, has all functions I look for in arranger keyboard, separate buttons for break and fills, hold button, Restart button, after touch that allows you to bend the note without using joystick, the only thing that I like the least is Kong styles, I’m pretty sure it’s gotta be good, I just could not get into it, I really tried to , I had before Pa1x, 2x, pa900, the styles never really clicked with me.

Genos:-Styles and sounds are nice, it lacks dedicated Hold button, can not bend the note with after touch , no restart button

KETRON I don’t have SD9 had SD7 for a short period 1month, I like my Audya5 better other than nice Touch screen, KETRON has everything that I like as previously mentioned in Korg, big different is I’m used to hear Ketron styles

With all my rambling above, I’m most comfortable with KETRON

Personally i think all 3 have lots of goodness to offer ... but none are perfect...

The Genos, has lots to offer like the SA2 voices, which are still by far the best acoustic instruments, and the ensemble voices which are fun and very unique.. Most of all i like how Yamaha handles files directly from USB and their performance memories. Also the whole interface is huge. But there is also major things missing, where it comes editing (in-depth) and creation. But they also have the biggest selection of available styles and sample sounds. Yet still missing on the piano side of things. Biggest miss for me however is that the things i would like to assign to programmable buttons, sliders and knobs can not be assigned, due to a very limited choice..

The PA4x, is the most professional workstation. Not many fancy features but a lot of direct control and all the editing you would want except for a piano roll for editing midi and style parts. Wheere it shines is it layout, no programmable buttons needed, everything is right there on the front panel. Where it does not work for me, is how it handles files on external devices, and that there are no performance memories, for setting up things inside a performance. Also styles and sounds are just a little less to my taste as the Genos, with the exception of the 2 piano's.

And then there is Ketron. Hard to comment on this, i haven't really owned one. But i like the sound as it reminds me (solo voices) of my beloved GEMs. Styles sound out of this world, and style editing is top knotch. HOwever with just as many people quickly dropping Ketron after buying, but also a lot of very loyal customers, i wonder if i can make it my own. Mostly on the solo sound tab, i think Ketron feels a little dated to the other 2 brands..

There is one reason, i like Yamaha styles so much, and thats the number of great user styles, especially song specific styles. TO archieve that on Ketron, i would need to convert those yamaha styles to Ketron styles and set them up with Ketron sounds(which should work out just good, as V-arranger proofs this)

I am on the verge of deciding on a new setup... might go for the Ketron SD90, invest huge time and never look back... or change my whole setup to a Genos on top of a VPC1. Ywo days ago, i was sure that the first path was the right one... but now i am doubting again..

I echo Paul's comments.

Bachus made a good point too "Personally i think all 3 have lots of goodness to offer ... but none are perfect..."


Donny, Italiano, yes we enjoy Panettone in the North. Egg Nog love it minus the alcohol.

Bachus

I can appreciate your quandary. Fortunately and unfortunately, possessing a broad knowledge of, and using, so many facets of keyboards and modules makes your decision pretty complex. One person may say that the Ketron styles are kick ass, and visualize the effect on a dancing event. Another may say the Ketron styles are great, but since I don't care about live styles as much as the number of choices in the Yamaha camp. We all know there are pluses and minuses, and, the trick is getting the most for our choice. Not easy.

Fran, you've been the inside Roland man. Any idea if they plan to do this with the EA7 and possibly rename it?? Or are you out of the loop these days?