Although this video is not geared towards the USA market, it shows the potential of the EA7, if you learn the instrument..

Use of the 6 pads, 7 assignable switches, samples, user tones, and performances.. The keyboard is unsurpassed in capabilities..

Watch the video and see the way the player uses the keyboard.

In the real world the EA7 is the best "bang for the buck".

An impressive looking and sounding instrument, Fran. Too late for geezers like me, though. Gotta save some shekels for the final journey... LOL!

A little speculation..if Roland were to follow this up with a single screen model with minimal other upgrades I.e. Yamaha 970-975, would you buy one? Would it kill the value of the dual screen model?

No way... The dual screen is awesome and very useful in live play..... I really enjoyed using it...
an improved version would be duel touch screens

The strongest point of the EA7 is its price point.
Around $1000 is worldwide the sweetpoint.

Competitors
- PA700
- PSR-S975
- MZX-500

If it wasn't for the flimsy keys, i know what to choose..
There is a reason the EA7 sells so well..
Most bang for the buck in the most popular price category
Don't ever tell me Roland isn't smart.


Thats also the reason why the FA06 is in that price cattegory
Competing with Krome and Modx for the title most popular workstation
Till MODX they where also champions in that cattegory


Seems Roland only makes instruments for prices that can sell huge numbers.

Well, I don't think they are terribly smart either.

They lost it seems to me quite a large number of potential clients by ignoring exactly these two aspects: keys quality and touchscreen/OS system (at least for me).

If you hate the keys, all experience is going down the drain. If you'd prefer touchscreen - which is SOOOO common these days - forget it.

I would be very interested in something like E-A9, having at least E60 type of 76 keyboard (if not BK9) and screen, new sounds, etc etc.

Realistically, I don't think people would have a problem paying lets say 200-300 euro more for such a keyboard, in comparison.

Sorry for a second post and a slight OT, but are there any expansion sounds or style or something, given the name "expandable arranger" for EA7? I mean proper Roland extensions?

Expansion is via sampling used to make user tones.

Touchscreen is much less common in this price range...

also seems much less common in much more expensive models too like genos plus no tilt display also...

Yes, and if they go along with what people think it should, there be more weight and it would cost more. The Ea7 is what it is, and I for one am tempted to buy one just the way it is. It would be a journey, something different.

Just my thoughts, John C.

Stand by John. Maybe I know where there is one.
Can't decide whether to let it go.

go for it John it's an exceptional instrument ...plenty of help online also...or on the Roland forums too.
http://www.roland-arranger.com/

when all else fails call Fran..

Just to continue beating a dead horse - touchscreen ARE common in this price range and even lower, as you well know. Korg Pa300, Pa600, MZX500, MZX300, etc etc etc

In an era when touchscreen are everywhere, to drop that from E50/60 for instance (which was less than EA7, costwise, at least in my part o the world), I don't get it. At least Yamaha never implemented it until recently, but I don't think they will move back once the next PSR/whatever name series will receive it eventually.

THanks Fran for explaining - I thought there must be some sounds/styles packs available, much like Yamaha's. Maybe there are. Too bad BK9 never received them.

I am sure EA7 is a little beast, I quite enjoyed it when I tried it. But I was turned by the keys. That must be the biggest disappointment for 99% others like me.

But I never lose hope. I still believe Roland will come back (for real, this time) with a great arranger like BK9, but modern and updated. We shall see.

I can see why the concept of E-A7 can be so appealing. I like that it is borh compact and professionally orientated - usually you can't have it both. Meanwhile, judging by demos I can't say that it sounds in any way better than PSR-S670. The latter costs in Russia more than two times cheaper. My impression is that since the time of PSR-3000 Yamaha has updated almost each sound and style, while Roland is still using the same stuff they had decades ago. I can be wrong. Still, in Russia PSR-S670 is a big hit, according to some sales reports, and I don't see E-A7 in these reports at all.

I like the light touch of the EA7. Those of us who are not, and have never been, piano players don't need or necessarily want heavy action. Particularly now that the wrists and fingers are aging and sore.
Roland did revamp many styles on the EA7, in particular the intros and endings. Intro one is now often useful for a fill/break, which is one feature that is nearly non-existent on all Roland arrangers up to this point.

Roland does some great things with the EA7 but why can't they put standard size keys on it? To me their marketing it to kids. And kids don't learn properly on mini keyboards, check YouTube for all the amazing kids playing real pianos. Keyboards forever have had stndard size keys so all of a sudden we get mini keys. I've played the BK5 and its terrible. And some firmer resistance will help your playing. Just sayin.

i guess one thing is for sure, and this confirms it: there is taste for every option out there.

Yes sir. That's right!

„The same stuff they had decades ago“ sounds a bit exaggerated to me, although I think you are right that the S670 has more updated sounds (doesn‘t it also benefit from this new Yamaha chip introduced with the Montage?). To my experience, many of the E-A7 tones are nearly identical to those of the BK-9 and BK-7m, and the BK-7m has been described as more or less a module version of the E-80. So I think, for the most part, the bulk of the sounds stem from around 2004-2008, the era of Fantom X, G70 and E-80. Bad enough, but still not decades ago.

There are some new sounds, such as pianos and organs.
Since most of the songs I play are decades old, the sounds are fine for me.

As are most of the people in our audiences ...

Don...you must be feeling better. That’s a good one!

JM

I'm hesitant about purchasing a Roland, only because of the lack of third party styles, sounds, software, etc. Perhaps I'm spoiled by Yamaha. However the E-A7 sounds good, thanks for the video find Fran.

DonM, yes, I know you’re a real professional and you’re gigging with E-A7, which gives me optimism about this keyboard.
I’ve started to suspect that after a certain stage of progress after you get all you need, the next stage is eliminating things which you don’t need, otherwice it’s some sort of slavery, when the only option available is to add something, but not to remove.

I’m not a singer myself, but I use arrangers to provide backing for my instrumental parts. And now it’s rare that I use something besides bass, drums and pads. Your vocal part carries a large amount of information, so, I guess, you try to keep some space for it in your arrangements. So it happens that when real tasks begin, the priorities change a lot, and it’s no longer a choice of a keyboard which contains the most of the sounds and features, but choice of a tool you can actually use without unnecessary troubles and financial risks.

Very true. The most convenient and "gig-friendly" arranger I've ever had is the Korg PA4X.
However I do really enjoy playing the EA7, and a lot of it is the key touch--very light.
I used the EA7 last night and it was very well received.
Playing four hours a night in the same place week after week, sometimes a change is welcome, if only for variety and a slightly different sound and presentation.
I like that I can slip the EA7 in the bag and easily carry it.