https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhoCqc3ZbdE

Still on the fence? Watch this!

Just watched and I know he's more of a Korg OS guy, but that being said...
His one dislike that has me concerned is the screen angle. (I'm awaiting delivery of a SX-900) I don't know why Yamaha didn't angle the screen, or better yet, a tilt screen would have been nice. Does anyone agree with his "washed out" view opinion? Is it that bad you can't naturally see the bottom of the display?

Also he may or may not be correct about a T-4, or a T-5 being better, but a USED T-5 is at least $1,000 more than a NEW SX-900, so just sayin'

You Tube is great for demo videos and opinions, but at the same time can drive ya crazy when trying to decide.

I was surprised by his comment on the screen. Yamaha should really make it a tilt screen as you say. Hopefully, it won't be an issue for you. I think his comment on the T4-T5 being better than an SX900 is based on the lack of after touch in the latter.

Larry, with the new displays, the glare issue no longer seems to be a problem. I had my friend's SX-900 here in my office directly beneath a shop light and no glare at all. The screen was bright, crisp and very clear.

Gary

Does this guy ever play a keyboard or just talk about them?

Good point.
I have seen a few of his videos and never seen him play. Often times he has never gotten his hands on the KB he is reviewing. .
I find him sometimes too opinionated and over the top.
He tries to get a lot of videos out to promote his chanel $$$$
Not my cup of tea ...
Eric

Not so much the glare Gary, but the viewing angle and bezel that may cut off info at bottom of display.
Donny...lol very little playing.

I am sitting at the keyboard at this time and have no problem seeing the bottom row of controls. The bezel is really not blocking me and I am not that far above the board.

I was also wondering - Jeremy commented about that bottom row - I see there are 6 "balloons" and 6 Assignable buttons... wonder if you can configure the "balloons" at the bottom of the screen to reflect the Assignables settings? That would eliminate any head scratching regarding what the Assignable buttons may be assigned to? If not a current capability, maybe a firmware upgrade?

That's why one should always go to a store and try the keyboard(s) BEFORE buying. It's the only way to know if a keyboard is right for you.

He actually plays the keyboard at 23 seconds, at 3:05, 9:25, 16:40 and finally, at 18:57.

Agree it's better to try before you buy. But for many of us, arranger keyboards are not available anywhere close. So we pick a Zone dealer who has a lot of patience for returns and exchanges, or sell outright here or other outlets

Well, what can you do? You pays your money, and you takes your chances.

Good to know, I wonder why Jeremy would say that? It's disconcerting when you have the SX-900 on order, and somebody posts a video with 11 dislikes.

Larry, as far as my needs go - his #11 no-nos were not a factor for me. I agree with some of his points, but overall, he's not a fan. So what? My Dad would say, "That's why they make chocolate and vanilla!"
My simple conclusions:
1) It's SOUNDS great
2) It's easy to use
3) It FEELS (not great, but) MUCH improved. Very playable
4) The sound system is tight, and powerful. I can imagine using this with no external speakers at the Winery.
5) The quick record feature is awesome, and easy

+1! I didn't find any of J's points to be a concern of mine. When sitting and playing upright, the bottom row is fully visible to me.

Larry, the other option would be to purchase a keyboard stand that has adjustable arms, or, the less expensive method that I used many years ago was to use a couple inexpensive, rubber, door stops and attach them to the arms with wire ties at the back end of the keyboard stand - worked great for years when I was playing the PSR-500, which had a horrible glare problem.

Hope this helps,

Gary

Wow you guys are the best, I feel so much better with my order. Thanks to Donny and Steve for the PM advise too.

Now I hope that Frank, a great ZONE dealer, forgives me for driving him crazy.

I like and respect Jeremy...but didn't hear any deal killer in his analysis.
Eddie

Remember, guys, this is just one man's opinion, based on his personal needs/wants. I've read many, many positive reviews. Hope to buy it soon.

Hi,
I can see perfectly, I am sitting down on a piano stool, leaning back, about 3 ft. From the screen and I can see the bottom part of screen PERFECTLY.

Maybe Mr See needs to do a bit more checking before making statements.
Wonder if he KNOWS about the screen calibration function under Utilities.
Maybe his screen is off centre or something.

Anyone who does Korg updates/upgrades I beleive would have to be aware of that function. Guess what , maybe a Yamaha screen might need to be calibrated too.

If one can’t remember what is assigned to buttons , anyone ever heard of sellotape and paper. One could easily type up a little strip with the assigned functions. And stick to it to the keyboard

The screen is basically cluttered enough without another row of icons. Guess what you, get a pop up telling one what the function is , and whether it’s on or off, when the button is pressed.

+1! Well said Rikki!

Hi ,
I lost a bit of respect for this guy after he did this clip comparing Korg with the sx900.

Note.

He has the korg in his studio, but he doesn’t actually have an sx. He’s relying on video clips.

How can anyone do a comparison if they don’t have both keyboards?

https://youtu.be/AfPlLw1DMOQ

Question?
Are the assignable buttons saved to registrations? My understanding, Yes.
Can assignments be changed for individual registrations or are they global?
Eddie

Rikki, Thanks for the comment on the screen. I am kind of short 5'4" and I am concerned about seeing the screen without having to lean way forward so to speak....
What is your experience? Are you average in height?
Thanks,
Lee

Thanks Rikki, and BTW, he has the SX-700. It's possible the display is different.

I thought the white text font was
much too small on the display on the sx900 for me..

Hi Lee,
put it this way, if I was standing. , I could see it even better. Probably about 5ft 5”
( old age I shrank an inch , haha)

I do wear reading glasses though.

If I’m sitting normally at my keyboard, I’d sort of only be about 18 inches away, the only reason I leaned back 3ft, was to see if I could still see the bottom icons.

Hi Eddie ,yes they can be.

I just tried, I assigned settings to a few of the buttons and saved different setting to different registrations. They changed as I pressed them.
My first 4 registrations which I hadn’t saved with Assignable buttons setting, the button functions remained the same.

There’s about 16 items you can save as part of registration, you tick what you want.

Actually on the bottom of the main screen, there’s the assignable icon, if one needs to just refresh their memory as to what is saved, via the buttons, the screen pops up and you can see it and do any changes.

I agree with Jeremy final conclusion. A nice clean T5 is a better board with excellent keybed...After-touch, good quality build.
I purchased a T5 76 with one year warranty for £1765 UK

Larry it makes a huge difference on how tall you are...I am 5'4", how tall are you....these engineers design with taller folks in mind (funny coming from Japan!)
Lee

The biggest issue to me is that there is no usb audio. I hope the next Korg Pa5x will have this. It’s ridiculous that this option isn’t available on the new generation Psr ‘s.

Being this is a very important feature for you Fran...
please share how you use it when playing...interested?

To integrate the keyboard with a iPad or computer. The cheaper psr e463 has this option so why not the Genos and the new psr s serie? This is a real deal breaker for me. If the Psr sx700 had this option I certainly would buy one now I am waiting for the new Korgs. Even the new Medeli akx10 has usb audio.

Thank You Rikki.

Hi Frans, I have my sx connected to my iPad via Bluetooth. Somehow I don’t think that’s what you’re referring to, though.

No Rikki that’s not what I mean. With usb audio and midi you can play and hear the iPad synths like Sunrizer through the speakers of your keyboard without using the audio out on your iPad and audio in of your keyboard meaning no quality loss of the sound. That way you can integrate the iPad with your keyboard. On the modx you can even use the effects of the Yamaha with the synth you use on the iPad.

Graham - you got a good deal there!

Whilst i think Jeremy highlights some valid pluses and minuses it all depends on what is important to you. I've got a T3 and that is on the limit of what I consider to be portable. Would love a T5-76 but not portable so no chance. Genos is still a bit big. So SX900 looks tempting. I need to get to my local music store (Hamiltons) and have a serious play. I need the video out and sub out otherwise the 700 would probably do.

Don’t have any software synths on my iPad, only software I’ve is chord tracker, and a couple for my piano.

Kind of freaked me out yesterday, I thought I’d lost sound on my iPad,I was trying to play a utube clip out in the kitchen no sound. Heard noise coming from my bedroom/ studio, I’d left the sx on and the clip was playing thru the sx speakers.

No midi involved though.

Hi Graham,
I tend to think you were fortunate with your Tyros.
Don’t think I ever saw any second hand keyboards sale except for my 3. Let alone a Tyros.
The places I frequented didn’t trade in.

Rikki You really should try some soft synths on your iPad. Many of them sound great and you can mix them with the sound of your keyboard. Just try fm player 2 which is free and sound very good. Another free one that is very good is synth one. Both are from audiokit.

Thank you Frans,
Might look into them. Never really used my iPad for any of my music stuff.

I have sample Tank on pc, which I use with BIAB.
I also have Garritons, and some pianos. And banks and banks of soundfonts.
Most of its just stored on hard drive.
I went thru that “soft synth / Arranger software “ phase about 15 years ago, eventually woke up and realised it was easier to just go out and buy the psr itself. It was fun , while it lasted. Haha.

Haven’t even checked midi functions out yet on sx. Going to see if I can find a way to use midi to connect p121 to sx. If it works, great, if not, so be it, I knew p121 didn’t have midi sockets when I bought it. So, bit of a challenge. Haha

I’ve been avoiding the techie stuff, so that I might actually get some playing done.

Rikki,
Yes I think the p121 will MIDI fine to the SX....to use as a keybed...but of course not to fully control the SX900.
Lee

Yes that’s the dilemma I have, I don’t like stacking keyboards, , so controls would be a problem. Probably easier for organ players who are used to 2 sets of keys. The chord. Looper might come in handy.

It will not. P121 only has usb out ( type B socket) ( can only hook up to IPad or computer). Not external gear with USB or Midi unless you put a computer in between. $30 midi to usb converter will not work.

As we are aware, this will not work ( type A socket). Will not work even with type A to B adaptor because you need power.
https://www.amazon.com/TNP-Midi-Cable-In...w_1574228885856


that’s for KB Midi to computer USB and computer USB to KB midi.



To connect KB that only has USB out ( type B socket) to midi gear , you need the following.

You need USB ( host) to Midi DIn Connecter box which needs own power supply which defeats the portability purpose.



https://www.amazon.com/Kenton-Electronic...7880&sr=8-1

There are cheaper ones around $75, again , another box with adaptor.

Too bad, all sub $900 arrangers ( PSR 670, PA300. EK50) and sub $800 digital pianos no longer include MIDI connectors ( YAMAHA P125,P121, P45, Roland FP10,30). The only exception is Korg D1 and SP170 ( both sub $800 digital pianos ) and arranger wise, Roland BK 3 ( good job ! Roland to put both MIDI DIN and USB for sub $800 keyboard) and Korg microarranger ( $ 499 and now discontinued). The last sub $800 Yamaha portable digital pianos with MIDI outs were P35/95.


Manufacturers intentionally omit MIDI DIN in/ outs to make sure that you spend extra for MOTL and TOTL. ( Yamaha P515 and Roland FP 90 , both above $1000 have both USB and MIDI DiN connectors). Arranger wise, same is true for Korg PA 700 and Yamaha PSR S7xx or PSR SX 700 series.

I prefer simple single midi cable to connect to external gear without another box , adaptor and cables.

Thank you Jamman,
I ended up connecting them both to my laptop, via USB cables, it actually worked , but not ideal. Don’t really want to use laptop as some sort of interface if I don’t have to.

I’ll check into what you suggested, sounds like a better solution. Thank you.

You are welcome.

WOW, I can't imagine it does not have standard MIDI connectors!
Sorry I didn't actually look up the specs on it...
Lee

It’s been 6 years ( since release of P 105 around 2013) , Yamaha stopped putting MIDI DIN connectors for sub $800 digital pianos.

You can use a pc as a midi hub. You do need some form of routing program to get the data going the right way. The pc may only do usb but there are usb to midi adapters out there.

I think you could do this using a Raspberry PI and "Jack" software.

There are also some stand alone interface boxes such as https://www.thomann.de/gb/miditech_usb_midi_host.htm

Thank you John,
Great to have another alternative.
I think maybe just a little box might be easiest way for me to go.

I use the Kenton as a midi host. It works flawlessly.

Bernie

Thank you Bernie,
Good to know.