Yep now is a good time to experiment with something new. I hear ya with wanting to lighten the load. I never played out much, but when I did I dreaded the lugging and setup process. I'm too old for that stuff now so if ever I need to, I have my grandkids on standby to help out.😁

I heard the EA7 is a featherweight, and a decent arranger. That might be the way to go for playing out.

The BK9 is amazingly light for a 76, and they didn't sacrifice the keybed action, either! I guess not having a touch screen, speakers, or an old boat-anchor floppy disk drive pays dividends in terms of weight!
The BK9 also has a sequencer (which the E-A7 does not.) They are a little hard to find and still holding their price because of it. But unless you need the multipads I give it the edge over the E-A7.

Fran has given me the skinny between the two. I think the EA would fit better, as 61 would be OK, even on piano pieces. Pads are favs of mine, user settings and speakers..hmmm. New product, 2 or 3 yr warranty is good. I've read 1/2 the manual tonight and it seems very logical and fun. The real obstacle is getting household approval.

I know I used to be quite skeptical about Roland altogether; but once I tried Juno DS at store I bought it a couple of weeks later, mostly for decent piano, which is quite different from PSR-S950, and a variety of good electric pianos. I must say it took me months to really get used to a keyboard. At first I was unable to play the same piano tunes on Juno DS correctly, which I used to play on PSR-S950. What I’m saying is that any instrument should not be judged by demos or by having it for two weeks. Nevertheless, I bought Juno DS only after trying it for 3-4 times at store; it’s like you fall in love first and then you build relationship, but I don’t believe much in building relationship first and falling in love after.

To me Juno DS doesn’t offer anything good when it comes to guitars, saxophones, or woodwinds instruments. I don’t think E-A7 is any better at this aspect. But E-A7 has styles, perhaps, with their help everything sounds better.

But given that you own PA3X, which is one of the most advanced arrangers out there, and you already tried PA4X, it’s hard to predict whether E-A7 would be a spark of inspiration or an instant disappointment.

Kab, not sure either It all sounds good, smaller footprint, speakers, new styles and vast library on hand - BUT - the raw power of the 3X is hard to beat. I've been down this road before and always go back to the 3X. I'd bet more that it would be an instant disappointment. But this is why idle time would allow me to check it out for 45 days or so before having the chance to dump it.

After careful consideration, not interested in the EA any longer Stay safe everyone!

This quarantining has all but killed any business I was booking. Going to FL in Feb and March doesn’t help either when most places start booking 3 to 6 months out.

While home I’m posting a song a day on YouTube. I’ve sold all my excess keyboards except for a KMA Liverpool. The s975 is my instrument of choice. My Bose Compact is collecting dust while I use an EV XLS 12p in my studio. I would suggest either of those for amplification, both have two input channels.

I haven’t had any success with controller keyboards bcuz I like the onboard hardware vs software. Good luck.

Lately I’ve been enjoying playing just a guitar and Juno DS; I’m not really enjoying playing an arranger as I used to…

Zuki, may I ask you if you tried to sing with no styles playing; just playing piano/epiano or a guitar sound with both hands? We know that even in fancy places a lot of solo musicians work this way.

I have considered it and I really want to move that way, in addition to style playing. I just have to get my motivation flowing again......maybe I'll post an original with piano and voice only.

Welcome to Michigan.....all locked down. The East Lansing bar that opened is up to 95 Covid cases. The Gov is rewriting Nursing Home rules....not sure if they'll ever open. Have fun in Florida