They are virtually the same instrument at the heart of the matter but the PA800 has a better sampling capacity double that of the Elite and also double the polyphony so it can handle deeper richer (layered) sounds both in ordinary keyboard use and in the sounds used for the programmed styled backing. That said , many of the styles are exactly the same as the styles used in the PA1X and if you listen to the demos, some of them are exactly the same as the PA1X . The PA800 is supposed to have a newer sound engine but from the demos, you have got to have super hi fidelity hearing to notice any difference whatsoever! Neither the PA1X or the newer Pa800 have an answer to yamaha's super articulated voices but their RX technology (Real Experience )is really nice and equal if not better (in my opinion) to yamaha's mega voices. However as an all in one production package the Elite has got it all including MP3, cd player and hardrive which is just all the add ons of the ordinary PA1X that you would have had to buy separately. The Pa800 can also have a cd player as an optional extra but no MP3. Its vocal harmonbiser is slightly down graded from the PA1X and its speaker system is not as powerful as the PA1X hence the reduction in weight.In my view it is not so much a step above the PA1X elite and more like a sideways step.

Just as a thought why not pick up a second pa1x and buy the add ons that you really need when you want .

Either way you will have an outstanding machine with Korgs track record of future operating system upgrades to protect the value of your investment going forward.

I dont think that you can lose either way.