Mike, thanks for you're very balanced judgement on this subject. It's obvious that it is not just some over-simplified statement.

Funny, because the reason that I, as a current Technics KN6500 player, am leaning towards Roland again just because I miss the clarity and the crisp sounds my previous Roland had. I find the Technics somewhat "muffled", especially when I just had the board at home. My ears are much more used to it now.

Of course I checked out the PA1X Pro, but found the voices (especially the GrandPiano) a bit thin or shrill (I am not English, so please forgive me if I don't use the proper terms). But it could very well have been the headphones I heared this board on in the music store.

You are absolutely right that you have to listen to the result of the total mix. Sometimes a single instrument sound is better in the mix than heared on it's own.

In one thing the Technics shines though, and that is the brass sounds. Those are better than what I heared on any Roland. This is what I want to try on the G-70 when it is in the stores. I expect that Roland has made an improvement in this section. They must have if you hear the sound samples of the Fantom X for instance. But then again, first listen then believe .

Oh, and I think they deliberately put the start/stop, style variation, break and into/ending buttons on the left side so you can operate them more easily with your left hand. With arranger keyboard players that is, somewhat regrettably, the more "passive" hand...