Though the Yamaha 9000pro obviously has the superior piano sound (sampled from Yamaha's highly touted C series acoustic grands) , I am very pleased overall with the PSR2000's acoustic 'Grand Piano' sound. It sounds pleasing with a natural sounding decay, well suited for playing a wide variety of musical styles (swing jazz to pop, country, & blues). For enhanced gutsyness or brightness, I can easily layer another piano sample with it. When gigging, I go thru one or 2 (pair) Electro Voice EV-SXA100 Self Powered PAs. One thing to note: When playing the PSR2000 thru an external sound source, I still keep the 2000's external speakers ON (to monitor the mix), because the sound (particularly the acoustic piano) projects better (sounding more focussed) from the keyboard player's position. My only big complaint, from a piano player's point of view, is the 2000's poor chord recognition in 'full' keyboard mode. Unfortunately, the 9000pro & PSR9000 suffer equally in this dept as well. If you come from a background as an acoustic piano player and playing in full keyboard mode is important, I'd suggest you checkout the Technics KN arrangers. The KN boards currently offer the BEST full keyboard mode chord recognition. I only can hope that Yamaha will emulate what Technics has already accomplished here.

Well, you ask, what is the problem with full keyboard mode on the Yamaha PSR boards? Here's my beef: When you trigger a a 'non root position' chord with your left hand and then solo (with your right hand) any notes 'within an octave' of the chord played in the left hand, the chord recognition will switch and the auto accompaniment bass line will jump to something I find unpleasing.

Example: In 'full keyboard' mode, play with your left hand, a G7 3rd inversion chord (F-G-B-D). Now with your right hand, play a G mixolydian scale (notes compatiable with a G7 chord), beginning with the note E (the note located directly a 'whole step' above the note D played with your left hand). The right hand notes to play in slow succession are: E, F, G, A, B, C, D.

You will notice that the chord recognition changes as follows:

Right hand note Played : Chord Recognition

E: G713
F: G7/F
G: G7/F
A: G79
B: G7
C: G7
D: G7

All are correctly recognized as a G chord, but I'd prefer the G7/F slash chords be reconized as a G7 instead. What I don't like is that when you go from A to G (melody or solo) with your right hand , the auto accomp bass line jumps unexpectantly (& unpleasantly) from a G bass line to some weird F based bass line which ends up sounding un-natural and musically unpleasing to my ear. From a musical (soloing) standpoint, Yamaha needs to drop the G7/F slash cord recognition thing. If Yamaha corrects this, 'full keyboard' mode would be usable for me. Unfortunately (to avoid this problem) I must play my 2000 in split mode. I can only hope that Yamaha will fix this minor flaw. I know it's something that can be EASILY corrected. - Scott