first of all I think the best thing Roland ever created is the XV-5080.it's got very very good sounds. offers 128 polyphonic and 32 parts + a smart media card takes more storage. not a floppy drive.it also loads samples!.the fantom is just an improved XP-80.doesn't offer any thing really new except for the arp. thing.it's basically an mc-80 + XV-5050 + an arp. that should compete with the Karma.

talking about the Touchscreen thing.if you guys noticed that one of the main reasons why a professional would not buy the VA-7 it's because of it's touch screen it just makes you slow when your selecting sounds.why I said they should put it in the fantom?. well the way it's designed is very not good.not many buttons and too many menus.with a touch screen you can access those menus. besides.please let me know if you seen the fantom on a gig.I really think that if any body gets it will just make it a home use!

after all, I agree with Stigf ...
//All that said, I think what synth is "best", depends on what the user likes, and what the user wants to do with the synth.//

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vic:)