To be honest Ian.., when you compare the feature list of say the Juno-G to the S-900 in terms of what it offers to the buyer.., I think that in itself is probably one of the best examples of "how can Yamaha justify that price".

Sure..., I know the S-900 is an arranger Ian.., but you gotta look at it a little differently though. Yes the S-900 has the harmonizer and color screen.., but really break down the core of these two BUDGET semi-pro models for a moment. The S-900 is a budget Tyros.., the Juno-G had replaced the Xa and became the budget Fantom.

-Both have 128 note poly

-The S-900 offers USB audio recording.., well the Juno-G blows that away by giving you a full 4 track audio recorder that BPM syncs with the midi tracks and is FULLY editable.., not just a one shot recorder, but a 4 track with physical sliders and many options that will even do a full mix down internally of audio and midi.., which by the way could be used to add VOCAL HARMONY to sequences as the audio will BPM sync to the midi.

-The S-900 has NO expansion options.., but the Juno G's sample memory AND patch set can be expanded. Not to mention that many NEW features that have been added with OS updates.

-The Juno G's actually built better than the-S900.

-The Juno's patch editing way surpasses the S-900.

The Juno-G is exactly what the S-900 is to the "budget buyer" in the arranger market.., but the Juno G is more PRO orientated.., sells for less (much less).., is built better, offers JUST AS MUCH bang for the buck if not more in terms of HARDWARE when comparing it to the S-900.

Yet the Juno-G can be had for less than $1,000 while the plastic PSR-S900 sells for $1,700!

It's pointless anymore to keep blaming all this on number of units sold. ARRANGERS ARE A HUGE MARKET. The US is such a small part of a HUGE number of arranger sales across the globe. Arrangers of all levels literally saturate the keyboard market globally.

What's really upsetting is that older arranger players so often (for a lack of a better word) discriminate against the YOUNGER GENERATION that DO want arrangers. Workstations aren't just being used for modern styles.., they're EVERYWHERE in EVERY style of music out there.

Yet so often the older generation discriminates against the youth showing their obvious discontent for anything modern on THEIR arrangers. The YOUTH want modern sounding arrangers.., but are forced to turn to the workstations because the older generation won't let them in.., and are VERY vocal about it. THAT'S JUST WRONG! Why is it no problem for workstations to be used in EVERY aspect of music.., but not ok for arrangers to give the youth what they want?

What's so upsetting is how the arranger makers know and continue to MILK that older generation and will continue to cater to you guys because they know you'll CONTINUE to pay these unjustified price differences.

It's time for a change..., it won't even take a major overhaul. Hell the GW-8 has multiple models that ALL have the sambe base in styles sections.., but have a special style section devoted to a region. How hard would it be to add ANOTHER category to modern arrangers.., and include one or two modern sounding drum kits? How hard would it be to write a few modern styles that don't reek of cheese?

It can be done.., but the older generation won't allow it to happen.., and the keyboard makers will keep catering to you guys because "apparently from their history of arranger sales and THEIR target market" your genertation is easier to milk. That's not me saying that.., the keyboard makers clearly have this position.

Workstations are designed to cover EVERYTHING out there. How often do you hear workstation buyes go up in arms because their $2,000+ synth is also capable of producing Polka.., Waltz, Jazz, and Big Band, ect. These current workstations produce the SAME quality of music in those styles as your arranger.., but the users aren't forcing genre specific buyers out.

There's no reason these arrangers can't cater to a younger generation AND the older crowd. I think the problem is that the makers know that if they do make them.., they'll have to build them better..., and price them accordingly.




[This message has been edited by squeak_D (edited 05-21-2009).]