I have been quiet on SZ having been to a few exhibitions with Ketron and KeyB and I thought you might like to know our experience here in the UK. 2012 has been very different to previous years and there was a huge buzz around the Ketron Stand and our concerts have filled the rooms and out into the hallways. Over and over again we had comments on the fresh and lifelike sound. At the end of 2011 we thought the Audya was petering out a little, but actually what I believe is happening is an "ear evolution". We are recognizing that the other manufacturers sounds are dated, wheras the Audya remains as new sounding as it did when first released.

In the 1980s, the DX7, Korg M1, Technics U series and Yamaha C and D series sounded amazing, but now they sound dated and only have a passing interest as retro instruments or vintage keys. In the 1990s the AR100, Atelier and Hammond XT/XH was at the cutting edge of sound reproduction for the Organ world, and yet now we wouldn't give them the time of day (except maybe the Hammond for its drawbars). After that, the KN 7000, Tyros One and Two, Ketron SD1 and PA1/2X were considered to have the most realistic sounds and yet only The Ketron is still widely used by performers across Europe, the others are bargain basement keyboards for those on a budget or beginners....our ears have evolved.

So has Audya had its day? Unless the other manufacturers use real audio for styles (and I don't mean 'pretend' to as one other manufacturer is) with at least 4 or 8 bar patterns for each arranger part (as the Audya has) then the question is..have the others had their day?

Like Nitelife, i still find the Audya as exciting as it was on the day after delivery to our premises two and a half years ago.