I don't think I'd ditch my Jupiter 8 for any analog packs, including the VST's available out there.

Still, the Tyros4 shines in areas that my Jupiter 8 (and MOX6) can't touch, especially those big hybrid type digital sounds that also have a lot of analog character in them.

I didn't fancy the CS-80, and the only analogs I really liked were the high end Moog, Oberheim and Roland.

Many of the patches on the Tyros4 are very reminiscent of a high end analog midi'd to a high quality digital...they sound BIG and impressive and have lots of movement and character...I can't get that on a strictly analog synth, although the Oberheim Matrix 12 could get pretty close.

Certainly the appeal and quality of synth sounds and patches are a subjective matter, as I've heard people rave about sounds that did not appeal to me in the slightest, and, then again, some really big hit songs were produced using extremely low-end synths and very thin sounding patches, so I guess it all boils down to personal preferences and, in many cases, stumbling on a sound that seems to do the trick.

One thing for sure, the Tyros4 has come the closest to the "ideal" one instrument only than any other keyboard I have owned in the past.

Ian

PS...being able to stack up to three of the Tyros4's already powerful voices really gives the player quite a varied palette...then with judicious use of panning and the excellent on board effects, you can end up with some very interesting patches indeed.