Most interesting video and you won't be surprised to learn that having played Korg for the last 20 years I do think the PA arrangers are pretty superior to the PSR and probably even the new SX series.

I have been truly astounded to see how many of you overhere are considering to order or have already ordered the new Yamaha XS900. Nothing that I have heard so far in the myriad of demos of the new Yamaha has convinced me that is it far superior to the PA700/PA1000, let alone the PA4X. The video posted by Mike is a bit long but speaks for itself.

Nothing much has changed over the years and the Yamahas still have the edge out of the box ( big edge in fact !!) and they still sound more polished, cd-like or whatever you want to call it. I know a fair amount of home players who are quite content with the factory contents of their yamaha PSR, tyros or even Genos.

And it has to be said, again, that out of the box most Korg arrangers sound like crap to me. Many of you, Donny leading the bunch, will agree with me that you DO need to personalize and tweak your arranger keyboard to your heart's content. And even then in the end there will be certain sounds and/or styles in which one brand excels.
The remark that Korg sou
nds more like a band and Yamaha more like a finished product, CD, or whatever has been raised over and over again and still holds swing. Incidentally, it strikes me that many of the live performers overhere tend to mute their ACC. tracks in favour of just Drums, BAss and a good right hand sound, in which case KETRON outshines them all and there would be hardly any need to having either Korg or Yamaha.

As to value for money I must agree with the guy in the video that the PA700 outruns them all. Personally I opted for the PA1000 in 2018 and have never regretted it. I have meanwhile personalised it beyond recognition ( still on offer my JS Resources for those interested) have added the German Musikant Stick and recently the V3 Sonority sound module (Austria).
It has left me with amost impressive and versatile set up without even bothering to have a second arranger on top, which I used to have.

I am sure that the new Yamaha is an impresssive keyboard and will shine in its wellknown departments ( ac. guitars, piano,
songstyles, etc), but apart from its touchscreen ( finally) and some other minor improvements I still have to hear things that would make me think it being far superior to its predesessors the PSR 970/975 etc.

Nonetheless I do wish all of you who are in the process of purchasing one or who already have one like Danny and Rikki all the best with their new arranger.

regards
John