Interesting replies to my post. I truly think the Technics keyboards have spoiled most of us for the fine features they have put in them over the years. When the KN6000 came out and then the KN7000, my thoughts were, where do manufacturers go from here - nearly every possibility is at your fingertips, i.e., if you have talent and really use the features put in them.

The COMPOSER is a must for me - I don't use pre-sets. I have never liked them. They are either done in 2 measures or 4 and for that reason, aren't very creative. Over the years, I have used THREE PRE-SETS and have done more work cleaning them up by changing the bass pattern, tweaking the drums, polishing up the other tracks and stretching them out to 8 measures than doing a pattern from scratch. I will say this on their behalf, they can at times inspire a better or new idea in doing a pattern. I think they are fine for those who do not know how to arrange in a professional sounding way. For those who do little original work in COMPOSER, the Tyros 2 will probably be an excellent investment. Hopefully, they have made better styles. If I remember reading correctly, the intros, fill-ins and endings have been increased by one, which should help.

Scott, I'll take a slightly heavier keyboard with built-in speakers any day over a lighter keyboard that you have to tolerate outboard speakers and a woofer that gets kicked by your feet because it is in the way. Different strokes for different folks. Doing gigs, I like to hear what I am doing up close (speakers in keyboard as monitors) as well as what is heard over p.a. speakers. By the way, I use a pair of Mackie HR824 speakers - none finer. They are expensive as hell but worth every penny.

Until the release of the Tyros 2, I will wait patiently for the hundred posts that will either be ecstatic with their purchase or somewhat disappointed.

Bebop - Good luck with your thinking. If you could, I'll bet you would like to update the Rembrandts in the museums with a few changes. (Laughter in the background)