You must jump to psr 1500/3000 arena!
I was in the same dilema, and ended buying a used yamaha s30 w/ a xv-2020, then add a 2 srx expansion cards, and then a motif rack es however if was missing my dgx-305/505 key action and the cool and easy features of the DGX keyboards. After spending a lot of money trying to get something to upgrade my DGX keyboard(bought a yamaha s80,m-audio prokeys 88sx and then a prokeys 88, then a kurzweil sp76)nothing worked completely for me.
I couldn't resist anymore and bought a used psr-3000 for $900.In my opinion that's natural upgrade for a dgx 305/505 series. I'm really confortable now, however on some complicated songs,I miss the extra octaves from my dgx305 and dgx505.

If you need 76 keys I'm afraid you only choices would be Yamaha psr9000 Pro(if you can find it) Korg PA1XPRO, ketron SD1 plus or Roland G70. Besides those 4 models are so hard to find used;therefore you can think about why is that?



[This message has been edited by superpowter77 (edited 10-16-2006).]

Besides the only other keyboard I found with the key feeling of my dgx-305 was a motif es 7. I'm actually going to buy one of these for the studio when new motif models come out.

Spending $1100 on a new dgx-625 series, not worth it, try to get an used psr9000pro(with luck you can find it for around $1400) or just stick with your dgx-305, just my 2 cents.


[This message has been edited by superpowter77 (edited 10-16-2006).]

I found the roland VR-76's replacement: Roland EXR7S(yes it has 76 keys) for just $995:
http://www.floridamusicco.com/proddetail~prod~roland_exr7s.htm

You won't find anything cheaper(76 keys arranger) for under $1000(brand new), maybe it's worth it!

from roland website, there's a demo video as well:
http://www.rolandus.com/products/productdetails.aspx?ObjectId=693&ParentId=18

The EXR-7s extends the reputation and performance features found in Roland’s popular EXR-series keyboards with its 76-note professional keyboard, high-quality Super Tones, Flash memory for adding new Songs and Styles, and more. The EXR-7s also contains two of Roland finest grand piano sounds!

* 64-voice polyphony
* 76-note touch-sensitive keyboard
* 510 high-quality instrument sounds, 20 drum kits
* Authentic stereo-sampled piano
* 4MB of built-in Flash memory
* USB port for MIDI communication and data exchange
* 164 Styles, covering many musical genres
* 100 User Programs and 126 Music Assistants
* Unique Cover function for Styles and Songs
* Powerful built-in speaker system with Bass Reflex feature


[This message has been edited by superpowter77 (edited 10-16-2006).]

I've taken 2 spins on the EXR-7 in different stores. Both
times I found it the kind of kb that's similar to amateur
beginner kb's..just not pro quality. You'll pay more,
but looks like the new E60 coming end of January will
be far superior. I'd advise waiting to try that one before
jumping into the EXR-7.

For your info there is no such thing as VR760.There is a COSM tonewheel modeller(also accept SRX boards).Has GREAT keys.More hands on control to play with a live band.

Or if you are talking about VA76(Roland's flagship before G70 and ofcourse new 61 key E80),has variphrase,and best of all, has GREAT waterfall keys.One of the best keys made in any arrangers.

EXR7s is nowhere near those above two boards.though EXR's keys are OK,they can't be compared with VA76.EXR series are low-mid level arrangers with somewhat less functions(but more and better keys than YAM and KORG of that price range).


arranger function wise(for $999 KBs)

EXR7s lacks style maker,has only 2 varitions.(but has seq)

PSR1500 has everything plus SM card input and USB to "DEVICE".(no true seq and simple sound edit)

KORG PA50 sound wise and synth editing power(most will agree-except for AC piano where EXr has the edge)kicks both EXr and psr 1500 out of the water,but again OS and arranger mode not well thought as YAM.

To the original poster - if you do not want to spend $1000-1500,stick with DGX for now and save money for the bigger one.



[This message has been edited by jamman (edited 10-18-2006).]

Thanks for your input guys. I guess I'll stick with the DGX until it breaks Personally I think it's a great bang for the buck, the only thing I miss is having the ability to switch off parts of the autocomp, and that it takes so much time to find the correct style for a song. I find that I usually only play 10 songs using the styles of the dgx, and for the other 50+ songs I use split keyboard, and my trusty old Boss DR-3 drum machine. It would be great if I could just rely on the DGX. One of you guys mentioned something about registrations? I've only got two buttons, '1' and '2' which are for OneTouch Settings. But you guys mentioned 16, how do I access these? Also the yamaha site mentions that the DGX-305 has a music database, with 200 songs, but I can't find that, anyone know of how?

Doc-Z

Doc,

The DGX-305 does not have a song database. This feature is available on DGX-300 and the new DGX-520 and 620

Please refer to page 68 of the DGX-305 user's manual. There is the explanation how to use registrations.

I agree an upgrade to DGX-620 does not worth. Personally, I've been waiting for the PSR-3000 replacement.

Regards,
George

Thanks George, that clarifies things. I wonder why Yamaha lists that "Music Database with over 200 songs" is a feature on the DGX-305 and DGX-505. They should change that!

I'll check out those pages in my manual.

Cheers!

Doc-Z