Casio back in the Pro Synth Market

I had stopped by Sonic State.com to check out the latest from NAMM, and I see Casio has introduced two new pro synthesizers in over 20+ years.

I saw the XW-P1 demoed at Winter NAMM just the other day. Very impressive for the street price of $499. It includes a virtual analog solo synth plus a large bank of PCM waves. And you can also run an audio signal through the synth engine. I think Casio have kicked a goal. It is in a market niche of its own.

$499.00 is not a bad price for a pro synth. Mainly because most pro synths are in the $1,000.00 range. I know there are some other pro synths that are under $1,000.00 that were introduced. Like Moog's Minitaur or Arturia's Brute.

For $499 I really think the XW-P1 is a fun unit. Hey it is cheaper than the CZ-101 was when it came out in the 80s.

i don't understand the logic of having 2 different models that are so similar, they should just be one.
why didn't they just combine the features of both new keyboards and come up with one super synth?
maybe trying to keep cost down?
from what I gather, the differences are hex sounds and drawbars, 100 more pcm sounds vs 100 less pcm sounds and sampler (no hex and no drawbar)

I guess if they were combined the price would be much higher. Although they look similar the hardware is different. The XW-G1 is priced much higher than the XW-P1, it is $799 and it includes Flash Memory for storing samples. There is no way that a keyboard that had all features would be much under $1000 and that would change the market they are trying to target the $499 XW-P1 at.

I guess if they were combined the price would be much higher. Although they look similar the hardware is different. The XW-G1 is priced much higher than the XW-P1, it is $799


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Where did you get the idea that the XW-G1's street price is $799?
The XW-P1's list price is $699,with a street price of $499...so the XW-G1's list price of $799 is going to translate to $599.
Besdies which,the street price of $599 for the XW-G1 has been confirmed by Mike Martin,who works for Casio.

I initially,wasn't too thrilled with having to make a choice between flash memory and sampling,versus a full blown synth...but I much prefer a keyboard being primarily about sounds,more than anything else...so the choice was made easy by those differences and ultimately,having the best performance synth on the market for $499 that out-performs virtually everything under a $1,000 is beyond a dream come true!

I could see how people could be frustrated by paying $100 more for a synth that is a trade off feature-wise,but flash memory is very expensive...hence the price increase.

These two videos by far,are the most comprehensive,revealing & entertaining videos I've found!

So has anyone tried the new Casio XW-P1?

From the Casio demonstrator at NAMM 2012. If the street price ends up being lower so be it. But I had posted that just after talking to the Casio rep at NAMM. Surely you didn't think I just made it up.

I noticed that these keyboards have hit the catalogs in the last couple of weeks. Has anyone seen one in the flesh, and can you give some feedback?