PSR-E360

[SeaGtGruff]

It looks like there might not be a PSR-E373 and PSR-E273, at least not at the Winter NAMM this year.

Instead, Yamaha has introduced the PSR-E360, which appears to be a cross between the PSR-E363 and the PSR-E263.

Similarities to the PSR-E363 include the following:
- The PSR-E360 has a velocity-sensitive keyboard.

Similarities to the PSR-E263 include the following:
- The PSR-E360 has no USB or MIDI ports, so it cannot connect to a computer for file transfers and MIDI communication.
- The PSR-E360 can record up to approximately 300 notes on one track, one song.
- The PSR-E360 has a maximum polyphony of 32 notes.
- The PSR-E360 has 384 melodic voices and 16 kit voices.
- The PSR-E360 has a slim body with rounded corners.

As can be seen, the new PSR-E360 appears to be essentially a PSR-E263, but with a velocity-sensitive keyboard.

It comes in a choice of two different colors-- Dark Walnut or Maple.

EDIT -- I forgot to include a link:

https://usa.yamaha.com/products/musical_instruments/keyboards/portable_keyboards/psr-e360/index.html

[SeaGtGruff]

Well, this news release says the PSR-E360 has USB TO HOST connectivity, but that wasn't listed on the spec sheet:

https://usa.yamaha.com/news_events/2019/yamaha_PSR-E360_is_the_beginners_portable_keyboard_thats_at_home_in_any_home.html

EDIT -- There's also no USB TO HOST port visible anywhere in the photos of the PSR-E360's rear panel.

[Fantomas]

It's the only new Yamaha keyboard announced at the NAAM 2019.
It's very disappointing.

[SeaGtGruff]

It's the only new Yamaha keyboard announced at the NAAM 2019.
It's very disappointing.

There are a number of other new Yamaha keyboards, but not in the portable/arranger categories-- except for the PSR-E360 and the SHS-500, all of the other new Yamaha keyboards are in the synth and digital piano categories. Of course, the MODX models were announced a couple of months ago, but this is "their first NAMM." And I'm not clear on whether the new CP models are classified as synths or digital pianos. But a number of other new Yamaha digital pianos were just unveiled.

I assume that by "It's very disappointing" you were referring to the fact that there were no new arrangers announced, rather than to the PSR-E360 per se. But the PSR-E360 is definitely disappointing if you were hoping for a new PSR-E373/PSR-EW310. My initial reaction (and still my current reaction) when I saw that Yamaha had decided to omit both USB and MIDI ports from the latest PSR-E2xx models was "What are they thinking?!?" But it's clear that the PSR-E2xx models are intended for younger keyboardists who presumably don't need to connect to a computer, tablet, or smart phone for MIDI communications-- and for that particular target audience, it's great that Yamaha has essentially taken the PSR-E263 and given it velocity sensitivity. And call me silly, but I kind of like the Maple version of the PSR-E360.

[Toril S]

I loved that brown color! Apart from that, too many limits! But if the price is low, I guess it is a fine entry level keyboard.

[SeaGtGruff]

It's fine for a young child who doesn't need to use MIDI, but not something I'd want to buy for myself. It's too bad that Yamaha started omitting any MIDI or computer connectivity with the last few models in the PSR-E2xx series. On the other hand, I guess that the ability to accept an audio signal, filter the vocals out of a song, and play along is probably more desirable to the people who would be interested in buying the PSR-E360.

[Fantomas]

I was also thinking about a PSR-S670 renewal.

[SeaGtGruff]

Yeah, this sort of makes you wonder what Yamaha's plans are for the future of the PSR-E and PSR-S lines, or at least for some of the models in those lines.

[SciNote]

I just saw this on Yamaha's website.  I will likely soon be in the market for a new keyboard (which I'll elaborate on in another thread), so I checked out Yamaha's site and saw this.  Kind of interesting.  Maybe they're now dropping the "3" at the end of the model numbers now (as this is a PSR-E360, not E363).  But the MSRP on this keyboard is $329 US on the website.  Yes, the street price will be lower, but that still seems kind of steep for a keyboard with these limitations.  I mean, come on -- a song memory of only about 300 notes?  Unless you're only playing a single note melody, or a really simple song, you'll hardly get more than 20 measures with that amount of memory.

[vbdx66]

Well, apart from the new Colors if the E360, I guess that at the street price of the E360, the E363 is a real bargain.

No USB connection, come on, every kid out there wants to connect its keyboard to its Mum/Dad's iPad. Yamaha, what have you been thinking...?

Vinciane

[Toril S]

Agreed. Kids nowadays are data oriented.

[vbdx66]

Hi Toril,

Well not just data really. There are many great apps which really enhance the playing experience for kids (and for adults also). And Yamaha, particularly, designed a bunch of fun apps.

Also, on the E363, thanks to the USB connection, you can upload 10 external styles and MIDI files to learn new songs. I can't imagine a learner's keyboard without some kind of USB or MIDI connection.

Regards,

Vinciane

[SeaGtGruff]

I don't know whether having a "0" as the third digit of the model number rather than a "3" is going to be the new numbering scheme, but the "3" on the end was always a bit odd, wasn't it?

Almost all of the PSR-E models have had alter egos in the form of the YPT models-- which I believe are export models, although I don't understand why there are export versions at all-- and the YPT model numbers have always had a "0" as their third digit, with the sole exception of the YPT-255.

Plus, the 76-key PSR-EW model numbers have a "0" as their third digit.

What's odd is that since the PSR-E363, YPT-360, and PSR-EW300 were released two years ago, we were expecting the PSR-E373 this year-- but instead we get the PSR-E360, as opposed to (say) the PSR-E370.

Based on the second digit of the model number ("6" instead of "7") and the fact that the PSR-E360's specs appear to be identical to the PSR-E263's specs (with the exception of slight differences in height and depth), it looks as though the PSR-E360 might be nothing more than the PSR-E263 with a different casing, and of course with a touch- or velocity-sensitive keyboard-- which is a major improvement over the PSR-E263. Another difference is that the PA-130 AC adapter is being included with the PSR-E360, rather than having to be purchased separately, and that will also be a welcome change.

As for the MSRP of the PSR-E360, it does appear to be unusually high, especially when you compare it to the MSRPs of the PSR-E263 and PSR-E363. The stores in the USA typically sell the PSR-E models for roughly 60% of their MSRPs, which means we might see them charging about $199.99 for the PSR-E360:

PSR-E263 retails for $119.99, MSRP is $199.00, retail price is 60.2965% of MSRP
PSR-E363 retails for $179.99, MSRP is $299.00, retail price is 60.1973% of MSRP
PSR-E463 retails for $279.99, MSRP is $479.00, retail price is 58.4530% of MSRP

PSR-E360 might retail for $199.99, MSRP is $329.00, that retail price would be 60.7872% of MSRP

Yamaha refers to the PSR-EW300 as the replacement for the DGX-230/YPG-235, despite the fact that the PSR-EW300 doesn't have box-shaped keys. So it seems unlikely that the PSR-EW3xx line will be discontinued anytime soon. And Yamaha never updated the DGX-230/YPG-235 and DGX-530/YPG-535 models, despite the fact that the DGX-630/YPG-635 was updated to the DGX-640, DGX-650, and DGX-660. So does that mean the PSR-EW300 is going to remain as-is for several years, rather than being updated every two years?

And what about the PSR-E363/YPT-360? Will it stay in production or be taken off the market? If it stays on the market, will its retail price go up? The PSR-E360 is considerably less keyboard than the PSR-E363, so will people spend $20 more to get the PSR-S360 or opt for the PSR-E363 instead? The PSR-E360's higher price can be partially justified by the inclusion of the AC adapter, but not when you consider that the keyboard itself is seemingly just a velocity-sensitive PSR-E263. Is that just plastic made to look like wood, or is it real wood?

[DerekA]

And call me silly, but I kind of like the Maple version of the PSR-E360.

[vbdx66]

Hi Michael,

Yes, I got approximately the same thought - it would be silly to sell the E360 to a higher price than the E363, which is a far better and more versatile keyboard. I hope that eventually the E360 will replace the E263, this would make sense.

As for the case, I bet it is made entirely of plastic. Even the pricier DGX6x0 all have a plastic casing, albeit a very nice one (my DGX650 has a very nice pearly white casing which seems to stay like new even after a few years),

The fact that the E373 and S675 don't seem to be launched now is a great disappointment. Since the E463 last year, Yamaha hasn't issued a nice keyboard in the upper end of the lower range of keyboard (not quite sure whether the last sentence makes sense in English  ) and it is time they did, with Casio CT-X line if keyboards and the new Korg EK50 making serious contenders.

Regards,

Vinciane

[SciNote]

Well, I wouldn't expect a PSR-E463 replacement until 2020, based on the pattern of previously released models.  But now, who knows?  Maybe they'll push the numbers up by a hundred, as in the E360 essentially being essentially a beefed up E263.  Maybe there will be an E460 that succeeds the E363, and an E560 that succeeds the E463.  Well, I guess that would actually be an increase of 97!

And yeah, if I'm gonna get a new board, checking out the Casios may be tempting, but they have some important limitations, including a confounding user interface, a multi-track recording system that only allows one voice at a time to be recorded to all but one track (in other words, the equivalent of a Yamaha onboard sequencer that only records the main voice, not both the main and dual voices), no live-control knobs, and a key feel that I feel is not as good as the Yamahas (but that is subjective, as I know that you prefer the Casio).

However, I have a feeling that we have not seen the last of 2019's Yamaha keyboards.

[panos]

Thanks for the examples between an MSRP price and the real price Michael.
When i saw the $329 while the E-463 is in a lower price I was confused.

Looks like "My first keyboard" model for beginners who want to buy a new keyboard and not a second hand one, so they can be sure about the good condition of what they are buying.

Well,we will wait for the most important thing, to "hear" how it sounds.

[CindyG]

And I'm not clear on whether the new CP models are classified as synths or digital pianos. But a number of other new Yamaha digital pianos were just unveiled.

I believe the CP are considered stage pianos.

[AnupamEnosh]

It looks like there might not be a PSR-E373 and PSR-E273, at least not at the Winter NAMM this year.

Why are we even expecting from Yamaha ? Aren't PSR-E 2xx/3xx/4xx models overpriced right from the beginning, as per their features ? This new offering from Yamaha is an icing on the cake, zero midi compatibility, and absolute expandibility options (*ironic).
Supposedly if Yamaha discontinues E-2xx and E-3xx series, then beginners would have to contend themselves with this new gig.

Q. Why would Yamaha even do this ?

A. They want to shell more money out of a musician's pocket, arrangers are better in S-series lineup. Possibly the sales of beginner level offerings by Yamaha have rose higher those of S-series.

Q. What about PSR E-463 ?

A. PSR E-463 will continue to shell out more from users, because now Yamaha fans have no alternatives in that price segment..

[SciNote]

I'd hardly say that the PSR-E200 to E400 - series keyboards are overpriced.  The E463 costs $280 US for the street price, and that gets you capabilities that would've cost well over a thousand dollars not that long ago, such as over 600 high quality sounds, synth-like editing/modification of sounds (filter and envelope generator), DSP, built-in arpeggiator, tunable scales, and even some sampling capability.  The E200 and 300 series don't offer as much, but cost correspondingly less, with the E263 going for about $120.

But yes, this E360 is kind of odd.  Similar to the E263 but costs more, but at least does include a velocity-sensitive keyboard.  If Yamaha was going to a new numbering system for their entry-level keyboards, I would've expected this to be called the PSR-E370, to represent the expected jump from 6 to 7 in the middle digit for this new line of keyboards.  I guess it could be some sort of off-shoot to the existing line (kind of like how the EW300 and EW410 are off-shoots), but then, I would expect the E273 and E373 to debut this year, based on the introduction time frames of this line of keyboards in the past.  We'll just have to see what they come out with later in the year.

[AnupamEnosh]

I'd hardly say that the PSR-E200 to E400 - series keyboards are overpriced.  The E463 costs $280 US for the street price, and that gets you capabilities that would've cost well over a thousand dollars not that long ago, such as over 600 high quality sounds, synth-like editing/modification of sounds (filter and envelope generator), DSP, built-in arpeggiator, tunable scales, and even some sampling capability. The E200 and 300 series don't offer as much, but cost correspondingly less, with the E263 going for about $120.

Casio has been there in the market, offering keyboards with much more features at a lower price (*based on Indian market price). But they have inferior sound quality. The specs of a PSR E463 can be seen in a much lower priced keyboard, CTK 860IN (CTK 5200), which was sold at around 100$ lesser. While Roland launched its EX20 here at 230$ approx, it is a localised keyboard, that gets one step higher than E453.
These are the reasons that make me feel, Yamaha is slowly becoming the Apple of keyboard market.

[panos]

I guess they lower the prices too much just to enter the market of keyboards playing styles with higher lvl models in the future maybe?
But if the sound isn't that good.....hm....
How much lower must  be the prices compared to other electronic machines,gadgets etc?
Companies sometimes have a target for specific markets and the cost to have better results to other markets is too high for them.

[AnupamEnosh]

Yamaha keyboards should not be called highly overpriced, but they are slightly overpriced in the market with their offerings.

[Practical Senses]

Dark Walnut E360 looks great! But the price is too high, higher than E363 with less functionality.
Personally I would love to see something smaller like model with 49keys or even something like PSS series again.