New PSR-S775!

[edtek]

I ordered it from Sweetwater last Monday evening right after I sold my Genos and it arrived today.  Very happy with the 775.  It's just like the other PSRs I've used for 14 years.  I was able to use all the regs on the usb I used with my 670 that I sold when I got the genos (big mistake .  Don't get me wrong, the genos was very cool but total overkill and complicated for me. I am definitely not a power user and the 775 preset styles and voices work just fine for my gigs (with a few styles from other Yammies).

I am going through all my regs now to make sure they work and do any tweaks necessary (mostly changes I've made in the 6 months since I sold the 670, which incidentally sold the day after I listed it on craigs).

[BogdanH]

Welcome back in PSR community and compliments to your rational decision. Which actually proves that "the best" is not necessary the best for everyone.
Yes, S670 is excellent machine, but I'm very sure you can appreciate much better usability of S775 (bigger screen, more memory, faster USB, etc.). So, selling S670 can't really be seen as big mistake in my opinion. As you realized, mistake was buying Genos... -now, knowing the differences from your own experience, there's no doubt anymore: now you have what suits you best 

[Toril S]

Wise decision! The PSRs are great. Congrats!

[ekurburski]

Seeing as you had the 670 b4 and now have the 775 could you tell us the differences and arre the upgrades worth the $.  I am seriously considering the 670 and am wondering if I am maing a mistake in not going for the 775.

[edtek]

My take on the 670 versus the 775:

Similarities:
The sounds are too similar for my ears to tell much difference.  The built in speakers are semi ok but both require a sub woofer to sound good.  (I use a Logitech PC amp (Z2300 or Z623)). 
The keybed, size, and operating system are basically the same since my PSR3000 14 years ago.  This made both the 670 and the 775 easier for me to use than the Genos  (I was very frustrated using the (to me) complicated Genos).

Pro 670:
The 670 is much lighter than the 775 (~18# vs 26#) which was nice for transporting to gigs.  Price is about 60% of the 775. 

Pro 775:
The display is much larger (7" vs 4.3"), and is in color vs B&W for the 670.  It's much easier to read and has more useful information on it.  The buttons on the sides of the display are much easier to use than the rotating knob on the 670 for making selections.  The 775 has a mic input so the audio record can capture the mic in along with the kb.  The 670 only has an aux in which will not work directly with a mic (I guess you could use an external amp so a mic would work with the aux in).

To me the display, the buttons and the mic in are the big factors in favor of the 775.

There are other differences but those are the ones that mattered to me.

PS:
I could have lived happily with the 670 by itself but after I bought the Genos I really didn't like having to sync the 670 with it.  I tried to sell the Genos but after several months I gave up and sold the 670 (in 1 day).  Then unexpectedly I sold the Genos so I ordered a new kb the same day.  I bought the 775 mainly because I really missed the buttons on the side of the display like my other PSRs.  The nicer display and mic in was a big bonus.

The 670 is great machine at a bargain price but for me the display, buttons and mic in make the 775 much easier and more pleasurable to use and worth the extra money. 

I hope this is helpful.  If you have any questions I'll be happy to try to answer them.

[BogdanH]

@ekurburski
I think, I was in similar position a year ago, when I bough S670. My criteria in first place, was "versatile keyboard for home use, with many nice sounds, many accompaniments (styles) which can be customized... " -and I've got just what I wanted. The problem was, I didn't know how important certain "little things" will be for me. At the end, I've bought S775 several months later 
edtek already pointed out all most important differences. I just wish to underline the importance of display size. Simply put, if you plan to customize voices and styles a lot (I know, hard to define "a lot"), then display on S670 is just too small and has too low resolution for comfortable work (i.e. when making many precise adjustments). I recommend, take a look on some videos and pay attention to display.
However, if you plan not to fiddle with "advanced" fine tuning much (who would know, huh?), then S670 is a perfect choice!

Finally, is S775 worth the price difference? Yes. Besides huge difference in display, bigger internal memory combined with faster USB port (compared to S670) is very usable. And not to forget: S775 has many so called "S.Art!" voices built in -it's the difference you can notice!
Decisions, decisions..

[ekurburski]

Ed, I noticed in your post that you had the psr 3000.  Next question; how signicant is the improvement over the 3000 is the 670?

[Denn]

Hello, No need to post what I thought of the Genos, done that many times. Well done selling it. You will do well with the PSR. I have a PSR S770 as well as my Tyros4. I think the Tyros4 is that best kbd ever made and probably ever will be. Regs and styles go well between them for the most part. Regards,Denn.

[edtek]

ekurburski:

comparison of 3k and 670:

same kb and OS so very similar in operation. 
240 styles in 3k, 230 in 670
about 100 more voices in 670
3k has buttons beside the display
3k wgt 24#, 670 18#
670 can use USB, 3k uses low capacity and obsolete floppy disks and memory cards (I still have a couple of these cards kicking around :-).
3k low res dot display (which I and others had fail)
3k mic in, 670 no

Other small differences but to me the 670 is practically a no brainer choice.  The 3k was great for its day but now its really old, about 15 years older.

[Toril S]

I believed the 3k had USB? My 2100 uses floppies. If I were you Earl, I would go for the 775! The display is so much better!

[ekurburski]

Toril, I'm still deciding on the 670 as upgrade to 3000.  Sweetwater has it for $34 @ month whereas the 775 would be $55.@ mn.  I'm thinking I really need to wait for the next model and get a 985 when Yammie finally updates.  But in the meantime I'm thin king of updating for the better sounds and styles now and have the newer os for 2 years and then move up to the top all at once.  Big problem is I'm not gigging at all right now due to wife's medical situation.  Not sure I really need an upgrade at all.

[Toril S]

I mostly play at home as well, but we deserve upgrades anyway Whatever you decide I am sure you will be satisfied. Enjoy the music

[ianmcnll]

I've been using an S775 for a few months now...I looked at the specs for the S670 and there was no option for Fingered On Bass chording (the ability to play chords that have a different root note than their name...eg. C/G) so, the obvious choice for an entry/mid level Yamaha auto accompaniment keyboard without that limitation,  was the newly introduced S775 (or the older S770).

I sincerely hope Yamaha introduces this feature on the S675(?)...many competitors have it at the same price...the accompaniment control in the S670 is not a lot more functional than a basic PSR of a decade ago...even the older PSR-3000/2000 had the ON BASS feature...too bad, as the S670 sounds awesome. Put it down to marketing.

  The S775, btw, is quite a special instrument...uses nearly all Tyros3 styles as well as those from CVP's/PSR's of the T3's era...no fancy harmonizer or samples, nor do I need that in a keyboard I just want to play and have fun, , so it really checks all the boxes.

   I still love my Tyros4 and the S775 has been a great addition...it also gives me 32 tracks MIDI recording capabilities when linked to the Tyros4.

    If the user doesn't plan on advancing beyond the very basic single finger/multi-finger, full keyboard chords, then the S670 would probably be just fine.

    I enthusiastically recommend the PSR-S775.

    Ian

[edtek]

The 670 reference manual does list fingered on bass among the 7 recognized chord fingering types.

[ianmcnll]

That's cool...that makes the S670 a much better instrument.

I'm kinda glad I was ignorant of the fact the S670 supported Fingered On Bass because I'd miss the SA voices (especially the organs and sax) and other really cool features (some not on my Tyros4!) so I've made the right decision with the S775, and, perhaps with your clarification on the S670, it may help someone else decide what to get.

Ian

[ekurburski]

I just reviewed the manual and it refers one to the reference manual where it fact does show the fingered on bass option.  In fact it lisys all of the same fingering options as the other psr's.