Decision time - S970 vs SX900 vs SX720

[kamran]

Hello everyone,

I hope you are all doing well.

Last year, I had posted about making buying a keyboard. I could not do that due to budget constraints. I have played the S970 since long but that is back in my home country. Now, there is a choice to make between a used SX900 (around £1,200), a used SX700 (around £800) and a new SX720 (around £1000). I do not want to move out of this series specifically because their data is most easily available. Which one should I go for? Is SX720 the best trade-off remembering that I'd be happy if I get a step up from SX970.

Kind regards,

Kamran

[aprilla]

I'd be happy if I get a step up from SX970.

I think you mean step up from S970?

I have the SX720 and am very happy with it, no regrets. But my jump was more than yours, I had the S900 with a broken screen. I can't say how different you would find it from the S970 which came later, hopefully someone who has used both will come along to share an opinion. I chose the 720 over the 920 as I wasn't interested in the vocal or bluetooth that the 920 has, but the 720 doesn't. That suits me.

Which of the three are you most interested in? What do you want it to do for you?

[johan]

I would only go for the SX700 in case you just want a more user friendly (touch) interface. Voice and quality of sound are very similar as in the S970 and in some points, the SX700 will be a downgrade (such as a bit less expansion memory).

Choice between SX900 and SX720 is a bit more difficult. They have very similar voices & styles & effects and the same amount of expansion memory (SX900 has much more user memory though). The speaker system of the SX720 (same as the one used in SX700) is already very good, but the speakers of the SX900 (and SX920) are much better. This is of course not important if you mainly use headphones or an external speaker system. SX900 also has Bluetooth, vocal harmony, audio styles and the possibility to connect an external monitor, but up to you if it is worth the extra money.

[Graham UK]

Aprilla. I'll throw in my few words...When upgrading anything, but in your case if it's the SX920, divide the more expensive price into the number of years you may be owning it.
Now it may be worth paying that extra .

[aprilla]

Aprilla. I'll throw in my few words...When upgrading anything, but in your case if it's the SX920, divide the more expensive price into the number of years you may be owning it.
Now it may be worth paying that extra .

I'm not upgrading for a long time I hope, fingers crossed and all that.

I did do the calculation, the cost of the S900 would be more than the SX720, if I have it as long.
But pleasure should be attached, with its broken screen the S900 wasn't enjoyed daily for many years, making it even more costly.
Sometimes it's better not to do the numbers, just buy it! 

[kamran]

Thank you all for the great advice

@johan

What are audio styles?

And how do the speakers of S970 and SX700/720 compare?

I did use harmonies on S970 but again, I play on my room and can live without them. But does it have other sound effects like reverb and double tracked vocal?

Also, the bottom line is this:

Can the SX720 be considered a proper step up/upgrade on S970?

Thanks

[BogdanH]

What are audio styles?

Normal (midi) styles are based on notes sequence. For example, for guitar strumming a sequence of 3-6 notes is needed, where each note is executed with slightly delay -that gives the strum impression. That is, imagine that each note is a separate audio sample played in sequence.
In audio style we have no separate notes for strumming: audio sample already contains recorded strum. Usually we say that a strum of a "real guitar" musician has been recorded -which btw. is not necessary the case 
Anyway, if a strum of real musician is recorded, then that strumming sounds much more natural & realistic. Summary: audio styles usually sound more like a "real" band.
The problem is (or it can be), creating audio styles is extremely complicated and time consuming -and because of that, there aren't many available.

And how do the speakers of S970 and SX700/720 compare?

Here opinions differ.. Technically speaking SX9xx series has better sound than SX7xx series. But when I was buying keyboard I compared SX900 and SX700 in the store, I heard no difference. Maybe one can hear the difference in very quiet room, though. Anyway, I wouldn't rely my decision on that. Btw. I had S775 before SX700 and there's practically no difference. SX700 and SX720 have the same audio specifications.
SX900 and SX920 have more power than previous PSR keyboards: 2x(15W+10W) vs 2x15W. But that can be greatly misleading, because what matters is the difference in loudness. Yes, we can say that SX900 has 66% more power, but that doesn't mean it's 66% louder! In fact, it is only 2.2dB louder -which is negligible at listening. There's more, but I'll leave at that.
Don't get me wrong.. more power is always welcome... it's up to you to decide, if it's worth the price difference in this case.

Can the SX720 be considered a proper step up/upgrade on S970?

It depends on what features you mainly appreciate, but in my opinion, the answer is definitely a YES. Main three reasons:
1. Touch display (for me, that alone was worth the upgrade from S775 to SX700)
2. Three Right Hand voices
3. 1GB of expansion memory (vs 500MB on S970)

Bogdan

[johan]

In complement to the nice and complete feedback of BogdanH, I want to add the following:

Audio styles: there are 40 audio styles on your S970; there are no preset audio styles on the SX900 but you can download all of them from the Yamaha site (I use the Tyros 5 version; they come as a PPF pack but the styles are loaded in user memory so they don't use any expansion memory). Casper had made a nice video where he shows how to use the audio track to include lead vocals in an audio style (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDvZDPfCmPU), but this is too advanced stuff for me.

Speakers of S970 and SX700/720: they are very similar. I found the ones in the SX900 a nice upgrade. Actually, the only feedback of my household after upgrading from SX700 to SX900 was that the speakers sounded more impressive. It's not about having more power, they just sound better. But this is very subjective of course.

SX720 as upgrade to S970: you also get a lot more voices (similar to SX900 while voices on S970 are more similar to the SX700); one nice thing is the live drums on SX900/SX720 which give a better compatibility with the revodrums used in genos styles.

[mikf]

The most significant upgrade in the 'sound' between all of these keyboards is probably also the least expensive - just add a pair of small, moderately priced, powered speakers to the one you already have. There is plenty of good quality from around $150 per pair.

The improvements, and added features, model to model are usually very small in Yamaha keyboards. These add up, so jumping up several model grades, or many years newer can make a difference, but modest jumps are often hardly noticeable. Unless there is a particular feature added that you desperately want, or there is something wrong with your current model, the difference can be minimal.
Mike

[SteveGEOD]

I have the SX920 and my dad has the SX720.

In respect of these two 'most recent' additions to Yamaha's arranger workstations...
The 920 has many many advantages over the 720.
The difference in the sound through the speakers is crazy significant. Secondly the voices are far superior.

My dad is enjoying his 720 a great deal.
I love my 920.
Sound quality to me is THE MOST IMPORTANT FACTOR.
.......and I needed Bluetooth, so 920 it was.

I would make a short 'must have' list, then buy the instrument which is as close as possible to your list.
In the UK there is a significant price hike from 720 to 920.
Steve

[mikf]

Like I say above, that price hike from 720 to 920 is several times the cost of a set of 4 inch studio monitors. Eg the MAudio for £79 will outperform the sound from even the SX920 by a country mile.
Additional styles are easily added, so unless there is a feature you need, think carefully. If sound quality is the driver, buy the Maudios or something similar.
Mike

[kamran]

Wonderful inputs everyone

I am getting SX920.

Now I live in a flat with bit the best acoustics. Playing and singing is going to create problems for me.

Please suggest
1. A good set of headphones
2. A good hands-free, stand-free, over-ear dynamic microphone or something that's part of the headphones

Should be affordable given that I've put everything into the keyboard.

[Amwilburn]

The sx700 isn't really an upgrade of the s970, as they use the same sound library, and the sx700 has *less* expansion area, and no audio styles. *however* it does add 3 RH voices, as well as megavoice guitar strumming arpeggiators (s970 only has 2 RH voices and non-megavoice guitar arps)

The sx720/sx900 are essentially the same thing, but again, the sx900 has audio styles. *however* the new CPop (China) pack is *incredible, and those new extremely expressive Guets are not allowed to view links. In order to access the links, please Register or Login+ instruments are exclusively for use for sx720/sx920 (for now. I'd expect to see G2 compatibility sometime this year)

So Personally, if the sx920 is out of budget, I'd get the sx720 if you really want those new voices (keep in mind right now it's only CPop and Dangut, but I'd expect they'd eventually make similarly expressive Guets are not allowed to view links. In order to access the links, please Register or Login+ new packs for Middle Eastern, Indian, Celtic, etc)

On the other hand, if you love Audio styles? sx900/sx920 and s970 are the only way to go... (I don't think sx720 has audio styles, but I could be wrong)

*edit* haha I'd started typing ages ago but never posted; by the time I posted you already said you're getting sx920. Fantastic choice, no real compromises!

Mark

[DaPaleRider]

Wonderful inputs everyone

I am getting SX920.

Now I live in a flat with bit the best acoustics. Playing and singing is going to create problems for me.

Please suggest
1. A good set of headphones
2. A good hands-free, stand-free, over-ear dynamic microphone or something that's part of the headphones

Should be affordable given that I've put everything into the keyboard.

I own a Yamaha YH-WL500 Wireless Headphone. Very fast with a delay of less than 4ms. Fits soft on the head and the sound is great.
Guets are not allowed to view links. In order to access the links, please Register or Login

[mikf]

I don't think wireless is very necessary for playing, i don5beven notice the wires when sitting at the keyboard, and these very special low delay wireless phones by Yamaha are great but very expensive. There are many, many high quality reasonably priced phones available. Just go to a decent store and find something that you find comfortable.
Mike

[DaPaleRider]

I don't think wireless is very necessary for playing, i don5beven notice the wires when sitting at the keyboard, and these very special low delay wireless phones by Yamaha are great but very expensive. There are many, many high quality reasonably priced phones available. Just go to a decent store and find something that you find comfortable.
Mike

No it is not. For my it is important. I have synths all around me so I can switch synths easily. My headphone is connect to an audio mixer. But for connect directly to a keyboard, maybe not, it is a suggestion. And it is what you like and your budget you want to spend.

And I should choose a headphone with a 3,5 mm to 6,3mm jackplug. A lot of small devices support 3,5 mm so you are more flexibel in the future if you buy more things.

[kamran]

Have received my PSR SX 920

Loving it