Help PSR s 975 or psr sx700

[Kvn479]

I need some advice from owners here.

I have a psr 3000 which i have been using for many years for gigging and it has proven to be foulproof and problem free

Now I have a choice between the new psr sx700 or s975 which is remaining stock at the local dealer.

They are at approx the same price.

My use is basic...very few styles...alot of piano playing and vocals without any need of harmonies...mainly church use

Which one should i go for?

Thanks

[Tonytony]

hello if you do not need the vocal harmonizer i would go with the sx700 which i own it has alot more to offer than the psr975 touchscreen 1gig storage and 400mb    for expansion packs very good piano samples hpoe this is helpful iam very happy with mine

[mikf]

The way you describe your typical usage, I would consider a DGX 670 (if you can find one) rather than either of those. Might suit you better, and cost is not that different. Certainly worth a look before you take the plunge.
Mike

[Toril S]

Agree with Mike here! You will get 88 keys, and very good piano sound.

[Fred Smith]

Sx700.

Cheers,
Fred

[Amwilburn]

Funny, everyone automatically assumes newer is better... My personal choice would actually be the s975 because it has *more* sample storage, and audio styles.

The s975 has 768mb of empty sample space + ~100mb pre-installed 4 packs. The pSRsx700 has only 400mb, and that includes the ~250mb pre-installed (meaning you actually have about 150mb empty space)

THe s975 has Audio styles on board (I forget how many, 30? 40?) and 150mb for about 7 more audio styles. The sx700 has no such capability.

The sx700 has touchscreen yes, but anyone who programs a lot of styles, registrations, or midis will tell you, touch screen is *slower* and more cumbersome, *but* easier to learn how to navigate.

The sx700 does have 2 advantages (and they're both pretty big)
-Triple sound layer versus only 2 on the s9xx series.
-Megavoice guitar arpeggiator vs only non-mega guitar arpeggiators on the sx975. (megavoice guitar strumming is miles better).

But I'd still get the s975 as the speakers are also more punchy on the s975, despite being the same wattage. And like I said, to most people the extra free sample space of the s975 would be important too. *however*, I think the sx700 is a nicer finish (both are matte black, but the sx700 has a brushed black metal finish on the top half where the controls are)

Mark

[Toril S]

Good points Mark! I have the S975, and is very satisfied with it. It is a well balanced keyboard, and I plan to keep it. And it will be the keyboard that resembles the PSR3000 hte most. I had a 2100 before getting this, and the transition was easy.

[Kvn479]

Thanks Everyone!

I know some people suggested a DGX but it is almost double the weight and thats too much to carry around for gigs.

I have been using a friend's sx700 and although I am generally very technology fluent - the learning curve from the psr3000 to the sx700 is a little but steep although I believe the system is more user friendly once you get around it.

Secondly i am concerned that gigging around once twice weekly and putting the instrument inside the carry case might in the long run affect damage the touch screen which as opposed to the buttons on the psr s 975 might be more fragile.....it might be an unsustained worry from my side....but buttons on my psr3000 never failed....

there again....as I said...the keybed on the sx700 seems a little better ..less plasticky and more responsive compared to the old psr3000.

the local dealer has reduced the price of the old psr s975 (which is still new sealed in box) to be the same price of the new sx700....so that makes the choice even more difficult....

[Divemaster]

Personally, and as a recent migrant to the PSR-SX700 after having a Tyros, I would go for the SX700.

Older keyboards are always a gamble, because technology always moves on, and electronics are more likely to fail on older keyboards, and that's the last thing you need if you are giogging with it. That said some keyboards seem to be bombproof......until the day they pack up 

Buy the latest technology is my advice. You can always load older styles onto it, but you can't do the reverse.

[Pityus]

I had a PSR s975 instrument before the SX900.
It had very good audio styles, which I really miss now.
You are faced with a difficult decision because each has advantages over the other.
If you have the opportunity, try both and listen to your heart.

[LaHawk]

SX-700 Once you go Touch Screen, you'll never go back

[Amwilburn]

Personally, and as a recent migrant to the PSR-SX700 after having a Tyros, I would go for the SX700.

Older keyboards are always a gamble, because technology always moves on, and electronics are more likely to fail on older keyboards, and that's the last thing you need if you are giogging with it. That said some keyboards seem to be bombproof......until the day they pack up 

Buy the latest technology is my advice. You can always load older styles onto it, but you can't do the reverse.

That's just it; in this case the s975 can load styles that the sx700 cannot. That's exactly why I'd chose the s975 (however, I'd choose the sx900 over both). So no, the sx700 cannot load all the sx975 styles; specifically the Audio styles, which are among my favourites. The sx900 *can* at least load the T5 Audio styles, although sadly when Yamaha took down the old musicsoft website down, they no longer offer the s950/s970/s975 audio styles for sale (they've never been free)

*but* if you prefer touchscreen, then yes get the sx700. Casual players usually prefer touchscreen, 'heavy' programmers usually don't. And in this case, there would be almost no transition from PSR3000 to s975 as the OS is very similar.

Mark

[EileenL]

Most of us no longer use Audio styles as the new drum kits are better. It is only the drum track that is Audio anyway.

[Amwilburn]

Yes, the Revo drums are often better. Which the sx700 doesn't have!