Yamaha PSR-SX900 Keyboard Package Essentials Package

I have been using the Yamaha PRS systems for a few years. They have been wonderful for professional live performances and have found them very handy. They have been relatively easy to go between playing songs while kicking left hand bass and then alternating to a sequence for today's more contemporary songs that require a bigger sound than our duo can produce. So I was super excited to get the newest and best keyboard from Yamaha the SX900. Much to my disappointment, although the keyboard has some great features and superior sounds, it is really hard to use live without having a lot of down time while you skip through various steps to accomplish what used be simple to do. I find my using it for rehearsing at home when the timing isn't as important but find myself trying to find 2nd hand keyboards of previous versions to play live, which is a pity. PLEASE, PLEASE Yamaha- bring back the "S" series for those of us who are gigging live. It was such a wonderful keyboard and the newer "SX" series doesn't cut it for live.

I have only had the keyboard for a week so take my negative comments with that in mind. My opinions may change in 6 months. The good things about the SX900 are that the sounds are authentic which is the reason I chose Yamaha. I liked the bluetooth speakers and I was able to link with my smart phone without too much fuss. I like the left and right 1/4 outputs, harmony back up for microphone, and registry for songs. For the cost, I thought the keybed would have played better, and I thought the speakers would have been louder. If this is your first keyboard with as many features as this keyboard has, beware that there is a significant learning curve. More than what Yamaha and outside reviewers advertise. The owners manual comes with the keyboard but you have to download the reference manual from the web. I would have liked more country styles in the styles section. There was no "fiddle" voice which I thought Yamaha would have included or at least, I have not found it. Only violins. I wanted a keyboard that would follow my right hand chords and automatically play the bass lines. The SX900 may do this. However, so far, I have not read this or found how to select this feature. In general, I was looking for more A.I. and auto assist at this price level. I believe Casio would give you more bang for the buck but I do not believe that the build quality and sound quality of the Casio products would be up to par with Yamaha. I hope to have a better feel for this keyboard in 6 months.