Yamaha Training Event - SX-900 Review

So I have just got back from training at Yamaha UK getting hands-on with the SX-700 and SX-900 series. As per normal reviews you would expect me to run through it all and give me conclusion on it, but the product is too good for that, I want to say straight away from the off that both instruments are simply superb! It's not often products can be so refreshing but both the SX-700 and SX-900 far outweigh their price bracket for quality, ease of use and features.

I guess it really all starts with the output - the new speakers are a big improvement over the previous models with a sound offering great detail and clarity plus for the first time ever it sounds as good sat playing the keyboard as what it does to listeners around it. I tried walking around the product whilst others played and where the sound would normally be pretty poor, it was really quite amazing how the sound stayed great no matter where you moved. This has a big effect for people who like to play in small groups as getting that quality across is difficult without adding other speakers. Which leads on to the output quality of the SX-900. Normally with previous models and even Tyros models you can plug in to seperate amplification and it works and you hear it but it was never anything special in the sense the sound was sweet but never really had the dynamics to cut it on stage or in the studio. Genos had a total revamp of the DAC (Digital to Analogue Converters) and set a totally new standard for quality sound. Now, that quality has come to the SX-900. The new converters are so much more dynamic, cleaner and cut through where it lacked originally. This means gigging musicians will really feel the benefit of playing live or recording their music or anyone who uses seperate amplification in the home as many of our customers do. Its a really welcome change and even alone makes such a huge difference to the product.

The new FSB keyboard design (used in both models) offers a much much better playing response and feel. There was a few people put off the previous models by the louder, slightly clunkier feel of the keys and Yamaha have responded with a keybed which is quiet, solid and responds beautifully to touch. In my view it has a touch equivalent or better than previous Tyros models and this has a real positive factor over everything you play.

Of course the new sounds and styles are one of the many major upgrades on the SX-900 where there are some amazing additions to the product. Now its hard to summarise the amount of improvements so I will do my best here to make it sensible and clear how this stands out....the styles in the product for owners of the S975/S970 and below and including those who own Tyros 5 and below, will be hugely impressed by the new selections available and how they come across. Styles are derived from the Genos as well as a whole host of new styles and they all make use of the enhanced DSP processing. This means as well as the new sounds in the backings and melody section, there are now new effects being used for both the styles and sounds (both higher quality and more of them) than has been possible before. What this means for the player - far far better quality. So as an example... when you choose a particular style it will make use of the new REVO! derived drum samples, it may then have a guitar in the backing which will now have amp modelling effects and your lead sounds may have multiple effects such as delays and reverbs etc - all set up automatically with the OTS (One Touch Setting). Being completely automatically done from the factory it just means you can play your same music you love but your music will simply sound far far better! And you have had to do nothing but choose a style and play. Its really very very good!

The new styles cover everything you could imagine from classic jazz/ big band through to modern chart music, Disney and film themes with everything in-between. There is also a focus on new 60's styles along the lines of the Shadows and more. There is something new and fresh for everyone to play and that is an important factor in making sure the instrument offers everything for everyone. Of course interacting with the product is something many get worried about - new features, new styles and sounds and being able to access and use everything. Well the new screen is absolutely spot on. It is crystal clear, straight forward and so easy to use! Taken from the flagship Genos design, the colours are great and easy to read the text. The screen responds straight away and there is no messing around with little buttons around the screen to make a choice hoping you press the right one - you touch what you want and it chooses it - perfect! There is instant access to all the sounds and styles as well as mixing screens etc. which show clearly on the screen and everything is easily accessible. The assignable buttons on the front panel are easy to assign and give you instant access to practically anything you may use a lot of i.e. changing to score screen or fade in/out etc.

The Chord looper function is something we have seen on competitors products before but we have never seen it like this. The idea and layout behind it makes it incredibly useful where as I would normally of questioned such a features use. At the touch of a button it starts recording the chords you are playing and then when your finished your last chord, press the button again and its off, going round your chord sequence and even shows the chords on the screen. Now this is where it gets really good - you can then choose to play around over the top of the sequence with both hands for freedom of playing or, choose to record another loop on another block! When you have recorded that you can then change between those different chord loops just by tapping the screen! And it does not end there - Each chord looper set is saved in a registration so you can recall the chord progressions at the touch of a button! Plus, if you then fancy trying the same song chords in a different style - no problem, you can change style and the chord progression works with it allowing you to experiment with many style choices!

And would you believe it does not end there! Yamaha's Chord Tracker app is available free for smart devices and it is an app that works out the chords for any song in your music library on your smart device. Using the app you can choose any of the songs in your music library on your device, it works out the chords and then if you want to play it on the keyboard you can transfer the chord progressions to the chord looper! Truly outstanding stuff.

Bluetooth - want to practice and play along with backing tracks/ your favourite tune then you can simply connect via bluetooth to your smart device and play the audio direct from the internal speakers of the SX-900. Its so simple and incredible good for practice! It even auto re-connects the next time you turn your bluetooth on the keyboard!

I could really go on and on about the changes and improvements on the product but it would be a huge write up! I can truly say this is a huge change for Yamaha and to have professional sounds, a plethora of new and very useful features, incredible style choices, bluetooth technology, smart device integration and much more makes the SX-900 a product worth of its price and a top position in the keyboard market. It impressed me and I have still only scratched the surface with the time I had available.