Yamaha PSR-S975 vs S970

Yamaha PSR-S975 or PSR-S970?

The PSR-S975 is Yamaha’s 2018 flagship S Series model and builds on the PSR-S970, which was released in 2015. The PSR-S970 is still available new from Yamaha and dealers, so let’s take a look at whether the PSR-S975 is a significant upgrade, and hence whether you should go for the newer model or buy the older S970.

Aesthetics and Dimensions:

How an instrument looks may not be the determining factor in a purchase decision, but it’s not unimportant. The PSR-S970 has a metallic dark grey body, while the PSR-S975 is suited in black. Size-wise, the instruments are identical, at 39.45″W x 5.93″H x 17.2″D (100.2cm x 14.8cm x 43.7cm) and weighing 25.57lbs (11.6kg).

Both instruments feature the regular 61 keys (5 octaves) in the organ style (unweighted).

There’s no aftertouch on either keyboard. The touch response can be set to five different modes (level): Hard1, Hard2, Medium, Soft1, Soft2.

Controllers: Both models come with a pitch bend and modulation wheel, plus two assignable control knobs.

Sound & Polyphony

Both keyboards use Yamaha’s AWM Stereo Sampling tone generation technology, with a maximum of 128 notes of polyphony. S975 have the number of voices more than S970 but in general, both keyboards have no big difference about the number and quality of voices (my personal evaluation).

Accompaniments & Effects

The number of preset styles of S975 (523) more than S970 (450) the same with featured styles.

Fingering and style control of both keyboards have no difference.

Have no change in S975 compare with S970 about effects (reverb: 52 preset + 3 user, Chorus: 106 + 3 user, DSP: 322 presets with CVM + 10 user, Master EQ: 5 preset + 2 user…)

Expansion

Both instruments have 128MB expansion for audio styles.

The PSR-S970 has 512MB of expansion memory for voices, besides that the PSR-S975 has 768MB. This is the big thing make sense to consider which is chosen. With a bigger expansion memory, you could install good quality voice expansion pack, and that is the trend now.

Summary

Concluding, we can see the two instruments are very similar. Look, feel and sound technology is the same. What you’re getting in the new model are more sounds, styles, and effects. The question is whether you need that additional content. Of course, sounds and accompaniments make or break an arranger workstation, so you could argue it’s worth getting the latest model to benefit from those. But with a good quality of style and voice expansion package, I think you know what’s your choice.

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