Review:
$1099.99 USD
$849.99 USD
Are you thinking of getting a prosumer keyboard? One that you will not grow out of easily and need to upgrade later on? A keyboard that does not need you to sell a kidney to buy one, yet is more than capable for casual performances with sound quality, features & functionality that ensures you will not need to upgrade for many years?
The $1,000 price point is where keyboards begin to gravitate away from being consumer instruments towards casual professional use. I will be comparing the sound, features, and functionality of the best 2 Yamaha keyboards in the $1,000 category, the DGX-670 vs the PSR-SX600, and I will help you decide which is better for your specific needs.
Not only are these 2 keyboards similarly priced, but the internals of the DGX-670 is also closely based on the PSR-SX600.In fact, they share about 80% of the features and functionality. Here is what sets them apart. The biggest visible difference is the key action, size, and weight of these 2 keyboards.
Do check out my beginner piano app, some beginner video courses, and course materials available for you. As well as this free 25 Piano lesson too.
Key Actions
The DGX-670 sports an 88-key weighted, graded hammer action simulating an acoustic piano
whereas the PSR-SX600 has 61 synth-action organ-style keys.
If you predominantly play piano pieces requiring a wider key range, the DGX-670 is a better choice. However, those playing more pop, electronic and modern music using non-piano instruments will find the synth-action keys to be more expressive for those genres.
Having 88 hammer action keys comes with a massive weight and portability penalty. The DGX-670 weighs 22kg which is a massive 170% heavier than the significantly lightweight 8kg PSR-SX600. With more keys, the DGX-670 is also 40% wider than the PSR-SX600. The added weight and size of the DGX-670 make it less portable even though Yamaha marketed it as a “Portable Grand”.
For a significantly more portable 88-key keyboard, you can check it out here
Sounds Quality
Both keyboards have an identical 4.3” color LCD screen and the button layout for data entry, voice and rhythm selection, style controls, and UI navigation are uncannily similar.
However, the DGX-670 being more piano-focused comes with a “Piano Room” button.
With a convenient touch of this button, piano players can remove distractions from the other features of a powerful keyboard. You have a selection of 6 high-resolution piano samples using Yamaha’s Virtual Resonance Modeling engine which the PSR-SX600 does not have.
The DGX-670 contains another 10 additional piano samples from Yamaha’s “Natural!” sound library which is also missing from the PSR-SX600. To accommodate these high-quality stereo multi-layered samples, the DGX-670 has a 256-note polyphony versus the 128-note polyphony of the PSR-SX600. At this point, you might think the DGX-670 is the superior keyboard as it is cheaper, has greater polyphony, and comes with many unique higher quality piano voices the PSR-SX600 does not have.
That is not entirely correct. The PSR-SX600 has a massive 40% more sounds, 60% more rhythm styles, double the number of panel registration memory, a more robust pro-level stereo ¼” output jacks as well as live controls such as 2 knobs, and a modulation wheel that are not found on the DGX.
Being piano-centric means the DGX supports 3 assignable pedals whereas the PSR-SX600 only supports 2 pedals.
However, more advanced arranger keyboard players usually value the extra sounds, rhythms, and controls that the PSR-SX600 has over the hammer action.
For a more detailed review of each of these keyboards, you can find the DGX670 here and the SX600 here
Features
While both keyboards have similar powerful effect processors, the DGX-670 comes with 6 more reverbs and adopts the Intelligent Acoustic Control & Stereo Optimiser technology from Yamaha’s Clavinova digital pianos making the DGX-670 piano sound more spacious even when one is using a pair of headphones.
My favorite pair of headphones can be found here. Also have recommendations for speakers, microphones, and other connectivity devices which you might be looking for.
The style section of both keyboards comes with 4 variations for each rhythm and 3 intros and endings but the DGX-670 has fewer control buttons unlike the PSR-SX600 with individual buttons for every intro and ending.
DGX owners have to go into the menu system to assign which intro and ending they want with their panel buttons.
Both keyboards come with a versatile Style Creator that allows you to edit existing styles or create original styles from scratch.
You can also load 3rd party styles from the internet. However, the PSR-SX600’s trump card is the ability to load Yamaha’s commercially available Expansion Voice & Style Packs. These add additional high-quality samples and styles specially created to make use of these added samples. The DGX does not have the option to load expansion packs.
The DGX-670 also does not have the powerful multi-pad feature, which allows PSR-SX600 users to trigger recorded phrases and audio samples on the fly with a touch of a button.
For those who prefer a more tactile hardware song recorder, both keyboards contain a 16 multi-track song sequencer. However, I prefer connecting keyboards via USB MIDI which both these keyboards have, to my laptop for an easier and more visual workflow
If you prefer to spend less money or are a beginner who wants something simpler, check out my recommended keyboards. Do check out my beginner piano app, some beginner video courses, and course materials available for you. As well as this free 25 Piano lesson too.
Functionality
These are clearly entertainment keyboards that you can sing along with. A microphone input jack and a powerful mic effects processor are included with both these keyboards.
While these keyboards allow you to stream music stored on a USB stick or via an auxiliary audio cable, the DGX has Bluetooth wireless audio streaming which the PSR-SX600, unfortunately, does not. I was a little disappointed that the Bluetooth in the DGX only supports audio streaming and not wireless MIDI.
For stage use or for performing to a crowd, the PSR-SX600 is the better choice.
It is not only more portable, but it also has pro-level stereo ¼” line outs for hooking up to an external amplifier or a mixing board. The pair of PSR-SX600 speakers with an output of 30 watts is also more powerful and louder than the speakers on the DGX-670 with a mere output of 12 watts. However, the DGX-670 has a 4-speaker system that can handle a wider dynamic range required to represent the high-resolution piano samples fully.
I have recommendations for speakers, microphones, and other connectivity devices which you might be looking for.
Conclusion
If you play mostly piano pieces, rarely bring your keyboard out, and only occasionally use the rhythm, styles, and other types of sounds in your music, this is a better choice. If you play with a band or can foresee yourself using your keyboard for school performances, street busking, leading worship, or for more serious music production and you need a keyboard with upgradable sample memory, the PSR-SX600 is a better choice.
I have found the best prices and the best-bundled deals for these keyboards right here. Do check out my beginner piano app, some beginner video courses, and course materials available for you. As well as this free 25 Piano lesson too.