I am also not exactly thrilled with the Genos either... But not enough to return it. (restocking fee) etc.. Yamaha engineers must have re-EQ'd their workshop speaker set-up.. Brighter is not necessarily better. Also bathing so many patches in a mediocre reverb, on the Genes doesn't help.. This of course, is a matter of personal preference.
In a complex music mix, if you brighten too many instruments, you affect the overall mix, to the point, where you have a sonic mess. The proper procedure is to EQ some of the instrument's low and mid low with notch filtering out.. It sounds to me, Yamaha added a tinge of brightness to many of the instruments.. And once you've got to many instruments, brighter than normal, you've painted yourself into a corner. Yes, to many of us 'oldsters', who've lost high end it sounds better. But to others, it creates an instrument too 'colored'.
I prefer "SOME" of the T5 sounds to the Genos.. They sound more solid. With the T5, I very rarely touched EQ on individual instruments.. I am still adjusting my hearing 'point of view' for the Genos. It only a subtle change, but one I hear on my studio Genelec 8040 speakers.
I am somewhat disappointed with all the electric guitar sounds.. Again they all seem to have a strange EQ (and too much reverb)..
I have had other keyboards with touchscreen and do generally prefer them.. But I miss the ability to instantly change something, with the over one hundred buttons the Tyros.. In both Tyros and Genos, the very stingy amount 'user' midi set-ups, and DSP effects, is disappointing.
I love the ability of the Genos to string together more DSP effects, but I'd want a lot more user spots to save those. That is just plain wrong.
Unlike the vast majority of users here, I have used the Tyros and Genos, as a studio and compositional tool. I didn't use it as a 'one man band' witch was obviously Tyros's purpose.
To me, Yamaha engineers, tried to bring the Genes in line with Korg and Roland . I have absolutely no interest in EDM music, and the brash sounds of it. So in Yamaha's decision to add some of that factor.. So all those styles and instrument patches are a total 'wasteland' to me. I do have a sizable amount of 'virtual instruments', Kontakt and UVI libraries, so it's not a major inconvenience to me.. But to many their Genes, or Tyros, may be the only instrument they use. I realize Yamaha is really trying to create a 'one instrument fits all'. And that is a noble attempt.. And on some level the Genos does that.
I suppose Yamaha into account the 'dying out' of the older population. The 'target' audience, for music from the 40's - 50's, is dwindling or too hard of hearing to appreciate music anymore, and Genos is trying to repurpose themselves for a younger audience. And let's face it, Yamaha is in the business of making $$$$. To continue along the Tyros line, with it's user base, dying out, or stop making music is not good business sense
In one way, I suppose this will make the Tyros line something to be cherished, and users can continue to cherish it as a very viable instrument to have.. Just like a few drum machines, and synths, from the 80's were discontinued, yet user demand, had them re-incarnated.. The kbd arranger is certainly not as popular in the US as in other parts of the world, so it is impossible for me to understand the workings of world wide sales.
This could create a situation where the Tyros line will stand on it's own, and possibly continue to be a desired instrument. But eventually Yamaha will stop carrying parts, and maintaining it.
I am very upset with Apple, whose policy is to drop stocking and repairing their older computers. In 2015, I was bluntly told by Apple they don't carry parts, and would not repair my 2008 top of the line Mac Pro.. That is a 7 year life time for Apple.. And now with the fact surfacing, Apple deliberately slows down their old iPhones, forcing the user to buy a new one, just points out the greed of large companies. I certainly hope Yamaha doesn't resort to that. Of course new technologies is part of the price we pay for such rapidly advancing technology.
There is ABSOLUTELY nothing wrong with the GENOS, it's really my age, and musical tastes, that make me not as excited of the Genos as I was the Tyros.
I've still got my Tyros 5. But don't think I am going to keep both the Genes and Tyros. I'll probably sell the Tyros.
I guess I have reached the point that my parents reached 20 years ago.. When they decided keeping up with the 'curve of modern technology' was not for them. For instance I recently got an Android phone (had a simple flip phone for many years).. I hated the Android at first, and was toying with the idea of going like 'Prince' and just not having a cell phone at all. But I decided if I didn't make the attempt to keep up with technology now, I would fall behind. And at a healthy 69 years of age, I do plan on sticking around (now I am going to get down to creating some really serious music)..
So yes, the bottom line is the Genos is a very decent instrument.. Some of us here, love it. And it has been getting good comments from the 30 - 50 year old users.. I would say I, for some of us here, our musical path, and Yamaha's is branching off in different directions. Us oldsters, have to decide if we are going to keep up with technology, Finances, health, and our life span will dictate our course of action.
Hey, if I hold on my Tyros 5. I might A/B the Genes, and Tyros six months from now and have a different opinion. I reserve the right to do so..