The PSR-E273 and E373 have been around for about 3 years now, and the PSR-E473 was introduced nearly 2 years ago. It used to be the case that we'd be seeing some new models by now -- at least the successors to the E273 and E373 -- but of course, covid, supply chain issues, and chip shortages have changed that.
So, what do you think? New models coming soon? They used to stagger the intros, in that the E200 and E300 series would come out one year, and then the E400 series would come out the next year. Maybe now, since the product cycle has been thrown through a loop anyway, perhaps Yamaha will start to introduce all three models during the same year? I guess we'll see! It used to be the case that most of their new models were introduced during the same year in the early 1990's.
What changes do you think we'll see? What might you be looking for? I'll post my standard requests that I have been posting for a decade...
1. More registrations
2. A button to do a drum fill without having to change the A/B style variation
3. The option to allow the sustain pedal affect the left side of a split keyboard, along with the right side
4. At least some rudimentary editing capability in the 6-track sequencer, such as the ability to start recording a selected track at a particular measure -- without erasing what was recorded before that point -- so that you don't have to re-record the entire track if you make a mistake
Also, bring back the higher quality keyboard feel last seen in this model range in the PSR-E433. I am not the only one who has noticed that the key feel of the PSR-E443 on up was just not quite as good as that of the E433. It's one of the reasons that I continue to use the E433, even after all this time.
Seeing what they did with the PSR-E473, compared to the older models, I'd also add...
6. Move the live control knobs back to where they belong -- right by the left side of the keyboard, not near the back edge of the unit
7. Put the attack/release option back in the live control knobs function menu
8. Bring back a dedicated numeric keypad that can be used for function data values, as well as voice and style selection