X5D or X50?

winnebago6 · Post by **winnebago6** » Fri Jul 25, 2008 12:14 pm

I currently have an X5d but am beggining to think the sounds may be not the quality i am looking for.So the first thing i thought was that the X50 might satisfy my needs, i dont want to just go straight out and buy one though.Can anybody help me? Thanks.

rainbird · Post by **rainbird** » Fri Jul 25, 2008 4:42 pm

I've used both extensively, both in live performance and noodling around the home studio. Both are marvelously portable lots-of-bang-for the-buck keyboards, and underrated (IMHO.) The pros of the X5D in my experience: slightly more robust physical construction, especially as regards the fit of the plug in the power jack on the back of the keyboard (shoddy at best on the X-50) - more third-party patches available for the X5D - lots of brilliant people put in serious time tweaking sounds for that board, and they're available free online if you dig deeply enough, and there's also good editor/librarian software available. And the character of the soundset is just *different* than that of the X-50 - in some cases, I really prefer it. For that reason, I am hanging on to an X5DR.

Having said that, I have been using an X-50 live for over a year now, and while I don't entirely trust the build quality (I have a spare just in case, and I always have spare power supplies,) I find that it meets most of my needs quite adequately. And there are some editing features on the front panel which are easier to tweak than on the X5D, as well as arpeggiation, which wasn't available on the X5D. I haven't been using the X50 as long as I used the X5D, and probably have a lot more to discover about it - I've just started programming splits, for example, (and found the process VERY intuitive on the X50.)

Unless storage space is an issue, or if you're really strapped for cash, I'd recommend that if you buy an X-50, hang on to that X5D for awhile and see if you'd miss it. They are different creatures.

Hope this helps!

winnebago6 · Post by **winnebago6** » Fri Jul 25, 2008 6:19 pm

yeah maybe it will be a good idea to hold on to the x5d.Thanks for the reply,really helped

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winnebago6 · Post by **winnebago6** » Sat Jul 26, 2008 1:39 pm

Another thing i wondered was about the actual sound quality of the two synths,is the difference very noticable? I have been watching alot of videos and the strings sound alot more realistic but i would prefer to hear from somebody who has actually compared the two.