Yamaha S90XSFrom real comments

Verdict distilled from 25 mentions across 12 aspects in comments under product review videos.

Positive sentiment67%
PROS 67%
CONS 33%

Rank based on 25 mentions across 12 aspects

View the verdict as

Buy this if...

  • You want a stage-focused keyboard with excellent weighted 76-key action
  • You value a computer/DAW-based workflow over onboard sequencing
  • You want a keyboard many describe as sounding like a real piano

What users love

Skip this if...

  • You're not willing to pay the premium price over the S90ES
  • You need a fully self-contained workstation with onboard song creation
  • You're sensitive to reported nasal tones or dropped notes in the S6 piano sample

What users complain about

Compare in seconds

Based on user comments

Best choice
1Mid
Mad Professor Fire Red Fuzz
Articulate soundGreat with extended-range guitarsStrong overall tone qualityPrice concerns
Mad Professor Fire Red Fuzz
Articulate sound
Great with extended-range guitars
Strong overall tone quality
Price concerns
2Premium
Mad Professor Deep Blue Delay
Musical analog toneLong-term reliability and board loyaltySimple, intuitive controlsHigh price pointCheaper alternatives seen as comparableDistortion at high settings
Mad Professor Deep Blue Delay
Musical analog tone
Long-term reliability and board loyalty
Simple, intuitive controls
High price point
Cheaper alternatives seen as comparable
Distortion at high settings
3Premium
Mad Professor Sweet Honey Overdrive
Touch-sensitive dynamicsLong-term favorite / durability of appealSweet, low-gain tone qualityHigh price versus clonesDeluxe loses some original characterLimited mid control
Mad Professor Sweet Honey Overdrive
Touch-sensitive dynamics
Long-term favorite / durability of appeal
Sweet, low-gain tone quality
High price versus clones
Deluxe loses some original character
Limited mid control
Best value
4Mid
MXR Super Badass Distortion
Exceptional versatilityNatural, amp-like tonePowerful 3-band EQDemo videos undersell the pedalNoticeable noise floorVolume drop when engaged
MXR Super Badass Distortion
Exceptional versatility
Natural, amp-like tone
Powerful 3-band EQ
Demo videos undersell the pedal
Noticeable noise floor
Volume drop when engaged
5Premium
Eventide Orville
Exceptional reverb qualityHigh-quality warm pitch shiftingStrong aspirational appealHigh priceCheaper alternatives may sufficeEffect can feel like it plays for you
Eventide Orville
Exceptional reverb quality
High-quality warm pitch shifting
Strong aspirational appeal
High price
Cheaper alternatives may suffice
Effect can feel like it plays for you
6Premium
Origin Effects Deluxe61
Authentic amp-like toneExcellent low-to-mid gain driveUnderrated favorite among ownersHigh price pointLimited gain-staging flexibilityNo built-in reverb
Origin Effects Deluxe61
Authentic amp-like tone
Excellent low-to-mid gain drive
Underrated favorite among owners
High price point
Limited gain-staging flexibility
No built-in reverb
7Premium
Roland TR-808
Iconic, powerful kick drumWarmer, more alive analog characterCultural and historical influenceExtremely high collector priceAnalog noise and static requiring EQReliability concerns of aging hardware
Roland TR-808
Iconic, powerful kick drum
Warmer, more alive analog character
Cultural and historical influence
Extremely high collector price
Analog noise and static requiring EQ
Reliability concerns of aging hardware
8Premium
Moog Subsequent 37
Inspiring and addictive to playWarm, fat analog toneStrong DAW/VST editor integrationHigh price for what it offersLimited versatility outside bass rangeNeeds effects/partner gear to shine
Moog Subsequent 37
Inspiring and addictive to play
Warm, fat analog tone
Strong DAW/VST editor integration
High price for what it offers
Limited versatility outside bass range
Needs effects/partner gear to shine
9
Wampler Tumnus V2
Klon Centaur-style toneConvincing demo influenced purchaseExcellent clean boostNot suited for metal tones
Wampler Tumnus V2
Klon Centaur-style tone
Convincing demo influenced purchase
Excellent clean boost
Not suited for metal tones
10Mid
Wampler Paisley Drive
Transparent toneVersatile across genresWorks well across many guitar typesTwo-channel routing complexityDry signal bleed-throughInconsistent demo impressions
Wampler Paisley Drive
Transparent tone
Versatile across genres
Works well across many guitar types
Two-channel routing complexity
Dry signal bleed-through
Inconsistent demo impressions
You are here
31Premium
Yamaha S90XS
Realistic Piano SoundBroad Sound PaletteStrong Live Performance FeelHigh Price Relative to PredecessorPredecessor's Piano Sample Preferred by SomeDropped Notes and Sound Issues
Yamaha S90XS
Realistic Piano Sound
Broad Sound Palette
Strong Live Performance Feel
High Price Relative to Predecessor
Predecessor's Piano Sample Preferred by Some
Dropped Notes and Sound Issues

Who wins on what

Ranked by what users actually praise

Overall Impression

Many users praise the S90XS for its rich, realistic piano sound and stage-ready feel. Multiple commenters describe the piano tone as beautiful, brilliant, and even better than newer keyboards, with one calling it 'a real piano.' Owners highlight the joy of playing it live and its convenient control surface. The heavy weighted 76-key action is called a plus, since few keyboards in this class offer it, and one long-term unit stayed like new after nine years unused.

Some users report inconsistent or problematic sound quality on certain patches. One reviewer describes the S6 piano sample as nasal, criticizing over-modulated effects that changed a beloved vintage sound. Others report dropped notes, patches that get lost, and poor harmonics on specific keys within the S6 sample. Another owner mentions whistling and rustling noises with some timbres, though other sounds worked fine, and no clear fix was confirmed.

The S90XS sits in an ongoing debate against its predecessor, the S90ES, over piano quality and price. Several commenters directly compare the two, with some saying the S90ES piano still wins and others undecided. Pricing drew skepticism, with one user calculating an over £800 premium versus the S90ES that they felt wasn't justified by the improvements. Despite this, some buyers remained enthusiastic, calling their purchase 'a beautiful piano' and recommending the instrument for live use.

Outdated / Not-accurate data?