the things I liked the most of the cp 200-300 was those good sounding speakers and that useful flat top. but now its gone
Does anybody thinks the same?

yup

Absolutely. I know some people don't mind not having internal speakers, but after having it, I won't buy another keyboard without it.

To transcend the compromises we have to make with piano samples already, it's one less thing to adjust to. I want to hear some sound coming from the instrument I'm playing, not just in the room.

+1

And it's inconvenient evertime to check or practice something there has to be a sound system set up. It's an odd musical instrument that makes no sound on it's own, it's a mute!

But, but....

we'd all be bitchin' about the weight!!

Just sayin'.

...and the higher price.

dB

Quote of the week.

Yes, I think the same, I especially like that flat top. But, I also wish it weighed 30 lbs, and cost $800.

But, I wouldn't worry too much yet - chances are good that they'll release a successor to the CP300 that has the same flat top and speakers, and includes the new sound engine from the CP1

Um, headphones?

You mean like a Theremin, or a Moog, or an OB-8, or a DX-7 or…

There are plenty of keyboards that don't make a sound unless you plug them into an amplifier of some sort. Most synths and samplers work that way. DPs are a funny lineage, in that they're directly more descended from the sampler lineage (though the modeling ones might be more like synths), but they're meant to simulate acoustic instruments.

As a matter of fact, there are many instruments that don't sound like anything without amplification these days, including electric guitars.

That's not to say I don't see the use of having onboard speakers. However, manufacturers decide this based on their target market. For home use, it's likely they will build them in, but I think they don't think that there's a need in models for pro gigging musicians.

...They have these things called Clavinovas that have speakers in them and cost about the same.

My CP-300 is the centerpiece of my studio... I love being able to switch it on and play without booting up my computer and monitors, although I can and do when I'm ready. But a secondary thing about having internal speakers is that I believe it enhances the resale vale of the keyboard because more people can use it. Dance studios, teachers and more who wouldn't normally have amplified sound handy would use a CP-300.

C'mon, Bob... common sense has no place in these threads!

Am I alone wishing the new pianos had audio inputs for those situations, in which channels dedicated to keyboards are maybe limited to,say, two?

Yamaha already thought of that:

Ditto - I find the speakers on my GEM prp800 valuable for the same reason. Often times, I just want to sit down and play something without firing up the whole rig. The spkrs don't sound that good, but for quick access, they can't be beat (o.k., unless you have a real piano!)