Sounds aren't as professional as modern systems and the polyphony means that you can forget trying to compose multipart work on it. The amount of tweaking that can be done with the instruments is beyond belief though, which is what makes this box so nice to continue to own in y2g.

At one point I considered trading the YS100 in for a DX7 MKII, but comparing the two there was so little difference in the sound that I decided to save my money.

As for hum problems, I would check the supply. I run mine from a PSR keyboard mains adaptor and its fine.

The TQ5 is cheap and gives you a 4-operator 8-part multitimbral FM synth with digital FX processor, 100 user memories (the TX had 32), sequencer and a BIG readout (as big as a JV1080`s !), once you`ve got the editor you`ll realise that it really IS a better TX81z on which that "Lately Bass" preset sounds just the same, even better through the onboard delay. when in multimode you can change patches for each part from your computer (unlike really budget stuff like the Oberheim Matrix-12).. this one is no more noisy than a TX81z or DX11. it has EASY FM editing from it`s panel like the V50, which is good for easy to use tweaks but not exactly in-depth. takes Yamaha`s 32K cards for either sequencer data or more patches. unless you particularily want a boring ugly 1u rackmount with a tiny readout and no FX, get the TQ5 instead of the hyped TX81z, they`re CHEAPER! too and both are more capable than a DX100.

BTW it looks like a Waldorf telephone answering machine (well it would if they made one), specially to match the grey Microwave XT alongside which it looks very chic indeedidoo.