Yamaha PSS Overview
In the 1980s and 1990s, Yamaha created some iconic mini music keyboards under the PortaSound name. Many of these were simple instruments aimed at children and/or beginners, but as technology improved and costs lowered, additional features were often added.
Designed for both home and educational use, they were usually compact, lightweight keyboards, most with miniature keys, simple interfaces, modest speakers, and a range of sounds - sometimes of questionable realism.
Being more low-cost instruments, they rarely had touch sensitive or aftertouch-enabled keys, sustain pedals or other more advanced features. Many had simple accompaniments, some allowed for simple recordings to be made, and some had onboard learning features.
Models used a range of sound generation technology, including sample-based sounds, FM synthesis, and wavetables. None used the AWM technology to be found on the PSR keyboards.
A number of the PSS models used the Yamaha YM3812 sound chip, capable of FM synthesis, including the PSS-360, PSS-460, PSS-470, PSS-560 and PSS-570. A scaled down chip, the Yamaha YM2413, was used in the PSS-140, PSS-170 and PSS-270. A Yamaha YM3301 chip was also added to some models to handle percussion sounds.
Today, some PSS models are desirable as authentic “lo-fi” sound generators for many composers and music producers. There have been close to 70 models with the PS, PSS or PortaSound branding.
Overall, Yamaha PortaSound keyboards were popular for their affordability, versatility, and portability, making them a popular choice for aspiring musicians and music enthusiasts. While these keyboards may not have had the same level of sound quality and features as Yamaha’s higher-end models, they still offer a great introduction to the world of electronic music.
See our detailed history of the Yamaha PSS instruments for much more information.
Below is a comparison table, and individual pages with more information for each model are linked.
Newest Yamaha PSS Models: PSS-F30 (2021) PSS-A50 (2019) PSS-680 (2010) PSS-15 (2000) PSS-14 (1997)
Popular Yamaha PSS Models: PSS-140 (1988) PSS-480 (1988) PSS-280 (1989) PSS-270 (1987) PSS-580 (1989)
Instruments (56 items)
| Compare | Model | Keys | Sounds | Communications | Pedals | Audio | Sequencing | Power | Learning | Year | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Yamaha PSS-100 info |
O: 2+ (32k) WS SM T A | P6 V4 SgPASS Pi Rw Ed Ac | M U T | Sus Sft Exp | AuO AuI Spk | Rec | PSU Bat | Tut | 1989 |
$90
    |
|
 Yamaha PSS-101 info |
O: 2+ (32k) WS SM T A | P8 V4 SgFM/PC… Pi Rw Ed Ac | M U T | Sus Sft Exp | AuO AuI Spk | Rec | PSU Bat | Tut | 1991 |
Unknown |
|
 Yamaha PSS-102 info |
O: 2+ (32k) WS SM T A | P8 V4 SgFM/PC… Pi Rw Ed Ac | M U T | Sus Sft Exp | AuO AuI Spk | Rec | PSU Bat | Tut | 1991 |
$100
|
|
 Yamaha PSS-103 info |
O: 4 (49k) WS SM T A | P8 V4 SgFM/PC… Pi Rw Ed Ac | M U T | Sus Sft Exp | AuO AuI Spk | Rec | PSU Bat | Tut | 1991 |
Unknown |
|
 Yamaha PSS-104 info |
O: 4 (49k) WS SM T A | P8 V8 SgFM/PC… Pi Rw Ed Ac | M U T | Sus Sft Exp | AuO AuI Spk | Rec | PSU Bat | Tut | 1991 |
$190
|
|
 Yamaha PSS-11 info |
O: 2+ (32k) WS SM T A | P12 V100 SgAWM Pi Rw Ed Ac | M U T | Sus Sft Exp | AuO AuI Spk | Rec | PSU Bat | Tut | 1992 |
$50
|
|
 Yamaha PSS-110 info |
O: 2+ (32k) WS SM T A | P4 V9 SgPASS Pi Rw Ed Ac | M U T | Sus Sft Exp | AuO AuI Spk | Rec | PSU Bat | Tut | 1985 |
$40
|
|
 Yamaha PSS-12 info |
O: 2+ (32k) WS SM T A | P12 V100 SgAWM Pi Rw Ed Ac | M U T | Sus Sft Exp | AuO AuI Spk | Rec | PSU Bat | Tut | 1994 |
$50
|
|
 Yamaha PSS-120 info |
O: 2+ (32k) WS SM T A | P2 V8 SgPASS Pi Rw Ed Ac | M U T | Sus Sft Exp | AuO AuI Spk | Rec | PSU Bat | Tut | 1986 |
$70
|
|
 Yamaha PSS-125 info |
O: 2+ (32k) WS SM T A | P6 V8 SgPASS Pi Rw Ed Ac | M U T | Sus Sft Exp | AuO AuI Spk | Rec | PSU Bat | Tut | 1989 |
Unknown |
|
 Yamaha PSS-130 info |
O: 2+ (32k) WS SM T A | P2 V8 SgPASS Pi Rw Ed Ac | M U T | Sus Sft Exp | AuO AuI Spk | Rec | PSU Bat | Tut | 1987 |
$80
|
|
 Yamaha PSS-14 info |
O: 2+ (32k) WS SM T A | P12 V100 SgAWM Pi Rw Ed Ac | M U T | Sus Sft Exp | AuO AuI Spk | Rec | PSU Bat | Tut | 1997 |
$50
|
|
 Yamaha PSS-140 info |
O: 3 (37k) WS SM T A | P6 V100 SgFM Pi Rw Ed Ac | M U T | Sus Sft Exp | AuO AuI Spk | Rec | PSU Bat | Tut | 1988 |
$110
|
|
 Yamaha PSS-15 info |
O: 2+ (32k) WS SM T A | P4 V100 SgAWM Pi Rw Ed Ac | M U T | Sus Sft Exp | AuO AuI Spk | Rec | PSU Bat | Tut | 2000 |
$80
|
|
 Yamaha PSS-150 info |
O: 3 (37k) WS SM T A | P4 V5 SgPASS Pi Rw Ed Ac | M U T | Sus Sft Exp | AuO AuI Spk | Rec | PSU Bat | Tut | 1985 |
$70
|
|
 Yamaha PSS-16 info |
O: 3 (37k) WS SM T A | P8 V100 SgAWM Pi Rw Ed Ac | M U T | Sus Sft Exp | AuO AuI Spk | Rec | PSU Bat | Tut | 1990 |
$50
|
|
 Yamaha PSS-160 info |
O: 3+ (44k) WS SM T A | P4 V10 SgPASS Pi Rw Ed Ac | M U T | Sus Sft Exp | AuO AuI Spk | Rec | PSU Bat | Tut | 1986 |
$120
|
|
 Yamaha PSS-170 info |
O: 3+ (44k) WS SM T A | P9 V100 SgFM Pi Rw Ed Ac | M U T | Sus Sft Exp | AuO AuI Spk | Rec | PSU Bat | Tut | 1987 |
$140
|
|
 Yamaha PSS-190 info |
O: 3 (37k) WS SM T A | P8 V100 SgFM/PC… Pi Rw Ed Ac | M U T | Sus Sft Exp | AuO AuI Spk | Rec | PSU Bat | Tut | 1990 |
$100
|
|
 Yamaha PSS-20 info |
O: 2+ (32k) WS SM T A | P1 V8 SgPASS Pi Rw Ed Ac | M U T | Sus Sft Exp | AuO AuI Spk | Rec | PSU Bat | Tut | 1989 |
$40
|
|
 Yamaha PSS-21 info |
O: 3 (37k) WS SM T A | P12 V100 SgAWM Pi Rw Ed Ac | M U T | Sus Sft Exp | AuO AuI Spk | Rec | PSU Bat | Tut | 1992 |
$50
|
|
 Yamaha PSS-26 info |
O: 4 (49k) WS SM T A | P8 V100 SgAWM Pi Rw Ed Ac | M U T | Sus Sft Exp | AuO AuI Spk | Rec | PSU Bat | Tut | 1995 |
Unknown |
|
 Yamaha PSS-260 info |
O: 4 (49k) WS SM T A | P7 V12 SgFM Pi Rw Ed Ac | M U T | Sus Sft Exp | AuO AuI Spk | Rec | PSU Bat | Tut | 1986 |
$160
|
|
 Yamaha PSS-270 info |
O: 3+ (44k) WS SM T A | P9 V100 SgFM Pi Rw Ed Ac | M U T | Sus Sft Exp | AuO AuI Spk | Rec | PSU Bat | Tut | 1987 |
$190
|
|
 Yamaha PSS-280 info |
O: 4 (49k) WS SM T A | P8 V100 SgFM/PC… Pi Rw Ed Ac | M U T | Sus Sft Exp | AuO AuI Spk | Rec | PSU Bat | Tut | 1989 |
$170
|
|
 Yamaha PSS-290 info |
O: 4 (49k) WS SM T A | P8 V100 SgFM/PC… Pi Rw Ed Ac | M U T | Sus Sft Exp | AuO AuI Spk | Rec | PSU Bat | Tut | 1990 |
$160
|
|
 Yamaha PSS-30 info |
O: 2+ (32k) WS SM T A | P2 V8 SgPASS Pi Rw Ed Ac | M U T | Sus Sft Exp | AuO AuI Spk | Rec | PSU Bat | Tut | 1987 |
$50
|
|
 Yamaha PSS-31 info |
O: 4 (49k) WS SM T A | P12 V100 SgAWM Pi Rw Ed Ac | M U T | Sus Sft Exp | AuO AuI Spk | Rec | PSU Bat | Tut | 1992 |
$50
|
|
 Yamaha PSS-360 info |
O: 4 (49k) WS SM T A | P9 V21 SgFM Pi Rw Ed Ac | M U T | Sus Sft Exp | AuO AuI Spk | Rec | PSU Bat | Tut | 1986 |
$200
|
|
 Yamaha PSS-370 info |
O: 4 (49k) WS SM T A | P9 V20 SgFM Pi Rw Ed Ac | M U T | Sus Sft Exp | AuO AuI Spk | Rec | PSU Bat | Tut | 1987 |
$210
|
|
 Yamaha PSS-380 info |
O: 4 (49k) WS SM T A | P8 V100 SgFM/PC… Pi Rw Ed Ac | M U T | Sus Sft Exp | AuO AuI Spk | Rec | PSU Bat | Tut | 1989 |
$210
|
|
 Yamaha PSS-390 info |
O: 4 (49k) WS SM T A | P8 V100 SgFM/PC… Pi Rw Ed Ac | M U T | Sus Sft Exp | AuO AuI Spk | Rec | PSU Bat | Tut | 1990 |
$200
|
|
 Yamaha PSS-401 info |
O: 3+ (44k) WS SM T A | P7 V10 SgPASS Pi Rw Ed Ac | M U T | Sus Sft Exp | AuO AuI Spk | Rec | PSU Bat | Tut | 1985 |
Unknown |
|
 Yamaha PSS-450 info |
O: 4 (49k) WS SM T A | P7 V12 SgPASS Pi Rw Ed Ac | M U T | Sus Sft Exp | AuO AuI Spk | Rec | PSU Bat | Tut | 1985 |
$150
|
|
 Yamaha PSS-460 info |
O: 4 (49k) WS SM T A | P9 V21 SgFM Pi Rw Ed Ac | M U T | Sus Sft Exp | AuO AuI Spk | Rec | PSU Bat | Tut | 1986 |
$260
|
|
 Yamaha PSS-470 info |
O: 4 (49k) WS SM T A | P9 V21 SgFM Pi Rw Ed Ac | M U T | Sus Sft Exp | AuO AuI Spk | Rec | PSU Bat | Tut | 1987 |
$270
|
|
 Yamaha PSS-480 info |
O: 4 (49k) WS SM T A | P9 V100 SgFM/PC… Pi Rw Ed Ac | M U T | Sus Sft Exp | AuO AuI Spk | Rec | PSU Bat | Tut | 1988 |
$310
|
|
 Yamaha PSS-50 info |
O: 2+ (32k) WS SM T A | P8 V100 SgFM/PC… Pi Rw Ed Ac | M U T | Sus Sft Exp | AuO AuI Spk | Rec | PSU Bat | Tut | 1990 |
$60
|
|
 Yamaha PSS-51 info |
O: 5 (61k) WS SM T A | P28 V100 SgAWM Pi Rw Ed Ac | M U T | Sus Sft Exp | AuO AuI Spk | Rec | PSU Bat | Tut | 1992 |
$380
|
|
 Yamaha PSS-560 info |
O: 4 (49k) WS SM T A | P9 V21 SgFM/PC… Pi Rw Ed Ac | M U T | Sus Sft Exp | AuO AuI Spk | Rec | PSU Bat | Tut | 1986 |
$320
|
|
 Yamaha PSS-570 info |
O: 4 (49k) WS SM T A | P9 V21 SgFM/PC… Pi Rw Ed Ac | M U T | Sus Sft Exp | AuO AuI Spk | Rec | PSU Bat | Tut | 1987 |
$350
|
|
 Yamaha PSS-580 info |
O: 4 (49k) WS SM T A | P12 V100 SgFM/PC… Pi Rw Ed Ac | M U T | Sus Sft Exp | AuO AuI Spk | Rec | PSU Bat | Tut | 1989 |
$270
|
|
 Yamaha PSS-590 info |
O: 4 (49k) WS SM T A | P28 V100 SgAWM Pi Rw Ed Ac | M U T | Sus Sft Exp | AuO AuI Spk | Rec | PSU Bat | Tut | 1990 |
$250
|
|
 Yamaha PSS-595 info |
O: 4 (49k) WS SM T A | P28 V100 SgAWM Pi Rw Ed Ac | M U T | Sus Sft Exp | AuO AuI Spk | Rec | PSU Bat | Tut | 1991 |
Unknown |
|
 Yamaha PSS-6 info |
O: 2+ (32k) WS SM T A | P12 V100 SgAWM Pi Rw Ed Ac | M U T | Sus Sft Exp | AuO AuI Spk | Rec | PSU Bat | Tut | 1994 |
$50
|
|
 Yamaha PSS-680 info |
O: 4 (49k) WS SM T A | P0 V0 Sg Pi Rw Ed Ac | M U T | Sus Sft Exp | AuO AuI Spk | Rec | PSU Bat | Tut | 2010 |
Unknown |
|
Yamaha PSS-680 info |
O: 5 (61k) WS SM T A | P9 V100 SgFM/PC… Pi Rw Ed Ac | M U T | Sus Sft Exp | AuO AuI Spk | Rec | PSU Bat | Tut | 1988 |
$430
|
|
 Yamaha PSS-7 info |
O: 2+ (32k) WS SM T A | P1 V100 SgAWM Pi Rw Ed Ac | M U T | Sus Sft Exp | AuO AuI Spk | Rec | PSU Bat | Tut | 1997 |
$50
|
|
 Yamaha PSS-780 info |
O: 5 (61k) WS SM T A | P12 V100 SgFM/PC… Pi Rw Ed Ac | M U T | Sus Sft Exp | AuO AuI Spk | Rec | PSU Bat | Tut | 1989 |
$370
|
|
 Yamaha PSS-790 info |
O: 5 (61k) WS SM T A | P28 V100 SgAWM Pi Rw Ed Ac | M U T | Sus Sft Exp | AuO AuI Spk | Rec | PSU Bat | Tut | 1990 |
$330
|