HD you're right for both things.
roland sp-808:1998 (the ex version is from 2000 indeed)
boss sp-202: 2000
peace

looks cool but 32 gigs memory..?! ill just wait till the sp-555sx comes out.

in Japan the sx is selling for about 35,000 yen (or $350). one thing i noticed are quite a few original sp-404 selling for very cheap. so if you don't like the new you could get the old now (or soon) for the low. it might be nice to have a back-up even.

i always get a kick out of the 808 (which is a great machine) because it now sells for 1/20th the original price at online auctions. i can get one for 10,000 yen. also i can get an mv 8000 for 40,000 to 60,000yen which seems unbelievable to me.

the only problem i got with the sp-808 is its dimensions...i think is a great machine too...how it measures anyway?
how much usd is 40,000/60,000 yen?

That's between 300€ and 450€, which is a crazy deal for an MV8000. I'd buy one and sell it with a profit of about double. (You can get 800€ for a mint condition MV8000 at least, probably more).

(By the way, beware of those Chinese fakes.. those mv8800 tend to go for about 600$ and from what I can tell, they don't work.)

This box really looks very cool and appealing to me. The fact is it has linear sampling quality and that you can use it as a live effects box with smooth effects switching,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRodA5ejST8

I wasn't talking specifically about the 404 but the SP line in general. They take their Fantom engine and repack it into a bunch of different boxes with different amounts of features. All they're doing on the 404sx is updating it inline with the engine they already put in the 555. nothing new that didn't exist previously. Going back there was a leap from the 202 to the 303. not very much to the 404 and 4 years later, practically no leap to the 404sx. treading water.

Not likely given the economy.

I have mixed feelings about this unit. Bad Sides of the unit include:
1) No real Pitch
2) Func button replaces the internal memory banks, which I used a lot to swap samples I was using from different cards to those banks.
3) Why did they change the name from Lo-Fi to Beat Crash?????
4) The removal of vinyl sim to be replaced with djfx looper.
&
NO DAMN MIDI OUT!!!!!!!!!

Thats all I have wanted in the box so i could control my other software. Why would I want a pad controller to control my box that has pads?

Other than those features I can see some good in the machine. Im not going to go crazy tech because a lot of cats already went there, but as a dj I can see why this product would serve as a better tool than the og 404.
The fact of the sd card is huge. The possibility to save tons & tons of loops, sounds, and even songs is great.
Pattern copy is a nice addition, but I enjoy the workaround.
The Fuction button is really nice but it shouldnt have replaced the internal memory.
Backing up projects/patterns should be a lot better now. Esp the amount in which you can do.
Linear sampling is a very nice addition.

There are a couple of other things that are Questionable ATM but I shall see when I go to my GC and test it. I think it is overall a step in the right direction in terms of business and marketing. They are not marketing this product as a hiphop beatbox/sample station, but more towards club and dance dj's. I might pick this up after I test it just to compliment my 404. I can have a dedicated beatbox and the sx can come along for the dj gigs. I can see more advantages of having 1 of each in the studio that 2 of the same kind.

Still wish there was midi out though

100% agree

Like someone said...its a 2009 404 and sells a little cheaper. I'm ok with this. What im wondering is with this new sound engine is it possible the timestretch could sound better? That alone would make it worth it...and if it has new pads...404 pads throw my timing off...its like banging on stiff marshmellows!

^ Frantic sighting!

it only took a new SP to bring him out

Lol... I been around... answering PMs and listening to all the dope music emanating from this page!

But yo, whats the word on this ? has anyone put their qualified hands on one of these yet ?

Because the 404 does not have velocity sensitive pads, but if you hook up a proper controller up to it it can recieve velocity sensitivity signals via MIDI...

I agree 100% though that a MIDI out on the 404sx would be dope.

I might buy one, since its only about $40 more on ebay than a regular 404, will see how much money i have next week. definitelymaybe gettin one of eeither 404OG or 404SX