The QS series is often likened to budget alternatives for Kurzweil's high-end models, offering great traditional sounds like electric pianos and organs at a lower cost.

The QS8.1's keybed is not graded action but is comparable in feel to older Yamaha models like the S90ES, despite being a slightly older design.

One user found that lowering the octave and hitting the lowest key produced a unique "90's modem glitch" sound, offering creative potential.

Some users have reported mechanical noise on key release, suggesting the addition of red felt damper strips could mitigate this issue.

Users frequently treat the QS7.1 as a robust MIDI controller, appreciating features like easy global MIDI channel changes and programmable sliders.

Despite its dated sounds, the QS series still has unique patches valued by users, like the "Instant U2" sound for certain productions.

The ability to play back user-recorded samples from a PCMCIA card is appreciated, though it requires outdated equipment for transfers.

The QS8.1's 4 sliders offer versatile control, often acting as drawbars or adjusting effects, providing basic tweaks without full patch editing.

The QS7.1's sequencer relies on PCMCIA cards, posing a challenge as it plays only from these cards, potentially complicating use for those without them.

The QS7.1 is often relied upon for horn and organ sounds, with users noting its effectiveness in live performance settings.

Ideal for live performance, the QS7.1's ability to stack sounds and map them across the keyboard makes it versatile for multitimbral setups.

With its 16 MIDI channels and overlappable zones, the QS8.1 excels as a master controller for driving multiple modules and desktop synths.

Owners faced issues with key weights becoming unglued, which requires time-consuming repairs to reattach them properly.

The QS series is noted for its substantial weight, making it sturdy but potentially challenging to transport due to its hefty build.

The QS7.1 is praised for its durable construction, often described as being "built like a tank," providing reliability even with budget pricing.

Owners recommend the Vintage Synth Q card for the QS7.1 to access additional sounds with reasonable filter sweeps, enhancing the synth's sonic palette.

Loading custom samples is challenging due to rare PCMCIA cards and proprietary software, making it less ideal for sound design.