PA500 vs PA800

dimitris · Post by **dimitris** » Sun Feb 20, 2011 9:11 pm

Nedim is right. If you make tests with high end sound machines and speakers you will listen the difference but, for live use you won't maybe notice any difference in quality at all!!

Dimitris

Thoraldus · Post by **Thoraldus** » Mon Feb 21, 2011 2:00 am

dimitris wrote:Nedim is right. If you make tests with high end sound machines and speakers you will listen the difference but, for live use you won't maybe notice any difference in quality at all!!

Dimitris

Next time I have a chance to listen to both keyboards I'll take my Grado PS1000's

Thoraldus · Post by **Thoraldus** » Tue Feb 22, 2011 2:28 am

After an exhaustive search, the only reference I can find made by KORG regarding DAC's and ADC's on the PA500 and PA800 is ...

"High-quality input (ADC) and output (DAC) audio converters."

This same statement is found in both respective manuals. If I were KORG I surely would want to highlight the fact that the PA800 has better quality circuitry. If for no other reason than to help validate the PA800's higher price.

Fransman · Post by **Fransman** » Tue Feb 22, 2011 8:20 pm

Thoraldus wrote: the fact that the PA800 has better quality circuitry. If for no other reason than to validate the PA800's higher price.

The higher price is validated with lots of things:
- quality of materials used
- sampler
- vocal harmonizer
- more styles
- more sounds
- more user banks
- better speakers
- etc.

Thoraldus · Post by **Thoraldus** » Thu Feb 24, 2011 1:35 am

I have found information on the audio sections of the PA500 and PA2X and there ARE differences in the DACs. In looking over the specs I would say that with a sufficiently high grade audio system you would be able to tell the difference. Neither DAC is particularly expensive (less that $10 ea in small quantities) but there are extra features in the DAC used on the PA2X compared to the one used in the PA500. (28 pin vs 16 pin)

ps. They both sport 24bit data and 192bps sampling rate.

Now I have to find the info on the PA800.

Sam CA · Post by **Sam CA** » Thu Feb 24, 2011 2:28 am

Thoraldus wrote:I have found information on the audio sections of the PA500 and PA2X and there ARE differences in the DACs. In looking over the specs I would say that with a sufficiently high grade audio system you would be able to tell the difference. Neither DAC is particularly expensive (less that $10 ea in small quantities) but there are extra features in the DAC used on the PA2X compared to the one used in the PA500. (28 pin vs 16 pin)

ps. They both sport 24bit data and 192bps sampling rate.

Now I have to find the info on the PA800.

Now we know for sure.

dimitris · Post by **dimitris** » Thu Feb 24, 2011 3:49 pm

Thoraldus wrote:I have found information on the audio sections of the PA500 and PA2X and there ARE differences in the DACs. In looking over the specs I would say that with a sufficiently high grade audio system you would be able to tell the difference. Neither DAC is particularly expensive (less that $10 ea in small quantities) but there are extra features in the DAC used on the PA2X compared to the one used in the PA500. (28 pin vs 16 pin)

ps. They both sport 24bit data and 192bps sampling rate.

Now I have to find the info on the PA800.

Where did you find those info, Thoraldus?

Thoraldus · Post by **Thoraldus** » Thu Feb 24, 2011 4:01 pm

dimitris wrote:
Thoraldus wrote:I have found information on the audio sections of the PA500 and PA2X and there ARE differences in the DACs. In looking over the specs I would say that with a sufficiently high grade audio system you would be able to tell the difference. Neither DAC is particularly expensive (less that $10 ea in small quantities) but there are extra features in the DAC used on the PA2X compared to the one used in the PA500. (28 pin vs 16 pin)

ps. They both sport 24bit data and 192bps sampling rate.

Now I have to find the info on the PA800.
Where did you find those info, Thoraldus?

On the internet.

Thoraldus · Post by **Thoraldus** » Thu Feb 24, 2011 4:16 pm

For the curious ...

PA2X DAC is a Cirrus Logic CS4398

PA500 DAC is a AsahiKasei AK4384

cheers,
Rick

dimitris · Post by **dimitris** » Sat Feb 26, 2011 11:12 am

I see... and what about pa3x??

Thoraldus · Post by **Thoraldus** » Sat Feb 26, 2011 12:21 pm

dimitris wrote:I see... and what about pa3x??

I doubt we'll have that info for at least several months.

obarguti · Post by **obarguti** » Sun Feb 27, 2011 7:30 am

Thanks for all the help guys. If I have to make a guess, the main reason why PA500 is half the price is because its out sourced to china. It looks like a toy and feels cheap. The screen is not colored and it has way less memory banks and material. The knobs and buttons are cheap. Obviously costs Korg a lot less. The PA800 is made in Italy and European labor is way more expensive.

I do own both but I struggle with the PA800 because I own a poor oriental set and I am a beginner. I realized I am not ready for it. I am in the process of selling it and if I get better in few years I might buy the PA5x if it is out by then