Has the PA-900 been placed too close to the PA-3x spec?

[Beemer]

After watching the PA-900 video and reading the specification I view the PA-900 as extremely close to the PA3x specification.

Is this a good indication the Korg will release a PA3x upgrade soon?

Ian

[karmathanever]

I reckon it is just the "middle" offering.

Upgrade for PA3X? Only Korg knows that!!!

Pete

[Fransman]

First PA2X was replaced by PA3X,
then PA500 by PA600,
and now PA800 by PA900.

I think there will be a PA588 to PA688 and maybe PA50 to PA60 upgrade now.

And then, logically, PA3X would be the next to replace.
It's the flagship, but has the smallest screen now.

But hey, Korg's planning is not public, I'm just guessing.

[Sharp]

It's the flagship, but has the smallest screen now.

From what I've seen so far, I don't see any additional information taking up that extra screen space. Seems to be the same GUI.

Regards
Sharp.

[Beemer]

I have downloaded the PA900 manual then compared the spec sheet with the PA3x spec sheet. I noted:

- the PA900 has unbalanced mic/Line IN and Unbalanced Audio OUT.
- the PA900 has no ribbon
- the PA900 assignable switches are placed far from the joystick
- the PA900 has virtual but not physical drawbars
- the PA900 has two USB2 ports
+the PA900 has 20W built-in speakers

For those considering a 61 keyboard the above points may help.

Ian

[Shahin]

Also there are some minor new features introduced in pa600 ( and apparently pa900?) operating system that korg has not introduced in pa3x yet. my guess? next os upgrade will cover them eventually but its a shame that the flagship is not equiped with them form the start. The least korg could do was to release an immediate update for pa3x.

[dimitris]

I think there will be a PA588 to PA688 and maybe PA50 to PA60 upgrade now.

And then, logically, PA3X would be the next to replace.
It's the flagship, but has the smallest screen now.

PA688 is possible but, PA50 to PA60 is not possible because PA60 exists and it's been discontinued!

Maybe a PA100 is possible to fill the model line...

The new TFT touch screen of PA600 & PA900 is an 16:9 version of PA3X's TFT touch screen. Nothing more!

[karmathanever]

I have downloaded the PA900 manual then compared the spec sheet with the PA3x spec sheet. I noted:

- the PA900 has unbalanced mic/Line IN and Unbalanced Audio OUT.
- the PA900 has no ribbon
- the PA900 assignable switches are placed far from the joystick
- the PA900 has virtual but not physical drawbars
- the PA900 has two USB2 ports
+the PA900 has 20W built-in speakers

Is this a good indication the Korg will release a PA3x upgrade soon?

I can't see why the PA900 would be any reason to release a PA3X upgrade - or did you mean PA4X?

Pete

[Beemer]

Pete,

I'm always worried that whatever technology I buy, it will be superseded by a newer and better model. This has happened to me several times, e.g. with cameras and cars. I'd better not let my wife read this, or she will be saying that she should have waited for a better husband.

So in answer to your question I suppose that I am waiting for a PA4x although I was curious to find out what the PA3x has that the PA900 has not.

Ian

[karmathanever]

I'm always worried that whatever technology I buy, it will be superseded by a newer and better model.

Trust me - IT WILL!!!
I tend to buy "in-between" meaning that (particularly with keyboards) I will never buy a new model until it is about half way through its "life" - by this time it is well bedded down with updates and many many reviews and examples. So I always buy "late" and also take advantage of better prices too as they always seem to be at their highest when first released (fact of life about most technology).

I haven't had my PA3X for very long and have only just bought the Kronos - if there are very specific things you need in a keyboard and really want to wait and see if they come up in the next release, then I think you may be waiting forever.....

Ian, if you are really excited about what you have read, seen and heard so far then just go get that PA3X. I personally doubt there is a new PA??X for some while.
Of course, I have no inside information and we would never get that info until an actual announcement.

Just ask yourself what you "want" in an arranger keyboard that the PA3X doesn't currently have - often very few additional features can be easily supplemented with other products.

BUY IT!!!! IT'S IS GREAT!! AND IT IS THE CHEAPEST PROFESSIONAL ARRANGER KEYBOARD - TYROS, AUDYA IS MORE EXPENSIVE!!!!



Cheers

Pete

[Shahin]

Ian !
Pa 4x ( or whatever) will be ANNOUNCED in 2015 ( delivery may be even as far as 2016) IF korg sticks to its routine cycle of replacing the flagship every 4 years. It MAY be announced later than 2015 but sooner than that is simply IMPOSSIBLE. Given that the all the members of this generation has been released (low, mid and high end) if you are looking for midrange or lowrange you will probably be waiting till 2016 and 2017 (as korg releases one model a year). As you see research and development for the next generatin of kyboards has begun by korg (The survey in korgpa.com is most likely for implementing features of pa4x, pa1000 etc ) but it will take time as i said.

[AntonySharmman]

After watching the PA-900 video and reading the specification I view the PA-900 as extremely close to the PA3x specification.
Is this a good indication the Korg will release a PA3x upgrade soon?
Ian

As you might have realized , Pa900 is a Pa600 with a full sampler editor , extra user Ram (maybe just the
same and doubled via compression tool) , SF2 import , aftertouch , user's access to optional microSD and better
built quality to justify the higher cost , in other words just the fair replacement of Pa800 !
At the other hand some newly added features there , as faster peripheral speed and multitasking feature , require
hardware architecture and not a simple OS update of Pa3X.
Closing my input I notify that Pa900(600) isn't at all close to Pa3X features and Internal Rom library ,
just using partial features of Pa3X machine !