Korg NTS-2From real comments

Verdict distilled from 24 mentions across 12 aspects in comments under product review videos.

Positive sentiment62%
PROS 62%
CONS 38%

Rank based on 24 mentions across 12 aspects

View the verdict as

Buy this if...

  • You want an affordable, portable oscilloscope to visualize modular CV and audio signals
  • You're new to synthesis and want a hands-on way to learn how sound and waveforms work
  • You need a compact spectrum analyzer, waveform generator, and CV LFO in one small unit

What users love

Skip this if...

  • You need 5-pin MIDI or dedicated CV output built in
  • You're sensitive to ground loop hum or USB noise when connecting to a mixer or laptop
  • You already own a hardware oscilloscope or need a dedicated pro-grade scope like Mordax Data

What users complain about

Compare in seconds

Based on user comments

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1Mid
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Articulate soundGreat with extended-range guitarsStrong overall tone qualityPrice concerns
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Articulate sound
Great with extended-range guitars
Strong overall tone quality
Price concerns
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Musical analog toneLong-term reliability and board loyaltySimple, intuitive controlsHigh price pointCheaper alternatives seen as comparableDistortion at high settings
Mad Professor Deep Blue Delay
Musical analog tone
Long-term reliability and board loyalty
Simple, intuitive controls
High price point
Cheaper alternatives seen as comparable
Distortion at high settings
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Mad Professor Sweet Honey Overdrive
Touch-sensitive dynamicsLong-term favorite / durability of appealSweet, low-gain tone qualityHigh price versus clonesDeluxe loses some original characterLimited mid control
Mad Professor Sweet Honey Overdrive
Touch-sensitive dynamics
Long-term favorite / durability of appeal
Sweet, low-gain tone quality
High price versus clones
Deluxe loses some original character
Limited mid control
Best value
4Mid
MXR Super Badass Distortion
Exceptional versatilityNatural, amp-like tonePowerful 3-band EQDemo videos undersell the pedalNoticeable noise floorVolume drop when engaged
MXR Super Badass Distortion
Exceptional versatility
Natural, amp-like tone
Powerful 3-band EQ
Demo videos undersell the pedal
Noticeable noise floor
Volume drop when engaged
5Premium
Eventide Orville
Exceptional reverb qualityHigh-quality warm pitch shiftingStrong aspirational appealHigh priceCheaper alternatives may sufficeEffect can feel like it plays for you
Eventide Orville
Exceptional reverb quality
High-quality warm pitch shifting
Strong aspirational appeal
High price
Cheaper alternatives may suffice
Effect can feel like it plays for you
6Premium
Origin Effects Deluxe61
Authentic amp-like toneExcellent low-to-mid gain driveUnderrated favorite among ownersHigh price pointLimited gain-staging flexibilityNo built-in reverb
Origin Effects Deluxe61
Authentic amp-like tone
Excellent low-to-mid gain drive
Underrated favorite among owners
High price point
Limited gain-staging flexibility
No built-in reverb
7Premium
Roland TR-808
Iconic, powerful kick drumWarmer, more alive analog characterCultural and historical influenceExtremely high collector priceAnalog noise and static requiring EQReliability concerns of aging hardware
Roland TR-808
Iconic, powerful kick drum
Warmer, more alive analog character
Cultural and historical influence
Extremely high collector price
Analog noise and static requiring EQ
Reliability concerns of aging hardware
8Premium
Moog Subsequent 37
Inspiring and addictive to playWarm, fat analog toneStrong DAW/VST editor integrationHigh price for what it offersLimited versatility outside bass rangeNeeds effects/partner gear to shine
Moog Subsequent 37
Inspiring and addictive to play
Warm, fat analog tone
Strong DAW/VST editor integration
High price for what it offers
Limited versatility outside bass range
Needs effects/partner gear to shine
9
Wampler Tumnus V2
Klon Centaur-style toneConvincing demo influenced purchaseExcellent clean boostNot suited for metal tones
Wampler Tumnus V2
Klon Centaur-style tone
Convincing demo influenced purchase
Excellent clean boost
Not suited for metal tones
10Mid
Wampler Paisley Drive
Transparent toneVersatile across genresWorks well across many guitar typesTwo-channel routing complexityDry signal bleed-throughInconsistent demo impressions
Wampler Paisley Drive
Transparent tone
Versatile across genres
Works well across many guitar types
Two-channel routing complexity
Dry signal bleed-through
Inconsistent demo impressions
You are here
31Mid
Korg NTS-2
Great for visualizing CV and modulationEducational and helpful for learning synthesisFills a market gap for portable scopesGround loop and USB noise issuesPrice seen as high by someBattery hungry
Korg NTS-2
Great for visualizing CV and modulation
Educational and helpful for learning synthesis
Fills a market gap for portable scopes
Ground loop and USB noise issues
Price seen as high by some
Battery hungry

Who wins on what

Ranked by what users actually praise

Overall Impression

Fills a real gap between cheap DSO scopes and expensive tabletop units. Multiple commenters compare the NTS-2 favorably to $25-50 DSO138 clones and pricier Rigol tabletop scopes needing adapters, calling it a genuine gap-filler in the market. Modular users especially appreciate being able to visually track CV voltages and audio signals without a full Eurorack-based solution like Mordax Data, which some plan to upgrade to later.

Noise and grounding issues surface when connected to laptops or mixers. Several users report USB power noise, ground loops, and unclear signals when patching audio out from a mixer, with one calling the result 'disappointed' and needing a denoise cable with transformer. Others note the issue is worse on laptops lacking proper grounding, and recommend ferrite chokes, powerbanks, or isolators as workarounds.

Missing MIDI, CV, and mono input options frustrate some buyers. Commenters flag the absence of 5-pin MIDI or CV output as 'a real shame,' and note there's no way to turn off the grid overlay for cleaner video capture. Others wish for mono input options and a display that could output to an external screen over USB, limiting some creative and integration use cases.

Outdated / Not-accurate data?