Korg PA2XFrom real comments

Name: Korg PA2X
Rating: 3 (12 reviews)

Verdict distilled from 12 mentions across 10 aspects in comments under product review videos.

Positive sentiment55%

PROS 55%

CONS 45%

Rank based on 12 mentions across 10 aspects

View the verdict as

Buy this if...

You play Middle Eastern or oriental music styles often
You want a touch-display arranger with strong drum sounds
You prefer punchier, more energetic backing styles over ultra-realistic acoustic instruments

What users love

Strong for oriental/Middle Eastern music0 mentions

Strongly positive

Punchy accompaniment styles0 mentions

Widely praised

Good drum sounds0 mentions

Widely praised

Touch display0 mentions

Generally positive

Extensive preset library0 mentions

Generally positive

Skip this if...

You need reliable user-bank style saving without glitches
You want built-in speakers for portable, amp-free playing
You expect a broad, versatile style library rivaling Yamaha or Ketron

What users complain about

Style-saving bugs0 mentions

Strongly criticized

Weak style library for some users0 mentions

Frequently criticized

No built-in speakers0 mentions

Generally negative

High price relative to features0 mentions

Frequently criticized

Weaker acoustic solo instrument realism0 mentions

Generally negative

Compare in seconds

Based on user comments

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Articulate sound

Great with extended-range guitars

Strong overall tone quality

Price concerns

2Premium

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Musical analog toneLong-term reliability and board loyaltySimple, intuitive controlsHigh price pointCheaper alternatives seen as comparableDistortion at high settings

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Musical analog tone

Long-term reliability and board loyalty

Simple, intuitive controls

High price point

Cheaper alternatives seen as comparable

Distortion at high settings

3Premium

Mad Professor Sweet Honey Overdrive

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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

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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

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Exceptional reverb quality

High-quality warm pitch shifting

Strong aspirational appeal

High price

Cheaper alternatives may suffice

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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

Wampler Tumnus V2

Klon Centaur-style toneConvincing demo influenced purchaseExcellent clean boostNot suited for metal tones

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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

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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

31Premium

Korg PA2X

Strong for oriental/Middle Eastern musicExtensive preset libraryGood drum soundsHigh price relative to featuresNo built-in speakersStyle-saving bugs

Korg PA2X

Strong for oriental/Middle Eastern music

Extensive preset library

Good drum sounds

High price relative to features

No built-in speakers

Style-saving bugs

Versatile
1. MXR Super Badass Distortionarrow_upward15
2. Wampler Paisley Drivearrow_upward6
3. Mad Professor Sweet Honey Overdrivearrow_upward4
Expensive
1. Korg PA2Xarrow_downward1
2. Moog Subsequent 37arrow_downward3
3. Origin Effects Deluxe61arrow_downward3
Dynamic response
1. Mad Professor Sweet Honey Overdrivearrow_upward8
2. Wampler Paisley Drivearrow_upward2
Build quality
1. Moog Subsequent 37arrow_upward3
2. Origin Effects Deluxe61arrow_upward1

Overall Impression

Strong fit for oriental and Middle Eastern performance styles. Multiple users directly compared the PA2X to Yamaha's Tyros line and concluded the Korg performs noticeably better for Middle Eastern and oriental music, citing punchier style arrangements. One user explicitly said Korg 'wins over Yamaha' for this genre, while another called it 'much better than the tyros' after a live demo. This appears to be one of the instrument's clearest genre-specific strengths according to commenters.

Drum sounds and touch display stand out as hardware highlights. A self-identified professional drummer praised the PA2X's drum sounds as superior to those on later Korg PA4 and PA5 models, a notable claim given it predates those units. Separately, another commenter pointed to the touch display as a meaningful feature advantage over comparable arrangers, even while questioning the instrument's overall value given its price and shared feature set with cheaper alternatives.

Software bugs and style library gaps frustrate some users. One frustrated user described a specific and severe bug where saving styles to user banks simply doesn't work despite the instrument's high price point, calling it evidence of why people 'dump this stuff.' Another commenter separately criticized the built-in styles as 'horrible' and hard to play with, recommending Yamaha or Ketron instead. Together these suggest inconsistent experiences with the style engine across different users and use cases.

Outdated / Not-accurate data?

music_noteStrong for oriental/Middle Eastern music

3 mentions

Strongly positive

Several users found the PA2X outperforms Yamaha's Tyros specifically for Middle Eastern and oriental music styles. This was cited as a clear reason to favor the Korg over competing arrangers.

@dzadam32

Different intro for major and minor chord is not a new feature... Roland has been applying it for a while... anyway, PA2X is a good instrument

smart_display

October 5, 2010

@eaMusIk2008

I played yesterday and demoed it. It is very nice and much better than the tyros if you play middle eastern/oriental music.

smart_display

June 27, 2010

@aminuk23

i agree but korg has more use in case of u wana play oriental kinda music, so for me korg wins over yamaha

smart_display

February 26, 2010

boltPunchy accompaniment styles

1 mentions

Widely praised

A comparison with Yamaha's Tyros noted that Korg's styles come across as more 'punchy' in many cases, though Yamaha was seen as stronger for realistic acoustic solo instruments.

@SLOVENEC1972

Both Tyros and PA are great arrangers. But I'd say that the Korg beats the Yamaha in many of the styles which come across as being more 'punchy'. Whereas, the Yamaha definitely beats the Korg in a number of it's 'real acoustic' solo instruments. You seriously can't go wrong with neither and it's down to personal preference.

smart_display

November 17, 2015

albumGood drum sounds

1 mentions

Widely praised

A commenter identifying as a professional drummer stated the drum sounds on the PA2X are better than on the later PA4 or PA5 models.

@jet7327

I think the drums sound way better on this PA2 than the PA4 or 5. And I'm a pro drummer!

smart_display

November 15, 2023

touch_appTouch display

1 mentions

Generally positive

One user pointed out the PA2X pro's touch display as a feature advantage compared to similar-priced or feature-equivalent instruments.

@kreg001

@josesillo0789 naah .. way too expensive .. and same features .. not even same .. 2x pro have touch display!

smart_display

December 23, 2010

library_musicExtensive preset library

1 mentions

Generally positive

The instrument includes a large number of preset instruments, drum kits, and accompaniment styles, giving users a broad palette to work with out of the box.

@615Lyfe

Spesifications\n\nYear Released : 2005/2006\nPreset Instruments : 256 Programs Instruments + 320 Instruments Combinations Of Remastered + 64 Drum Kits.\n64 Set List + Performance Memory 4 Bank Sections.\n256 Accompaniment Styles\n128 Manual Sequence Pads+4 Bank Sections\nCategory : 16 Category Voices,\n16 Category Styles.

smart_display

April 15, 2024

bug_reportStyle-saving bugs

1 mentions

Strongly criticized

One user reported a significant issue where saving custom styles to user banks does not work as advertised, calling it a major flaw for a $3500 instrument.

@alanmartin4780

korg pa2xpro ANOTHER keyboard to ( SMART ) for its own GOOD !!!! , TRY saving styles to the user banks , it takes NO notice , this is a $3500 keyboard that wont do what they SAY it will !!!! no wonder people DUMP this STUFF!!!!!

smart_display

April 8, 2015

thumb_downWeak style library for some users

1 mentions

Frequently criticized

A different user criticized the styles as 'horrible' and difficult to play with, suggesting Yamaha or Ketron offer better alternatives.

@sloboz8787

Horrible styles, can't really play much with those ....\nUse Yamaha / Ketron for better styles.

smart_display

May 17, 2024

speakerNo built-in speakers

1 mentions

Generally negative

The lack of onboard speakers means users must haul around external amps and speakers, reducing portability for spontaneous playing.

@samueladams7

Wonder why they didn't put built-in speakers on this thing. Would make it a lot easier to take with you and make music on the fly without having to haul around amps & speakers too.

smart_display

May 25, 2013

attach_moneyHigh price relative to features

1 mentions

Frequently criticized

One commenter felt the instrument is too expensive given that it shares similar features with other options, aside from the touch display.

@kreg001

@josesillo0789 naah .. way too expensive .. and same features .. not even same .. 2x pro have touch display!

smart_display

December 23, 2010

pianoWeaker acoustic solo instrument realism

1 mentions

Generally negative

In a direct comparison, Yamaha's Tyros was said to beat the Korg specifically in realistic acoustic solo instrument sounds.

@SLOVENEC1972

smart_display

November 17, 2015

Korg PA2Xchat_bubble_outlineFrom real comments

thumb_up_off_altBuy this if...

What users lovefavorite_border

thumb_down_off_altSkip this if...

What users complain aboutheart_broken

Compare in seconds

Who wins on what

Versatile

Expensive

Dynamic response

Build quality

auto_awesomeOverall Impression

Korg PA2XFrom real comments

Buy this if...

What users love

Skip this if...

What users complain about

Overall Impression