Korg PA600From real comments

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

Positive sentiment43%
PROS 43%
CONS 57%

Rank based on 24 mentions across 12 aspects

View the verdict as

Buy this if...

  • You want strong piano, brass and lead tones with a quality key bed
  • You need rich Indian rhythms and tones for regional performance
  • You perform live and want MP3/karaoke playback and sample creation tools

What users love

Skip this if...

  • You want a simple, shallow-menu workflow instead of nested sub-menus
  • You need a robust built-in sequencer without menu digging
  • You're wary of reported hardware faults like speaker or startup failures

What users complain about

Compare in seconds

Based on user comments

Best choice
1Mid
Mad Professor Fire Red Fuzz
Articulate soundGreat with extended-range guitarsStrong overall tone qualityPrice concerns
Mad Professor Fire Red Fuzz
Articulate sound
Great with extended-range guitars
Strong overall tone quality
Price concerns
2Premium
Mad Professor Deep Blue Delay
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
3Premium
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 PA600
MP3 Playback and Sample CreationExcellent Piano and Lead TonesStrong Indian Sound ContentReported Hardware and Reliability IssuesDry or Underwhelming Stock Sound (Subjective)Menu-Buried, Complex Interface
Korg PA600
MP3 Playback and Sample Creation
Excellent Piano and Lead Tones
Strong Indian Sound Content
Reported Hardware and Reliability Issues
Dry or Underwhelming Stock Sound (Subjective)
Menu-Buried, Complex Interface

Who wins on what

Ranked by what users actually praise

Overall Impression

Sound and playability are the PA600's strongest assets. Multiple commenters single out the pianos and overall key bed feel as excellent, with one saying it makes a rival arranger feel like a toy by comparison. Brass, trumpet, string and lead tones are also called very nice compared to competing brands. Indian content, rhythms and tones are repeatedly praised as very good, making it a favorite for regional performers and genres like dangdut music.

The interface and sequencer are a recurring source of frustration. Users describe the sequencer as powerful but buried in multi-level menus and sub-menus, comparing it to needing a complex password just to use basic functions. One direct comparison calls the sequencer horrible despite praising the sound. Another user says the PA600 is harder to use than the older PA50, with key functions hidden behind sub-menus, and the synchro start/stop function is also called not easy to use.

Some owners report hardware faults and cost concerns. Individual reports include speakers producing no sound, notes shifting octave or split point unexpectedly, startup problems, and keys yellowing over time; one commenter also heard secondhand that the PA series hardware can fail. Indian expansion packs are criticized as expensive at $250 versus free packs from a competitor. Despite this, one long-term owner reports nine years of solid use, and some call Korg's own sound 'dry' versus other brands.

Outdated / Not-accurate data?