Korg PA900From real comments

Verdict distilled from 20 mentions across 12 aspects in comments under product review videos.

Positive sentiment53%
PROS 53%
CONS 47%

Rank based on 20 mentions across 12 aspects

View the verdict as

Buy this if...

  • You want strong onboard styles and guitar/sound quality praised over rivals
  • You're after a full-featured arranger at a price users call fair for the feature set
  • You like a big touch screen and built-in effects like voice harmony

What users love

Skip this if...

  • You need multiple separate audio outputs for stage mixing
  • You require weighted keys for a more piano-like feel
  • You want a lightweight, easily portable instrument

What users complain about

Compare in seconds

Based on user comments

Best choice
1Mid
Articulate soundGreat with extended-range guitarsStrong overall tone qualityPrice concerns
Articulate sound
Great with extended-range guitars
Strong overall tone quality
Price concerns
2Premium
Musical analog toneLong-term reliability and board loyaltySimple, intuitive controlsHigh price pointCheaper alternatives seen as comparableDistortion at high settings
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
Touch-sensitive dynamicsLong-term favorite / durability of appealSweet, low-gain tone qualityHigh price versus clonesDeluxe loses some original characterLimited mid control
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
Exceptional versatilityNatural, amp-like tonePowerful 3-band EQDemo videos undersell the pedalNoticeable noise floorVolume drop when engaged
Exceptional versatility
Natural, amp-like tone
Powerful 3-band EQ
Demo videos undersell the pedal
Noticeable noise floor
Volume drop when engaged
5Premium
Exceptional reverb qualityHigh-quality warm pitch shiftingStrong aspirational appealHigh priceCheaper alternatives may sufficeEffect can feel like it plays for you
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
Authentic amp-like toneExcellent low-to-mid gain driveUnderrated favorite among ownersHigh price pointLimited gain-staging flexibilityNo built-in reverb
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
Iconic, powerful kick drumWarmer, more alive analog characterCultural and historical influenceExtremely high collector priceAnalog noise and static requiring EQReliability concerns of aging hardware
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
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
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
Klon Centaur-style toneConvincing demo influenced purchaseExcellent clean boostNot suited for metal tones
Klon Centaur-style tone
Convincing demo influenced purchase
Excellent clean boost
Not suited for metal tones
10Mid
Transparent toneVersatile across genresWorks well across many guitar typesTwo-channel routing complexityDry signal bleed-throughInconsistent demo impressions
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 PA900
Good Value for MoneyHigh Owner SatisfactionStrong Sound QualityBulky and Heavy DesignRecording and Audio GlitchesLimited Audio Outputs
Korg PA900
Good Value for Money
High Owner Satisfaction
Strong Sound Quality
Bulky and Heavy Design
Recording and Audio Glitches
Limited Audio Outputs

Who wins on what

Ranked by what users actually praise

Overall Impression

Sound and styles are the PA900's strongest selling point. Commenters single out the guitar and Rhodes-type sounds as notably better than competitors, with one user directly comparing them favorably to the Korg Kronos and Yamaha Motif. Another lists Korg's arranger styles as their top pick ahead of Yamaha, Roland and Casio. This suggests the onboard sound engine and style library are a genuine draw for buyers choosing between arranger brands.

Most buyers feel the price matches the feature set. Several owners mention prices around $1,750-1,800 and explicitly say it's worth it given the effects, styles and included speakers, with one comparing it favorably to older PA2X/PA3X models at a similar cost. Another notes the extra voice-harmony feature likely pushed the price up, though they personally didn't need it. Overall sentiment leans toward the PA900 being reasonably priced for a professional arranger.

Reliability and physical design draw the most criticism. One long-term user reports a cascade of hardware failures over two years, including an unresponsive touchscreen and a failed electronic board, while others hit USB recording errors requiring restarts and distorted mic playback when recording. Separately, multiple commenters call the 24-pound unit too heavy and ask for a lighter model, and one notes the lack of weighted keys and limited stereo-only outputs as feature gaps for stage use.

Outdated / Not-accurate data?