TEST OF KORG PA2X PRO

[♔Chello]

TEST OF KORG PA2X PRO

   

(Previously published on Chellos Song Styles)

Compability:
I have tested original styles from Pa1X, and these sound very good. I have also tested how EMC Style Works Midi to Style works, and here Pa2X PRO is better than both Pa3X 61, Pa700 and Pa4X 61 - styles that would not work on these models work perfectly, which may be due to the large sound library.

This is a very important thing for me who makes styles from midi.



Intuitive use/Layout:
It could not be tidier and clearer - and the white surface makes everything very visible.

I had to look several times for the tempo buttons; these are omitted, and the tempo must be selected with the wheel or the plus / minus buttons next to it - after first marked the tempo feld on the screen.
What has Korg thought of when they have done this ..?

Otherwise, everything is logical as expected.



Mechanical quality:
The keybed makes no noise and appears mechanically strong.
This keybed is the second best I have tried from Korg Pa-series, only surpassed by Pa1X 61.
It is clearly better than both Pa3X 61, Pa4X 61 and Pa700.
(Pa3X 61 and Pa4X 61 have identical keybeds).

The sliders are better than on Pa3X and Pa4X, because they are a little heavier to move from zero and down - a very professional detail, which no one has said anything about.
Very precise in use.

The buttons are made of plastic, and could have worked better. This model was launched in 2007, and time has revealed that the buttons are sensitive to dust, which results in them working unevenly, this can be fixed by opening the chassis and cleaning the silicone pressure pads under the buttons.
This problem is otherwise known for all Pa models.

The screen is actually even better to maneuver than the one on the Pa700, Pa4X 61 and Pa3X 61, and the resolution is unproblematic.

The joystick is as good as the one on later models.

All connections are superb.



Degree of playing pleasure:
The keybed is a dream to play on, and it is generally extremely easy to maneuver along the way, with the exception of the tempo, which must be marked on the screen and then adjusted with the wheel or adjacent buttons if change is desired.

I also discovered a neat feature I have not found on other models:
By pressing Intro or Ending twice, they play in a loop, and this can be used as an interlude along the way - brilliant!

Otherwise, as is known from later models, Fills and Break can be used in the same way, but unlike all other manufacturers' Fills, these can contain up to 16 bars per piece.
This feature is one of the reasons why I always prefer Korg.

The choice of styles is limited, but everything can be replaced at your own request, plus the Favorites folders can be renamed.
The selection of sounds is the largest I have seen on a Pa, and for example the number of drum kits makes it easy to adapt styles to your own taste.



Sound quality:
The first impression was medium, and after running Factory Reset, the impression was only slightly changed.
The sound via coax is a bit too low, while the sound via normal output is potent and appears more dynamic.

I have spent a lot of time testing different filters, and this model has a much larger FX library than newer models, which allows significant impact on the sound.
However, the EQ section is very limited with its semi-parametric EQ.

Only the midrange (only for Master EQ) has the ability to change the center frequency. Both bass and treble have a locked (and not specified) center frequency.

Another very negative thing is that it is not possible to use lower EQ than 80Hz on the sounds itself, and then with locked center frequencies.
To complete this negative image, the polyphony is reduced to 118 (full value is not specified) when Master EQ is used.

After many hours of testing, I found a way around the EQ problem:

I only adjust the style part's midrange range with the keyboard's EQ, while I boost the sub range 20-31.5Hz plus the treble range 12.5-20kHz with an external graphic equalizer. Not ideal, but it works.
No matter what I do, the sound as I know it from Pa3X and Pa4X will never be the same with Pa2X.

I'll never understand why Korg did not make a full parametric equalizer on this keyboard, because it delivers compelling details and dynamics at both ends of the frequency range; much better than Tyros4, e.g.

Everything is mostly well mixed, and much better than all Yamaha, but not quite as good as Pa3X.
Pa2X has many of the same sounds as Pa3X, and there is no doubt that Pa3X is better at the same sounds.

Just like for the Pa700, it seems that the right balance for style parts is 90-100 - all sounds in the right section have enough level with this choice.



Pros:
* Better keybed than Pa3X61, Pa4X61 and Pa700
* Very clear and easy-to-use layout
* The best touch screen to date (better than Pa3X 61, Pa4X 61 and Pa700)
* 1 Digital COAX output (S/PDIF 24 bit 48kHz)
* REAL superb headphone amplifier
* Very good compatibility with older Korg styles.



Cons:
* The sound is without a doubt much worse than what Pa3X and Pa4X deliver
* No dedicated tempo buttons
* It is only possible to record in Mp3 format (max 256KB) (as with all Pa models)
* Locked center frequency for low EQ (about 50Hz) and high EQ (about 10Khz)
* No access to center EQ for sounds/style parts (Sounds/style parts have fixed center frequences)
* Very limited semi parametric EQ
* No parametric EQ from MAXX AUDIO




Final conclusion:
With minor adjustments of internal EQ and external EQ, this keyboard delivers a reasonably good performance, but it does not live up to the sound quality of newer models.

I can not agree with those who claim that Pa2X has the best sound of all Pa - a few sounds are better, while many others are worse compared to Pa3X 61, Pa700 and Pa4X 61.

It is definitely better to play on, and works better with styles made from midi, which contributes to this being some of the absolute best Korg has made.

The fact that the models Pa3x and Pa4X have a parametric EQ (MAXX AUDIO), means that Pa2X appears to be a loser in direct comparison, no matter how good Pa2X might otherwise be.


Pa2X Pro does not live up to my requirements for sound quality.