Disclaimer:
Just my own opinion below.

A few years ago I use to take regular trips to visit with Frank at Audioworks. Life got busy both at home and on the day job. It's been 18 months or more since my last visit.

Been wanting to demo the Pa3x. This morning on a whim I decided to hop in the car and drive the 100 miles to see Frankieve. Headed out with both my iPhone camera and a Canon point and shoot camera with HD video. Figured I could take some stills and video. I did not!! Got too caught up in the demo.

First Frank is in new quarters since my last trip, he's got a nice new showroom that the old store didn't have.

I walked in thinking well I'll demo the board for an hour or so and be on my way back home . Before I left my wife said "I wish these manufacturers would stop making new arragners. I said, "Worry 'bout nothin my dear, I just have to demo this to see how it sounds".

And demo it I did after Frank gave me a rundown of the new features.

First this board has got to be the best looking arranger on the market today. (Don Mason and Uncle Dave may think so too. ) At first look it's construction like the Pa2xPro screams pro board all the way. The 76 key model was on display and it's compact footprint almost gave the appearance of a 61 key arranger. It's just a little larger from left to right than the Tyros4 that was stacked on top. Great form factor and real quality construction. I love my Tyros4 but I have to say the T4 looked like a toy by comparison. ( even though the sounds of the T4 tell a different story)

I liked what I heard Frank play when he gave a 5 minute or so quick tour of the board thru the attached optional speaker system, it sounded damn good. After his demo he said make yourself at home and play. WOW, this board blew me away. I never expected to demo and think to myself I WANT ONE!! LOL I spent the next 2 hours playing thru a set of Bose headphones. I had a Pa2xPro some time ago, but the quality of the new board is a quantum leap ahead of the old Pax2. Not sure what the folks at Korg did to the guts of the board but it's got a great sound.

The only way that this boards get the justice it needs is to see and play it live. end of story.

What I liked about the Korg PA3x, easy to navigate, took me all of 5 minutes to settle back right in with the touch screen. Improved and much smoother transitions between fills. The list goes on and on. Seems as though more and better DNC sounds than the old Korg Pa2x/800. Still they do fall short of the SA2 sounds on T4.

It's over 4 hours ago I played it, I'm back home and shaking my head in disbelif about the quality of what I heard. Ask Scott Yee about my impression. I told Scott when I finally made the trip to Frank's he'd be the first SZ member I'd call to tell him what I thought. This board is very impressive you tube videos, demos from the Korg site do not give justice this monster deserves.

At the end of 2 hours Frank suggested I A/B the T4 and Pa3x. After doing the A/B I developed a real problem, I'd have to own both boards because they are that good in their own right I couldn't part with the T4 but can I live without Pa3x? Sure I can, do I want to? That remains to be seen.............