Is it worth buying NS3 now that NS4 is released?

[nriccar]

Hello to all,

I have been reading this forum for years now. Thanks for all the information!
I owned an electro 4D back in 2017 and I had a great time with it. Sadly, I had to sell it, and now I want a Nord keyboard back again.

I have read a lot of discussions covering if NS3 is worth in 2023, but all of them are prior to NS4 announcement.

So, that’s the question: I want a stage (missed synth capabilities when I had the electro, and compensated them with a Korg King Korg, but now I’m looking for a all in one board), and now that the stage 4 is out I’m a little confused.

It would be nice to save the money difference, specially since I found a NS3 for €2600, and NS4 is €4555 (I want HP action).
But! I want to avoid wanting the 4 in some months..

As far as I know, the main things on NS4 are new effects, having drawbars in all models, triple sensor on the keybend (although is the same one), poly arpeggios, new sound engine organization, presets (and lack of song list).. Am I missing something? What do you think?

Thanks for reading!

[alex78]

Also more powerfull synth in stage4 (3 synth layers instead of 2). However the difference in price is huge, I would go for a 3 except there is a very specific feature on the 4 that you can't live without.

[Spider]

For me, now it's the PERFECT moment to buy a Stage 3!
You get a tried & tested product, stable and reliable with updated firmware, lots of information, tutorials and programs available from many sources (official Nord site, this forum, youtube and many others). And you can buy it used and/or find a discounted price from some shop that wants to offload inventory.

While if you want the Stage 4 you will have to wait weeks/months until it's available, then at least 6-12 months until all the firmware updates are completed, there is no knowledge base on the internet... AND you have to pay a lot more for all this!
Unless there is some very specific feature of the Stage4 that you absolutely need, I'd totally buy the NS3!

[maxpiano]

For me, now it's the PERFECT moment to buy a Stage 3!
You get a tried & tested product, stable and reliable with updated firmware, lots of information, tutorials and programs available from many sources (official Nord site, this forum, youtube and many others). And you can buy it used and/or find a discounted price from some shop that wants to offload inventory.

While if you want the Stage 4 you will have to wait weeks/months until it's available, then at least 6-12 months until all the firmware updates are completed, there is no knowledge base on the internet... AND you have to pay a lot more for all this!
Unless there is some very specific feature of the Stage4 that you absolutely need, I'd totally buy the NS3!

+1

[FZiegler]

There is no Stage 4 HP announced. So if you want a Stage HP anyway, there are only two options:
a) try to get a Stage 3HP of the last ones new from some shop;
b) wait a few weeks and try to get one second hand.

[nriccar]

For me, now it's the PERFECT moment to buy a Stage 3!
You get a tried & tested product, stable and reliable with updated firmware, lots of information, tutorials and programs available from many sources (official Nord site, this forum, youtube and many others). And you can buy it used and/or find a discounted price from some shop that wants to offload inventory.

While if you want the Stage 4 you will have to wait weeks/months until it's available, then at least 6-12 months until all the firmware updates are completed, there is no knowledge base on the internet... AND you have to pay a lot more for all this!
Unless there is some very specific feature of the Stage4 that you absolutely need, I'd totally buy the NS3!

What a great opinion. Thanks for the quick response!

Maybe the only thing that makes me want the NS4 are the extra effects, the dedicated compressor for piano, extra memory space and physical drawbars.. but all of those features are not enough to spend the double

Also, I know that every sound is possible with NS3 effects.. and if not I can get some pedals

I think I’m going to try NS3 for now. I also think it’s a great moment for it since the price drop.

Thanks again!

There is no Stage 4 HP announced. So if you want a Stage HP anyway, there are only two options:
a) try to get a Stage 3HP of the last ones new from some shop;
b) wait a few weeks and try to get one second hand.

Yes there is, the 76 version is HP, I think.

[FZiegler]

There is a Stage 3 76-HP, but only a Stage 4 73-HA. I'm quite confident.

[DanielD71]

Would really want to have the NS4 88 but not sure if I want to sell my NS3 88.
And it is also nearly 2k more…that I paid for.
So I will wait a few months to make this decision

[nriccar]

There is a Stage 3 76-HP, but only a Stage 4 73-HA. I'm quite confident.

You are right. That’s a game changer. Cr*p.

Of course I prefer HA over HP, but I do not like the weight of the 88.. But, having HA on 73 keys.. It’s tempting.

[anotherscott]

As far as I know, the main things on NS4 are new effects, having drawbars in all models, triple sensor on the keybend (although is the same one), poly arpeggios, new sound engine organization, presets (and lack of song list). Am I missing something? What do you think?

The NS3 and NS4 differences are discussed in detail in the huge "NORD STAGE 4 officially announced for February 16th 2023" thread. Different people will find different NS4 features compelling, while others may still prefer NS3. For my own use, the things that might sway me to the NS4 would be the preset library (which, in conjunction with the additional effects capabilities, should make it much easier to re-use your customized sounds in different combinations), the 3rd synth engine (meaning you can now do LH bass and still have two other sounds to work with that aren't a piano or organ), the return of 8 program buttons (instead of 5), what looks like a more flexible MIDI implementation, and I think a nicer implementation of some basic synth parameters, specifically the vibrato and envelope options. And just the general operational ergonomics seems like it might work better for me. But other people may find other differences more important. Or not care much about any of them. NS3 is still a great board.