Is it just me? Stage 2 sounds better than Stage 3?

[amgems22]

I'm in the "-not -so- happy with NS 3 sound" group.

I own the Stage 2 76 for five years and just bought the NS3 76. Am transferring all my programs (very labor intensive) so have them side by side through the same amp.
I noticed the sound is better on the Stage 2 and initially thought it was the different key action. (fully weighted vs. 'hammer action'.But reading multiple posts here, I, too, am convinced there is something awry with the "velocity" on the 3.
I cannot replicate (or improve on) the exact same patches;.... and in almost every case, prefer the sound on the Stage 2. It's hard to describe the difference, but it definitely is different and less playable.

I do love the DISPLAY on the 3, though.
Please private message me if you wish to discuss further.

[anotherscott]

I not only prefer NS2's response. I prefer everything of it. I still not found anything better on NS3, but memory size.

Seamless sound transition? More fully featured synth section? OLED based interface that provides better info/navigation? Song lists? If you have a 73, drawbars and low E (and at least based on some posts, better piano playability)?

[cphollis]

So, like many here, owner of multiple Nord boards: NS2 76, NP2 88, NE 4D.

I'm evaluating through IEMs as well as a pair of RCF TT08a units plus a RCF sub in the band room. Accurate sound reproduction helps you to make better informed decisions?

The NS3 Compact as compared with the NS2 76?

- pianos sound better in every case
- organs and leslie sims sound better in every case
- samples sound better in every case
- synths sound better in every case

Do you see a pattern here? I am not having issues with response curves, etc. I'm playing like I always play -- heavy handed most of the time, occasional delicate sounds.

As compared with NP2? Pianos sound better, and since I'm controlling the B panel with my NP2, I'm now playing Large and XL samples, and there's all sorts of cool layering morph stuff I can do with my AP/EP/DP/clav voices that I couldn't even begin to do before.

So much fun exploring. A chorus of angels coming in on the mod wheel, for example. A synth bass to help out my EPs with a split. Horns or whatever quietly behind a comping part. No end in sight. Super duper freaking cool.

And I get a great AP action with my NP2. If you crave a decent AP action and don't have much $$$, it's a contender. And not heavy either.

As compared with the NE4D? Better keybed feel for organs. I have no idea what they did, but it's better. Richer, creamier tones, incl. the Leslie. Total win. Seems better and more musical in most every way.

Only downside? I can't easily use my Vent II. Routing issues, lack of reverb on routed signals, etc. Big sigh. So I've gone back to the internal sim, and I think it's pretty good. Yes, I wish it was more adjustable. If you've got wide stereo separation (which I do through FOH which I control), it's pretty impressive. But I do love the Vent.

If the Vent II had reverb, I'd be good. But I'm not selling the Vent (made that mistake before) and I'm not buying yet another reverb thingie. Maybe I'll go with board reverb for everything.

BTW, I use a Radial Key Largo for gain staging, and FOH/monitor splits. Lovely, it is. Something about those Jensen transformers. Super smooth and creamy, they are. Can't go wrong with Radial gear.

Hey, I play in a bar band for small change. They get whatever I bring

Bottom line, the NS3 Compact is a winner. Big upgrade over what I had, and what I had didn't suck.

Clavia is gonna sell a boatload of them. Just sayin'

[Murphy]

I just got back from dragging my NS3C through a ten-day 2,400-mile gig trip and then six days in a studio: it passed with flying colors. Most of it in sub-zero weather too. Didn't have my Electro. but I had the NS3C, a Prophet, and a Wurlitzer Electric Piano, and all I can say is --> the NS3C is spectacular. I put the latest firmware on it before I left and didn't have a chance to connect an external keyboard to it before the trip. I love the response of the Compact with its standard keyboard, but since the firmware, an external keyboard works great too (tried it at the studio with several Roland and Yamaha keyboards). The Hammond organ broke down shortly before I arrived with no time to fix it. So, I recorded an organ tune using the Compact with the thought (at the time) that I would re-record it using the C3 they had in-house. However, they really liked my solo, so it will probably stay with the Nord -- not sure yet. I'm just a work for hire musician with no control. I didn't have any Nord equipment before the NE5D73 and the Compact, but I played the NS2 (and loved its sound) at various stores for what probably amounted to at least several hours. Very good instrument but what got me really liking the new Nords was the OLED screen, and the new interface introduced on the NE5D. It was far more intuitive to me. Although my emotional perception is that Nord samples sound better on my NS3C than my NE5D -- I offer no conclusive proof. It might be similar to the "fact" that people think their car runs better after they get it washed. If you followed my analogy, I want to say, I don't think that's the case, but I really don't know. However, the NS3 samples seem much more alive to me (best description I've got right now). So I've gone and done it: I've added to the thread that will never go away and further say the NS3C is here to stay. Sorry for the awful rhyme -- it's late, but --> 11+ for Nord! Or Nord^11 (for you math nerds like me)!