Buy a stage 3 now? Or is there an EX version coming?

[zahush76]

Thought about getting a nord stage 3. Question is - should i wait.
Judging by the product life cycle, after it's been out for nearly 4 years, usually an EX version comes out with double piano library memory and double sample memory.
Can i be sure that there will indeed be an EX version of the stage 3? Am i correct about my time estimate?

[Spider]

Your time estimate is correct: according to Nord's history of releases, it should be about time for the release of the Stage 3EX.
That said, history also tells us that
1- Nord's release dates are never guaranteed, and Clavia never announces its plans in advance
2- The EX model only doubles the piano memory, it doesn't improve the sample memory nor any other aspect of the instrument

With 2 GB of piano memory where you can fit almost all of the piano library in the various sample sizes, how much more do you need? If no other part of the architecture will be improved, I don't know if a Stage 3EX would make much sense. Additionally, we have no idea how much the ongoing pandemic is affecting Clavia's business plans. I wouldn't be surprised if any new product's development and launch will be postponed to 2021 (which is not that far off, really) or later.

If I was on the market to upgrade my Stage 2, I think the main advantage of the launch of a Stage 3EX would be a slight reduction in prices of used Stage 3s (or heavy discounts on remaining stocks from shops).

[Mr_-G-]

With 2 GB of piano memory where you can fit almost all of the piano library in the various sample sizes, how much more do you need? If no other part of the architecture will be improved, I don't know if a Stage 3EX would make much sense.

I think that a hybrid between the NS3 and the Wave2 would also be quite interesting:
One organ section + One piano section + full Wave2 synth (4 slots) section + External section
No, I do not think it would happen.

[cgrafx]

Nord is currently facing the task of redesigning their entire sound engine platform as the chips they have been relying on for their exiting products are end-of-lifed with no replacement.

This means they will be going through a ground up development cycle for new products. They may have enough stock on hand to release some new products based on the existing platform, but at some point in the not to distant future they are going to be forced to make this shift. Its very difficult to know what the outcome of that transition will be, although it has the possibility to open up significant advantages in features and functions.

That being said, don't wait on what might be coming. If you like the NS3 and it will be useful to you now, than go ahead and purchase now. You can always sell the instrument later if something comes along that you think will be more useful.

[DJKeys]

Good points! Buy what you want and don't worry about what might be released.

In addition, Nord Keyboards hold more of their value in resale than most any other brand. I have owned six, all purchased new and sold 4:

1. Electro 3, paid $1800, sold for $1400
2. Nord Wave, paid $1950, sold for $1850
3. Stage 2, paid $3200 sold 5 years later for $2200.
4. Lead A1, paid $1700 sold two years later for $1200.

-dj

[zahush76]

Good points! Buy what you want and don't worry about what might be released.

Generally that's what i usually do. But this time what's holding me back is indeed the timing.
Don't want to get the NS3 only to discover that if i have waited for another month or two i could get the EX version for the same price.
If we were a year or two after the NS3's release then i wouldn't worry too much and feel there's plenty of time until the next model comes up.

[cgrafx]

Even if they announced the EX next month it could easily be 6-8 months before it ships.

It could also be a year or more before there is an announcement, or there may never be an EX version.

If you are happy with what the current NS3 can do then I wouldn't worry too much about what might be coming next.

If your not sure about the feature set of the NS3, then wait or you'll always be 2nd guessing your decision.

[neomad]

Good points! Buy what you want and don't worry about what might be released.

Generally that's what i usually do. But this time what's holding me back is indeed the timing.
Don't want to get the NS3 only to discover that if i have waited for another month or two i could get the EX version for the same price.
If we were a year or two after the NS3's release then i wouldn't worry too much and feel there's plenty of time until the next model comes up.

Something that happened with the transition from 2ex to 3 was Thomann offering huge discounts on 2ex. I was user of NE5 and ready to buy the NS2ex, but suddenly, when I saw the discount on Thomann, just decided to wait a few more months and I am (still) happily user of NS3.

[WannitBBBad]

As noted above, the Stage 3 EX will likely feature just a doubling of the piano memory, which will allow you to have a very large selection of XL pianos, however in a live performance setting no one will hear the difference between the XL and Large versions of any piano sample. To give you an idea of what you can already have with a Stage 3, below is a link to my current Piano section list with 45 available Grands, Uprights, EPianos and others, along with the list of programs I have posted with the related pianos/synths. In my opinion, you might wish you waited if you bought a Stage 3 and weeks later the Stage 3 EX was released - that's a natural reaction, but you won't see a dramatic drop in the Stage 3 pricing (you can get some good deals now), and likely you will not have missed out on a "big" change. I hope some of you find it helpful. Take care. post130083.html?hilit=program%20list#p130083

[DJKeys]

Even if they announced the EX next month it could easily be 6-8 months before it ships.

It could also be a year or more before there is an announcement, or there may never be an EX version.

If you are happy with what the current NS3 can do then I wouldn't worry too much about what might be coming next.

If your not sure about the feature set of the NS3, then wait or you'll always be 2nd guessing your decision.

This is a very good point, even if they announce it in January, (4 years from the announcement of the NS3), it probably won't ship until June or July.

-dj