Nord User Forum

Hello, I'm about to buy an electro 6d, but someone somewhere said that for the price, getting a stage 2 would be better. I searched around a bit and couldn't find any more on the matter, so what do you guys think?

It depends on your needs.

The NS2 has essentially DOUBLE the horsepower of the NE6, with its double panels (2 organ, 2 piano, 2 synth). It has a much more flexible synth compared with the NE6 that is basically a sample playback engine. So if having more sound engines and synth capabilities is important to you, the NS2 will do more.

The NE6D has physical drawbars, a more intuitive OLED display, and seamless transition of sounds (no cutoff when you switch programs). It's a simpler and more focused instrument.

Another thing worth mentioning is that the organ engine of the E6 is not necessarily considered to be an improvement over the previous one. Here on the forum you can read multiple comments by users who actually preferred the older engine. Now it's also a matter of taste, of course, but there seems to be a general trend in this sense.

Hello, and welcome to the Forum! Adding to EricL's post I have one note on the models: the Nord Stage 2 EX will give you 1GB of Piano memory like the NE6, however the original Nord Stage 2 will have half that at 512 MB. A lot of folks end up using just a few of the pianos from the Nord site as their "favorites", so don't let that get in your way if you decide in favor of the Stage and find a really good price on a Stage 2. The NE6 has slightly more Sample memory than the Stage 2 and Stage 2 EX, however you gain a lot of flexibility with the Stage 2 synth section (x2). Disclaimer: I'm biased toward the Stage models as I use the synth section a lot, but the dual engines is a major benefit overall. Good luck to you.

Hi! If piano(action) and synth is important to you - The original Nord Stage 2 - with HA action on both 88 and 76 models are still very good instruments

As you see I have both - and except for the weight I prefer my old Stage 2...

Advantages of the Electro 6D include physical drawbars, seamless sound transitions, more memory for samples, numeric mode for patch recall, more informative OLED display. But the Stage 2 has its full synth section, the expressive controls (pitch stick, wheel, aftertouch), morph functions, external MIDI zones (and other additional MIDI flexibility), more extensive split/layer capability, more effects controls, more connectivity...

As others have said, It depends on your needs and which models you are considering.
I have an Electro 6D 73 and a Stage 2 76.
This electro has a semi weighted waterfall keybed. The stage 2 76 has a fully weighted keybed. The last stage 76 model Nord made with a fully weighted keybed.
They are both great. The stage 2 is a ten year old model, the Electro 6 is still a current model.
Cheers Norm

Normski wrote:The stage 2 76 has a fully weighted keybed. The last stage 76 model Nord made with a fully weighted keybed

It was the last Stage 76 with a TP40 rather than TP100 action, but both of those actions are fully weighted, hammer actions. TP40 is a better feeling action, TP100 allows for a lighter travel weight (even though the action itself feels heavier to play), but both are fully weighted (as opposed to the semi-weighted 73 models).

The Stage 2 has more flexible split options. You can use two different "piano bank" programs on the two sides of the split, or use two "synth bank" programs on the two sides of the split. A common example of this would be using an acoustic piano sound and an EP sound at the same time, on the two sides of this split - these are both "piano bank" programs.

With the Electro 6, you can only use 1 program from each "bank" at a time, on the two sides of the split. So while you could have acoustic piano on the left and organ on the right, you could not use a split with acoustic piano and EP.