Nord Stage 2 HA76 vs Nord Stage 2 EX HP76

[Da_Ole]

Nord stage 2 HA76 vs Nord stage 2 EX HP76
- Which of the two above would you rather have, and why?

[Nordrik]

For me I'd have the HA76 over the HP76 EX

The HA feels better to me playing all sorts whereas I'm not a fan of the HP for piano etc.

You can have enough piano samples in 500mb that you like and. I have 3 grands and 2 uprights in mine and with some eq that a lot of different sounds along with using Dynamic button .

I'd miss the hammer action more than I'd need the double memory.

Hopefully nord will come out with a HA76 1gb piano sample memory and 1gb synth sample memory.
I find 380mb ok but would love to just bung everything on there instead of always making a choice of which sound stays on.

1 vote for the HA non EX model, especially if it's cheaper to

[fccmt]

Been there. A previous owner of an electro 3 HP. HA all the way!! IMHO it's in another league...in fact, I'm a little shaky about the 76 HA disappearing from the stage 2 EX list of options...

[Da_Ole]

Hmmmm.. Really? Is HA action THAT much difference to HP action?
I have tested HA and HP action, but not at the same time (A/B testing)

[Da_Ole]

So action is better for HA, but HP has The light weight...

I also see The HA is actually smaller than The HP

Nord Stage 2 HA76: 1121 mm (44"), 118 mm (4.7"), 334 mm (13")
Nord Stage 2 EX HP76: 1122 mm (44"), 127 mm (5"), 347 mm (13,6")

So that makes HA vs HP: 2-1

[Marlowes]

Hej Ole!

A previous owner of an electro 3 HP. HA all the way!! IMHO it's in another league...

+1

/Vänligen
Michael i Skåne

[Darren]

I have NS2 HA76 and my dad has an NE3 HP73.

I find the HP action 'functional' but a bit shallow - it does the job, I get an okay resistance as I play the keys, but the return action is light and a bit mediocre.
Whereas I find the HA action inspiring - I'm more likely to lose hours noodling away because the feel of the key-bed and response encourages me to keep playing. The response is a bit quicker than other piano keybeds out there but it still carries the weight of the action behind it making piano playing a joy but also just about quick enough for playing organs and synths too.

When a key bed is giving something back you find you have more than just a tool for the job.

Sure there are closer piano actions out there, but the HA nails it when you consider the compromise needed to also play organ and synths.

The fact Nord chose to ship the 76 note NS2EX with the HP keybeds is an ominous sign. I can't really see why they'd also bring out a HA76 version as well, I don't think the market would be big enough.

[Spider]

To me, the 76-keys HA always looked like a weak choice: it was just too close to the HA88 in size, weight and price, I think it didn't really have a market of its own. I assume that people who buy a 76-keys piano are concerned about portability, and portability is mostly about weight. The HA76 just wasn't so much lighter than the HA88 to make a real difference.
Actually I see HA88 and SW73 Stages everywhere, but I don't remember having ever seen a 76, neither at gigs nor in stores.

I think the present Stage2EX line offers a more balanced set of options: waterfall for organ and synth, 76-keys HP for weighted keys with maximum portability, 88-keys HA for serious piano players who want the best action and are unconcerned about weight.

Da-Ole, don't mind the increased memory, is weight and portability your main concern? If yes, the HP is your choice, 6 kilos less is a HUGE difference when having to move your board many times a week.
If you're not going to gig that much, or your back is strong enough to handle the increased weight, go with the HA. The action is noticeably better and I suppose you'll be able to get it at a substantial discount, so your wallet will be happier too!

[danrv]

To me, the 76-keys HA always looked like a weak choice: it was just too close to the HA88 in size, weight and price, I think it didn't really have a market of its own. I assume that people who buy a 76-keys piano are concerned about portability, and portability is mostly about weight. The HA76 just wasn't so much lighter than the HA88 to make a real difference.
Actually I see HA88 and SW73 Stages everywhere, but I don't remember having ever seen a 76, neither at gigs nor in stores.

For me, the HA76 is a god send and I think fills a large gap in the portable 76 key weighted stage piano market.
Most of the time I don't need 88 keys for live band work
and the 76 is so much easier to manoeuvre on small stages and in small spaces.
Only on the rare occasion do I miss the lower octave notes.

The weight at 16.5 kg isn't too bad considering you get a proper weighted action and I have to be careful with my back.

As far as I know the only other alternatives are Yamaha S70 (too wide and heavy) and Korg Kronos 73 (too heavy).
The Kurzweil 76 key keyboards I'm sure don't have a true piano action keyboard.

I don't think there's any 76 key stage piano around as compact as the Stage 2 HA76.
I did try an HP action Nord in the store before I bought the HA but didn't feel anywhere as good.

[magpie85]

Personally I don't like the Nord HA as a piano action. Its too light for my liking. For that reason I go for the HP action everytime, knowing that I'm playing a keyboard and not a piano.

In band gigs I'm not so concerned about the weight (although I struggle to play anything on waterfall keys). I'm now specifically saving for the Stage 2 EX 76HP.

I have the Roland RD 700 GX as my fully weighted action board which I find a far superior action. Although it does weigh 25kg. I leave it at home as much as possible.

I'll keep my Roland and my Electro 3HP until I get a Nord stage of some form and an acoustic piano.