Making the choice between the many dedicated clonewheel organs on the market today is a daunting task to say the least...
With that said, Studiologic has come forth valiantly in a 'David versus Goliath' competition against the massive fan-favorite keyboard producers and their respective clonewheel models. Hammond, the original (and often best) organ producer in the market recently released the powerful XK-5 model at an MSRP of $4,295. Clavia boasts the bold and beautiful Nord C2D Dual Manual Organ in their signature red hue at a slightly more manageable MSRP of $3,700. These instruments, though clearly the ideal digital choices for any aspiring organist, fall well outside of the price range for most casual musicians. Studiologic took notice of this issue and seized a valuable market opportunity by producing a clonewheel organ at a price that allows the common consumer to purchase their product, all while continuing to feed their families. Studiologic's Numa Organ 2 (the successor to the already excellent original Numa Organ) is available for the retail price of $1,100, an immense differential compared to the market's other options. On that thread, I was even able to find a used model in mint-condition online for $750, easily making it one of the greatest bang-for-my-buck additions to my current collection. Studiologic seems to follow a theme of working to undercut the price of competing manufacturers, all while providing for every want and need expected of their products, and I have grown to be a life-long fan for that reason. With that said, I do still have my compaints... Now, to the matter at hand, the 3-point review: Sound: 7.5/10 Don't get me wrong, this machine sounds excellent, but it comes with its fair share of shortcomings (which are particularly few considering its price!). When directly compared to its competitors listed above, there is a slight discrepancy in sound quality... to be frank, Clavia and Hammond sound better. But, do they sound $3,000 better? Absolutely not, that much is clear. The paramount tier clonewheels from manufacturers like Clavia and Hammond have a particular depth to their sound that just isn't quite matched by Studiologic. The difference is not much, but admittedly, it is there. Another small complaint of mine is directed toward the on-board reverb effect. The reverb is labeled simply as, well, "Reverb." No "Room." No "Hall." No "Spring." No Wet/Dry. Just... "Reverb." I suppose this is not such an issue, as one would have no trouble using their savings of $3,000 to purchase a quality FX pedal to make up for this, but it is worth stating. But that is where my complaints end! The sound is big: its B-3 sounds like a B-3, its A-model sounds like an A-model, its diapason sounds like a diapason... The Numa Organ does its job well, and it does it for cheap. Keybed: 10/10 This much is to be expected from Studiologic because... the keys aren't made by Studiologic. The company is open and proud in stating that all of their keybeds are produced by a fellow Italian manufacturer by the name of Fatar. Fatar is world-renowned for their key quality. It's all they do, and they do it the best. The waterfall keys on the Numa Organ 2 are virtually indistinguishable from a real Hammond B-3 organ. The action really is remarkably excellent, and I could gush about it all day long, but we'll leave it there. It's the best it can be, hands down. It even has Hammond's classic octave of reverse-color bass keys for changing presets! I'm in love. Even if you don't need an organ in your lineup... this board would make a great midi controller... just saying. Hardware/User Interface: 9/10 One of my favorite things about this keyboard is the fact that it is an organ, and only an organ. The UI is not bogged down with buttons, knobs, and faders that have nothing to do with altering the organ tones you would be buying a clonewheel ORGAN for in the first place. So many manufacturers insist on cramming unnecessary, second-hand piano and synth patches into their keyboards directed toward consumers looking for a dedicated organ. It isn't helpful, it's just distracting. Almost every customer that buys a dedicated clonewheel organ already has a dedicated workstation synthesizer. Studiologic took the term "dedicated" organ to a whole new level. Every knob, button, and drawbar serves its one, dedicated purpose: alter the organ sound accordingly. My favorite part: there isn't a beaming, blue LCD screen in my face every single time I turn the thing on. It's simple, elegant, and practical. The drawbars feel genuine to their Hammond relatives, the Chorus/Vibrato knob is as sturdy as they come, and there is even an 11-pin Leslie output that is not common among keyboards of this price-range. Studiologic really knows their customer-base well, and this is where it shows. Short Summary: Worth every penny and more. You won't be disappointed.
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