Korg PA700 vs PA5X: Which Arranger Keyboard Is Right for You?
One is Korg's proven mid-range professional arranger. The other is the current flagship. Here's what the step up actually gets you.
Both the PA700 and PA5X are genuine professional arranger keyboards — built for live performance, not home practice. The PA700 has been a working musician's staple for years. The PA5X is Korg's ground-up redesign: a new sound engine, a new interface, and features the PA700 simply doesn't have. Here's exactly what separates them.
What's Actually Different
Official specifications from Korg
| Spec | PA700 | PA5X |
|---|---|---|
| Sound engine | EDS-X (Enhanced Definition Synthesis) | EDS-XP (Enhanced Definition Synthesis – Expanded) |
| Polyphony | 128 voices, 128 oscillators | 160 voices, 24 stereo oscillators |
| Key options | 61 or 76 keys | 61, 76, or 88 keys (88 fully weighted) |
| Display | 7" TouchView TFT | 8" tiltable touchscreen |
| Factory sounds | 1,700+ | Larger library, incl. Kronos & Nautilus-derived sounds |
| Factory styles | 370+ | 600+ (700+ in some regional editions) |
| Smooth Sound Transition | Not available | Yes — seamless transitions between sounds, styles, songs |
| Dual crossfading players | Single player | Yes — two Styles, MIDI, or MP3 files simultaneously |
| Mastering effects | Standard finalizer | Waves MaxxAudio mastering effects |
| Mic & guitar inputs | Combined input | Dedicated Mic + Guitar inputs, each with own effects |
| Build | Standard cabinet | Aluminum body, genuine wood side panels |
| Weight (61-key) | 9.9 kg | Heavier — larger touchscreen and premium build |
Choose the PA700 if...
- You want a proven, working professional's arranger at a lower price
- Your gigs don't demand an 88-key weighted option
- You don't need dual players or Smooth Sound Transition
- You're stepping up from a home keyboard into serious live use
Choose the PA5X if...
- You perform live regularly and need seamless transitions between songs
- You want the 88-key fully weighted option
- You use both a vocalist and a guitarist through the same keyboard
- You want Korg's current flagship sound engine and the largest sound library
Our honest recommendation
The PA700 remains a genuinely capable professional arranger — most working musicians will never hit its limits. Step up to the PA5X specifically if you perform live often enough that Smooth Sound Transition and the dual crossfading players will actually get used, or if you need the 88-key weighted action for serious piano playing on stage.
Shop Both Models
PA700 Professional Arranger
61 keys, EDS-X engine, 370+ styles.
PA5X-76 Professional Arranger
76 keys, EDS-XP engine, current flagship.
PA5X-88 Professional Arranger
88 keys, fully weighted hammer action.
Looking for Middle Eastern sounds and quarter-tone support? See our Oriental keyboards collection, including the PA700-OR and PA5X OR-76.
Play Them Side by Side
The sound engine and interface differences are easiest to feel in person. Both models are set up and ready to play at our Al Quoz showroom in Dubai.
Browse Korg Arranger Keyboards