Kurzweil PC2X

The best and easier keyboard I had! I know some new models have big fancy screen with better graphics, but for a performing KB player like myself, that needs many sounds (i play several music styles), this keyboard is still the king.

I just saw Leonard Cohen performs in Oakland,CA, his KB player had the PC2X. What can I say? This axe still rock!

Very easy to switch sounds, layer, split, add effects, edit the sounds etc.

The presets are mostly amazing, such an open sound with hardly touching the effect processor (which is very good by itself).

Manual is not the best in the category, looks like an old computer book from th eighties, but it has everything you need.

Cool effects, hundreds, I always find what I need. Very easy but somewhat basic capabilities for effects.

Can be expanded - more sounds, more poly (who needs more than 64 for a live show?)

Very good MIDI, basic and has everything you need, including a breath controller,ribbon etc.

Very good keyboard action - i like Kurzweil and Yamaha. The Kurzweil always feels slightly more "real" (even if the piano sounds are very good but the new keyboards have slightly more samples done per sound).

As in any keyboard, some sound familities are better than other.
Any keyboard sound - sounds the best (pianos, organs, wurlis, electric pianos, rhodes, clavis, harpsichords,vibes etc)

Orchestral sounds - super realistic for most of them (violin far from perfect though- Cello is oh my god sound, tear your heart out)

Organs - almost perfect hammond experience

Guitars - decent, but who plays guitar on keyboard?

Flute - suprisingly flute is good, but Yamaha is better.


Excellent effect, action, very good dynamics for velocity etc. After touch is used in many sounds.

Toured many shows, never a problem. Nice piece of metal (vs. the other companies who usually wrap in cheap plastic). Really sturdy, but not too heavy for an 88 full action keyboard.

I've beeng hauling it for 5 years now, zero problems, I think it can double as a crowbar and it won't break, very strong metal case. Get the new versions (black color) the older versions (purple color) are not as good.

called once with a question, got an answer quickly.

This is my number 1 choice for the one keyboard i will have.
Yes- I have a yamaha with good synth/dance sounds, yes I can get a korg m3, but as a solid controller that will give me anything a professional keyboard player needs to play alone or with a band - this is a winner!
couple it with something as small as a bx5a monitor, and your'e good for small gigs with family etc.
Get a bigger cabinet with some mic inputs -you're pro material!

Kurzweil PC2x has major tuning problems.

Using Version 3.10

Preset sounds are not bad overall. Good strings, and great orchestral section including percussion, woodwinds, and some decent horns. I think Yamaha has surpassed Kurzweil for acoustic piano sounds FYI. This is obvious if you do a comparison at the music store.

Editing patches gets easier after a couple times but is still not incredible easy.

Manual is about average in ease of use. Not as bad as some.

Polyphony and keyboard action are both good, though again the Yahamas feel a little better. The built in effects are fairly ok but certainly not as easy to access as a Nord Electro or Nord Stage.

Not sure if its expandable.

It has MIDI in, out, and thru. Keys are fully weighted and touch sensitive.

No sequencer.

Most sounds are great. Guitars are terrible and the synths are pretty bad too. Everything else is pretty good except that its out of tune!!!

Great for cruise ships and weddings ; )

Big trouble. This is the second Kurzweil I've owned and both of them have GONE OUT OF TUNE. Yes, its unfortunately possible for a keyboard to go out of tune. This happens randomly/intermittently and is a major problem. I thought Kurzweil had worked out the kinks after the older PC88 model had tuning issues but to my horror during a show my PC2x suddenly fell way out of tune. For this reason I will never buy a Kurzweil again, unless of course Kurzweil offers to replace or fix it.

My warranty had recently expired and the Kurzweil tech team (which is one person) took weeks to get a hold of and eventually told me that I needed to take it to get repaired and would not help me despite the fact that this was my second Kurzweil to go out of tune. For this reason I will never buy another Kurzweil again.

I will never buy a PC2x again or any other Kurzweil product for that matter. I'll take a Yamaha or Nord. I have been playing keys for over 20 years and have NEVER had any keyboard other than two Kurzweils go out of tune. I have over 20 other keyboards both classics and new which I love and use professionally for sessions, touring, and composing for film. The Kurzweil will soon be sold if possible.

I challenge Kurzweil to fix my keyboard free of cost. That would be the only thing that would make me consider purchasing another Kurzweil.

Manual (downloaded from website) is ok, not amazing. They have a "howto" guide you can download which is simpler - with specific tasks and how to do them, I used this one more.

Editing patches is ok, but limited, small screen. Still - a lot you can express.

Presets - the best, ready to live performance, with the effects - you are in full control of sound. Still the leader!

No on-board seq

Midi - classic midi in,thru,out. i use it with cubase with VSTs, work great for home editing

expansion - i have the orchestral, great sounds.

Built in effects - hundreds, most are great, pro-great, no need for external effects processor

Great,Great,Great Sounds.
Best for Rock/Classical/Jazz/Pop. Not so much Dance/Techno etc, most sounds are samples not analog. no ribbon.

effects - amazing.

very reactive.

aftertouch - cool, use is a lot with viola or synth sounds

5 years and counting, zero issues

great website, got updates for OS (long time no update, probably they have the PC3 now so PC2 is old news, but 4.00 is great!)

I guess the total of the features makes it my perfect at home or on the road tool. This is the first keys i take anywhere. The rest are optional (my yamaha motif and novation x-station).

will die if my keys die :>

I just love this battle axe.

The wonderful sounds of this keyboard are a joy to my ears. Almost all sounds are full, creating "wall of sounds" easily even without layering more sounds. When you hit the midi setup- the sounds become much more full.

Hammond full simulation is great! I use it a lot for rock,soul etc.

Super easy to use, many buttons to click around, enough knobs (a ribbon would be nice- but it has a ribbon inupt in the back, i can always add it).

64 polyphony.
Many effects built in, i always found one effect i like out of the hundrdes there (some are not perfect, but since there are so many choose - like dozens of each kind choros, distortion etc. - I will find one for every occasion).

I use midi to work with cakewalk/cubase and backup the setups - works like a charm.

The action is good - rememebr this is full hammer touch - like a piano, you will work harder than the light touched keyboards, but it will sound much better.

I play rock,soul,pop but sometimes i crank up the synth sound and go ninties+ on this axe. The sounds are great! It does well to excellent in every category. Wouldn't send the accordion and harmonica to the hall of fame though.

great touch and aftertouch, allows a lot of expressiveness.

6 years and counting man.. built from metal (not cheap plastic like the new yamahas). handles like a tank. A little heavy, but i would take heavy over cracking plastic. Make sure you get a case with wheels!! you wouldn't want to lift this baby for the long run.

dont know..the axe just works ;>

My joy and my pride.

Not for the feint of heart (pretty heavy since it's made from metal).

I will continue playing with it until it rots, and look for a new one ;>

This keyboard is so easy to use. You have a lot of buttons, so most actions are one button away, the human engineering is great. Today the screens are bigger, but the PC2X gives me all the information I need.

Editing a patch is a little less than what you get on a Motif or Triton, but it will get you there, besides, with so many patches, I hardly need to edit.

I use the effects a lot, they are very professional, my sound is always the best in the band.

This is the best on-stage performance keyboard I had, very full sound, big poly (64) - although today the standard is 128.

Expansion are there, but limited to a few sound modules and extra 64 poly.

Midi is ok, but no USB.

No Seq.

Love almost every sound, although I feel it's lacking in synth/FM sounds. Still, overall, it's the best I have. It's the only synth I take on its own to a show - it is enough for everything.

Reliable like a tank, years of work!

Got upgrades and help from the website, a lot of stuff.

This is a legendary keyboard, it is rightly so. I can't wait to see the PC3 (If I will have enough money :> ).

The best buy, I bought it used and got top pro equipment that I'm proud off. I'm always get great responses in shows from fellow musicians, looks like it's the best respected name in the business!

Pardon my english, I will try to write clear.

The sounds are very very good, love all sounds (Except flute.. much better flute in my EDIROL orchestra).

Organs are wonderful.

Patch editor is really good, you need to learn how to use it.

Did not get a manual, got it from the web.

I would need more polyphony, 64 might be enough for many people, I play alone and want a lot of sound coverage, I use it with my Roland together.

Midi works fine, use it with my computer and other synthesizer.

I play new world and jazz, sounds are perfect. I always use this kurzweil instead of the roland for any keys related instruments.

Very good action on keyboard, responsive.

Very good, never had a problem. But I do not do shows.

Very good company, I wish they had a French manual.

This is my leading synthesizer, i use it as my main console (using softrware sequencer). I just play everything on it, and use another synthesizer for background sounds.

Not sure about version.

All natural sounds (keyboard,string,organs etc) are beatiful, the best I ever heard. Kurzweil make their own sound chips, they don't use the standard like the rest in the industry.

64 poly-ok.
Keys - amazing,like a piano.
expand- not too much, can add more samples and poly.
midi-standard+ (breath controller!!)
no seq

Sounds are the best I ever heard in any showroom!
I blow people minds off in shows with the sounds!

5 years and not one problem!

Called once with a sample edit question, got answer in writing.

The best ax i ever had, i just love the kurz!

Software - Version 4.00
Presets - The best presets. The sound has something that the Yamaha ES/XS could not match. Only Kurz for me thank you.
Patches - screen is a little small, but many editing features. If you are ok with the small screen, you are set.
Manual - ok.

Polyphony - 64.
Action - excellent, i have a piano and the kurz is very similar.
expansion - yes, several slots
Midi - all the needed midi features, only 4 zones though (some keyboards has 8). Enough for almost everyone.
Sequencer - No

Velocity/Aftertouch - very good
Realistic - very realistic sounds for most presets. The Sax is not good ( i never saw a good sax on a keyboard), trumpets are great to be used in the background, pianos etc are incredible,love the hammond simulation (KB3 mode), strings are exceptional.
Music types- great for classic keys parts, rock, classical, ok for dance (if you are electronic only player, use a Nord Lead AND then get the kurz).
Effects - very very good, love them.
Reaction - very good, the songs just ooze out and become alive. Very "large" sound.

Gave it a 10 even if the sax is not tht great.

playing for 3.5 years, zero problem.

Called them with a few questions, always got answered.

Overall it's the best performer's keyboard i ever had.

I bring it to jam-session, to shows and whatever.

You don't need another set of keys (unless it's a very synth intensive group so you would bring another 5 octaves axe like the Nord).

Chose it because i tried it in the store and could not believe the sounds.

I love it and will use it as long as it holds :>

I find this keyboard very simple to use. I'm more a piano player than a keyboarder, so I could never appreciate the power of a workstation. Then I can say that this keyboard is perfect for my purposes. Whenever and whoever I hear, the opinion remains the same: kurz rulez in piano sound and in acoustic sounds. I use only 10 sounds: two pianos, strings and hammond and they're great. So I can't find any difficulty using this stuff...

I don't care about polyphony. What is offered is enough. the effects derived from kdfx, the best in internal multieffects you could find in all keyboards around the world. No need to explain anything. The rest is well made. If ya want a sequencer ya have to buy a workstation or a computer...

The famous and rightly famous Kurzweil sound is the reason of my choice. Simply the most beautiful piano ever created with the synthesis. More than 300mb of oasys' piano aren't as beautiful as this 4mb of synthesis'history. I have also the orchestral expantion and is another masterwork. Compliments to KMS!

never had a problem after one year.

I don't know what to say...

Well... The best I ever had. That's all...

A little hard to learn, but worth the time invested in it. Manual so-so. Editing patchs pretty hard. Still, when you learn it, it's the tool of champions. The 9 is because i would love a somewhat friendlier gui.

keyboard action pretty good, similar to the k2500 (probably the same mechanism).

i just have the orchestral expansion (I think it comes standard now). don't buy it without it! The sounds are very good.

Midi is very good, 4 zones only (some more expensive synths have even 8). 4 is more than enough for a live show (come on, you only have 88 keys).


Effects are very very good.

Velocity - very good not perfect, after-touch - very good to use in brass and string. I love it.

You won't find any instrument with so many sounds which sound like the real thing. I play piano,e.piano, organ,brass, flute,guitar, harp, you name it, this tool does such a "big" sound that it convinces everybody.

never had a problem. 2 years now. cross my fingers. i take it out a lot.

call them once with a question, got answered asap.

I guess it's still the "most bang for the buck" pro-tool that won't bust your pocket. You can spare the $5,000 for a fully loaded motif. I gave it a 9 only because newer tools have nicer screens (color and graphics). But if you want sounds and not GUI, and we are here for the sound, I would recommend you join the kurzweil family (or upgrade).