This is a really cool unit - looks great with super visibility from a distance, tuning is quick, stable and a pleasure to use, and the size/weight allows for a wide range of applications, many other tuners can't accommodate.


BUT, there are a couple important points to consider before buying.


The first is the ruggedness, or lack-there-of. The unit is all plastic, and it is a glossy plastic that is very susceptible to fingerprints, scratches, etc. Shockingly, the rack ears are actually plastic as well and snap on the unit all flimsy-like. It is just a matter of time before these will break so you may want to just order a couple replacements sets in advance to be ready on that inevitable day.


The Second is just a detail, but if you use it with an external rack master power switch, you still have to manually turn it on each time as it won't automatically turn on when power is switched off and on externally.


But the Third, and the motivator of my review, is the buffered output. Unless you can use this in a scenario where you are feeding it from a dedicated Tuner Output from some other unit, or a splitter, etc, you may seriously want to consider a different tuner.


When setup inline, inserted in your signal path, the buffered output is really cut-rate and just destroys the sound of your guitar - rolling highs and totally messing with the dynamics, killing clarity and definition - and not just a little! I first tested the unit at low living room volumes and even at low volume it was so noticeable I thought at first that something had changed on my amp's settings and kept checking my tone control to make sure it wasn't rolled down or something. After deducing that it was the tuner, I swapped cables, even swapped the unit with the second of the two I bought. Turned out the cause was the PB05 and both units did the same thing. Sure, it "works" inline, but you really can't use it that way in the real world without the large sacrifice of sounding like crap, something most self-respecting guitarists will be unlikely to do.


In my case, it's all good, as my final intended application can be setup with dedicated Tuner-Out feeds and I won't be utilizing the output - I'll just have to mute a different way. But were it not the case, and if these things didn't look as cool as they do, these would be going back in a heartbeat!


Pretty disappointed in KORG on this considering the high quality of sound and construction of their previous rack tuners that have served me well for countless years. But you do gotta dig that 3D blue tuning display! :)