tc electronic Polytune 3 Noir

Great tuner with a built-in buffer at a reasonable price!

In addition to its size that saves a lot of space on a pedalboard, the tuner is quite accurate particularly in strobe mode, normal mode is also very accurate and fast.
However, when setting up my pedalboard, I ended up preferring to keep it in true-bypass mode, because it honestly sounded better and felt better under my fingers, so I think it's great to be able to turn the buffer on or off, and see what works best with your setup.
Unfortunately it is not possible to use the always on mode in true bypass, because obviously when a pedal is on it is using a buffer, so it cannot be in true bypass turned on.
I really liked the switch's soft click-free feel, and I hope there will be no problems with it in the future, given the rumors on the Internet of problems with TC Electronic switches, and the difficulty of repairing or replacing them. .
Given the tuning options, different modes, a super readable display, and a built-in buffer allied with the price, I think it's probably the best option on the market.
Plus, the Noir version makes my pedalboard look even prettier. :)
I recommend it.

The first that arrived gave up just before the 30-day return period so I was lucky to be able to send it back. This is the only thing I gave it 4/5

Build quality: really sturdy, switch button is easily engaged, very easy to see the screan
Responsiveness: shows reading very quickly, don’t have much delay. Also recognizes pretty quickly if I strum all the strings to go in polytune mode.

Accuracy: I use it most often in strobe mode, and I have done tests with tone generators to check it’s accuracy, and yeah, it is damn accurate. The polytune mode is not so much. There are times, when in polytune mode it shows everything green, but when I check it individually it is on the red(in these cases when I tested it I switched to NOT the strobe, just to make it more apples to apples comparison)

Features: the buffered mode is really nice, since using it at the beginning of the signal chain I can use it as a buffer as well. The always on is also a nice feature, when you want a little help on seeing what note you are playing when soloing, so helps learn the fretboard. The is another switch to change for different tunings which is really handy. Also if you push the main button for long it switches to drop D.

I compared these 5 tuners:
* Peterson StroboStomp Mini
* TC Electronic Polytune 3
* TC Electronic Polytune 3 mini / noir
* Korg Pitchblack X
* Korg Pitchblack X Mini

My goal is to judge rationally and in a practical manner to see which tuner works overall best in all situations. I am not sensitive, prices, myths and online sale stories...

# Peterson StroboStomp MINI #
++ The brushed aluminum case is beautiful
++ The display color selection is nice.
++ Always on mode.

--- It has an LCD display and a design feature of that is a slow response time... and the blurry moving lines while tuning confuse me.
--- The Jacks and USB C is on the top, but 9V is on the side. Why? I do not understand why the 9V connector is not on the top.
--- The viewing angle of the LCD display is just terrible, you really have to look almost straight above the pedal to see the screen well..
--- Display is OKAY to read in full sunlight, not great.
-- Overall: because of the piece and heavenly online sale pitches, i expected a flawless tuner. But it has a few design flaws.

# Korg Pitchblack + Pitchblack MINI #
++ Nice screens, good viewing angle, fast response time,
++ Easy to use, no option paralysis. (only options are: 2 brightness levels, strobo or needle tuning and reference pitch selection)
++ Mini version experience is the same as the big one. (one difference: mini is always Buffered and big version has a true-bypass / buffer switch, but buffering is almost always better.. )

--- Korg Pitchblack(s) have glossy paint, they are probably sensitive to scratches
--- Always on mode not possible
--- The tuning letters can be a bit blurry, the screen is bleeding light from other sections.
--- Display is hard to read in full sunlight.

# PolyTune 3 + PolyTune 3 MINI / Noir #
++ Automatic brightness control, The PolyTUNE's are the ones in this review that are easily readable in full sunlight.
++ Superb viewing angle.
++ The using experience is very similar to the Korg Pitchblacks, besides the Automatic Brightness control.
++ Always on Mode possible
++ Matte finish on the body, no reflections in the paint.

// Difference between PolyTUNE 3 big and mini size is:
/ With the mini you can not choose between guitar and bass mode, (it works fine on bass.. )
/ You can not change the 440hz reference pitch
/ The Mini has 9V connector on the side, the Big one has 9V on the top AND an 9V out.

--- The display is always readable, but the LEDS are a bit small / thin.
--- The MINI / Noir version has the 9V connector on the side, Little bit annoying. I looked inside: It is really packed, the 9V connector does not fit on the top.

Conclusion:

* I have to pop the bubble: The Peterson is ok for home use, not a stage, the screen is glaring too much and a bad viewing angle.
* Korg Pitchblacks are nice to use on stage, but not easy to read if you will play outdoors in full sunlight. (possibly a rare situation; not everyone does that)
* PolyTUNE 3 is best overall.

My dream would be PolyTune 3, Korg Pitchblack and Peterson MINI having a baby:
* long and thick lines in the display and tuning letter also a bit bigger and thicker.
* Display color selection in 2 ways separately, the needle lines AND the off-needle lines.

TC ELECTRONIC, if you read this, please make the PolyTUNE 4 version like this ;-)

This sits at the head of my pedalboard always on buffered because I have it between a sensitive fuzz and the next pedal which is an always on overdrive. Having the option to run as always on is a nice feature to have for a quick reference during a set and still with the ability to mute should the need arise.

Having the option to switch between true bypass and buffered offers flexibility for a variety of pedalboard setups. If you want to use a buffer for a long cable run, you can; if you want true bypass across the board, you can as well.

Pros:
- Fits almost any board thanks to its small size.
- Functionally flexible.

Cons:
- (Only a minor one) It does require a power supply since batteries aren't an option.

It serves it's purpose and it serves it well and it will be staying on my board for the foreseeable future.