Would you advise a prospective new Sonar user to update to the latest version or wait until they start encountering problems .
 
I can see merit in both paths.
 
Whilst on the subject of Upgrades do you always upgrade to the latest version or latest -1 bearing in mind some updates cause problems as well as fixing Them !

X3 is the best X-series release to date by far, so can think of the OP similarly to "do you want to make music today, or wait years to do so?" That perspective is perhaps more appropriate.

The forums are very forthright about issues and "showstoppers" are scarce.

People are saying X4 will be delivered as usual around October time. I am betting the opposite, I have a feeling it won't be ready otherwise it could come out half baked.
 
Having said that X3E is well worth your money and stable.
 
So the answer is.... here:
http://www.random.org/dice/?num=2
 
Cheers..
 

Not trying to sound cliche, but it really is about weighing your needs. If you are satisfied with your workflow and things are stable, nothing wrong with waiting. You could always wait to the next version and upgrade when they offer a great sale price AND free upgrade to following version of Sonar (presumably X4). With that said , X3 is the best version imo of Sonar yet and depending on what you do, you could theoretically improve your workflow now. For me the ARA integration and the improved quadcurve eq are so regularly used that it would be hard to imagine going back.

It's just simple math, really: Purchase = Absolute Need / ((desirability + features) * (gee, it's beautiful out today)) - (financial reality * withering glares from wife)
 
If you haven't tried the demo, give it a whirl, and while the add-on components will be lacking, you will get a good idea of the rest of the changes, and that may help you decide, one way or the other.
 
I can only echo the others in saying that this release has been SPECTACULAR in its stability and workflow for me.  
 
I consider this release to be even better than the Ronald Regan of Sonar versions (8.5.3).  (I liked 8.5.3 functionality, but never liked having to learn a bazillion key combinations to do things).
 
It really may come down to whether or not you will benefit from the new features, more than the potential $50 or so savings months from now in a future sale.  
 
If you were to skip one night out on the town between now and October/November/Whenever, you would pretty much recoup what a sale price might get you near when the next release comes out.  (if it is an update, which I doubt, then it would be free anyway at that point).  So, why not stay home one night, and use that time to play with a shiny new downloadable X3?
 
Bob Bone
 
 

I have used Cakewalk since Pro Audio 9 and I will also say that X3 is the best yet. I normally wait a few months after the release of a new version and watch the forums here to see if there are any major issues. If all looks well, I then upgrade. The upgrades are pretty much a necessity for me. I have a small studio and try to keep it current as far as the technology is concerned. Nothing runs off a prospective client than to have software that is a few versions behind. It used to be a deal breaker if you didn't have Pro Fools! My use of Sonar the last couple of years has won over a lot of skeptics. And the market place seems to have leveled out some. I keep Pro Fools on the drive but after my clients hear the work I do with Sonar, well, PF hasn't been touched for a while.

If it ain't broke don't fix it!

I 

I just read the OP on a computer and realized there is no signature. I am confused by the use of "prospective new Sonar" and "update" in the same sentence.
 
Another FYI about X3 is that the core program is identical between all versions, which is not always the case with others DAWs. The ProChannel requires Studio or better, but I think that is the only key difference (other than the bundled extras).