How to chose a good Kronos?

[Davidb]

Hi everyone!

I want to buy Kronos, but after reading the forums it seems that many Kronos stations are of poor quality (keyboard, wheel, fan..). How can I check the quality at the store?

Thanks.

Hello Damace, welcome to the forums.

The best advice is going to the store personally and try the unit you intend to buy for yourself, its the best way to verify any possible issue, and to know if the unit match your needs.

[Melodialworks Music]

The best advice is going to the store personally and try the unit you intend to buy for yourself, its the best way to verify any possible issue, and to know if the unit match your needs.

The problem is that sometimes the issues don't always present themselves immediately. The board may be fine at the store, get it home, and the problem develops after a period of time.

So, back to the original question. How can you verify that the board being purchased has the new keybed? I've read that checking the OS works, and also that checking the OS is insufficient to make a determination. So, what's the answer?

[QuiRobinez]

So, back to the original question. How can you verify that the board being purchased has the new keybed? I've read that checking the OS works, and also that checking the OS is insufficient to make a determination. So, what's the answer?

my new board is on the old os 1.50, so checking the os doesn't help. I think i could recognise a new keyboard by playing it. I know how the old keys feel and the new keyboard feels different when you play it. It has a slower keyaction and a more smooth feel during play.

But visually i don't think you can see any difference unless you disassemble the kronos and look for that code on the white sticker inside the keyboard.

To reproduce the cutoff problem you can use a playing technique called pianissimo portamento in the note area C2 - C3. On all 5 rh3 keyboards i've tried i could reproduce the double strike problem within seconds using this technique. (but i think you need classical training to apply this technique the correct way, but if you studied hanon or czerny then i'm possitive that you can reproduce it when the keyboard is faulty).

On my new keyboard i can't reproduce it in any way, so i'm really glad that my board is changed by Korg for a new model RH3.

[easy1]

Yes, but is it unreasonable to expect that Korg would give us serial numbers of units produced after upgraded production? I passed on an 88 last autumn after waiting months because of reported problems, but really want to upgrade from my Triton, ASAP. Like everone else, I want a keyboard free of defects, especially after this long wait, and would like some qualifying info from Korg. Surely this is not an unreasonable expectation. Thanks to all for this forum. Sincerely, PJR

[Melodialworks Music]

my new board is on the old os 1.50, so checking the os doesn't help . . .

But visually i don't think you can see any difference unless you disassemble the kronos and look for that code on the white sticker inside the keyboard.

Thanks. That answers the question.

[Bachus]

This is one of the biggest problems of the internet... It makes problems look way bigger then they actually are..

With the Kronos there where 3 people with defective keyboards, and the world wide web turned it intoo a classwide problem.

[Melodialworks Music]

This is one of the biggest problems of the internet... It makes problems look way bigger then they actually are..

With the Kronos there where 3 people with defective keyboards, and the world wide web turned it intoo a classwide problem.

Well, I had two of the defective Kronos. Who was the other person?

[michelkeijzers]

This is one of the biggest problems of the internet... It makes problems look way bigger then they actually are..

With the Kronos there where 3 people with defective keyboards, and the world wide web turned it intoo a classwide problem.

Well, I had two of the defective Kronos. Who was the other person?

I don't know the 'truth' about Bachus reaction, but to be logical: he says: 3 PEOPLE, since you are only 1 people there can still be 2 others.

[cello]

If there were only 3 people with a problem then there would not have been a reaction from Korg (or any business for that matter).

There were clearly very much more with a problem.

The good thing is Korg reacted - slowly, yes, but they reacted.

Can't say better than that.

[Dniss]

Not sure how you could do that!

I can't imagine a dealer letting you open every single boxes so you could give each of them a ride.

[rob314159]

Hi everyone!

I want to buy Kronos, but after reading the forums it seems that many Kronos stations are of poor quality (keyboard, wheel, fan..). How can I check the quality at the store?

Thanks.

I think the fan is fine, it could be a little noisy for some folks. As far as the keyboard, I am assuming you are looking at either a 73 or 88? If you are getting a 61, there is absolutely no issue (that anyone is aware of, anyway). You might research where your nearest service center is, on the chance that you do end up with a 73/88 that has the keybed issue. You may also be pleasantly surprised and find out it does not. Even if it does, you can contact your service center (or distributor, or whatever depending on where you are) and at least as far as I've seen, 100% of all affected boards brought in for repair have indeed been repaired.

[Bruce Lychee]

So, back to the original question. How can you verify that the board being purchased has the new keybed? I've read that checking the OS works, and also that checking the OS is insufficient to make a determination. So, what's the answer?

my new board is on the old os 1.50, so checking the os doesn't help. I think i could recognise a new keyboard by playing it. I know how the old keys feel and the new keyboard feels different when you play it. It has a slower keyaction and a more smooth feel during play.

You should go back and talk to your tech because both RichF and my tech made it pretty clear that if you have the new keybed you are supposed to have the new OS installed. It doesn't mean that the new keybed won't function under the old OS, but at the very least, the new OS has diagnostics that account for the changes in the new keybed.

[Davidb]

The best advice is going to the store personally and try the unit you intend to buy for yourself, its the best way to verify any possible issue, and to know if the unit match your needs.

The problem is that sometimes the issues don't always present themselves immediately. The board may be fine at the store, get it home, and the problem develops after a period of time.

So, back to the original question. How can you verify that the board being purchased has the new keybed? I've read that checking the OS works, and also that checking the OS is insufficient to make a determination. So, what's the answer?

You are right in your statement.
As mentioned in other posts the only way you can verify that the board being purchased has the new keybed is open it and look for the sticker.

Look here:
http://www.korgforums.com/forum/phpBB2/ ... hp?t=69845

[Melodialworks Music]

From the other thread, "The only way to verify that is to open the device and look for the sticker above or behind the keybed to be sure about the model instaled in your unit."

I have no idea how I could convince a store to open it and do the inspection, or let me open it. There really needs to be a better way to make the determination.

[trotz]

Hi all.

This is my first post after buying the Kronos and I feel sorry it has to be one with negative feelings towards Korg and its product.

It won't be enough to test the Kronos at the store.

Two weeks ago I bought a Kronos. I knew about the keyboard problems so I took the time to test the piano sounds for doubling notes, cutoffs, etc... I could hear nothing so I bought the synth not only before I made the local dealer promise that they would replace it without any questions in case any keyboard problem made its presence afterwards.

I thought I heard the occasional cutoffs but because of my poor piano technique I always thought it had nothing to do with the keyboard. After all, it was a Kronos of the latest batch (I was told) and a proficient piano player had been fiddling with it for hours without any trouble whatsoever.

Today, my 8-year son came to the studio and while he was showing me one of his last piano lessons he stopped and said "Dad, something is wrong with this piano". I couldn't believe it but there it was. It reminded me a lot of the tale of "The emperor's new clothes". After looking carefully how he was hitting the keys I found it. The dreaded keybed problem in all of its glory.

This is one of the biggest problems of the internet... It makes problems look way bigger then they actually are..

With the Kronos there where 3 people with defective keyboards, and the world wide web turned it intoo a classwide problem.

Now I'm officially the THIRD GUY WITH A DEFECTIVE KRONOS.

Tomorrow I'm going to the local dealer (one lost morning) to replace it for another one. If it also develops the same problem after a few weeks I will consider a refund or getting any other product. I will not recommend the Kronos to anyone.

Conclusion: TESTING THE KRONOS AT THE SHOP WILL NOT BE ENOUGH. Don't buy without a compromise of full return - no questions asked - because you may find a nasty surprise weeks - or even months - afterwards.