Two Distinct Problems with the Kronos - LS and the 61/76

[Bobcat22]

Before spending over $3,000 dollars, I went ahead and tried to find any cons on the Kronos. The fact that most purchasing is done online, mostly likely you will discover these issues after you start using it. I do not want these kinds of surprises, so I did an investigation. Hopefully this will be of help. If you are purchasing equipment - I WOULD NOT purchase online - I would connect to a salesperson and get confirmation that you have cleared all questions and get a return email stating the answers from your salesperson.

Problem A: Kronos LS model has a return spring for each key digging into the key's plastic receiver. Over time, the receiver gets cut away that the key spring no longer has tension on it causing the key to drop. This is a design flaw with the Kronos LS. video: (part 1) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NASbpCfh6x0
(part 2) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6kfPSBkfHw

Problem B: The 61/73 key versions have been designed in that the fulcrum or the key pivot is over the top of the key in that you would need to press the key disproportionately hard. Good chances unless you play classical piano you may not understand the problem. This is not the case with the 88 key versions.

[Liviou2004]

Before spending over $3,000 dollars, I went ahead and tried to find any cons on the Kronos. The fact that most purchasing is done online, mostly likely you will discover these issues after in fact it has been shipped. I do not want these kinds of surprises, so I did an investigation. Hopefully this will be of help. If you are purchasing equipment - I WOULD NOT purchase online - I would connect to a salesperson and get confirmation that you have cleared all questions and get a return email stating the answers from your salesperson.

Problem A: Kronos LS model has a return spring for each key digging into the key's plastic receiver. Over time, the receiver get cut away that the key spring no longer has tension on it causing the key to drop. This is a design flaw with the Kronos LS. video: (part 1) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NASbpCfh6x0
(part 2) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6kfPSBkfHw

Problem B: The 61/73 key versions have been designed in that the fulcrum or the key pivot is over the top of the key in that you would need to press the key disproportionately hard. Good chances unless you play classical piano you may not understand the problem. This is not the case with the 88 key versions.

Not sure to understand your post.
The 73 and 88 get the same keyboard : the RH3. So, as far as I know, there is no mechanical difference between the both.
I'm playing classical as well as pop on my K73 and I've never met any problem as you've mentionned.
I've often spoken of one other issue with the RH3 kb : the impossibility to create user velocity curve. But it mainly concerns the multi samples layers sounds on HD1 engine.

[voip]

The proof of the pudding is in the eating, but testing the keyboard itself is probably not going to be an easy thing to do during this pandemic. The Kronos 61 keyboard has a really nice feel to it. The key pivot points are slightly behind the visible parts of the keys, and the keys are not at all hard to press. They feel just right, from a synth action point of view. Issues with this keyboard only seem to come up very rarely, and there have been none observed in the setups here over several years now.
.

[GregC]

It can be difficult to perform "Internet research " to arrive at a set of "cons" on a Kronos [ or any high end keyboard }

I applaud your effort to scrutinize your purchase. $3000 is a huge investment, a long term decision, IMO

I have my opinions, they are free, and I like to help.

Forget about the LS is my opinion. Because I have read '' too many " complaints
about the key bed, the keys. Now my opinion could be wrong. If there are 1000 long term [ 2 years ] LS owners that are 100% happy, they should come forward in a perfect world.

Kronos 2, 61, 73 or 88.

we have 9 years of ownership. Other than a bad bunch in year 1, the RH3 has proven to be reliable , useable, durable, with minor exception.

9 years history= proof in the pudding.

Now is the RH3 the greatest and most perfect ? No. Its impossible to impress
highly demanding performers of acoustic piano. The Internet has lots of reports on that ' subjective ' experience.

Stopping there, as your #1 concern is the key design. No one hear is trying to sell you a keyboard here. FYI.

[pete.m]

Whilst it is true that you'll feel a significant difference between the keys of a Kronos and an acoustic piano, it's equally true that anyone can feel a significant difference between individual acoustic pianos. It's an entirely personal thing, and nobody else can tell you what you need.

At the end of the day, it's not really a case of getting the microscope out and insisting on written confirmation of all your conversations, but simply a case of playing the keyboard for yourself. You either like it and can feel that you'll be able to work with it, or not.

If you can't get to a showroom to try one out, many retailers allow you to return goods within a reasonable period if it doesn't work out. I would try the latter, because demoing something in a shop doesn't feel that natural to me anyway. Having a Kronos in your home setting for a week or so will absolutely give you the answer you're looking for. Best of luck with it.

Hope it works out for you.

[Sweat]

The LS did not include 61 and 73 models. -Only semi-weighted 88, not an RH3 88. So, I wonder if it may be unique to this problem..

[Bobcat22]

Sweat, which of the 2 problems are you commenting here about?

[Bobcat22]

Hi GregC - you say, "Stopping there, as your #1 concern is the key design. No one hear is trying to sell you a keyboard here. FYI." I am confused, how is that relevant?

bc

[Bobcat22]

Hi Pete.m,

You say, "Whilst it is true that you'll feel a significant difference between the keys of a Kronos and an acoustic piano, it's equally true that anyone can feel a significant difference between individual acoustic pianos. It's an entirely personal thing, and nobody else can tell you what you need."

The significance would be in the action not leverage which inhibits striking a key. Again you would have to have played on an acoustic piano or a Casio (any Casio) to make a side-by-side comparison of what emulates a real acoustic piano as a reference.

Korg has also designed this non-sense into the M-50, the upper part of the keys you would have to disproportionately press hard to sound a note, however the M-3 88 keyboard is like that of a piano. Most would not be aware of this.

You also say, "At the end of the day, it's not really a case of getting the microscope out and insisting on written confirmation of all your conversations, but simply a case of playing the keyboard for yourself. You either like it and can feel that you'll be able to work with it, or not."

How is this like getting out a microscope? You are investing over $3,000 + tax in an instrument and to inform others of the possible flaws is a contribution to: better informing/education others, notifying Korg and their distributors of these short cuts in design, and I will add, educating others about how a real acoustic keyboard does not behave. Then each make their decision based upon all information. I am not a Korg loyalist nor to any other manufacturer.

The cost of a Konos 88 weighted key (which is without issue) will add yet another 4 to $500 to the base price. You do not think bringing up these Cons are important and relevant?

[GregC]

Hi GregC - you say, "Stopping there, as your #1 concern is the key design. No one hear is trying to sell you a keyboard here. FYI." I am confused, how is that relevant?

bc

How is 'what' relevant or 'irrevelvant ' ? Explain.

I made 3 possible remarks. In my 2 sentences.

[Sweat]

Viewing the video in the first post shows concerns of the possible design flaws of the Kronos LS, so I was referring to Problem A mentioned. Since I am also interested in the LS, it makes me very curious if other LS owners have experienced the problem in the video with the 88 semi-weighted keybed of the LS. (Note, it is not the fully-weighted RH3 installed in other Kronos models.)

Problem B must be with non-LS models since the LS only shipped in a 88-key version, although I have not heard of the issue with other 61,73 models before.

[Bobcat22]

Hello GregC,

You write, "No one hear is trying to sell you a keyboard here. FYI." My apologies on not specifying which statement.

bc

[Bobcat22]

Hi Sweat,

Let me state again, there are no issues at all with the weighted version.

I also was interested in the Kronos 61/73 options but after discovering the issue with key fulcrum, I ditched that thought. Can you imagine purchasing or making payments on something that only after you have received it you find out these things? All of the Christianity within me would for awhile, vanish!

The more portable option (the 61/73 key versions) and costing less, allows me to downsize my collection of modules and the Roland Fantom X. I am ready to leave if in fact this vaccine is forced and / or the Contact Tracking X-military comes knocking on your door. If anyone test positive within a household, any child will be removed to a foster home. This program was announced just 2 weeks ago - to be rolled out nationally. So this why the Kronos. Will be keeping the 2 Radias with the 88 keyboard. The M-3 will be sold.

[GregC]

Hello GregC,

You write, "No one hear is trying to sell you a keyboard here. FYI." My apologies on not specifying which statement.

bc

for folks new to posting here, some don't realize this is a user community.

IOW, no one is a Korg employee or works for a Korg distributor.

And our objective is to be totally factual/objective. We are serious about problems and helping solve them.

[Bobcat22]

So GregC, why was this brought up within this thread, "No one hear is trying to sell you a keyboard here. FYI?" This is why I asked, is this relevant? Did I make a statement which this needed to be asserted?

bc