Kronos vs. Roland Fantom Help me decide

cobray · Post by **cobray** » Thu Jan 19, 2012 12:44 pm

After looking at many, many boards via the internet, I think I've narrowed my search down to two choices. The price range is similar. I get the feeling that the Kronos is a step above the Roland Fantom X, but I live in a place where I cannot try out anything before I buy it.
I like the guitar sound on the Fantom, it has a good apreggiator and more sampling time.
The Kronos looks like they've poured a lot more technology into it and have made it a more powerful instrument over all.
I can't tell for sure, but the Fantom looks like it may be easier to use and understand. However, I live in a very remote and boring place, so I have plenty of time when not working to study and learn my new instrument.
Anyone here ever compare the two or know more than I can learn from watching internet ads? Thanks for your help!

jick · Post by **jick** » Thu Jan 19, 2012 12:52 pm

There really is only one option if you compare those two, and that's the Kronos. I am not a fanboy of Korg or so, but I traded my fantom G6 (not X!! that's the former model) last year for a Kronos. The sounds are just from another era. Roland has a lot of work to do before they can compete again with Korg/Yamaha.

A better comparison would be the Kronos vs. the Jupiter 80 (there's a HUGE thread about that in this forum), but, for me, I'd buy the Kronos. I just don't like the Roland sounds.
The GUI of Roland is better, no doubt, but when you're getting used to the Kronos, it's all quite logical.

And, well.. Nine synth engines. You can only dream of something like that when you buy Roland gear.

michelkeijzers · Post by **michelkeijzers** » Thu Jan 19, 2012 12:56 pm

I went from a Korg M50 to Korg Kronos and already this is a very huge step up.

rob314159 · Post by **rob314159** » Thu Jan 19, 2012 1:04 pm

Of course, you are talking a significant price difference between those two, if you are considering the Fantom X since it's been discontinued for quite some time.

If you do a Google search for Kronos vs Fantom you'll get a number of threads from various sources comparing them (although I would imagine the bulk of those compare the Fantom G series).

Here's one at Korg Forums: Roland Fantom G or Kronos

As far as further information on the Kronos, Korg has 6 different video manuals that may be of interest, and you can always download the Quick Start or Operation guide.

Morten'J · Post by **Morten'J** » Thu Jan 19, 2012 1:38 pm

I would go for Korg Kronos and ad a Roland SoniCell later it is great have the same sounds as Fantom X.

jimknopf · Post by **jimknopf** » Thu Jan 19, 2012 2:14 pm

The FantomX and the FantomG have been my last two workstations.

I would never, under no circumstances, want to go back to either of them after playing a Kronos.

The Fantom X has the advantage of being compatible with all the old SRX boards. But that are mostly sounds on 80s/90s level. Loading samples is extremely slow on the Fantom X, while it works extremely fast on the Kronos (SSD).

The FantomX may look simpler, but in fact it is much less powerful an elegant to use than the Kronos, in all areas of usability. Don't forget that the Kronos has a much better file system, touchscreen for easy editing and programming, and MUCH better sounds in all decisive areas of keyboard play (Piano, EP, Organ, VA-Synths, FM-Sounds etc.; even many better sounds in the HD-engine). And Karma is ten times more powerful then the FantomX arpeggiator. The only weak sound spot in a Kronos are it's guitar sounds.

The FantomX and the FantomG were options years ago, but not compared with a Kronos. I'm sorry to say that I regard them as really lame ducks in comparison.

JPWC · Post by **JPWC** » Thu Jan 19, 2012 4:03 pm

The Fantom G is an excellent keyboard, sounds great, but........Kronos sounds better. (More options with the multiple sound engines.

I like the sequencer on the the Fantom better, but...........no Karma.

The Fantom has a D-beam, but.............who cares.

If I only could have one, I'd chose the Kronos, but.........the majority of my use is in the studio.

But.............if I was playing only live, with a band, the Fantom G boots up faster and has fewer software glitches, (mine has never crashed, ie needed to be re-booted).

And lastly, I believe the Fantom is a little better mechanically, but I've have not had any problems with my Kronos.

It all comes down to your application.

apex · Post by **apex** » Thu Jan 19, 2012 4:11 pm

I actually loved my Fantom g. It was a great addition to my Kronos. I was able to get an xf at an outstanding price and there were some features that really caught my attention....

I had the xf that I'd purchased with intent on making a profit and my Fantom g both on eBay. And Craigslist.... I prayed and asked God to allow whichever one I was not supposed to have to sell first.... Well the Fantom g sold on eBay and agreed to terms on a Craigslist deal within 2 hours of each other....that was very definitive for me.... Plus the Fantom g with arx drums and arx epiano with 1gb memory stick sold for $2625....and this was after September of last year..... That was a crazy price. It was a no brainer for me.

The Fantom g sounds great. About just as good as other synths....maybe not the Kronos , but m3/motif for sure....well maybe not m3.... That's a favorite of mine. Lol....

If price is no option then get the kronos, you'll be happy. But if you need to spend half as much money the Fantom g will make you happy as well....justbe sure to research issues that others have documented and make sure you can live with it. I think about my Fantom from time to time and kinda still wish I had it....but I'm extremely content, satisfied, and blessed to have the gear assortment that I have.

You should post this same question on forums of the other keyboards you are considering.... That's the only way to get a fair answer. And like mentioned above there is always the Kronos vs. (google option).....I'm sure there is tons to read.

cobray · Post by **cobray** » Thu Jan 19, 2012 8:13 pm

Thank you all for your considerate and in depth responses. I've decided to go with the Korg Kronos. I'm sure it will blow me away and live up to my expectations.

Shakil · Post by **Shakil** » Thu Jan 19, 2012 9:54 pm

Things that are possible on Fantom-G, but not on KRONOS:

1. Ability to change tracks while recording in sequencer.
2. Ability to fully edit program and drum kits from sequencer.
3. Dedicated MIDI out channels/parts.
4. Multipart/Multichannel MIDI Patterns.
5. 128 MIDI tracks (16 internal, 16 external parts).
6. Flawed effects routing design
7. Better build quality

Things that are possible on KRONOS, but not on Fantom-G

1. Much more flexible effects routing with dedicated EQ for each track.
2. Ability to stream audio tracks from SSD.
3. A great file management system
4. KARMA
5. SoundFont import
6. More than 2GB RAM
7. Touch Screen
8. 6 more synth engines
9. Availability of sound expansions

====

You need to hear the instruments in categories of sounds that are most important to you. If you don't like how the thing sounds, that can trump all other feature/deficiency.

michelkeijzers · Post by **michelkeijzers** » Thu Jan 19, 2012 10:00 pm

cobray wrote:Thank you all for your considerate and in depth responses. I've decided to go with the Korg Kronos. I'm sure it will blow me away and live up to my expectations.

I don't want to be negative against Korg, but if you want also the 'other side of the story', ask it also to Roland people ... if they also say Korg then it's clear, if they say you should take a Roland ... well ... well they must be real Roland fan boys.

TSUNAMI · Post by **TSUNAMI** » Thu Jan 19, 2012 10:01 pm

If you want an editor get the roland :/

thehost250 · Post by **thehost250** » Thu Jan 19, 2012 11:03 pm

You should probably also check other neutral sites. You're on a Korg forum so the majority will lean in the Kronos direction. If you go to the Roland focum the majority will lean in the Fantom direction. I have both and I'm quite satisfied with them together. What one lacks the other does well.
The guy said he lives in an area where testing them both out is not an option. If you want a more realistic sampling of opinions you should check out other sites that are not Korg or Roland affiliated and hopefully get some more input in addition to here or on Roland's forums. Like someone else said here, your usage will also play a factor in which one as live use and studio use are two different arenas. It's hard to be disappointed in either.

jimknopf · Post by **jimknopf** » Thu Jan 19, 2012 11:08 pm

I had the Fantom G and the Kronos side by side.

From my view the Fantom is not even worth considering, apart from two small areas: editing while sequencing, and one or two eguitar sounds.
Almost everything else seems much better to me on the Kronos.

apex · Post by **apex** » Thu Jan 19, 2012 11:26 pm

jimknopf wrote:I had the Fantom G and the Kronos side by side.

From my view the Fantom is not even worth considering, apart from two small areas: editing while sequencing, and one or two eguitar sounds.
Almost everything else seems much better to me on the Kronos.

But Jim.... You have personal differences with the Fantom. And believe the Kronos is God with black and white keys.....

You're kinda partial don't you think?

What about external part control?....that's tons better on Fantom g than Kronos right?... 16 extra parts....that's crazy.