Why does Kronos have so many problems out of the box

SanderXpander · Post by **SanderXpander** » Wed Jan 30, 2013 2:36 pm

I do love my Kronos and I will even say I love Korg and many of their products. But at the same time I have to agree that there is no way they checked all the machines (or even most) before boxing them. Perhaps this is normal practice shipping out $3000+ synths but once a few complaints started to roll in you'd figure they'd have someone take five minutes to at least turn on and briefly play each machine.

Corgy · Post by **Corgy** » Wed Jan 30, 2013 3:16 pm

SanderXpander wrote:I do love my Kronos and I will even say I love Korg and many of their products. But at the same time I have to agree that there is no way they checked all the machines (or even most) before boxing them. Perhaps this is normal practice shipping out $3000+ synths but once a few complaints started to roll in you'd figure they'd have someone take five minutes to at least turn on and briefly play each machine.

I think for this price each synth has to be submitted to at least a functional check - o.k. - they can't check each action of each key, but there should be a test that each key moves and plays a sound and there must not be any loose parts inside (hey, we move those keyboards around).

Anukis · Post by **Anukis** » Wed Jan 30, 2013 3:18 pm

1st Kronos 73 Loud fan returned/ Exchanged

2nd Kronos 73 stuck keys would not even play/ Exchanged

3rd kronos I haven't sent for repair yet because its very busy in my studio getting a lot of work but F2 G2 keys are stepped when you press them. The velocity starts at about 80. It feels like a hard button or switch.

Was thinking about selling but the X upgrade cost me $700 plus I have spent several hundreds on third party and Korg libraries so the secondhand price will not give me a lot of return so I'll get it repaired. They wanted to give me another one but I will lose all my third party and Korg libraries so then I have to buy all the libraries again.

Nice board I just wish it it was built properly and there was an easier way to transfer license of libraries.

Corgy · Post by **Corgy** » Wed Jan 30, 2013 3:37 pm

MrDuke wrote:
Melodialworks Music wrote:
Diego5150 wrote:
Hopefully the 4th is a charm.
I'm in the same situation, hoping that with my FORTH attempt, I'll get a working board.

1st Kronos returned - keybed issue

2nd Kronos returned - keybed issue

3rd Kronos X returned - fan noise issue

I've ordered another Kronos X, which should arrive this week. All units 88 models. Strangely, no fan noise issue with the first two.

Is it to much to expect a board with (a) no keybed issue and (b) no fan noise issue?

So strange that they didn't replace the fan, at least for the Kronos X models, with a quieter fan.

I'm not impressed with comments that there are no problems with the build quality / design of the Kronos / Kronos X. My experience has proven otherwise, and I am not alone.
Wow...this is quite astounding. I'm not feeling really confident about buying one now after all. I'm glad I asked, I guess.

I would have assumed the fan issue would have at least been dealt with in the X.

I wouldn't judge too negative. It seems that the keybed problem has been solved at least with the newest and X series. The noise of the fan might be a personal impression or sensitivity. I used to have noiseless synths before, but than compared those to the Kronos, well, any fan noise might be "wrong" for me. Why not check out a Kronos at your nearest store - and if there is nothing to complain about - get it.

SanderXpander · Post by **SanderXpander** » Wed Jan 30, 2013 3:48 pm

Yes, definitely. Perhaps I left the wrong impression; I wouldn't even consider any of Kronos' "competitors" at the moment because for me, there are none. There are almost no sounds I can't accurately create/replicate. I guess the main exception would be the scripting from some Kontakt libraries and the JP80. Anything else I can sample or create with one of the engines. I like programming (most of the time) and compared to my colleagues I think I'm decent and experienced at it, yet everytime I sit down at the Kronos to make something I'm blown away by its sound and flexibility. I've never owned such a rewarding board.

GregC · Post by **GregC** » Wed Jan 30, 2013 6:10 pm

MrDuke wrote:
Melodialworks Music wrote:
Diego5150 wrote:
Hopefully the 4th is a charm.
I'm in the same situation, hoping that with my FORTH attempt, I'll get a working board.

1st Kronos returned - keybed issue

2nd Kronos returned - keybed issue

3rd Kronos X returned - fan noise issue

I've ordered another Kronos X, which should arrive this week. All units 88 models. Strangely, no fan noise issue with the first two.

Is it to much to expect a board with (a) no keybed issue and (b) no fan noise issue?

So strange that they didn't replace the fan, at least for the Kronos X models, with a quieter fan.

I'm not impressed with comments that there are no problems with the build quality / design of the Kronos / Kronos X. My experience has proven otherwise, and I am not alone.
Wow...this is quite astounding. I'm not feeling really confident about buying one now after all. I'm glad I asked, I guess.

I would have assumed the fan issue would have at least been dealt with in the X.

don't obsess over other peoples problems that have nothing to do with you

keymaster · Post by **keymaster** » Wed Jan 30, 2013 6:19 pm

danatkorg wrote:
keymaster wrote:My Kronos 73
output problem
?

Whenever I turn up the master volume a little bit (after the middle level), things start to make distortion. This situation is more often and obvious when playing piano or rhodes sounds. And it doesn't make any difference if I connect by L or R outputs, stereo or headphone...

danatkorg · Post by **danatkorg** » Wed Jan 30, 2013 6:56 pm

keymaster wrote:
danatkorg wrote:
keymaster wrote:My Kronos 73
output problem
?

Whenever I turn up the master volume a little bit (after the middle level), things start to make distortion. This situation is more often and obvious when playing piano or rhodes sounds. And it doesn't make any difference if I connect by L or R outputs, stereo or headphone...

I would strongly recommend speaking with your national Korg Distributor. They can help you to troubleshoot, and if necessary recommend service.

napalm matt · Post by **napalm matt** » Wed Jan 30, 2013 9:48 pm

I have has absolutely no problems with my Kronos 61

Ojustaboo · Post by **Ojustaboo** » Thu Jan 31, 2013 12:41 am

GregC wrote:
don't obsess over other peoples problems that have nothing to do with you

Agree 100%

I've been more vocal than most about my Kronos but there's still nothing at all I would want in its place.

Even if mine went wrong tomorrow, while I'd be ranting on here, I would still want it fixed rather than another product.

If you look at the amount of people like me that have complained or have on going problems in the past 6 months, I doubt you would manage to find 10 people, and those you do manage to find aren't all in the same country.

I personally do think korg needs to change the way they communicate with the public and I do think the initial quality control at the factory they first used was appalling, but don't let that put you off what is in my opinion is the best workstation out there.

The fact that those of us that have had more than one due to problems, still recommend it, should I hope speak volumes.

BobTheDog · Post by **BobTheDog** » Thu Jan 31, 2013 7:17 am

Yeah it seems to be the UK that has the most problems, mu guess is that most the Kronos that were sold in the months before the X release were ones that had already been returned to korg for 'fixing', thats why all my serial numbers on the ones I have been getting were low.

So maybe in other countries they handle this better.

pedro5 · Post by **pedro5** » Thu Jan 31, 2013 12:05 pm

Perhaps the the thread topic should now read,
"Why does the Kronos have so many more problems out of the same box in the Uk ?"..........(apparently...)

Ojustaboo · Post by **Ojustaboo** » Thu Jan 31, 2013 2:06 pm

I had an off the record chat with one of Korg UK's top engineers and he said that while he admits there's a few people like me that have had 2 or 3 with problems (and said that it shouldn't happen) he also said they were surprised about how few Kronos have been returned to have their contacts changed.

Whether he was just saying that I don't know, but if the figures he gave me were true, all I can say is it's only in their own interest to publicly quote them.

I also suspect that if every other Kronos was being returned, it would start causing retailers such a lot of grief that most would stop selling them as the amount of time spent in after sales etc would eat up all their profit margin.

Drunky · Post by **Drunky** » Thu Jan 31, 2013 3:16 pm

But how many people use the K connected via MIDI and playing a different keyboard? In this case, I believe that the problems relate to a very low number of us

Dniss · Post by **Dniss** » Thu Jan 31, 2013 3:47 pm

We need a threat about people with no problem whatsoever with their Kronos.

I don't mean to be insensitive and I feel for users that had to return their unit, but I'm starting to feel a little strange that mine as been rock solid from day one. I can't hear the fan (not even a little), not keybed problem, no...nothing! And the serial no is 636.

I'm just saying cause it sounds like it's a problematic workstation when in fact, most people a probably problem free.