Krome built quality

[Chriskk]

And about guitars: if you buy a guitar for $200 you can't expect much, buy a guitar of around $1000 you get something decent (comparable to Krome?)

You don't play the guitar, do you?

For $1,000, you can get an American Fender Strat or Tele, which (1) is built like a tank, (2) will last for more than a life time, (3) will retain its value better than any synth on this planet.

[ruiky1964]

You are right about the Fender guitar. But let's go further, I got amazed when handing on a Parker P44 guitar 400$ made in Korea i got second hand. It is built near perfection and plays very well.

I do believe that quality standards depend on the manufactures more than on the country excepting for Chine. I know&hope Chinese production to get better and better as the time goes by, but I think that up to now it is the poorest and worst you can find. I did not expect to get a chinese unit @1K$ I though that could happen rather with the Korg X50, but even the KROME 73 is also made in Chine.

Many of you have own Korg Synths before and you know very well that Korg has lower its quality very much within the same price rank as many of his competitors.
If we do not complain, it will get worse and worse, because we have not only the globalization, but also de economic crises. It is always the consumer who pays the price of the recession.

We are all talking about 1000$ as it could be a gift, when it is the monthly net wage for many Americans and Europeans.
Please, remember what I said, some toys @300k feature better key bed which BTW is my mayor concern on this units though not the only.

[ruiky1964]

And yes! the Synth has amazing sounds and features. Otherwise it would already jumped to the rubbish bin

[Tomtejaeveln]

I've owned a lot of different keyboards and I have owned the Krome 73 now for about 3 months.
I love the keyboard, I really do, you can get some amazing sounds out of it and works great with my band where we play symphonic metal.

The keybed on the other hand is freaking terrible in my opinion. I just dont get it how they could put such shitty keys on it. My 20 year old CASIO has a lot better keys. I mean, if you play at the top of the keys (which often happens when you play lets say G# minor) they hardly go down at all because they are built WRONG.
This is a big minus with this keyboard, although it dont make me wish I hadn't bought it, still love it, it's just really stupid.
As I said, I'm talking about the 73 key version. Haven't tried the 88 one.

[ruiky1964]

AGREE! THAT'S IT!

[michelkeijzers]

And about guitars: if you buy a guitar for $200 you can't expect much, buy a guitar of around $1000 you get something decent (comparable to Krome?)

You don't play the guitar, do you?

For $1,000, you can get an American Fender Strat or Tele, which (1) is built like a tank, (2) will last for more than a life time, (3) will retain its value better than any synth on this planet.

I don't play a guitar but I know a lot guitar players.

(1) I'm not saying you can compare a guitar of $200 to a synth of $200 .. but a synth is mostly more expensive than a guitar, so I would compare a guitar of $200 to a synth of $1000.

(2) The reason a guitar last for more than a life time has not much to do with the build quality I think. Although some electronic parts might wear out a little bit ... although all my synths still work (such as my X5 from beginning of the 90's, it's the oldest synth I have).

(3) This really has nothing to do with the build quality. The reason a guitar does not degrade as much is that it does not contain material that is improved a lot over the years. A guitar now or 30 years ago is about the same. If you buy a synth now, it has lots of more processing power and features than a synth of 30 years ago. No offense to guitars btw.

[ruiky1964]

I do not really know what will be the right equivalent cost of a guitar compare with a Synth of 1000$. When buying a Synth that is mainly of recycled plastic, assembled in China where workmanship is cheaper and with few electronic components that now a days cost like nothing, most of our bank notes go for the engineering, the software and the profit. That's it.

Contrary a guitar is a piece of wood finished and treated. Now a days done in mass and also in low cost countries. There are few electronic components which BTW, are even cheaper than the ones installed into a Synth. The engineering, as the product evolution & innovation is not as notable as the one of a Synth, it is not so expensive. Then, guess the best! there is not software-in.

So, with some few notes, we can get a decent axe what seems not to be the same when buying a Synth. For a decent Synth, it looks like one has to dispose of an amount above 2,5k to 3,5k $/€. (MOTIF/ PC/KRONOS/FANTOM)

Otherwise it will be built like the Krome or even worse.
Krome 88 has a more or less decent key-bed but again not comparable to KRONOS X88 or MOTIF XS8.

People says "you get what you pay for". I still insist on the fact that it could have been made a little bit better for the same price.

As a conclusion for a no professional and no rich person it is better to learn to play guitar

[ruiky1964]

TARAN!

A topic for the poorly manufactured KROME covers a full collection of units sent to service because of problems in the key-bed. A 1,5K$ unit is still normal? KORG people, have you understood that?

Another Topic, MIDI Clock problems! So not even the software for which we paid the most of our money when buying the KROME, seems to be fully right.

So KROME 61 and 73, (1k and 1,2k$) problems to play the chords correctly because the keys are not well done and they do not go down on the right angle. Of course we can play near the edge, but is that normal on a professional unit? On top, the quality is worse than that one of a CASIO-TONE worth 200$.
The KROME 88 (1,5k$) problem and people can hear a noise on the keys coming from the stage.

Korg called this machines Professional Workstation, COME ON KORG! I will be ashamed of showing up my key-bed on scene until people can hear its sound...

Worse, some people is backing Korg aptitude based on two facts, 1-All manufactures do the same, 2- That the machine has beautiful sounds and features.
Please think a bit. If we do not claim for this, what will be the future? We must stop this swindle. At least that you got your 1k$ without any effort. In that case why to buy a KROME and not a KRONOS?
My 1k$ was earned with hard and I am not happy with the quality of this unit. The sound and features do not justify the flaws. I do not agree

[michelkeijzers]

Looking at the number of people backing you up, it seems the the Krome quality must be very good. I'm sorry you have problems with it and I assume you already contacted Korg Support to fix the problem?

[ruiky1964]

Looking at the number of people backing you up, it seems the the Krome quality must be very good. I'm sorry you have problems with it and I assume you already contacted Korg Support to fix the problem?

Perhaps people is either scared of saying the true on the official forum or even scared to have to recognize that Korg sold to them a piece of plastic with a very nice sounding software in. I do not know. But the facts are speaking by themselves. Many problems with the keys on the 88 model and a very low quality on the 61 and 71 keys that on top, are badly built. Have a look at the forum. Or better at the whole net. I am sure many people will not even report their troubles, but that does not change the fact that quality is poor and not balanced with the money. I have a KROME at home and have owned many Synths and sound gear in general. I am an engineer as well and a hard worker who earns his money hardly and honestly. Thus I know what I am talking about very well.

I have nothing against Korg nor nothing against anybody. I just try to denounce the bad doing of the manufactures now a days.
I am glad to learn that you are happy with Korg. I was used to be so and also with Yamaha and even Casio. But, come-on! are you telling me that the keys they put in the Krome are professional ones. You a keyboard player is telling that?

Do not get me wrong man, as I said before, I would have happily paid 200$ more to have a better key-bed in the KROME, but Korg does not give that choice. Either 3k$ and you get a decent unit or 1k$ and good luck with the plastic.

I thought you did not own a Krome. Perhaps you bought one in the last days? Or are you basing your opinion on your experience with other keyboards from Korg. You know, just two years ago, some units were having better build quality than now in the same price range or equivalent. And of course if you have a KRONOS, that is another thing.
Anyway thanks for your comments.
One question more. Do you work for Korg or depend on Korg to produce and keep your, BTW very useful and good worked tool?

[summers2]

I am not a Korg fanboy at all, and I like to think I tell it just like it is. I see some things that I don't like about the Krome keybed, but not to the extent that I would trash the board, because I really feel that I got my Money's worth. I really like the board. It has great sounds and features. It is light, 73 keys even. The keybed on my MotifXS smokes the Krome, but it should.

It doesn't bother me, but the fact that you cannot play the keys near the hilt of the key might bother some. I don't even notice it, and wouldn't have until I read about it somewhere.

To say that they could have spent a little more and had a better keybed is to say that one could have spent a little more and bought a better one themselves.

I would say, try it before you buy it. If the keybed bothers you, move on. If you try it and consider the price and it still appeals to you, buy it.

This forum is helpful because it lets you know what to look for as problem areas so that when you try one, you can assess how those areas apply to you.

One thing that I would say for sure, though, is that the Krome is not junk. If the long term reliability is there, it will entirely provide what I wanted it for. It is a very good board for the money.

[michelkeijzers]

Looking at the number of people backing you up, it seems the the Krome quality must be very good. I'm sorry you have problems with it and I assume you already contacted Korg Support to fix the problem?

Perhaps people is either scared of saying the true on the official forum or even scared to have to recognize that Korg sold to them a piece of plastic with a very nice sounding software in. I do not know. But the facts are speaking by themselves. Many problems with the keys on the 88 model and a very low quality on the 61 and 71 keys that on top, are badly built. Have a look at the forum. Or better at the whole net. I am sure many people will not even report their troubles, but that does not change the fact that quality is poor and not balanced with the money. I have a KROME at home and have owned many Synths and sound gear in general. I am an engineer as well and a hard worker who earns his money hardly and honestly. Thus I know what I am talking about very well.

I have nothing against Korg nor nothing against anybody. I just try to denounce the bad doing of the manufactures now a days.
I am glad to learn that you are happy with Korg. I was used to be so and also with Yamaha and even Casio. But, come-on! are you telling me that the keys they put in the Krome are professional ones. You a keyboard player is telling that?

Do not get me wrong man, as I said before, I would have happily paid 200$ more to have a better key-bed in the KROME, but Korg does not give that choice. Either 3k$ and you get a decent unit or 1k$ and good luck with the plastic.

I thought you did not own a Krome. Perhaps you bought one in the last days? Or are you basing your opinion on your experience with other keyboards from Korg. You know, just two years ago, some units were having better build quality than now in the same price range or equivalent. And of course if you have a KRONOS, that is another thing.
Anyway thanks for your comments.
One question more. Do you work for Korg or depend on Korg to produce and keep your, BTW very useful and good worked tool?

I don't own a Krome, but I own an M50 which is of about the same league and still works perfectly after 5 years (with gigging/moving to/from rehearsal rooms). This workstation is less then $1000 btw. The only concern I have is the AC adapter but it never broke though. Price reduction has to come from something. I also own an X5 which also is in the lower price regions, and I own a N264, Triton Extreme and Kronos which are in the upper price regions (or at least when bought).

And NO, this is not an official Korg forum.

And NO, I do not work for Korg. I don't depend on Korg to produce PCG Tools, I get some help concerning documentation, but there are no financial relations whatsover between me and Korg. Also, I don't get money for PCG Tools. There is a Paypal donation button but it is not used during the last half year.

One of the reason I always end up with Korg is I never had any serious problem with it, at least not hardware-wise. Now I also have to admit I once had a Hammond XK2 and cheap Yamaha Keyboard that also didn't have problems. Guess I just am careful with the boards I have.

I fully agree agree to the post of Summers above.

[ruiky1964]

At some extend I also agree with summers2. I would not trash the board just because features and sound are very good as I already said on one of my posts. By looking at the key-bed however, I have to keep my opinion.

He is also right about trying before buying. That was my mistake and I regret it indeed. I am used to buy in the Internet, but I would never do it again with such a products. I will not trust Korg, easily, anymore.

What I do not agree with is: "To say that they could have spent a little more and had a better keybed is to say that one could have spent a little more and bought a better one themselves"
Why? 'cause to get out from Chinese and low quality production now a days, one has to upgrade from 1k$ to 2 or 3k$. That is not a little more. However for Korg, to have produced in mass, a little better quality key-bed would have end up with a perhaps +200$ product, which is about something more reasonable for economies like mine.

About the Korg Forum, well, I saw hosted by Korg and I thought this is the right one.

michelkeijzers, I am sorry to have said to you about "working for Korg or being related to them" I did not want to offend you, but I found that your opinions were backing very much Korg.

My frustration is that builders in general, have lost the respect for workers (talking now about the poor chinese people who works from sun to sun for a misery wage) and also for consumers that are paying legal earned money for material that has a low quality standard, while the companies are making money and expending it in marketing campaigns that are made from lies.

I wanted to denounce this and I am convinced that I am not the only one who got a better feedback from Korg in the past than in the present. I do not want to look at the future by now. It is scaring me...

Indeed, Krome can satisfy to newbies, also to people who got several boards and Krome is just one more on the collection. Perhaps also for people for who 1k$ is just pines. But it is not a board to satisfy a person who had Korg products of the same range in the past and who saw better key-beds in consumers keyboards made up by Casio for really little money. Nor satisfying for a person for who 1k$ represent a big effort. Specially taking into account that Korg sell this unit as a Professional Workstation. This adjective is a bit too high for a Krome IMO.

I will stop here, this Topic. I think I have done what I have to. This Topic has been read by many, many people and I am sure it has arrived to Korg somehow too. I hope people will think a bit.

I do not look for backups, but for saying the true and expecting people to hear it and think about. That is my only target.

Thanks to all of you who have commented on it.
Bye!

[michelkeijzers]

Thanks for the nice reply.

I hope you will find a synth manufacturer that fits better to you, although I think every manufacturer has the same issues regarding affordability/feature/quality and commercial aspects to watch.

And you are right I might be biased in favor of Korg, but that is the brand I like best due to 20+ years using Korg synths.

Anyway, I hope you will never stop making music because of the fact you bought a synth you didn't like after all. The synth is only a device, the real music comes from yourself.

I hope to see you again, preferably on this forum.

[jorgemncardoso]

Well after reading all this i respect and understand all opinions but i have to say i agree with ruiky1964 100%

I've been using Korg products since the M1 and lost a bit of interest on Korg products in general after the Trinity (with the Oasys being an exception). Mainly because the sound palate has became way too dance/techno oriented for my taste (i'm a rock/pop progressive guy), anyway i digress...

The expression, "it's great for the money" dosen't cut it with me, Korg had a lot of lower budget synths over the years with way better quality than the krome.
I've tested the keyboard, at least with headphones it has great sounds... yes, it has a lot of features... yes, But... can i rely and depend on it to play (and i mean Play, not pressing a couple of keys with karma on and let the synth do the rest), i mean selecting a damn piano patch, hook up a sustain pedal and play the hell out of it, will it hold up...? I mean will it hold up flawlessly like my T3 or my 01W (for 20 years), of course not!! Nigher will a Kronos for that matter!

But the problem is not Korg, is the industry and economy. Nobody build's stuff like they where build in the 80's or 90's anymore. Nobody is building stuff to last a lifetime anymore, because next year there will be another synth with twice as much technology, more sounds and everybody will be buying that, and companies have to make a profit.

I've said here somewhere that my first little arranger keyboard i had back in the 80's has better keys than the krome, and it was just a toy. I mean, where does the cutting corners ends...? If you can't sell it for 1000 sell it for 1500, but put some decent playing keys in it for pete's sake.

I honestly have to say, in light of Korg's recent build quality (Kronos included):
God i love my T3 and my 01W!!!! More than 20 years old and like new, zero problems, hundred of hours playing, gigging, rehearsing, recording!!