Why does Kronos have so many problems out of the box

[Corgy]

I think it is good to see people post about Kronos with no problems. My biggest put off and what still holds me back is the pervasive negativity. People posting about their words apples makes me more comfortable about choosing an apple myself fully aware some have had a worm but probably farm more have not. Lol woress apples now that's some funny stuff to wake up to thanks! Thanks but in all seriousness the negatives I saw on this board absolutely affected my purchasing decision last year. A balance of good and bad user experiences is a good thing. Did any of this make sense? I hope so.

Is there anything like a list that compiles the most important issues and how many people complaint about it?

I had no problems with my Kronos 88X. The only thing I would like to get rid of is the noisy fan.

I don't think there is such list... besides it will be very hard. People with problems tend to fill in such lists, while people not having problems will not fill it in or even never will read it because they don't read KorgForums (yes there are lots of Korg owners NOT being on this forum).

btw, you can add me to the no-problem-owner-list. I had two small issues, one is a key that behaved a bit slower but it's unnoticable while playing, other is a freeze in a beta version and I never could reproduce it afterwards (probably also fixed with a new OS version).

You are completely right about such a list and user inputs. However, a compilation could be useful. When I read user reports about products, I allways look to the bad experiences. If there is an often reported issue that I would not like to have myself, than I check deeper or don't buy. If the major issues discussed don't bother me, than I take this for a good sign. IMHO you often can tell a serious issue to be discussed from a minor complaint.

[GregC]

Is there anything like a list that compiles the most important issues and how many people complaint about it?

I had no problems with my Kronos 88X. The only thing I would like to get rid of is the noisy fan.

I don't think there is such list... besides it will be very hard. People with problems tend to fill in such lists, while people not having problems will not fill it in or even never will read it because they don't read KorgForums (yes there are lots of Korg owners NOT being on this forum).

btw, you can add me to the no-problem-owner-list. I had two small issues, one is a key that behaved a bit slower but it's unnoticable while playing, other is a freeze in a beta version and I never could reproduce it afterwards (probably also fixed with a new OS version).

You are completely right about such a list and user inputs. However, a compilation could be useful. When I read user reports about products, I allways look to the bad experiences. If there is an often reported issue that I would not like to have myself, than I check deeper or don't buy. If the major issues discussed don't bother me, than I take this for a good sign. IMHO you often can tell a serious issue to be discussed from a minor complaint.

a compilation like that will never happen. A potential buyer has to exercise some judgment on a $3000 keyboard. Its obvious that some posters complain all the time. Some buyers are unusually picky. Some buyers don't do their homework and buy impulsively. Some countries seem weak on distribution , weak on communication and slow on service, if you believe what some posters say here.
Then you have dealers and a variety of resellers pumping B stock returns as " mint and new " when it obviously is not. Demo Kronus' also get trashed on the floor at Guitar Center. Buyer beware.

None of the above are Korg issues. Still, some posters don't dig in to get a balanced set of facts and want to get negative like the O/p.

You can be assured there are thousands of satisfied Kronos owners. Its been out almost 2 years ( it shipped June 2011) . There aren't really any secrets about anything. All the issues have been thoroughly discussed.

[MrDuke]

The only thing I would like to get rid of is the noisy fan.

Hmm...so the fan is still an issue? Is it worse in the X61?

The replacement works fine, but it has what sounds like a loose screw rattling around *inside* of the keyboard. It's a fine keyboard, but there is definitely a quality control issue somewhere.

See, these kind of stories don't really help. :/

So - - in conclusion, there are still quality issue in the X line as well?

[BillW]

The replacement works fine, but it has what sounds like a loose screw rattling around *inside* of the keyboard. It's a fine keyboard, but there is definitely a quality control issue somewhere.

See, these kind of stories don't really help. :/

So - - in conclusion, there are still quality issue in the X line as well?

No, this new one is not an X...it's the original version.

[BobTheDog]

Well for me out of the box:

First kronos, noisy fan sent back for replacement.

Second kronos, didn't make it out the box as it was an old serial without 'fixed keybed'

Third kronos, noisy fan and keyboard cutouts/ lack of velocity range.

Third kronos sent to Korg service for them to look at fan and keyboard, they replaced fan with an even noisier one and didn't look into the keyboard problems properly. Needs to go back to them again.

As I have said in another thread the delivery man who has now delivered four Kronos to me and taken three back said, "I wouldn't get one of these"

[Diego5150]

Well for me out of the box:

First kronos, noisy fan sent back for replacement.

Second kronos, didn't make it out the box as it was an old serial without 'fixed keybed'

Third kronos, noisy fan and keyboard cutouts/ lack of velocity range.

Third kronos sent to Korg service for them to look at fan and keyboard, they replaced fan with an even noisier one and didn't look into the keyboard problems properly. Needs to go back to them again.

As I have said in another thread the delivery man who has now delivered four Kronos to me and taken three back said, "I wouldn't get one of these"

Hopefully the 4th is a charm. You have suffered enough for most of us. Good Luck Bob!

[Melodialworks Music]

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.

[keymaster]

My Kronos 73

- keybed problem / solved

- output problem
- tap tempo button broken
- E5 key is noisy
- fan noise
...
to be solved...

STILL THE BEST MACHINE ON THE MARKET!

[danatkorg]

My Kronos 73
output problem

?

[Ojustaboo]

To me, the biggest alarm bells is the fact that people like myself and various others on here, have had 3 or 4 different keyboards until finally they get one that works (and a few are still having problems)

These people aren't being picky, they have genuine complaints.

I uploaded recordings of the problems on my first two 88's, and most people who heard the problems agreed it was totally unsuitable for piano playing on.

I was well aware of the cutoff problem, but I waited over a year since release, got new stock direct from korg, and I still fell victim.

My X 88 is lovely. I love playing it, it plays like it should.

A couple of keys do sound like something inside is going boing boing boing when released quickly, its not enough to warrant sending it back for repair but it is sometimes off putting when playing with the speakers at a low volume. The weighted clunk which all weighted keybeds I've tried seem to have is one thing, a couple of notes adding boing boing boing is another.

Is that me being picky? Maybe. I do think if this was my first kronos I would have returned it to korg for them to look at.

Overall though I love this machine and I think keybed and fan problems aside the build quality is great. My two boingy notes are probably something that a quick adjustment could fix. The keybed on my X version is evenly spaced and I can't stress enough how happy I am with it.

I did hear the fan for the first time the other day, its only done it the once, sounded like a dodgy PC fan that rattles, the sort you whack lightly and they go quiet for a few days. But it's not done it since.

I think with the X version the keybed problem is sorted. My two notes are me being a little picky and is probably a quick adjustment. Personally if I was in charge, a different fan would be used as it seems to be quite a cheapish one used and enough people have found it annoying enough for a sticky in this forum.

I think Gregc is right about Bstock being sold as new causing many of the problems. I also wonder if those of us that have had 3 or 4 Kronos have experienced a similar thing. Korg or whoever, sending out keybeds that were returned to them as the user found problems, they test them out, can't find the problem so the next poor person whose Kronos is replaced, gets one of these sent out instead.

I also wonder about Korgs inability to fix people's velocity problems when one key is louder than the others, may have something to do with for example, Cubase saying middle C is C3 and the Kronos thinking its C4.

I told korg G4 was at full velocity, but on reflection, as far as the Kronos is concerned it was G5, so its possible the engineers looked at the wrong note hence couldn't see the problem.

However, while on the phone to me, they said they had set it up exactly like I had it at home, including using Cubase etc so they could replicate my environment and they said they had listened to my recordings. If they listened and then played, they would hear they were playing a lower octave, but I wonder whether they heard the problem, saw my pic



and simply tried the G4 on the Kronos which is G3 in the above pic.

That's a theory that occurred to me a few days ago when playing with the Kronos pads and realising Cubase is one octave out.

[MrDuke]

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.

[BobTheDog]

I guess the best bet mr Duke is to get one and send it back if you have issues.

Luckily it is a wonderful keyboard, but I must admit I am getting sick of sending them back, this next time will be the 5th time!

This time I am going to make some videos/audio clips showing exactly the issues I have had, If you would like to listen to my fan look in the first post here: http://www.korgforums.com/forum/phpBB2/ ... normal+fan

[kanout]

For me:
-a first kronos 61:
mad os!
sent back!
-a second kronos 61:
no problem.
(but sold for another keyboard)
Here in france we can see in forums so much keybed prolems.
I have a good friend who had 6 kronos(yes 6 that's true)and he had some problems(os,he burnt the internal ac in one of these)

When people say there are some problems with kronos,this don't mean all the kronos have a problem.
There's a moment,it's not a fanboy problem or a bashing problem
But if you consider standard quality control for a proffessional keyboard,we just have to realise the kronos is the baddest keyboard we saw since so many years(while we all agree about the sound,technology..etc..)

Korg think quality control for geeks,not for proffessional use.
It's a big mistake.
Technology isn't all!
If kronos was one of the best reliability for gigging,i will surely have one.
Today,i can't have one for 2 reasons:
-yam,roland,kurz,etc are all far better than korg if you think reliabiility
-we don't have time to spent to buy a keyboard we are not sure for reliability,it's like a lotery(one good,the other not..etc)

The last korg mistake is korg attitude:
-never accept these facts about reliability problems and minimize all
-always consider(with some fanboys) people who experiment theses bad things(sending back a kronos you bought...the delusion after buying an expensive workstation like this and experiment diverse problems)and who are saying these things in forums like bashers,or guilty people.
-never really excuse for all that.

There is a moment there are only simple facts:
The kronos is a shame for these stories,and that's all.
Musicians are not guilty,korg is guilty.
When i open the box with my first kronos and put in in my studio,when i saw these problems with a mad os,the big question was for me:
"how is possible for the technician who put a mad kronos like thisin a box?"

It's not a joke guys,we are musicians,not childrens:
We aren't gulty to be angry because of bad kronos.
It's a korg problem and only that.

Korg was the first synth i bought in my life,i loved korg since 25 years and had so many krog synth(a good korg customer)
I spent so much money for korg gear and don't need to take lessons from fanboys(for exemple)
Today my korg vision is more a "musician geek company" with all these jokes(kronos,pa3x)than "proffessional synth company"
I'm not guilty,it's korg.

We are not stupid,if you look today korg products it's just an evidence:
-good tech,performance,good sound and good ideas,agressive marketing and a great product palette....
....but the baddest quality control and reliability.(for pro standards)

I would like to see in the future a real evolution"build like a tank products"and high level reliability.
I will see in the future and will surely buy a new generation korg synth if it's ok,but at this moment my personal story with korg is closed.

And please korg,don't tell us we are stupid,agressive,basher..stop this joke and read all the users feedback.
Simply assume your product and all these problems.

[adamburgess]

Well, I must've just been lucky then Or am I in the minority? Not sure, haha but my Kronos61 was perfect out the box. Sees around 35 hours a week gigging. As for Korg reliability, my #921 Extreme61 is still working fine, albeit with a broken touchscreen - which was my fault.

[JPWC]

Maybe they've opened the wrong box?

Hey if the price is right?

My Krono did not come straight out of the box, she hung in there a while, this must been the cause for not problems. Remember when you first take your new Kronos home, leave it in the box an extra few days to fully ripen, this will help with problems right out of the box.