Output saturation

mbatata · Post by **mbatata** » Sun Jun 13, 2021 4:03 pm

Hi guys. I'm having a issue that many other kronos owners complains about. sound saturations on any volume after 50%. I found once somebody, don't remember where, saying that is a problem in a specific PCB board. Did anyone get to address this doing some kind of maintenance? Any other idea? (It' cannot be solved adjusting ''internal headroom" as sudgested in many answer a found).

voip · Post by **voip** » Sun Jun 13, 2021 9:01 pm

What kind of setup is being used? It may be that the Kronos output is too high for the destination. It is also possible to overload the Kronos' internal audio path by using multiple chained effects with high gains.

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mbatata · Post by **mbatata** » Mon Jun 14, 2021 12:30 pm

voip wrote:What kind of setup is being used? It may be that the Kronos output is too high for the destination. It is also possible to overload the Kronos' internal audio path by using multiple chained effects with high gains.

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It occurs with any factory preset, even the default Germand Grand (A001) without any edits.

voip · Post by **voip** » Mon Jun 14, 2021 5:13 pm

And the audio system being used? What type is it, and which inputs are being used?

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KK · Post by KK » Mon Jun 14, 2021 8:49 pm

One easy test is to connect good quality low-impedance (around 50 ohms) headphones on the Kronos front jack with the synth master volume at 50 % (12 o'clock) and with no audio/MIDI/USB connection on the back.

uhura · Post by **uhura** » Wed Jun 16, 2021 6:56 am

Distortion at higher volumes seems to be a common Kronos hardware defect at the output stage probably caused e.g. by phantom power.
The Kronos appears to be quite sensitive here. Always use a DI Box or some other form of isolation.
I had the same problem but unfortunately i cannot tell how to fix it, as my unit was repaired under warranty.

geoelectro · Post by **geoelectro** » Wed Jun 16, 2021 12:46 pm

uhura wrote:Distortion at higher volumes seems to be a common Kronos hardware defect at the output stage probably caused e.g. by phantom power.
The Kronos appears to be quite sensitive here. Always use a DI Box or some other form of isolation.
I had the same problem but unfortunately i cannot tell how to fix it, as my unit was repaired under warranty.

As does Kurzweil, Yamaha, Roland...

Stay away from Phantom Power!

Geo

mbatata · Post by **mbatata** » Wed Jun 16, 2021 1:44 pm

voip wrote:And the audio system being used? What type is it, and which inputs are being used?

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Direct L/R to audio interface via P10 or frontal headphone jack.. both of them are distorted beyond 50% of volume...

mbatata · Post by **mbatata** » Wed Jun 16, 2021 2:20 pm

KK wrote:One easy test is to connect good quality low-impedance (around 50 ohms) headphones on the Kronos front jack with the synth master volume at 50 % (12 o'clock) and with no audio/MIDI/USB connection on the back.

I tested with an AKG K44 witch nominal impedance is 32ohms, also tried in reference studio monitors.. all resulted in distorcion..

geoelectro · Post by **geoelectro** » Thu Jun 17, 2021 12:36 pm

To verify a hardware failure, run a sound out of a pair of your direct outputs like 1 & 2 or 3 & 4. If Phantom power damaged the L/R outputs, the direct outputs should be clean. If there is no change, I would suspect something external.

Geo