Kronos: first impression of the Oasys owner

[leo200]

Just read the Sound On Sound review. The reviewer is also an OAYSYS owner since 2005. While he does prefer the physical design of the OASYS, he otherwise describes the Kronos as a "more flexible and in many respects more powerful" update to the OASYS at a much lower price. He points to the SG1X pianos, the EP1 engine and set lists as a few of many upgrades in the Kronos.

I'm pretty sure that new engines are sounding great, but I think right question (for everyone) is OASYS sound good enough for me?

Will I here differences in mix?

I think it is open question.

[leo200]

For those of you that are looking for a quality instrument at a competitive price point, I don't see how you could go wrong with this keyboard. i give it a "thumbs up". Great addition Korg!! Nice instrument!!

100% agree! If you don't have OASYS-the choice is simple!
For less than 3k$ you'll get more than we bought for 8K$.(beside of building quality an few other things)

For me,as an O owner were important to compare them for me personally.

[Nightowl3272]

I've never had a HDD failure in my 20+ years of intensive computing.

Then you're the only one my friend...in history.

[BillW]

I've never had a HDD failure in my 20+ years of intensive computing.

Then you're the only one my friend...in history.

I've never had one go bad on me either. My first few PCs had only floppies. I think I got my first computer with a hard drive in 1991 or 1992.

[curvebender]

I've never had a HDD failure in my 20+ years of intensive computing.

Then you're the only one my friend...in history.

I've had 6 computers in the past 12 years, with 14 internal HDD's together.

Neve had a failure. (Which doesn't mean you shouldn't backup!)

[robinkle]

I've never had a HDD failure in my 20+ years of intensive computing.

Then you're the only one my friend...in history.

I've had 6 computers in the past 12 years, with 14 internal HDD's together.

Neve had a failure. (Which doesn't mean you shouldn't backup!)

Most can have 6 computers without having a failiure. But when you work with computers, it's an normal issue. And HDD's might fail even if you don't notice it. A bad HDD can make a computer crash/errors as if files are located in bad sectors. Most people often think it's a software problem.

[leo200]

Today my brother received his K-61 and I give a try. Since Kronos being lunched I'm, as probably most of O owners, were in doubt-should I change O for K or not.

Now I have an answer-at least at this time for me.
I'm staying with my lovely O.

Why? Very simple. First and very important problem is a font's. I simply can't read the screen in some situations. I can take eyeglasses,but it's not comfortable. With OASYS I don't need it at all!

Sound quality as expected, generally the same.

May be for somebody it will be funny or doesn't matter but overall impression of the overall quality (knobs,sliders,joystick's,panels etc) is as after Mercedes S class you are entering to A Class. Still Mercedes but so big difference..

I'm sure missing drum track knob on my O the same as I hate Function knob on it,but I don't want to live without real pads.

As some one told on O forum- Don't sell your Oasys!

Today I compared O and K at my home studio. I've took the same combi's on both. Sound quality of the O for me (and for my brother, K owner) is undoubtedly better, that were surprise for me.
Difference is significant in low and middle-low sounds. O sound is deeper and warmer. K sound is brighter. Probably it can be compensated in EQ.
I think it is interesting information for someone.

[McHale]

different doesn't mean better. Did you check to see if the combis were identical? They usually tweak them for new keyboards to take advantage of new sound engines or capabilities.

Technically, they should sound identical since they are soft synths running on PC hardware using the exact same DAC's. If there's a difference in combis, I would check the combis and mixer before I'd blame the synths themselves.

[leo200]

different doesn't mean better. Did you check to see if the combis were identical? .

yes,they were. Difference ,probably, since the engines are the same, from amp section.

[EXer]

Technically, they should sound identical since they are soft synths running on PC hardware using the exact same DAC's.

The DACs are the same, but are the output stages (downstreal from the DACs) the same?

[EvilDragon]

Should be all the same as OASYS.

[McHale]

from what I understand, they are.

The only explanation I can think of why they would sound different is, they don't.

[panrixx]

Do these comments, from another thread, answer your question?

Cesarsound wrote:
Another discovery: The Kronos uses the same DAC and ADC converters (chips) used on M3.

DAC - PCM1793
ADC - PCM1802


...which are the DAC and ADC used on the OASYS, as well.

Cesarsound wrote:
So one can conclude that the sound quality is the same of M3.


Danatkorg wrote:
If one thought that neither algorithms nor samples mattered, sure, why not!

[leo200]

Technically, they should sound identical since they are soft synths running on PC hardware using the exact same DAC's.

The DACs are the same, but are the output stages (downstreal from the DACs) the same?

Right question!
Quality of preamp, that receiving sound from DAC's, is very important.
Since the matter of cost in Kronos were very important I can imagine that output stage is less expensive relatively to OASYS

[leo200]

from what I understand, they are.

The only explanation I can think of why they would sound different is, they don't.

Dear McHale! I'm as audiophile strongly believe to my ears. It's proved by many many years. I don't know exactly what an explanation, but difference in sound between O and K playing exactly the same combi through the same amplification at the same time is a fact.
btw-it's confirmed by my brother (K owner) too.