Kronos X 88 sold out

roundand · Post by **roundand** » Sun Apr 27, 2014 4:46 pm

In Germany the Korg Kronos X 88 (only the 88-key version) is almost sold out. Local retailers told me that they were unable to order more from Korg, no explanation given. Does anyone know what's going on?

Bald Eagle · Post by **Bald Eagle** » Sun Apr 27, 2014 5:29 pm

It could just be that there is a huge backlog and Korg can't keep up with the orders. If it's just a local shortage then I would say this is the issue.

But every other time in the past Korg has quietly discounted products in preparation for it's next follow-up product. There is no notice or statement but all of a sudden its's difficult or impossible to order one.

Knonos is ancient in synth years so it's getting time for the next variation. Maybe this year, probably next.

Silverback · Post by **Silverback** » Sun Apr 27, 2014 7:36 pm

When I bought my Kronos x 88 a couple of months ago here in Denmark, I was told by the guy in the music shop that Korg was about to discontinue the entire series of Kronos. And the reason, he told me, was that Intel has discontinued production of the chip that Kronos is based on. That's makes kinda sense, because as far as I know, Kronos is based on an Atom D510 chip which Intel skipped about a year ago (according to a notice I found on cpu-world from june 2012).

pagey · Post by **pagey** » Sun Apr 27, 2014 7:39 pm

I apparently got one of the last 61 keys in the warehouse here in the UK

pedro5 · Post by **pedro5** » Sun Apr 27, 2014 7:51 pm

Would you tell us the company name,please ?

Thanks.

Urs · Post by **Urs** » Tue Apr 29, 2014 7:18 am

Does anybody know if there is already a successor of Kronos waiting to be released? And if so, when?

jeebustrain · Post by **jeebustrain** » Tue Apr 29, 2014 12:12 pm

Urs wrote:Does anybody know if there is already a successor of Kronos waiting to be released? And if so, when?

I doubt it - if that was the case around this time of year, something would likely have been announced at Winter NAMM in January.

More than likely they are having supply issues on certain parts. It happens all the time in the computer mfg industry.

Pouyakhoshgoo · Post by **Pouyakhoshgoo** » Tue Apr 29, 2014 2:27 pm

When i wanted to buy my X88 3 month ago , i checked every single shop here in sydney non of the shops had one in there stock . They contacted Korg distributor in Melbourne and they said that the shop needs to order at least 10 K.X88s so they send them the instruments and then i can buy one!!!
Finaly i found a small music shop somewhere out of Sydney and they just had one Kronos X88 in the stock!

Maybe thats the same issue over there in germany!
Find the main supplier in your country, try to contact them and see whats going on!

dfahrner · Post by **dfahrner** » Tue Apr 29, 2014 3:10 pm

Silverback wrote:...I was told by the guy in the music shop that Korg was about to discontinue the entire series of Kronos. And the reason, he told me, was that Intel has discontinued production of the chip that Kronos is based on. That's makes kinda sense, because as far as I know, Kronos is based on an Atom D510 chip which Intel skipped about a year ago (according to a notice I found on cpu-world from june 2012).

Both versions of the KRONOS use standard off-the-shelf Intel microATX / mini-ITX motherboards...Intel discontinued the original D510MO motherboard, so the X uses the D525MW...so I would expect that if the D525MW was discontinued, Korg could use Intel's replacement for the D525MW (another low-power mini-ITX motherboard, presumably, which might use a different processor than the Atom) to continue KRONOS production...

df

Matthomas · Post by **Matthomas** » Tue Apr 29, 2014 3:40 pm

Mini-ITX is a standard Motherboard "Type"

if the Kronos D510MO motherboard becomes discontinued there are plenty of other Boards that are current and can be used by Korg. In fact they have improved the chip set and power efficiency quite a bit over the past three yrs.

KJandKT · Post by **KJandKT** » Tue Apr 29, 2014 3:54 pm

I wouldn't expect a new keyboard so much as possible an upgrade like when the Kronos went to Kronos X - Maybe Kronos Z....or Kronos X1?

Maybe they will make improvements to things like the sequencer to allow for easier work in there (such as a piano roll midi editor, easy editing of audio tracks, etc.). Other enhancements could be a DVI or USB video out, ability to use a mouse to edit, etc...mainly things that do with functionality and making things easier to use.

As far as the board itself...there is really no competitor at this point. I have a Motif XS (very good as well) but really it doesn't compare to the power in the Kronos X. Having the ability to use so many good quality effects at one time...wow! And some of the additional sample libraries you can buy in addition to being able to load Akai sample sets....awesome. I am hopeful they make some improvements in the functionality like I've listed here a(nd in another post I believe) to the sequencer because this really could be a formidable all-in-one unit for composers, small home-studio recordists that only record 2-4 tracks at a time, etc.

There is such potential with this unit that I couldn't see them just dumping it to go to something completely different. As the unit "expands" but is not deleted, it will enable first generation Kronos users to still stay in the loop, access new sample libraries, etc. Some of the updates I proposed probably can be done just with firmware...therefore all Kronos users since the beginning could use new features.

Really excited about this platform...hope Korg just keeps building on it. My first synth years ago was a DW-8000 - Korg!. I also love the Pa-600 that I have too...they are building great products.

God bless!

Synthesizerplayer · Post by **Synthesizerplayer** » Tue Apr 29, 2014 5:32 pm

Hi,

Hmmm perhaps a King Kronos is on the way. Have to save Ma Monay

crazylounyc · Post by **crazylounyc** » Sat May 03, 2014 3:37 am

I just got a X61 here in america last week.

Im sure they all have x88 too:

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/KronosX88/

DavyP · Post by **DavyP** » Sat May 03, 2014 8:42 am

Definitely something strange going on??

My local dealer has advertised K88 and K88X since their launch but just checked and now no mention of them on their website? Still have 61 and 73 versions though at present.

Silverback · Post by **Silverback** » Sat May 03, 2014 9:49 am

Well, it seems like the 88 key model is now very difficult to get in Europe and to me it confirms what my local retailer told me back in february: the Kronos is on it's way out....