Korg Forums

[kykeon]

Hi there,

I'm a happy owner of a Kross 88 for some months now. My previous keyboard was a Yamaha DGX 650 for about 1.5 years.

They are very different things but my comparison should be helpful if one is undecided between the 2.

The DGX is more a piano replacement with additional sounds and goodies while the Kross is a complete music production tool... with keyboard.

Price will differ across regions and time but for my case DGX was about 30% cheaper than the Kross and also had Keyboard stand , Notes stand, Speakers and 1 pedal.

The DGX key-bed action is very close to a hammer weighted piano. I was very disappointed when I first played with the Kross
I have the feeling that the Kross has just a spring resistance and nothing of the inertia/mass of a piano key or that moment when the hammer hits the string. (This is also reflected at the weights of the instruments, DXG is twice as heavy)
I bought it without testing it first and if I had, I would have probably not bought it. (Although I'm now happy that I did)
After a while you get used to it.
Advertising it as "Natural Weighted Hammer Action" is deceiving IMHO

The sounds are OKish in both but the Kross is expandable and can shape the sound more. (Could be that the Yamaha Grand piano sounds a bit better but I may be wrong)

Kross is a complete music production tool (Multi-track sequencer, powerful arpegiator etc) while the DGX just allows basic things (recording, midi file etc)
In other words, you would need a computer and a DAW to match Kross functionality

Kross is (more) portable, DGX practically not portable.

My suggestion is to play them both if possible and have a quick look at the manuals of both.
For something closer to a Piano go to DGX, for more flexibility and complete production go to KROSS

[OpAmp]

Hi,

Thanks. I agree on your statement about the Natural Weighted Hammer action.

It is marketed on the website as: The NH keyboard reproduces the touch of an acoustic piano, with a heavier feel in the low register and a lighter feel in the upper register.

To be honest, the difference in feel between the low and high register is very littlle according to me. I barely notice it. But maybe I'm not the right one to judge, I've never played a real acoustic piano. And in fact I don't care. I did play another keyboard which has hammer action and I must say it feel completely different compared to the Kross.

I'm a bit more worried about the fact that some keys on my bed tend to produce a rattling sound...

Furthermore I like my Kross very much.

Bye
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microKORGXL, Kaossilator Pro, monotribe, SQ-1, volca fm, Kross 88 BK
Alesis SR18, Akai Miniak, Fender Strat, Line 6 Spider II 112, Zoom MS-50G

[Dragan]

I hear a lot of complaints about the Kross 88 keyboard. The 88-keys keyboard was the main reason for me to get the Kross anyway. I tried many different 88-keybeds including the best Fatar and Studiologic out there. I found them too hard to play for anything else than the grand pianos. IMO Kross 88 keyboard represents an excellent compromise between the synth action and piano keyboard style. I found it very enjoyable to play, it serves me very well as the master keyboard for my other synths. Of course your mileage may vary.

Bottom line: if you want realistic graded hammer piano action buy a Fatar or Studiologic keyboard or -even better- a stage piano.
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VOLCA Keys+Bass+Beats
ELECTRIBE 2
KROSS 88