Keyboard Mag review

danmusician · Post by **danmusician** » Fri Aug 12, 2011 10:30 pm

I haven't gotten to read the entire review yet, but I thought the comment was interesting about the Kronos, as a workstation, being very close to dedicated pianos such the Roland V- Piano and Yamaha CP-1.

I spent a some time with both the V and CP before I got the Kronos. I think the Kronos compares very favorably to those instruments.

First, I've never been a fan of Roland digital pianos. That's purely subjective, they just don't work for me. Also, I thought the key throw on the V seemed a bit shallow. For the price and lack of portability, just didn't make the cut for me. I do like the Kronos pianos better.

The CP1 was a real contender for me. BUT, the looping on the lower octaves was too noticeable to me. The Kronos excels at having full samples.

Overall, the Kronos pianos tend to be a little bright for my taste. But the dark German is pretty good for a "normal" piano for me.

So for less money, I got a piano I prefer and a killer synth and workstation. It's the most I've ever spent on a workstation, but I think it's the best bang for the buck I've ever gotten on a keyboard!

(Actually, back in the day, I spent 2k on my EPS, plus nearly at least 1K on output expansion, memory upgrade and sound disks. Ah, the good ole days!)

kron · Post by **kron** » Sat Aug 13, 2011 12:08 pm

I would use Kronos pianos in some situations and V-piano/RD700NX and CP1/Motif pianos in some other situations. This is purely because the piano sounds can be very subjective when it comes to finding the 'right' sound for a particular musical arrangement. This also applies for software pianos, I end up using VSL Imperial Grand, Imperfect Samples Fazioli and Pianoteq based on what suits the needs of a musical arrangement.

If this was confusing, here's what I meant (this is not in the order of any preference):

- V-piano: Best sounding piano, if I don't want to move it around
- CP1/Motif: Piano with a 'character'
- Kronos: Versatile piano that would suit most of the common situations

It is impressive what KORG has achieved here at a price point, that you would end up spending for a hardware piano alone.

These days, for me, magazine reviews are good for entertainment and just to ensure that I haven't missed a 'view point'. I have stopped relying upon them since I've ended up with wrong purchases by over believing into what they write.

michelkeijzers · Post by **michelkeijzers** » Sat Aug 13, 2011 1:41 pm

The 'problem' with magazines that is mostly subjective from the author's point of view, and if it's not subjective, it's more like specs which are mostly already known by other sources (manufacturer, forums like this, youtube movies etc).

donjuancarlos · Post by **donjuancarlos** » Sat Aug 13, 2011 4:38 pm

What I don't get is the "too bright" etc., comments.

You've got adjustments galore right in front of your fingertips to make it as dull and dark as you like.

From the samples I've heard so far (still waiting for a 73), I'd prefer a slightly darker sound as well, with more resonance. And I'm going to dial that up on the piano sound as soon as I get it, and then press Save.

Bruce Lychee · Post by **Bruce Lychee** » Sat Aug 13, 2011 5:18 pm

I had the CP1 right before the Kronos. I love the EPs but the pianos on the Kronos are better. The big difference between the CP1/V and the Kronos is that they have far nicer actions and build quality.

danmusician · Post by **danmusician** » Sat Aug 13, 2011 10:25 pm

kron wrote:I would use Kronos pianos in some situations and V-piano/RD700NX and CP1/Motif pianos in some other situations. This is purely because the piano sounds can be very subjective when it comes to finding the 'right' sound for a particular musical arrangement. This also applies for software pianos, I end up using VSL Imperial Grand, Imperfect Samples Fazioli and Pianoteq based on what suits the needs of a musical arrangement.

If this was confusing, here's what I meant (this is not in the order of any preference):

- V-piano: Best sounding piano, if I don't want to move it around
- CP1/Motif: Piano with a 'character'
- Kronos: Versatile piano that would suit most of the common situations

It is impressive what KORG has achieved here at a price point, that you would end up spending for a hardware piano alone.

These days, for me, magazine reviews are good for entertainment and just to ensure that I haven't missed a 'view point'. I have stopped relying upon them since I've ended up with wrong purchases by over believing into what they write.

Totally agree that it's all subjective. The Roland dps are an excellent example. I know many people love them. There's just something in the tone doesn't connect for me. I know it does for many others. The interesting thing to me is that I sometimes hear guys playing one in a band and I enjoy the timbre. But then I go and play the same model and I just don't feel it.

So glad we have the choice! I hope all the major companies today can keep it going. We've lost a lot of great keyboard manufacturers over the years.

danmusician · Post by **danmusician** » Sat Aug 13, 2011 10:38 pm

donjuancarlos wrote:What I don't get is the "too bright" etc., comments.

You've got adjustments galore right in front of your fingertips to make it as dull and dark as you like.

From the samples I've heard so far (still waiting for a 73), I'd prefer a slightly darker sound as well, with more resonance. And I'm going to dial that up on the piano sound as soon as I get it, and then press Save.

I understand what you're saying and you're correct.

I guess the tendency is to expect that a keyboard costing over 3k wouldn't need much tweaking.

danmusician · Post by **danmusician** » Sat Aug 13, 2011 10:40 pm

Bruce Lychee wrote:I had the CP1 right before the Kronos. I love the EPs but the pianos on the Kronos are better. The big difference between the CP1/V and the Kronos is that they have far nicer actions and build quality.

Actually, I preferred the Kronos action over the CP. Not sure the build quality was better, but Yamaha knows how to build instruments!

Once again, choice is good!

Slovenec · Post by **Slovenec** » Sun Aug 14, 2011 1:44 am

Regarding magazine reviews, I too don't rely on them anymore for a 'subjective' as well as an 'objective' opinion on a new product. It seems that sadly, most of the magazines also base how positive a review is with how much advertising the particular manufacturer is doing with that particular mag. 'Future Music', 'Computer Music', 'Keyboard' (to name just 3 are a total joke. In the case of Keyboard Magazine, it really saddens me about them as they used to have the best reviews up until about 7-8 years ago and I have very issue from 1987 up until the start of 2005! Their reviews use to be very comprehensive whereas now, it's like reading an extended brochure put out of the manufacturer of the product being reviewed! I still praise Sound on Sound very highly for most of their reviews but the review of the Kronos was also like reading 'Korg's Proview'! Electronic Musician still seems to do good reviews. Music Tech's reviews are also like brochure reading IMHO. It seems that the manufacturers are often sending unfinished products to the magazines so that they can get a positive review out to the public ASAP and then the magazine's marketing department is aptly rewarded with a nice 1 or 2 page spread of the product!

One can hope that some of our once respected magazines can get their act together and stop simply acting like the brochures you pick up at your local music retailer! Keyboard Magazine are you listening?????????

billysynth1 · Post by **billysynth1** » Sun Aug 14, 2011 8:14 am

Sorry gents, but where is this review? Is it on-line, can i buy it? I have gone to the keyboard mag site, but there is nothing about the JP80, am i perhaps looking at some other site with a similar name?

Thnks
Billy

EXer · Post by **EXer** » Sun Aug 14, 2011 12:15 pm

Slovenec wrote:[...]
I still praise Sound on Sound very highly for most of their reviews but the review of the Kronos was also like reading 'Korg's Proview'!
[...]

Unfortunately, today SOS seem to be much less objective about the strengths and weaknesses of the gear reviewed than they used to be.

Another example: they are quite positive about the M-Audio Prokeys 88 stage piano, yet it has a really crappy action (I know that judging a keyboard action relies strongly on personal preferences, and I'd rather say "I prefer A heavy weighted keyboards over B weighted keybaords" than "A keyboards are better then B keyboards", but M-Audio keybeds *are* definitely crap).

DavyP · Post by **DavyP** » Sun Aug 14, 2011 12:29 pm

SOS is by far the best Music Tech Mag available in the UK, and maybe the world? I have purchased it since its first issue in the 80,s and its reviews are usually the most in depth and detailed and the Kronos is a good example.

The reviewer was obviously an Oasys fan but IMO I think the review was accurate and the reviewer could compare the kronos against the oasys as he was familiar with the different synth engines.

zzz · Post by **zzz** » Sun Aug 14, 2011 4:42 pm

There's also this one to watch, to go along with this month's Keyboard...

from Keyboardmag.com

a Pre Review ... before the Official Sept issue review ...

http://www.keyboardmag.com/article/k...pressions/4350

Well worth a watch.

danmusician · Post by **danmusician** » Sun Aug 14, 2011 7:52 pm

billysynth1 wrote:Sorry gents, but where is this review? Is it on-line, can i buy it? I have gone to the keyboard mag site, but there is nothing about the JP80, am i perhaps looking at some other site with a similar name?

Thnks
Billy

I have an electronic edition subscription. I got an email the other day that the Sept issue was out. I read it online. I suppose the print edition is at newsstands or being mailed.

I don't know what the lag time is between publication and their free website.

Chriskk · Post by **Chriskk** » Sun Aug 14, 2011 10:28 pm

SOS is by far the best Music Tech Mag available in the UK, and maybe the world? I have purchased it since its first issue in the 80,s and its reviews are usually the most in depth and detailed and the Kronos is a good example.

Did you read the SoS review of the Kronos? It's not a review per se; it's a glorified Kronos brochure.

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