Korg Kronos X

Korg showed the Kronos X, an update on their Kronos workstation with more storage, a new operating system, and more sounds.

[MrJeruelorillaza]

just got my Kronos 4 months ago. very happy with it.

[VirtualMark]

Totally agree, can't believe they'd charge extra for sounds.

[frankhartis]

Thanks Ramon and virtual Mark. Might just get the motif xf or whatever it's called. My motif is 11 years old but one of the best boards I've ever had. Priced lower too and more sounds. Solid brass sounds are #1 for me. The assholes I've worked with for 28 years can't afford anything but shit or they leave the good guitar at home and use some old knockoff crap. I want people to say, damn, brass and strings sound pretty good and realistic. Had a good run w/ this board. Had a T3 forever and it served me well, but think I might hang with Yamaha motif.

[RamonRodgers]

For the record I love what I see with the Kronos. that's why I came here. But I won't sit here and lie that I don't believe it can and should cost less.

[alphasxsignal]

Great job Korg. Glad to see you advance for even more power. Some people just want something for nothing. It cost money to make this stuff R&D cost.
If you want something great you better bring some cash, its well worth the price.
Dam people pay this much for just a computer to play games on.

[alphasxsignal]

Roland just brought out for FREE their sound update for the Jupiter 80.

[VirtualMark]

£3000.... and it comes with a demo of legendary strings. Wow.

[gjc]

If what you say is true....wouldn't that limit the keyboard to only stock sounds? Sure I wish all the expansions are included. But I'm happy some expansion/new sounds available too. As for the price, the Korg Kronos is $2, 300. In 1986 I paid $2, 000 for my Roland D-10, $2, 000 for the Korg M1 in 1988, $2000 for the Korg 01/W in 1992 & in 2001 I pay $3, 000+ for the Korg Triton Pro X, $2, 000 for Yamaha MO6 & $2, 500 for Roland XV5080. Kronos prices are totally in line w/inflation.

[bairahrecordings]

Im sticking with the Yamaha Motif xf8.

[gjc]

Sure the price of technology decreases over time, but the price of 1GB of RAM today, is nearly the same as what 1MB cost in the 80's. Just out of curiosity, what would be a fair price for the Kronos, in your opinion? It's priced the same as the Nord Stage 2, Motif XF, PC3K, etc. 1 other thing, 88 wooden weighted keys are expensive to make & are always 50-100% more then the 61 key. You can get a Kronos/X 61 for $2, 800/$3, 200 respectively.
PS: Honestly, the Kronos really is an awesome keyboard.

[prototypep]

I don't see how since you can upgrade the kronos to basically the same as the x with the exception of a big x on the back.

[Digiphex]

The expansions are where they get ya. Also the keys are defective.

[dzalvsek]

What does it mean "demo versions of Exs librarys"? There are few sounds of each library or all sounds but incomplete or limited in some way?

[zolessi]

I think for the price point difference between Kronos and kronos X the regular model is the better buy. You can upgrade the OS and upgrade the ram and it's basically the X version except for the hard drive capacity which is already great on both models. For the matter, either Kronos can have a new HD added - so I just don't get it except as a business, Korg is almost obligated to do something. Very soon the regular Kronos will not be available (new) and the X will be the only choice.

[gjc]

BTW, you can get a decent keyboard for $1, 000 - $2, 000. You can also pay $4, 000 for a PC, or you can pay $400. It all depends on what you want & the quality.
PS: If what you say about PC's, components, etc is true, ...then why are Apple Macbooks so expensive? (compared to HP, DELL, Lenovo, Asus, etc) Oh, & the Nord Stage is even MORE then the Kornos, but doesn't do as much. BTW, I am not "attacking you" you or anything. It's just a friendly (albeit heated) discussion. ;-)

[bradtwo]

Beautiful sounding board. I miss my Korg Triton extreme, terrible. However, It's hard to justify spending $3, 300 on a keyboard anymore. With that amount of money you could buy a macbook pro + almost any midi controller that plays very nicely + have enough cash left over to buy the previous version NI suite. The main focus anymore is the engine in these things, and since it's tied to a specific piece of hardware, you can only go so far before having to exchange out the entire board.

[JSprayaEntertainment]

Dont tell Harmony Central that, Tell Korg foo ☻

[gjc]

Seems you've never heard of "inflation"? The price of keyboards has basically remained fairly consistent since the 1970's. ($1, 000 - $4, 000) If you think a company can make a keyboard like the Kronos for $500, that's ridiculous. The price of the Kronos is the same as the Motif XF, PC3K, etc & Korg also offers some good, cheaper keyboards. Anyway, whatever. I bought a Kronos X & I am ecstatic with it. I'm not complaining about the price of the keyboard or the expansions. IMO it's fair.

[RamonRodgers]

BTW, I bought my Kurzweil K2500SX in 1994 for $4000. I still have it. But today my $4000 went to a killer system, VST (Spectrasonics, and NI), DAW, and good controllers. I am ecstatic about THAT. I do far more for less. It is common that a person defends their reason for spending a premium when they know they don't have to but if you're telling me that you wouldn't prefer it be priced a little closer to what other devices based on the same technology are after 30+ years, that just disingenuous.

[Mtaalas]

There's no real competition. a monopoly creates that kind of attitude...