Hello all…I have had the Motif XF 76 for some time…and now I have the Kronos 88 as well.  I love them both, and truly love both as well.  Perhaps it’s because I am a longtime Motif owner, but I find it easier to get around on than the Kronos (especially onstage).  And it has a lot of sounds that the Kronos can’t match (and vice-versa).  A lot has been said about how superior the sound of the Kronos is, and if you’re talking about the acoustic piano sound (as well as EP’s), you’re absolutely correct.  But…acoustic and electric guitars, brass, vocals I feel go the the Motif.  Both stellar machines, to be sure.
I absolutely love the build quality that goes into every Yamaha Motif that I have ever owned…I feel that Korg has a way to go to match Yamaha in this area.  For example, I have never had a knob or slider “fall off” a Yamaha piece of gear, starting with the YC-20 combo organ (which I still own), all the way thru the Motif XF.  By contrast, the alpha wheel and the joystick both “fell off” of the Kronos the first time that I played it (apparently a common problem, as Korg issued a quick fix for it).  Also, the general construction of the Yamaha is superior IMHO.  I KNOW that this XF of mine will continue to be a very valuable and important instrument in my arsenal for years to come, and that breakdowns will be nonexistent.
Since I got my Kronos, I have been trying to learn how to get around on it as much as I can; subsequently, I haven’t been playing the XF at all for about 3 months.  Today, I just set the XF up again to get reacquainted with it, and fell in love with it again.  I consider myself extremely fortunate to own both the Motif and the Kronos, and I feel that they actually compliment each other in that both seem to answer to minor shortcomings of the other.  I have said it before, and will say it again…YAMAHA RULES.
I can’t wait to see what Yamaha has coming up at Winter NAMM 2012…but you KNOW it will be great !!

abwdoc - 10 December 2011 11:41 PM

I can’t wait to see what Yamaha has coming up at Winter NAMM 2012…but you KNOW it will be great !!

I’d like to see a completely new workstation to replace the Motif, with several synth engines as well as Karma. Not sure that will happen, but here’s hoping.

:>)

I agree with your sentiments abwdoc!

An XF, Kronos, and Jupiter 80 combo is a combination of instruments that I would love to have.  Every base would be covered with those three boards.  Someday soon, someone (hopefully Yamaha) will wrap those three into the perfect board.  With an integrated DAW and a video output for a full screen, touch monitor attached!

I only hope yamaha will NOT go the same route as Korg and continues to build solid and reliable hardware. The kronos is a nice machine but it looks like a high-end synth in an entry level box… A friend of mine already sent his kronos away to be repaired due to a usb port problem.

Agrees Benoit!

At those prices the hardware should work flawlessly or Korg will go out of business.  People do not forget easily.

Yes! That´s what I think too… Especially for people who go on stage with it.

what you all forget is that ALL keyboards have some level (percentage) of complications.  I have a Kronos 88 and have not have ANY problems at all with the hardware.  I also own a Korg m3 and have not have ANY problems with the hardware.  I also owned a Korg Triton and I had NO problems with the hardware.  It’s not fair to judge an entire company on a few isolated situations and problems.  I am SURE that the percentage of NO problems is ALOT higher than the ones that do have problems. 

But one consistent issue that I’ve seen/heard/read about with the motif line of boards is the Keybed.  broken key contacts, hammers, and the keys themselves seems to be a VERY constant problem.  Now I’m sure that there are plenty of people that have had a motif for years and had no problems with the keybeds… So is it fair to disown yamaha and motif just because of a widespread problem that is reported? 

NO....

Korg Yamaha & Roland all build solid machines.  That’s why they’ve all been in business for years and years.  If they go out of business, you can believe that it won’t be because they put out cheaply made gear.

The Kronos is an amazing piece of gear just like the XF is… I really liked my Fantom G alot, but what it boiled down to was that I wanted to use the pattern based sequencer that the Motif had (for live use) and so I sold my Fantom G and got an XF.  it really just boils down to user preference. 

It shouldn’t be a build quality issue.  Not that decides which way you go.  They are all built well (but different), and each one has amazing sounds and amazing features. 

just a personal preference that’s the difference.

I agree with you but I just have the feeling that the kronos has not the same built quality than the previous Korg high end workstations, like the M3, or… the Oasys.
I just had the impression that Korg put great software in their new synth, but reduced the material cost at the maximum to make it affordable.
Of course it has amazing features and sounds, on the other hand.
Anyway enjoy your keyboards!

benoit - 12 December 2011 11:35 AM

I agree with you but I just have the feeling that the kronos has not the same built quality than the previous Korg high end workstations, like the M3, or… the Oasys.

This is true, however, remember that the Oasys was $8,000.

I finally spent some time on the Kronos at the local dealer the other week. It was cool but it didn’t sway me to wanting to buy one. The sounds were good but I can still get my XS to do what I need it to do so until something revolutionary enters the market, I’m perfectly content!

zikerstu - 12 December 2011 03:23 PM

I finally spent some time on the Kronos at the local dealer the other week. It was cool but it didn’t sway me to wanting to buy one. The sounds were good but I can still get my XS to do what I need it to do so until something revolutionary enters the market, I’m perfectly content!

rightfully so…

but you don’t think the Kronos is revolutionary?(at least somewhat?)

now the xs to the xf is not much of an upgrade, but the xs to the Kronos certainly is....

I’ve heard a handful of people in various KRONOS vs XF comparison posts favor the KRONOS in regards to the Acoustic & electric pianos. I know that voices/sounds/patches etc., and playability are all subjective, and to each his, (or her) own, but playing them both extensively I’ve come to the belief that if ANY sounds in the XF truly outshine the KRONOS, it would be the Acoustic pianos and electric pianos. I say this as a player. While the AP’s & EP’s upon initial auditioning sound pretty good, it’s only when you really dig in and play them do their flaws become readily apparent. The first word that comes to mind is ‘Thinness’. (I’m talking BEFORE you heap all the effects on to fatten them up)
I just feel that they lack the body and depth of the XF; the harmonic overtones, the half-dampening, the key-off samples. The KRONOS AP & EP’s remind me of a lot of virtual instruments, at first sounding great, but then falling short in playability. As a programmer, enthusiast, or even a casual user, I’m sure the KRONOS AP’s & EP’s are more than sufficient, ( & the KRONOS truly is a very impressive marriage of technologies), but as a PLAYER...there is no doubt in my mind that XF’s AP’s & EP’s have yet to be bested. (Except by higher caliber, more expensive Yamaha models ;-)
I guess that’s why Stevie Wonder, Michael McDonald & Chic Corea, (to name a few) all play on an XF :-)

galdort - 12 December 2011 05:25 PM

I’ve heard a handful of people in various KRONOS vs XF comparison posts favor the KRONOS in regards to the Acoustic & electric pianos. I know that voices/sounds/patches etc., and playability are all subjective, and to each his, (or her) own, but playing them both extensively I’ve come to the belief that if ANY sounds in the XF truly outshine the KRONOS, it would be the Acoustic pianos and electric pianos. I say this as a player. While the AP’s & EP’s upon initial auditioning sound pretty good, it’s only when you really dig in and play them do their flaws become readily apparent. The first word that comes to mind is ‘Thinness’. (I’m talking BEFORE you heap all the effects on to fatten them up)
I just feel that they lack the body and depth of the XF; the harmonic overtones, the half-dampening, the key-off samples. The KRONOS AP & EP’s remind me of a lot of virtual instruments, at first sounding great, but then falling short in playability. As a programmer, enthusiast, or even a casual user, I’m sure the KRONOS AP’s & EP’s are more than sufficient, ( & the KRONOS truly is a very impressive marriage of technologies), but as a PLAYER...there is no doubt in my mind that XF’s AP’s & EP’s have yet to be bested. (Except by higher caliber, more expensive Yamaha models ;-)
I guess that’s why Stevie Wonder, Michael McDonald & Chic Corea, (to name a few) all play on an XF :-)

Chic uses his own samples… (i think) and they would sound just as good on a Kronos as they do in the XF. 

Did you create an account just to fanboy the XF? LOL “I’m just saying...” 1st post...(gotta give you a hard time!!!

welcome to the forums

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qYuOJkZjqQ

mox=xs sound is masked by reverb

@bonivyr:
The recording is awful and hardly useful for any fair comparison.

See the link below for a nice demo of MOX (although I don’t understand a word uttered by the gentleman lol):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FXIjQorphDU&feature=related

Thanks for the warm welcome :-)
I’ve been following these forums for quite some time, & there’s never a shortage of interesting and engaging topics to follow ;-)

Thanks you guys and gals for helping to keep this site alive :-)

Galdort