PianoManChuck is live at NAMM 2025.

He streamed all the new products at the Korg Booth starting with the KRONOS 3.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rr2cJSj5WGo


Luciano Minetti explained the new features.

The KRONOS 3 comes with a fan less new Motherboard.
Boot up time has been reduced to under 50 seconds.

This model is fully backwards compatible with older models.
Your PCGs from the KRONOS 2 will load and sound the same on the KRONOS 3 without any modification.

Korg made this possible by placing all the news sounds at the end.

Jordan Rudess got to play on a prototype back in October.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91WPKAuYmqk

John Mike just verified that the boot time in the KRONOS 3 has indeed been reduced to 48 seconds.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7vizvfDziA


Luciano stressed the point that even though the shell looks the same as the older model, the KRONOS 3 has completely redesigned internal parts.

In spite of inflation, Korg was able to keep the price of the KRONOS 3 the same as the previous version while offering a better and more responsive Touch Screen, a collection of new sounds and a faster Motherboard.

The 61-key KRONOS 3 is the cheapest flagship workstation in the market for $3,000.

Korg will be dropping the KROME.

The Nautilus will continue to sell as a cheaper alternative to the KRONOS 3 with a more streamlined interface.

The KROSS will remain as Korg’s entry level workstation.

Here is some good news for KRONOS fans. Korg will be offering a free download to make all the new sounds available to their existing users.

The KRONOS 3 will be shipping in May.

Luke Edwards from Korg UK gave a feature rundown of the KRONOS 3.

Korg had to discontinue the KRONOS 2 because of their difficulty in finding parts and chip shortage.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_HTGfFNTv2I


The new Touch Screen reacts much quicker to finger presses.
Luke played a few riffs showing off the new Italian (FAZIOLI) Grand Piano sample.

It is still using the same Responsive Hammer Action (RH-3) keybed with channel aftertouch that is made in Japan.

Luke was using a pair of Beyerdynamic DT-770 PRO 80 ohm headphones. These are great sounding closed back headphones that are comfortable to wear for long sessions. I have one pair in limited edition black. They have a reduced clamping force over your ears.