There is no comparison. The Montage looks like a toy compared to the Kronos. Here's why:
The Montage offers FM-X synthesis which includes 8 operators and 88 algorithms. The Kronos blows this out of the water. The Kronos has 9 different synthesis engines. ONE of the engines is MOD7. MOD 7 is a full blown FM synthesizer with 6 operators and a patch bay for free routing normalization. However, In one EXi program bank on the Kronos, you can run dual Mod7 synths for a total of 12 Operators, 8 LFOs, 12 effects, and 4 multi effects per program.
It gets better:
In combination mode on the KRONOS, you can have a 192 operator FM synth with 64 LFOs. It freakin ridiculous. Compared to 9 synthesis engines in the Kronos, the Montage has 2 (AWM2 which is equal to HD1 and FMx which is equal to MOD7) The Montage also does not have a song mode or sequencer mode, however, unlike the Kronos... You can combine the AWM engine with the FM engine. You can combine engines on the KRONOS but HD1 programs have to be exclusive. The work around is to simply work in combi mode on the Kronos.
The "super knob".
The super knob is essentially a gimmick IMHO. It is nothing more than a macro. With AMS on the Kronos, it's nothing to assign as many parameters as you want to any knob, switch, or pedal on the Kronos. The user manual for the montage is around 86 pages. The user manual for the KRONOS is 400 pages...AND the parameter guide for the Kronos is an additional 1200 pages.
The motion sequencer on the Montage is interesting, however, the KRONOS not only has wave sequencing, it carries with it the ability to create your own drum patterns for RPPR and sequencing I'm addition to Karma which can run up to 4 GE modules per combi. The Kronos also has an additional drum track on every program which also can be edited.
The 76 key version of the Montage does not have weighted keys.
What is interesting on the Montage is the envelope follower. I like the idea of being able to step sequence envelopes. But that's about it. It boils down to the sound I think. I do like the Montage, and I think it would be a worthy addition to any studio, however, I'm not convinced that the price point is worth the feature list. I also don't believe that the Montage will be replacing the Motif. I will wait until the next iteration of Montage to make a decision about whether to purchase. For now, I will be adding a Futuresonas Parva to the Kronos to add an 8 voice true analog synth module to it.
These are just my opinions and are in no way meant to discourage anyone from the Montage. I may change my mind about it later... I'm in the cue for a Montage now but I might be cancelling my order.
You cant compare the Kronos to the Montage, its not a fullfledged Workstation anymore, but more of a performance synth...
But then, as a Kronos owner i can tell you that its not just Hosanna with kronos either.. The menu structure and touchscreen interface are based on last centuries ideas of what a good inteface should look like.. It really needs an update to make the Kronos more userfriendly when it comes to programming it.
Programming your own Karma stuff is rediculous, edditing excisting Karma parts is okay, but creating new ones from scratch is hellish. Not even basic arps are easy on Karma.
There is only 12 insert effects on Kronos.. thats a bit last century these days (Montage has 32, Kurzweil forte has 30+)
The HD1 engine still has no support for DNC voices
Its still a wonderfull instrument, that i love playing every day, but its also in demand for a huge update, mostly the user inteface..
Where the Montage rocks is its sound quallity, and newer interface.. but it can not do many things the Kronos cant do..
Next to the superknob, the so called motion sequencer is nothing but the option to change 4 midi CC over time for a single channel. Karma can do this, but also for example the Arpegiator in Casio instruments.
What i do like is the envelope follower, it allows for many fresh things, you can set up your arps and motion sequences in such a way that it follows the beat of a real live drummer. Super thing for live palying in a band. Also a tool solo players could use in different forms
The FM-X engine is what they once tried to archieve with the DX7, using cheep technollogy to recreate analogue sounds.. with the FM-X engine thats more advanced than previous Yamaha FM engines, you can make analogue sounds on top of the typical FM sounds..
Anyway, my opinion on the Kronos, its still the best out there, can do almost anything you want but it really needs an update.. (DNC, your requested analogue engine, the return of the MOSS engine) but also a pattern based sequencer like the Korg Gadget on ipad, a super creation tool, and some new arpeggiator next to Karma 4.0. .. The arpeggiator in AL1 does not cut it.
The Montage is a great instrument with superb sound and two topknotch synth engines, but i cant get over the stuff that isnt there, Sampler, pattern based sequencer, VL and AN synth engines. ensembles like the Tyros5, EAM and SCM technollogy.. No direct controll over the last 8 parts of a Performance and much much more...
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