diff --git a/plugins/spu2-x/src/defs.h b/plugins/spu2-x/src/defs.h
index 24b0f664eb..575a20e875 100644
--- a/plugins/spu2-x/src/defs.h
+++ b/plugins/spu2-x/src/defs.h
@@ -189,7 +189,9 @@ struct V_Voice
 // sample position within the current decoded packet.
 	s32 SCurrent;
 
-	void Start();
+	// it takes a few ticks for voices to start on the real SPU2?
+	void QueueStart();
+	bool Start();
 	void Stop();
 };
 
@@ -436,6 +438,8 @@ struct V_Core
 	u32				MADR;
 	u32				TADR;
 
+	u32				KeyOn; // not the KON register (though maybe it is)
+
 	StereoOut32 downbuf[8];
 	StereoOut32 upbuf[8];
 	int			dbpos, ubpos;
diff --git a/plugins/spu2-x/src/spu2freeze.cpp b/plugins/spu2-x/src/spu2freeze.cpp
index f18e0fbe12..572ba07a0e 100644
--- a/plugins/spu2-x/src/spu2freeze.cpp
+++ b/plugins/spu2-x/src/spu2freeze.cpp
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ namespace Savestate
 
 	// versioning for saves.
 	// Increment this when changes to the savestate system are made.
-	static const u32 SAVE_VERSION = 0x000b;
+	static const u32 SAVE_VERSION = 0x000c;
 
 	static void wipe_the_cache()
 	{
diff --git a/plugins/spu2-x/src/spu2sys.cpp b/plugins/spu2-x/src/spu2sys.cpp
index 2ca84a12d4..3557693fe3 100644
--- a/plugins/spu2-x/src/spu2sys.cpp
+++ b/plugins/spu2-x/src/spu2sys.cpp
@@ -303,7 +303,16 @@ void V_Core::UpdateEffectsBufferSize()
 	RevBuffers.MIX_DEST_B1 = EffectsBufferIndexer( Revb.MIX_DEST_B1 );
 }
 
-void V_Voice::Start()
+void V_Voice::QueueStart()
+{
+	if (Cycles - PlayCycle < 4)
+	{
+		printf(" *** KeyOn after less than 4 T disregarded.\n");
+	}
+	PlayCycle = Cycles;
+}
+
+bool V_Voice::Start()
 {
 	if((Cycles-PlayCycle)>=4)
 	{
@@ -316,7 +325,6 @@ void V_Voice::Start()
 		ADSR.Releasing	= false;
 		ADSR.Value		= 1;
 		ADSR.Phase		= 1;
-		PlayCycle		= Cycles;
 		SCurrent		= 28;
 		LoopMode		= 0;
 		LoopFlags		= 0;
@@ -327,11 +335,10 @@ void V_Voice::Start()
 		PV1 = PV2		= 0;
 		PV3 = PV4		= 0;
 		NextCrest = -0x8000;
+		return true;
 	}
 	else
-	{
-		printf(" *** KeyOn after less than 4 T disregarded.\n");
-	}
+		return false;
 }
 
 void V_Voice::Stop()
@@ -421,6 +428,13 @@ __forceinline void TimeUpdate(u32 cClocks)
 		lClocks += TickInterval;
 		Cycles++;
 
+		for (int i = 0; i < 2; i++)
+			if (Cores[i].KeyOn)
+				for (int j = 0; j < 24; j++)
+					if (Cores[i].KeyOn >> j & 1)
+						if (Cores[i].Voices[j].Start())
+							Cores[i].KeyOn &= ~(1 << j);
+
 		// Note: IOP does not use MMX regs, so no need to save them.
 		//SaveMMXRegs();
 		Mix();
@@ -1528,11 +1542,13 @@ void StartVoices(int core, u32 value)
 
 	Cores[core].Regs.ENDX &= ~value;
 
+	Cores[core].KeyOn |= value;
+
 	for( u8 vc=0; vc<V_Core::NumVoices; vc++ )
 	{
 		if( !((value>>vc) & 1) ) continue;
 
-		Cores[core].Voices[vc].Start();
+		Cores[core].Voices[vc].QueueStart();
 
 		if( IsDevBuild )
 		{