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Kawai K500 - Top-End Performance for a Mid-Range Price

We really appreciate you watching our review of Kawai’s K500 upright piano. It’s a popular piano for us here at Merriam Pianos, and if you’re watching this, you’re likely considering it yourself.

The K500 is a 51” model from Kawai, and a member of the K-Series of pianos which debuted in the early 2010’s. The piano offers massive value for its price point (~$10,000 USD ‘street’, give or take $1000 depending on market), offering several features typically found on pricier European models from C. Bechstein, Sauter, Schimmel. These include:

● Mahogany-core Hammers
● Pure Copper Hand-wound Bass Strings
● Tuned Duplex Scale (Treble) **
● Extended Key-stick lengths equalize key weight between front and back, and better simulate grand feel
● A more extended bass bridge for longer string lengths for its box height
● 5 Laminated Hardwood Backposts
● Direct Steel Hardpoints between backposts and plate

And of course, the biggest and most obvious difference of all, which is their proprietary carbon-fibre reinforced action called “MILLENNIUM III”, an action now found in virtually all of their models including the ultra-exclusive Shigeru Kawai series.

Although Kawai doesn’t give their uprights ‘version codes’ in the same way that Yamaha does (i.e. U1-A, U1-M), the K500 has gone through several technical updates since its introduction, so that a K500 purchased in 2019 has notable differences between it and one purchased in 2013. The biggest updates are around the Millennium III Action; they’ve added energy-absorbing foam that now adorns the hammer rest rail, which has even further increased the repetition speed of what was already the fastest recorded repetition speed in the industry. The foam virtually eliminates any bounce as the shank returns to its rest position, reducing the chance of a missed strike while playing softly or quickly.

The K500 competes directly with Yamaha’s U3, W. Hoffmann’s v126, and is a close cousin to the Boston 126 (designed by Steinway, produced by Kawai in same factory & production line).

The Sound

** Kawai K500’s tone is very warm with a surprisingly strong treble attack which projects well, without feeling metallic or shrill. We can thank their innovative duplex scaling for this. I say innovative, because on first look, literally no-one can find where the duplex is on a K500. I assure you - it is there - but Kawai’s crafty engineers have hidden it somewhere you almost never see it - on the capo itself. This innovation promotes controlled and strengthened upper harmonics, a tonal category that upright pianos are notoriously weak in.

The bass is clear, full, and without any boominess or ‘woofiness’ that you sometimes get with extended string designs. There is also a substantial increase in power between it and it’s little brother the K300.

The Action

As mentioned above, the K500 is equipped with an advanced version of the Millennium III action, with energy-absorbing rest rails, carbon-fibre reinforced action components, lengthened key-sticks, and mahogany core hammers. That’s a mouth-full for sure, but the result is an ultra smooth action which give most grand pianos under $20,000 a run for their money in terms of power, control, and repetition speed.

The Cabinet

Kawai gave some exterior trim updates to the K series which, while subtle, were nonetheless stylish and modern. Bevelled edging, a redesigned gable, an art-deco inspired toe block, and an ultra-wide music desk (the widest if I’m not mistaken) all make for a functional design that still looks elegant when it needs to serve as a showpiece in a living room.

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