I am looking to buy a piano for myself (used to play many years ago, would like to resume playing) and my oldest daughter (age 9, has been playing for a couple of years).
Have been looking at lower end new and some middle 2nd hand pianos (Yamaha U1 etc). Today I saw a Kawai K25, on sale because model is discontinued. This K25 had been on the shop floor for about 8 months. We liked it a lot, both in terms of sound and how the keys felt. I also tried a couple of KX 21s and feel the K25 is far superior in sound and touch. Played a K5 also, loved it but out of my price range. There was no K3 on the shop floor to try.
I would like to hear your opinions on both the K25 and the K3. Is the K3 far far superior or could we happily live with the K25? The K3 is NZ$2000 more expensive than the last remaining, discounted K25. We could possibly stretch our budget to get the K25 but would struggle to purchase the K3.
I also looked at an older U1, about 35 years old, and wasn't impressed. We have been offered a used (not sure how old -- haven't seen it) U3 for a good price but I fear the piano is too big for the space it will occupy and more than we need.
I'd appreciate any comment or suggestion. Thanks.
Kawai K25, Kawai K3 -- advice please
Moderators: Feg, Gill the Piano, Melodytune
The K25 is OK. A vast improvement over earlier Kawais, but....
The K3 is much better. The shoddy casework of the K25 (look closely and you'll discover where plastic mouldings are disguised as wood) has been replaced with a much more solid, rattle free affair on the latest K-series. It also has the Milennium 3 action which is a serious improvement over the old ABS-Styran action of the previous generation, and is certainly the best plastics-based action in any piano today, with a performance to rival most traditional actions.
You won't regret the extra cash for the K3.
The K3 is much better. The shoddy casework of the K25 (look closely and you'll discover where plastic mouldings are disguised as wood) has been replaced with a much more solid, rattle free affair on the latest K-series. It also has the Milennium 3 action which is a serious improvement over the old ABS-Styran action of the previous generation, and is certainly the best plastics-based action in any piano today, with a performance to rival most traditional actions.
You won't regret the extra cash for the K3.