Here we take a closer look at the Kawai CX5 upright piano. We have a range of good quality secondhand upright piano here at the Piano Shop Bath. Every one of these pianos has a different quality, and the best way to work out which one is for you is to come down and try them all out for yourself. If you can’t do that immediately, then you can also take a look at our blog reviews and videos to help start the process.
The Kawai CX5 upright piano is a modern compact upright piano that was built for small spaces; at only 145 cm in width there will be few complaints on the footprint side of things! Kawai pianos has a long history and has built up a solid reputation over the years as one of the leading piano manufacturers in Japan. They are now considered very much the equal to (and in some cases superior) to Yamaha pianos. This model features a satin mahogany case which has a very smart appearance and clean lines when closed. This is also a three pedal model, with a practise pedal in the middle. This is an absolute must for most players living in built up areas, as it significantly reduces the frequencies that pass through walls and into other people’s living spaces. This piano was manufactured in 1998 but has been well looked after. The construction is solid and high quality, and closer inspection does not reveal any minor mis-alignment of parts you sometimes see on lesser makes. Take a look at this close up of Kawai’s to see its immaculate condition.
This piano has a bright tone especially in the middle register. This gives nice chiming bass notes, although the bottom few notes could do with more clarity, but this is somewhat expected in a small piano. The middle register is very clear, and might be slightly too bright for some, but if you like that type of piano tone, then this is definitely for you. Interestingly the brightness does not translate into a tinny upper register, rather it sounds quite balanced and rounded out. Playing spread chords on this upper register is very pleasing, and no doubt this is something that chosen by Kawai when they designed this piano. The overall sound is a big resonant one, packing more punch than you would expect from such a compact upright.
This features a medium touch keyboard and the overall action has some depth to it, combined with good overall responsiveness. This is not going to be a comparison to a decent grand piano, as that would be unfair, but overall this plays very well for music up to an intermediate level.
A good price for a solid piano, by a respected piano manufacturer. Kawai has long had a history of high quality construction, so you will be buying an instrument that will last and give few technical issues. It is a really resonant instrument with a good overall tone and performance. If you are looking for a compact upright to play a range of material on, this could be for you.
