Kawai MP Series (6 & 10) Comparision & Purchase from overseas

[muzika88]

Hi Guys,
Can anyone test run this gear and help to comments on the abvoe?
a. Where can we test it.
b. How are the key feel compared to Roland FP and Yamaha CP300.
c. Any idea of the price in Singapore.
d. How is the sound compared to "old" CP300.

Knowing the warranty is overseas, but considering a good option to own,
1. Is it advisable to purchase from Sweetwater, as it's only abt Sin 2K, incl delivery, for this machine?
2. If up the price a bit, to Sin 3.5K, we could have Roland RD700NX..... (sound good).

Pls help comments and feedback, and Cheers man...

 

[Cheez]

I believe the MP 6 and 10 are not released yet. The MP6 is supposed to be released in Nov and MP10 in Dec. Don't think they will arrive in Singapore yet. Kawai is brought in by the shop in Centerpoint (can't remember the name). I remember testing the MP8 there. The MP6 and 10 are supposed to have different key actions. The MP5 and 8 are supposed to be one of the best actions (in terms of realism). I've tested them and they are indeed very good. Too bad they don't have good speakers for me to test out the sound. And the people in the shop are watching over my shoulders every second - so didn't get a good chance (and time) to test it properly.

I would say the action is comparable to the CP300. I personally don't like Yamaha sound (including the CP300). The piano sound of Yamaha is always a little too "tinkly" at the higher register. The Roland 700 series is excellent in touch as well - slightly lighter but great action. And the keys are certainly "different" - considering the material it is made of. The escapement system in the Roland keys are nice, although some may find them too "distracting". The best thing about the Roland is the piano sound. Beautiful. Very hard to beat - only softsamples can beat that.

However....watch out for the latest Yamaha series (should be coming out soon). The Tyros 4 already has optional RAM - which allows you to load huge amount of samples. They should be coming to all their keyboards soon. That will change the game dramatically.

In summary, all the newest keyboards are competitive in the touch. Some are lighter and some heavier (Kawai belongs to the heavier one). So it comes to personal preferences - just like the comparing the real grands. Playing the Yamaha C7 and Petrof is drastically different (the Petrof grand is one of the heaviest I've played). Sound wise - definitely Roland. Can't comment too much on Kawai (didn't test it long enough). Yamaha is not my preference, although it's better than Korg.

I wouldn't get it yet from overseas - until you tested it. I'm actually in Hong Kong now. Hopefully I can find test the MP6 in Tom Lee - if it has already arrived (I doubt it). Do consider the Roland 700 series. It's a pleasure to play with - excellent ergonomics. I can play it for hours and hours, just because it's such an experience to play with. So is the CP300 (mainly because of the good internal speaker system, not so much the piano sound).