Hello there!

I'm 19 years old and I just got into the world of piano, and I'm enjoying it a lot. I think I'm learning fast and I'm willing to take it very seriously. I'm going to start taking classes soon =).


I have a piano at home, but it's horribly out of tune and I can barely use it anyway because I bother my family and neighbours. I've been playing with an old Kawai X30 but the lack of hammer action is something I'm a bit worried about (and it's not in a good state).

So, I'm getting a brand new DP and my priorities, I think (altough you probably know much more about this than me) are:

-Weighted keys.
-Good sound (captain obvious?).
-USB connectivity.
-This might sound a bit naive and superficial, but I know myself very well, and it is really important for me that the "object" I work with is beautiful, whatever it is. I used not to take notes at college until I bought myself a Moleskine (not because it's a known brand, couldn't care less about that, but because it's pretty). If I enter my room, look at my keyboard and say "wow, how beautiful" it's much more likely that I'll sit down and practice 2 more hours!

So, I've been reading a lot of reviews and asked some pianist friends, and in the end I'm leaning towards the Kurzweil SP2XS.

My friend has one and she's always boasting about how good it sounds, and from my limited experience I think it sounded pretty well (would try it myself but she lives far away). It seems to have all the functions I want and, on top of that, it's design is really appealing.

It might sound like I'm not asking for a honest opinion, and I must admit I'm a bit biased towards that Kurzweil, but I still wanted to come and ask the experts if it's a bad idea to buy one. I won't buy it if you tell me it's horrible =P.

On a side note, is buying from thomann.de a good idea? I've read horrible reviews about their customer service, but on the other hands I know many people that bought there and had no problems. What do you think?

Anyway, thanks in advance! =)

Take it from someone who appreciates the sound and feel of a good Digital Piano and from someone with LOTS of experience of the Kurzweil sound...DO NOT BUY A KURZWEIL. Hateful things...KurzVILE. I know this is a strong opinion expressed stongly but I really feel they are awful things. The sound has two or three areas on the keyboard where the notes are presented in a very out-of-proportion way...it will bug the hell out of you once you are aware of them...a kind of pronounced bell-like ringing on a few notes in two clusters in the midrange and the upper bass is very muddy indeed. They have always done this and these characteristics continue just the same on the triple strike true stereo sample on the current range. This is why you can pick out the Kurweil sample on TV shows, film music, commercials, pop records...it is so distinctive - but in a bad way!

Kurzweil uses Fatar actions and these are some way behind many others. I would never recommend them as pianos...as pro controllers/samplers etc maybe they have a place but not in my opinion for someone wanting a decent piano. Others may disagree of course!

If you are really tuned in to the look of a piano the good news is you have loads of choice...Roland DP990, F110, Casio PX-830, Yamaha CLPS306 and 308, Korg LP350. In fact, anything in polished ebony finish from any of the makers will impress.

Good luck and sorry for my negativity.

Steve

I have a kurzweil pc1x that I have gigged with the past 5 years or so, and it's a great board. It has mostly the same sounds that the sp2xs has. Kurzweil pianos are love/hate - for instance I love them; the poster above hates them. I wouold not hesitate to go with your choice of an sp2xs. Doesn't Kurzweil have a next generation sp3 out now? I do not know if it has speakers, though. I checked and it does not. You'll go with what looks, sounds and feels best to you. Luckily there are no shortage of opinions. When y ou have an instrument you really like it gets played more. Don't forget to sign up for lessons at school, too.

My church replaced their older Kurzweil PC88 with the SP2X (same without internal speakers), and the pianist using is is very pleased with it. I personally own a number of Kurzweil keyboards, including a PC2X (used as a family piano) and a PC3X (in my shop/studio).

As mentioned above, some love the sound, some are ambivalent, and some hate it. I personally am very well pleased with the sound, feel, and appearance. Their service is also excellent, check the SonikMatter PCXX forum, several of the Kurzweil R&D people hang there. There are several posters there from Germany who may be able to provide more info on vendors in Europe, although I don't remember any criticism of Thomann.de.

I find the sound to be excellent enough that I have two PC3 - one with 88 weighted keys and another with 76 lightly weighted - for gigging. The only place that I want a higher quality of sound is for pure solo work - and I have East West Quantum Leap Gold Piano software for that purpose (the Bosie samples are almost 18 gigabytes). The PC3X also makes an excellent MIDI controller.

I have played the SP2X some at the church (I am usually on my 2-board setup there with a K2000VP and a PC2 - adding pads, synth leads, orchestrals, etc.) and find it to be a fine instrument.

I visited Sweetwater when they had a group of DPs in the lobby for people to try and compare. I would say that the Kurzweil (a 152i) had a noticeably different feel than the other brands on display (Roland and Yamaha). So if you're happy with the way it feels, that's what counts. As for sound, that's easy to change, I'd focus on getting the touch that you like.

Thank you for the fast answers! =D

I have a couple more questions though. My main problem is that I'm completely lost regarding the software bits. How do these things work? Can I get a new sample / sound inside the Kurzweil? Or should I keep it plugged to the comp for the custom stuff? (Sorry, I have no clue =P).

What is that East West Quantum Leap Gold Piano software you mentioned?

In the keyboard description it says it has a pitch wheel, but I realized it's in the front end of the keyboard instead of the left like in the next model. Will it be comfortable to use?


Thanks!

All Kurz have usb connections. The sp2x will have its own sounds in ROM - inside the board. My guess is you cannot add to or take away from the sounds that come with the instrument. You may be able to save versions that you tweek by changing certain effects in the board. I believe that the sp2xs is pretty much stand alone. You might check the manual for the instrument for better information. The previous poster was discussing software that recreates sounds of instruments.

http://www.kurzweil.com/Product.php?id=50

this is the manual. looks like there is an operating system update for the sp2xs, too, accessed through the usb cable to the internet.

The keyboard will send little messages to the computer whenever you play a key or pedal. The messages say which key and velocity was played and when the key was raised.

Computer software reads this information and creates sound. This sound is sent the the computer's headphone jack or internal speaker. But to be useful you'd want to direct it to more powerful and better speakers.

What you are doing is disabling the keyboard's sound generation abilty and exporting the key press data to a computer. You are not really add ing sounds to the keyboard.

Do not buy a SP2XS its already superseded by the SP3 and its got polyphony issues. There are far better SP's around for the the money I mean for a few hundred more you can buy a Yamaha CP300 (if you really need the built in speakers)

OP, I told you there's a love/hate thing with Kurzweil! The SP3 ain't got no speakers. Costs more! Pray, what are the polyphony issues? I have never had any with the Pc1x or the PC2. This OP is new to piano and likes the design. I promise there won't be a polyphony problem. Good pricing, looks/design, great piano. Don't get me wrong, the CP300 is a really fine stage piano. It's sibling, the CP33, which I practice on, is great - no speakers- I use headphones. Both those just had price cuts, too. But, pay no attention to the Kurzweil hate! [tongue in cheek icon, here]

It's good to have diversity of opinions ^^.

Well, after consulting some more sources I finally decided to buy it. It's on it's way from Thomann =).

Thank you guys for your advice, I'll be practicing hard as soon as it arrives!

Well despite my opinions...good luck with your new board, I hope you enjoy it.

Steve

You shouldn't have any polyphony problems, due to Kurzweil's unique voice-stealing algorithm. It doesn't work like the others, so while the number will look low on paper, you will have plenty of room.

My K2600X has 48 voice polyphony. That sounds real low, but I have never had a noticeable dropped note. Take in to account also that many of Kurzweil's patches are really more than one instrument playing. My basic "string ensemble" sound (Dynamic Orchestra in Kurzweil's menu) is made up of about ten other sounds (which exist as solos as well) ranging from strings, chamber strings, solo violin, trombone, flute, etc). Yet it still sounds "stringy". That's why I prefer Kurzweil's orchestral sounds to all others. Also, the force that you hit a key determines how the patch/program sounds. Very light playing may result in a flutey, breathy string sound, while playing in a more pp range might sound more brassy and aggressive. This is only one example of Kurzweil's sounds. Along similar lines is a wonderful preset called Touch Orchestra.

It is likely that your keyboard will come with some of these sounds as opposed to the flat-sounding strings found on most other DP's.

Congratulations, I believe you will enjoy the SP2XS. As others have mentioned, modern electronic keyboards like the Kurz are really special purpose computers. They sense which keys are pressed, and with how much force, send the information into their computer, and sound the appropriate notes and volumes of the chosen voices.

The EWQL Gold Piano system requires a fairly high power separate computer. Whatever keyboard is used is connected by MIDI (wires that send information on which keys are pressed, and how firmsly). The computer then plays samples - really works just like the process of an instrument like the SP2XS; but the computer inside is more powerful, has more memory, and can work with a larger set of samples (taken generally in a studio from a well maintained large concert grand piano). The purpose is to get closer to the sound of the acoustic.

Bosendorfer was working on a very high end system like this until they were bought by Yamaha. They never released a price, but their electronic instrument would likely have sold for well over $50,000. The intent was to produce a portable instrument that could be used by world-class performers in their hotel rooms for practice, with the exact feel and sound of a 9 foot Bosendorfer Concert Grand that cost in excess of $125,000.

Just wanted to say I received my Kurzweil and I'm completely happy with it =)


I admit I don't have much to compare with, but the action feels incredible for my untrained fingers, yet light enough not to get tiring. The sounds are awesome and the design, even prettier than what it seemed in the pictures.

My only complain right now is that it's much bigger than I expected, so I'll have some troible moving it around =P.