Hello,

I am considering purchasing a K-3 or K-5 so I just wanted to find out whether the K-5 is worth the upgrade? I am buying this for my family with a small child to play for him and later for him to learn on. So basically for casual home use and usage will be a few hours a week.

I personally don't play so I can't decide, but I just wanted to see what people though?

Thank you.

A K3 is plenty good enough for an advanced player. The question would be if the K5 sounds better to you to be worth the extra cash.

http://kawaius.com/main_links/vertical_09/brochures/K_series.pdf

Well, the features are nicer (per the comparison chart on the Kawai website). I haven't done the price look-up, and anyway, only you could answer your own question about 'is it worth it'.

If you're planning to turn it over in a few years and go to a grand, a less-expensive piano is going to be easier to sell at that time. But if you're going to keep it forever, getting a better piano is, yes, worth it.

I wonder if you've looked at the K-8? My big drawback with the lower numbers in the series is the fold-out music rack--- I far prefer the full-width music desk.

The sound, the feel, the features, the price, how it fits into your plans for your life--- that's what will make it worth it (or not) to you.

Look at them all three times on three different days. Sleep on it. Negotiate with the seller. It will become more clear in your mind.

You might also look at the Charles Walter 1500 (with the Renner action, not the Chinese-made action). It's harder to find a dealer, but making a comparison might be worth the effort for you.

Only you will be able to tell. I made that exact choice earlier this year and have a wonderful K-3 sat in my house. Don't get me wrong, the K-5 is great - but it just didn't offer "enough" to be worth the difference to me.

I play a K-2 at home, and both a K-3 and K-5 at lessons. The K-5 is worth it to me. Somtimes at lessons I play a Yamaha U1, which is a nice piano, but not as nice as the K-5, IMHO.

Whatever you decide, you basically can't go wrong.

Ok so I went to the dealer after work last night to listen to the two and they are both beautiful sounding. Hearing them back to back, the K-5 is definitely and noticeably richer an fuller at the lower end. Just based on that, the K-5 wins hands down. However, after talking it over and taking everything into consideration (target audience, amount of use, cost, etc), I am pretty set on the K-3. While the K-5 may sound better, I just think that when you bring it home and don't play them back to back, the K-3 will sound great in my home. Also no one is a pro in the house. I think at this point, the K-3 is perfect for the next 10 or so years and if we get to a point where someone really gets serious, I can always just upgrade at that time. Lastly, I simply loved the Mahogany finish so not only will the K-3 sound great, but it will also look amazing as a piece of furniture.

By the way, he also played for me a Vogel, Kemble and Bosendorfer and all three were simply a level above. The Bosendorfer was a really big model and sounded simply out of this world, but so was the price at 10x the K-3.

Thanks

Congratulations!

ditto. The K series are nice pianos. You'll enjoy it very much.

Very good decision-making process, vpr. You have an excellent chance of being happy with your new 'family member.' We'll have to have pictures, of course.

A lot of people see things your way, too: the K-3 is a best-seller for Kawai. A nice piano at a good price point.

I wonder what happened to the dad who has triplet sons, who all played the new K-3 he got for them. He even posted videos, and at eight years old they played quite well. Maybe they're keeping him too busy to post on PW.

I own a K5 and love it. I've played the K3 and I think that is a great piano too. You and your family will love the K3.