I was looking at this on kawai's website. It just seems to be a modified front panel (and ports on the lower panel for additional tone release) . My question is.. Would it enhance the sound on other uprights if one were to create a front panel that is very similar? I have a late 90's u1 and wanted to outfit my piano with something like this.

Here is a link to an explanation of the system:

http://www.kawaius.com/main_links/vertical_09/k_innovation.html

Yamaha's Y-series has a 3-piece top panel that is ported. I don't know which would be harder, to find and fit a Y-series panel or to convert what you have. Does yours have slow close? I think they started showing up on U1's in late-1997, 1998. I have one from 2002 on our site with 2 photos of that ported panel. It is a nice feature and a very noticeable improvement.

I don't know how noticeable it would be to change the lower "port" because there is already some gap at the top of the bottom panel. That would be easier to modify but probably less noticeable.

yes, my u1 has a slow close fallboard.. id rather get a new panel (possibly a y series one from Yamaha if they have any in stock) and have the original just in case I have to sell the u1. im wondering if the y series front panel would be a perfect fitment or if there would very minor modifications needed.

i just checked out the pictures on the website.. definitely seems like what im looking for.

I was looking at yamaha's global website. it seems only the YU1's on the Chinese site have the ports.. the YU1's on the Japanese site do not.. interesting