I've just recently checked out both the Kawai MP5 and Kawai MP8II back to back. I'm shocked at how little difference there is between the two given the $800.00 street price difference. Their is a big physical weight difference (the MP8II has real wooden keys), the actions feel slightly different (less than I would have thought), the MP5 has unbalanced outs whereas the MP8II has balanced outs, both come with a pedal and support half-pedaling.

What am I missing?

How do they sound/feel? How are the pianos/epianos and organs?

I couldn't actually hear them - they weren't plugged in. This wasn't a show stopper for me as I've been out trying all the different 88-key actions. In my mind, there's many ways to 'fix' bad internal sounds (PianoTeq, Ivory, etc.) - but there's no fix for bad key feel.

Once I've narrowed the field by feel, then I'll audition the internal sounds.

Well, how would you describe the action of the MP5. Have you tried any Rolands (FP4, etc)? How would you describe the action compared to those?

OK, about the differences between the MP5 and MP8II. I've downloaded both user manuals from Kawai and after reading them both I can say that the two units are identical, except for:

1) MP8II has an 'AWA Grand Pro II' wooden keyboard. MP5 has an 'Advanced Hammer Action IV' keyboard.

2) MP8II has balanced and unbalanced outs. MP5 only has unbalanced outs.

3) MP8II includes the F-20 dual Damper/Soft pedal. MP5 includes the F-10H single Damper pedal. The included footpedal does support half pedaling on both units.

4) If you use an optional F-20 dual pedal with the MP5 it does NOT replace the F-10H. Left is assigned as the Soft or Sost pedal and Right is assigned as footswitch.

5) MP8II weighs 77 pounds. MP5 weighs 44 pounds.

6) The MP5 is dramatically smaller 5076ci versus the MP8IIs 7580ci.

8) The location of the Pitch Bend and Mod wheels are different on the MP8II they are to the left of the keyboard, on the MP5 they are on the left front panel.

The average advertised selling price in the US via mail order is $1100 for the MP5 and $1900 for the MP8II.

In my opinion there was very LITTLE difference between the two keyboard actions. I almost didn't try the MP5 (I assumed I wasn't going to like it). I'm having a hard time now justifying the additional expense for the MP8II.

I had just come from another music store where I tried a number of Roland (RD700sx, FP7) and Yamaha (Motif XS, YPG-625) actions. I thought the Kawai was at least as good. It's actually my favorite, but that's due to the fact that the MP5 costs half of what I was expecting to have to spend.

As I have two acoustic pianos already I'm really just looking for something that's 'good enough', has a headphone jack, and portable for when we're away on vacations. If I was looking for something to be my only sole instrument maybe my choice would be different. But for around $1000 USD the MP5 looks to be very high on the value scale!

As a side note: the store I was in had Kawai, Charles Walter, Falcone, and Mason & Hamlin grand pianos as well. I don't care what they (Roland, Yamaha, Kawai, Kurzweil, Alesis, M-Audio etc.) say - even the 'best' grand piano 'style' action has a long way to go to feel like the real thing.

I played a Satin Mahogany Mason & Hamlin AA that just gave me chills! Now where did I put that lottery ticket ;-)

JeffBC, you have correctly listed all of the differences between the MP5 and MP8II - as such, it would seem that you are not missing anything!

Kind regards,
James
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James,

I guess I'm just surprised that there isn't a greater difference between the two models given the price difference. I'm sure to the right person the upgrade is worth almost double the money (I guess I'm just not that person).

If portability is a concern, the MP5 would be a better choice. The MP8ii is very heavy. My keyboard sits in my studio, and I have no plans to move it again. I also looked at both keyboards and actually bought the MP8ii that Londonderry Piano had in the store at Christmas. I chose the MP8ii because it was the only keyboard I plan to own for the next 10 years or so. And my wife was buying, so I didn't compromise on the keybed.

To all you MP5/8 owners, do you have anything you don't like about them? And the old Harmony Central question, if yours was lost or stolen, would you buy it again or would you pick something else?

(I'm still undecided between an FP4 and an MP5)

Please let us know how you like the sounds when you finally do try them. Of course, if anybody on this forum already has the MP5, your opinion is welcomed as well. I, too, am still considering the MP5, roland fp4, and others.

One last keyboard related comment:

Kawai touts one of the MP8IIs advantages is the AWA Grand Pro II action: a "graduated action, with decreasing weight from bass to treble."

If you read the fine print of the MP5 you'll see that "the AHA-IV keyboard also employs different hammer weights, appropriately graded for each playing range."

I'm just mentioning this as it wasn't obvious to me that both were progressively weighted. I knew the MP8II was, but it wasn't obvious (to me) that the MP5 was too. Maybe this is why they didn't feel vastly different to me...

I own an MP5, and I'm very pleased with it. I don't think there is anything I'd like it to differently at the moment... if I do think of something I'll let you know . Sounds wierd, but one of the things i think impresses is that you literally just need a kettle lead. The transformer is internal, so if you forget your cable, cruise into the local hardware store and you are off again. If you make the same blunder with an external transformer (all other brands?) you're 'up the creek' as such .

If it was lost/stolen I couldn't afford to buy it again, but assuming I had the money, yup . It's a light action; but I like that.

It sounds like you are settled on the Kawai, but if portability is an issue you might consider a Roland FP4 (34 lb. with built in speakers).

Need information about the Kawai MP8II

First of all how does it compare to other leading models Yamaha CP300, Roland FP-7 or even Kawai MP5.

From I have read on the forum MP8II seems to deceive compare to MP8 first model concerning the touch. The firs model seems to be discontinued and I would like to know if the new model can still be considered to have the upper hand on other brands concerning the quality of the touch.
Please if you have any experiences help me, since it is very difficult to actually see one model at a retailer.

Also what do you think of the MP5, which is only half the price of the MP8II.
Thank you

Well, the MP5 has exactly the same tone generator and panel controls as the new MP8, but is 32 pounds lighter, because it has the plastic AH4 action instead of the wooden AWA action, also does not have XLR outputs , like the 8, in addition it's several hundred dollars less than the 8.

Does the MP5 have a auto accompaniment feature?

No.

Kind regards,
James
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I am very pleased with my MP-5
There is nothing about it that I don't like.
There was no MP-8 available to try, when I bought it, so I can't comment on that model.

I experimented with multi-tracking some of the internal sounds of the MP-5. and was pleasantly surprised :-)

The result can be heard, here....
http://www.youtube.com/user/robspianomusic#p/u/13/xzGCop-tuVQ
(Press the 'HQ' button)

"Does the MP5 have a auto accompaniment feature?"

I have my MP8ii permanently hooked to its own PC. And I play with/to elaborate MIDI arrangements all the time. Of the 256 internal voices, I've used most of them. Of the piano voices, I use the default Concert Grand the most, but I also make frequent use of the electric pianos and some pads and synths. I'm going on 2 years with the unit and I am very pleased with it.

Can anyone confirm that the MP5 has the same key action as the ES4? I haven't been able to find a dealer that might carry an MP5 closer than several hundred miles, but I was able to try an ES4 and it felt too light for me. Most boards do compared to my Casio PX-310, although I really like the feel of the Yamaha P-155. I'm looking to upgrade from the Casio sooner or later but haven't found the right combination of feel, sound and features to convince me yet.