Kawai K-500 vs Yamaha U3 | Studio Piano Showdown

Two professional series studio pianos from two of the top brands in the industry. These 51" top tier Japanese made pianos may appear very similar at first look, but there are some unique design elements that illustrate what sets them apart from each other. Ted and Pat dive into the sound and features of the Kawai K-500 and the Yamaha U3, join us for a look & listen.
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[@Stardustparadise418]

With the Yamaha upright the lid is open. With the Kawai it’s closed. This comparison is faulty. Great pianist though! Thanks for the great performance.

[@nct6711]

Just purchased a new Kawai K500 as a late beginner to early intermediate piano learner. ❤ I fell in love with Kawai tone when I started learning on my teacher’s Kawai grand piano. I was used to Yamaha digital pianos/keyboards for a long time but now going to be a proud owner of a K500z My first ever acoustic piano 🥳 I really love the Kawai mellow tone and quality. It usually shows more in person.

[@josephschepis7258]

I purchased a K 5 in 2012 and just love it. Not only tremendous resonance with the soundboard facing you, and it maintains its tonal quality. I admit I play it daily, and I love to look at it, and cannot believe I am able to interact with it, especially since I began piano study at age 58. The Kawai is a real gem!. The combination of a great instrument and a motivated student is a great combination.

[@KerrieRedgate]

Yes, I love Kawaii pianos. I can hear, even in this demo, that the Kawai has a slightly brighter tone at the top end and a richer bass end. Always loved them, for decades! I want to buy one of these new ones when I get a house to put it in!

[@spencerleo5126]

I grew up with a ‘64 Yamaha U3, always loved it, still do.

[@benjaminsmith2287]

I don't know. I prefer this particular U3 to this particular K500 in terms of overall balance, clarity, a bit more crystalline treble and so forth. But, another U3 to K500 may have me with a different preference. Contrary to those that think only top tier grands differ from one another in terms of tone, I think all pianos can differ despite the consistency of quality and performance Yamaha and Kawai are known for. There are differences piano to piano both brand new and used. Go with your preference and know these are high quality instruments. Enjoy them.

[@gustavopaulette3496]

You’re just an old clown

[@cabotcat1]

Bought my Kawai k500 in June. No regrets!

[@janicechen6022]

How much you spent on that?

[@YuYu-um7ki]

May I ask how much of the k500?

[@cabotcat1]

@@YuYu-um7ki I think, with a piano saver installed, just above $10,000 USD

[@YuYu-um7ki]

Thanks

[@RyanWilliams222]

@@cabotcat1 Did you get it new? It’s weird to me that the MSRP is $15,795 but you can get it for $10,000. Was your impression that you got a standard deal? A better-than-average one? A great one?

[@GonzoTheRosarian]

The Kawai has a warmer tone and killer bass. Very nice!

[@lalnunsangaasanga5801]

Both are equal me.Beautiful sound.kicking my heart.💖

[@lexilynn4967]

Yes! Both good!😭

[@gaugeonesteam]

I'd go with the Kawai every time. Also Yamaha bass strings used to have a reputation for not lasting that long. Kawai sounds more like a "real" piano in my opinion. It's great if you get a good Yamaha but out of ten pianos you've got a much better chance of getting a "sweet" one from Kawai I reckon and I've played quite a few of both. (I also think a big upright is kind of cooler than a moderate size grand).

[@frederico.]

Both great pianos!

[@ian757]

I’m a real Kawai fan - I own a Shigeru Kawai SK3. However, out of these 2 uprights I preferred the Yamaha as having a clearer treble and a more precise sound. But 2 other examples of the same models could have a different result . I think it’s acknowledged fairly widely that the Kawai action is superior and the longer key sticks will allow better control. The player here was able to get at least as good a performance from the Yamaha though - perhaps because of his experience. The answer is to play both side by side and see which one keeps you coming back to play it.

[@hiddenboii8905]

the yamaha had an open upper lid when recording

[@jung4399]

I have Yamaha C3 and it is just amazing piano. I was a big fan of Kawai RX but Yamaha C3 was very easy to play and sound was very precise and clear.

[@whoahdudeman]

My (jazz) piano teacher when I was young had an RX. I liked the action on it more than the sound, which was pretty standard. My high school had a C3. I loved the dynamic range on the C3 piano and its tone better than the Kawai.

[@philbarone4603]

I like these guys. I had an older U3 and I switched to vintage Steinway grand and let me tell you, the Yam gave it a run for the money and I missed it for a long time. It was bold, complex and dynamic whereas the Steinway is more subtle and took time to learn how to play it. I wish I had kept both.

[@whoahdudeman]

Interesting. I had a Steinway K (New York) growing up. When I moved out, I bought a Yamaha MP100 (U1 silent). I was always more enthralled with what I felt to be the greater dynamic range of the Yamaha. Now that I'm older, I want a softer sounding piano like a Steinway K.

[@4dventur35]

I think the Yamaha sounds much nicer but having the lid open on the Yamaha and not on the Kawai does affect the sound/tone. The Yamaha has a clearer crisp tone and round bass but the Kawai has a deeper powerful bass due to longer bass strings. I think the lower tenor does sound nice on the Kawai but thats about it. The Kawai does have a weird resonance like its out of tune in the tenor though

[@danielbars7644]

Yeah the same

[@jguo]

I wasn't looking at the screen just listening, and wondered why this K500 sounded quite different from my K500, then I noticed the lid was closed...

[@4dventur35]

@@jguo Tone also varies on all pianos and voicing to be fair. But having the lid open on one piano and closed on another won't give you an accurate recording for a piano comparison.

[@jguo]

@@4dventur35 and actions too. I picked mine from the store where they had another K500 in the showroom. I'd describe my copy has a "more colourful" tone and "tighter" action.

[@palhannorodrigues]

Que escolha cruel e difícil. ❤ duas marcas consagradas e de qualidade extrema na perfeição. Feliz escolha pra vocês. 🎉

[@joshbonner9409]

As a pianist and piano tuner! I prefer Kawia mellenium III carbon fibre action! Why dosnt Yamaha do carbon fibre? It’s so much better. And hammer wise they sound very similar

[@baorobin4760]

i did the research and found the carbon in kawai means the carbon color only, nothing to do with carbon fibre

[@ioannisdelikostidis4498]

@@baorobin4760 Your research seems flawed: Kawai's revolutionary Millennium III Grand Action utilizes carbon fiber and other composite materials that are stronger and more stable than conventional wooden action parts.

[@therebel6703]

Yamaha sounds like a bit digital piano but Kawai has a clear piano sound.

[@saricubra2867]

That would be like a Steinway D being a VST piano sample library. The U3 is extremely popular.

[@nokfei]

my 11 years old girl have the same comment as you when she try in a U3 and K500. I am struggling for these model...(she like Kawai and i know that Yamaha is more popular as least in HongKong)

[@ali4chelseafc]

I watched it 3 times and in my opinion Yamaha sounds nicer and softer

[@orangecaprinun]

They both sound amazing, but I preferred the yamaha, the bass on the kawai was too deep but anyways, what about the feurich 133 concert I heard its a good upright isn't it? I'd love to hear what you think.

[@4dventur35]

Ive heard mixed reviews about Feurich from dealers and technicians. I used to own one, the bass is really good but the craftsmanship is sub par.

[@judyieong6306]

It's interesting, I love yamaha sound in this video, however I love kawaii sound in reality.

[@FireFoxGaming56]

Would have been a Fairer review with both lids off or on, as suited.

[@RyanWilliams222]

This changes the whole experiment/demo! What did they do that?

[@josecubela9642]

I want one of each, please

[@ptgnt]

Thanks for trying guys but I think maybe this was not properly setup up well for recording? The twanginess and harshness others have commented on - also an issue for me is the reverb when they're just talking it's quite telling.

[@giuliannoformagio4783]

Both are great, but the U3 has a brighter, vivid sound.

[@sqlnosql]

One has the lid open, one has the lid closed... that would've made a huge difference!!! Not a fair comparison.

[@vadergrd]

i have to say i'd prefer something in between soun wise

[@Frances6889]

Kawai has the crisp and mellow tone.

[@jtmcheung6185]

I owned an old Yamaha U30BI 2nd hand for more than 20 years without doing much research at that time. Now I tried to find this model but not much luck. Some site said BI indicated not made in Japan. If anybody know anything about U30BI, please share here

[@ROBERT-ml7ml]

@13:38 both Yamaha and Kawai make higher end uprights then these 2 lol. Cmon guys!

[@kenwhiteproductions]

It sounds like the Kawai has more resonance, and an overall better sound. But sadly the Yamaha was too bright, and what seemed to be microphoned better in this recording. I love Yamaha, but I believe even with the lesser microphone quality on the Kawai it still sounded better. They were both beautiful and sounding well worth the money.

[@lbhtyler]

The Yamaha is in much better tune than the Kawai. Unfortunately this makes it difficult to compare.

[@tonyb930]

These vids depend a lot on how the piano is mic'ed and how the piano is placed. Tough to tell, but Kawai low end sounds richer and a little less muddy below C4. I read the Kawaii uses mahogony hammers and carbon fiber so the action should be quicker, but I doubt it is perceptible to an average person (like me).

[@belm5183]

Hi, what is the name of the 3rd piece he played on this video? Thanks!

[@christianbauer2910]

Usually, the Kawai has some more harmonics, but this one was net perfect tuned so you would not hear that.

[@fraub1]

No offense to either of these guys... I love their reviews and I've watched plenty of them but why are they acting like the U3 and K500 are the best of the best upright pianos that you can get and there's no possible upgrade except for moving up to a 6ft+ grand piano? What about the Kawai K600 and K800? Surely there's equivalent Yamaha's to the K600/800 too. Also, what about Boston by Steinway? Or straight up Steinway. Bechstein, etc. I feel like this video is slightly (every so slightly) disingenuous.

[@MathsYknow]

I agree. I own a K500, and although it might be considered above average for a consumer-grade upright piano, I know there are certainly more exclusive/expensive professional uprights out there.

[@fraub1]

@@MathsYknow don't get me wrong, I would be over the moon to own a K500 but I am aware that it's not the be all and end all of upright pianos.

[@donkgated8074]

Bostons are mediocre pianos - the unloved child of Steinway and Kawai (you do know they are made in Kawai factories right?) Steinway uprights LOL but Bechstein Concert 8 is fantastic, but it'd be at least 5x the price of either of these Kawai or Yamaha. For those looking for top quality upright pianos at a reasonable (non Steinway) price, fair to say these are going to be the top two models that customers will consider.

[@benjaminsmith2287]

Yamaha has the YUS3 and YUS5 and also the SU7. The SU7 is way over the price and quality of the U3.

[@RyanWilliams222]

@@donkgated8074 Are Steinway uprights not very good?

[@marcusvaldes]

I wouldn't say these are "top tier". I'd reserve that for the European models. That said, these are great solid pianos.

[@royking7298]

At 7:45, what happened to the tuning on those two notes around or near middle-C? Yikes!

[@karen710]

How are Yamaha YUS5 and Kawai K800 different ?

[@bandar7891]

I thought U3h is discontinued..which U3 is that??

[@thecutmusic1]

I don't understand how these even compare, I would say the K500 is far superior. it feels more like the Yamaha YUS3. the U3 still has acrylic key tops, where the K500 has Neotex. completely different touch.

[@lalnunsangaasanga5801]

Yamaha: sweet and gentle.Kawai : big sound.

[@midnight4109]

I have a Yamaha U3 and it is a gem, except that if I move, it may not pay to take it with me. Is there a digital piano that is at all comparable from Yamaha, Kawai, or Casio?

[@nikola8357]

There isnt really any digitals that come even close to an upright, especially an U3. If you really cant take that piano with you, i would recommend a kawai digital from the CA series. But if you can keep the U3, do it.

[@midnight4109]

@@nikola8357 it looks as if I won't be moving after all and have been looking at Yamaha CLP series as a second piano luxury. I will check out Kawai.

[@midnight4109]

@@nikola8357 I looked at CA-59 and your point has been made, it doesn't sound like an acoustic. They offered it for a relatively good price but it is hard to see spending the money. Thanks for the advice and the warning.

[@franslengkeek]

There is: i play a Yamaha P515 with the VIlabs Modern U which is a Yamaha U3. Perfect match!

[@benjaminsmith2287]

@@franslengkeek Modern U is excellent.

[@sustainart5207]

Which action do you feel matches the keyboard of a Steinway concert grand piano? Not every pianist can practice at home for competitions or concerts on a Steinway grand with a heavy keyboard and hammer lift off any grand piano. Does the carbon improve or detract from this?

[@nostgeoffhi-fi]

The abs carbon fiber is not used on any parts that move, so the Hammer, shank, and everything else involved with striking the string are made of wood. The Abs carbon fiber is only there for improved structural support and longevity, the parts which normally get warped or change with temperature and humidity over time. They dont affect the feel of the action or the piano’s sound. If you go see videos on the millenium 3 Kawai Grand action you will see this. Secondly, the Kawai has longer extended key sticks compared to the Yamaha, so will have a more even feel from the front to back of the keys and control than the Yamaha from an action perspective. The sound is where you will have to make your decision.

[@nostgeoffhi-fi]

just keep in mind, that with the sound on this demo the Kawai lid is closed, while the Yamaha lid is open, which will greatly affect the sound of the recording.

[@saricubra2867]

U3 is perfect for Jazz.

[@wenkhoo3178]

9:15and8:17

[@whoahdudeman]

I'm just not able to warm up to the sound of the Kawai. It has a bell sound on the initial attack, but then fades into a kind of weak and muffled sound.As an owner of a Yamaha MP100, I've got some bias. I just don't understand the Kawai positivity.

[@whoahdudeman]

I take this comment back. I've now played on a new Kawai K-500 Aures and I'm now in the market for one. Great action, great sound. The Kawai sounds better in person than on recordings (imho). My Yamaha is simply too bright.

[@harriszhou2581]

better than these two in the upright class, Kawai K800?

[@benjaminsmith2287]

They both have higher class. In addition to the fine Kawai K800, Yamaha as YUS5 then SE132 then the top SU7.

[@sp33dbump33]

08:16 anybody know that song? TIA!

[@joonjeong4878]

You need to K500 to YUS3. Please be fair

[@vivingeorge8417]

Hi, Do you get the K500 model for the current year just like your car? Is the year of make engraved on the upright? Thanks!

[@apianogallery]

Hello, yes you can use the serial number to determine the year the piano was made. It is kind of like a car in a way. A brand new K500 will have a 10-year full warranty. A Full Warranty guarantees that the manufacturer will stand behind the product, even to the point of full replacement if a problem cannot be corrected. By definition, a full warranty is transferable from one owner to the next. A pre-owned K500 can make an excellent piano and the warranty can be transferred if sold within that 10-years. Also, keep in mind that if you are looking for the latest Millenium II action with carbon fiber components, they didn't start producing that until 2015.

[@vivingeorge8417]

@@apianogallery Ahh perfect! Thank you very much. This is largely helpful :-)

[@kailu4010]

I would prefer the Yamaha over Kawai Not sure if it's just me but Kawai in general has a "plasticky" sound

[@pianooutletllc4403]

Kawai use the plastic part in the action, the momentum of the hammer is not enough, and the feeling is not as natural as a piano with wood parts could provide

[@tasteapiana]

The Kawai seems to be more sensitive to input therefore leaving the performer to be more concerned with subtle passages. The Yamaha is a lot more forgiving in that respect but this also means that the performer has to strive to think in terms of leaving more 'space' between string strikes Vs. worrying more about pressures. From a performance perspective I think the Yamaha has the edge. From a listener's or purist's perspective, of course, the Kawai has more balance in tone out toward the edges of its spectrum. However, very few pianists are able to play in a balanced way, especially consistently/repetitively. For a perfectionist, which many are, the Kawai would become psychologically tiring over time because one is not always able to justify why this try didn't feel like last try or the try three days ago, etc. As a recording instrument, I give the Yamaha edge. The Kawai, to my ears, comes across more like a digital piano with sensitivity set to max which, in the day and age where computer sample based products are everywhere, doesn't have any hair on it - ie there is almost no board/key sound to it and the strings don't blend together as much, both things which otherwise would tell the listener ''This is a real piano being captured by a real microphone in a real room being played by a real human being'' but in the Kawai's case don't. Yes, it is possible to make a real thing be unrealistic. I'll be honest, I am a Yamaha fanboy but I will admit that each string on the Kawai sounds better than each string on the Yamaha. That said, better in this comparison is not better. A Ferrari is technically better than many other sports cars but, in every day usage, it is also more likely to get you killed and make you super paranoid of bad and even ''normal'' road conditions which kinda takes a lot of the fun out of driving. Not all of us want to risk it all every single time just for that 1 in 10 times we do.

[@thepeppes92]

yamha U3 amazin

[@chriswalden6519]

Not really a good comparison video when both pianos are out of tune, the Kawai is worse than the Yamaha. If I was doing a comparison video I would make sure that both pianos were fine tuned before hand.

[@paxwallacejazz]

Lots of vanilla plain jane triads hanging out in one key.. Eeegad! So have another cat around as well who can put some hipper sounds through those instruments. Because if you ain't hearing a more disonental chromatically altered harmonic vocabulary as well you just don't actually know how those instruments sound in the end.

[@jeffcahill5722]

That's almost an arrogant comment but it's so true that you are in fact, correct. Where is Bill Evans to test these for us?

[@rumorscameras]

it s misleading to say carbon fiber action...

[@chumamartinez444]

Yamaha es más dulce,mas redondo...kawai suena más metalico

[@chenbencalipha3149]

Kawai sound bit out of tune in some notes, overall Kawai is better for my opinion

[@ilovewatchvideos]

can someone please tell me the song at 8:17 !!! thank you so much

[@belm5183]

I’m waiting for an answer too:) It sounds beautiful right?

[@emilyhwj]

same question:)

[@CaptainCaveman782]

every find out?

[@sp33dbump33]

still nobody knows? :|

[@ilsachang9027]

What’s the song at 7:08? Love it😊

[@MichaelSvenson]

somethings wrong with the mic sound on the younger guy, sounds terrible almost hurting my ears its so harsh.

[@FireFoxGaming56]

The kawai sounds nasty and twangy to me. 😅😅

[@FireFoxGaming56]

Could be the voicing? I’ve heard better sounding Kawais than the one featured here. Yamaha’s tone in this one shone through as the clear winner for me.

[@benjaminsmith2287]

@@FireFoxGaming56 Voicing matters. Neither one was optimally voice IMO but the Yamaha was a bit livelier.

[@philosdata]

Yamaha is superior to me. More consistent and clear. Kawai sounds "old", maybe with more variation between regions, but more "tired".

[@dkinney1000]

As with almost piano comparisons on KZbin, largely uncritical and the pianos are not in tune.

[@michaelbrown192]

Sounds horrible, dunno if it's the piano or the recording. Sounds like a pop piano mode on a digital instrument. I'm shocked.

[@arturoalonso9174]

Yamaha sound bether..More balanced between bass and treble....and more brillant..

[@djembesoloshorts]

Both pianos are out of tune.

[@Steve-wf3vv]

The U3 is a “top tier piano”? Seriously?

[@ecoRfan]

Certainly for an upright

[@Steve-wf3vv]

@@ecoRfan So I guess the Bösendorfer 130, C.Bechstein concert 8, Grotrian Concerto, and all the other European upright masterpieces don’t count?

[@ecoRfan]

@@Steve-wf3vv not saying they don’t

[@DiegoLopez-oh8bv]

U3 is better

[@cdllc1956]

Both are poor Chinese Pianos! Get a better one like Steinway or Blüthner

[@jeffcahill5722]

You're a poor Moronian commentator!

[@GoldenBiba]

Then give me 150.000$ and i can buy them idiot ! :)

[@1976gerbel]

Ähhh…of course….what stupid comment from somebody who has no idea about pianos 😂

[@cdllc1956]

@@1976gerbel I have 😂 Because I have a german made Blüthner Concert grand, and thats not comparable.

[@benjaminsmith2287]

@@cdllc1956 It's dumb to say these pianos are Chinese. Both Yamaha and Kawai have concert grands comparable to the best from Germany.

[@yokikokudou]

I actually hate YAMAHA because it is sooo soft!!!! Like a teacher would demand that you play the 2nd part of Fur Elise softly (pianissimo) then play rhe 4th part like you're angry (forte)....you get the technique in some stiff key old upright piano with some german name brand piano & really hear the difference in volume & timbre (that's w/o cheating with una corda) but it's ALWAYS ALL MESS UP IN A YAMAHA GRAND PIANO!!! whether you lightly flick the key or slam it!!! It sounds the same BECAUSE IT IS SOOO SOFT!!!so y'all saying KAWAII & YAMAHA action are THE SAME!!! SO DOES THAT MEAN THEY'RE BOTH SO SOFT THAT A TEACHER WHO'LL SAY TO GET STIFF WEIGHTED ACTION WILL EVENTUALLY GET ANNOYED WITH A STUDENT WHO WILL DEFINITELY NEVER GONNA GET THE TECHNIQUE WITH EITHER OF THEM⁉️⁉️⁉PLEASE GIVE CLEAR DESCRIPTION WITH THE KEY ACTION!!! Seriously NO PIANO TEACHER GONNA RECOMMEND A STUDENT TO GET A BRIGHT TONE OR WARM TONE PIANO (parent can't distinguish that unless they play piano themselves) what needs emphasis in piano review is the STIFFNESS of the keys action before what the quality of the sound because the key action is the only thing that's going for piano!!! If I or any teacher for that matter don't care about the action, then there's no need to bother parent to get an expensive piano & I'll just tell them I don't care about your flat hand formation with your stiff pinky nail staring at me like exorcist & just buy the cheapest soft spring Casio keyboard with 100 tone FOR ALL I CARE!!!

[@sustainart5207]

Well said exams are always on a Steinway but how many have that budget. If you are lucky the tuner can replicate this by not dusting the action.

[@eleezemckenna6787]

One very important question for me which is a deal breaker if it is the wrong answer. What are the sharps and flats (black keys) made of - plastic or wood?