Kawai MP-9000 > Reviews (1)

I purchased the Kawai MP9000 in Dublin about 2 years ago for €2,300 (about £1,550 STG ) and I am very happy with my choice. I have issues with it and I will discuss them later.

Firstly, I have listed the full specification below.
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Keyboard: 88 Wooden and Weighted Keys with the Kawai Enhanced AWA Grand Action. This action is Touch Sensitive.

Polyphony: 64 Notes (How many keys can be played at once)

Sound Generation: Harmonic Imaging™ Technology

Internal Sounds: Concert Grand, Studio Grand, Mellow Grand, Modern Grand, Rock Piano, Electric Piano 1 (JV Tines), Electric Piano 2 (Rhodes), Electric Piano 3 (Reed Type), Organ 1 (60's), Organ 2 (Soft Church), Clavichord, Vibraphone, Strings, Choir, Bass 1 (Wood), Bass 2 (Electric)

Reverb : Plate, Hall 1, Hall 2, Stage 1, Stage 2, Room 1, Room 2

Effects : Sympathetic Resonance, Chorus 1, Chorus 2, Chorus 3, Flanger 1, Flanger 2, Ensemble, Celeste, Delay 1, Delay 2, Auto Pan, Tremolo, Phaser 1, Phaser 2, Rotary 1, Rotary 2, Auto Wah, Exciter, Enhancer, Overdrive, Distortion

Display: 16 Character X 2 Line; Backlit LCD (Light can be adjusted)

Front Panel Controls: Pitch Bend Wheel, Modulation Wheel, Master Volume, Zone Volume (x4), Zone Edit Select (x4), Zone On/Off (x4), Real Time Edit Knobs (x4), Knob Mode Switch (x4), EFX On/Off, Reverb On/Off, Menu Up, Menu Down (Link Mode), Value Up, Value Down, Sound Mode, Set Up Mode (System Edit), Sound/Set Up Select (8x2), Store, Transpose, Split

Back Panel: 1/4" Out Left, 1/4" Out Right, XLR Out Left, LXR Out Right, Headphone Out, Power On/Off, Damper/Soft Pedal, Footswitch, MIDI In/Out/Thru, Expression, Power Cord Inputs

Dimensions: 57" x 17 1/2" x 7 3/4"

Weight: 73 lbs. (shipping weight: 106 lbs.)

Provided Accessories: F-2 Damper/Soft Pedal, Metal StandSo, down to the review. It is a great piano when it comes to sound reproduction and output. I use a bass amp for output ( There is no speaker on this machine, so you will need an Amplifier ! ). If you mainly use piano sounds this is ideal. I have tried many other digital pianos out there and this piano gives excellent piano reproduction only rivalled by the expensive Roland models.
However, over time I have longed for a few extra sounds especially when it comes to mixing 2 tones together. I very rarely use Clavi or Vibes, and only occasionally do I use Choir and Organ 2.
I feel a few extra few Strings tones or a standard Midi Pad tone would have added a lot to the MP9000. However, with the tones that are there you can achieve a lot by editing the existing tones. Also, there are 64 pre-edited/mixed tones. These are already set up for you and are combinations of current tones, edited and setup for you.

The foot pedals are very responsive and allow sustain and damping - giving a very good level of control over the sounds. Classical and Jazz pieces sound very very good on the MP9000.

On the cons side, It is very heavy and is not something you can carry around like putting a standard synth in a case and carrying it to the gig.

You need a Stage case with rollers!
Since I bought it, it has not left its current position and I have played many gigs in the past 2 years which I would have loved to bring the piano to - only for it is too darn heavy.

Also, the stand I got with it often wobbles when you play faster songs.

Overall, it is a great piano (I am very glad I have it) with excellent styles and piano tones and since I got it, it has not caused me a days trouble.
But, unless you have another synth to Midi through for variation and you have some roadies to help carry it for you, I think you should have a good think about your purchase.