Yamaha
YDP-145
$1,100
Yamaha's entry-level Arius — furniture-style simplicity
9.9 Beginner 8.0 Night Practice 3.0 Portability 6.2 Touch Reality 6.8 Value
88 38kg
View Details Kawai
KDP75
Kawai's Shigeru Kawai sound in a compact console
MSRP
$1,000
Source: Kawai Global product page (2025-04-06)
88 Keys 36 kg responsive hammer compact
Scores
Our Verdict
If you care most about how a piano sounds and feels under your fingers, the KDP75 delivers Kawai's finest concert grand tone in a slim, affordable furniture cabinet.
Pros
- ● Shigeru Kawai SK-EX concert grand sampling — premium piano sound
- ● Responsive Hammer Compact action with Kawai's acclaimed touch feel
- ● Spatial Headphone Sound (SHS) with headphone type adjustment
- ● Virtual Technician for detailed sound customization (via USB app)
- ● 3-pedal unit with half-pedal damper detection
- ● Compact and slim furniture design with sliding key cover
- ● Concert Magic — play 40 songs by tapping any key
Cons
- ● No Bluetooth (neither audio nor MIDI)
- ● No line out — headphones only for external audio
- ● Only 15 sounds — very limited variety
- ● RHC action (not RHC II) — Kawai's older compact action
- ● Matte key surface — no ivory/ebony texture
The KDP75 is the piano purist's pick at this price. The sound — sampled from Kawai's own handcrafted Shigeru grand — is richer and more expressive than what you'll hear from competitors in this range. The key action feels natural and musical. What you give up is modern connectivity: no Bluetooth, no app integration, and only 15 sounds. If that trade-off sounds fine to you — if you just want to sit down and play beautiful piano music — the KDP75 is hard to beat. The headphone sound is particularly good, with spatial processing that makes late-night practice feel immersive rather than closed-in.
Technical Deep Dive
About the Key Action
The keys respond with a natural, satisfying weight — heavier when you play low notes, lighter up high. They feel smooth and controlled, not bouncy or stiff. Kawai is known for making key actions that feel organic, and even this entry-level model captures that quality. The keys don't have textured surfaces though, so they feel more like polished plastic than ivory.
Who Is This Piano For?
You played piano as a child and want to pick it up again in retirement — and you remember what a good piano should sound like. Or you're a complete beginner, but you've visited a piano showroom, pressed a few keys, and realized that touch and tone matter to you more than flashy features.
Specifications
| Keys | 88 |
| Key Action | Responsive Hammer Compact |
| Polyphony | 192 notes |
| Sounds | 15 |
| Weight | 36 kg |
| Speakers | 18W (×2) |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Key Surface | Matte |
| Sound Modeling | Harmonic Imaging |
| Headphone Jacks | 2 |
| Headphone Type | 6.3mm, 3.5mm |
| Headphone Optimization | Yes |
| USB MIDI | Yes |
| Line Out | No |
| Lesson Function | Yes |
| App Connectivity | Yes |
| Recording | Yes |
| Metronome | Yes |
| Transpose | Yes |
| Layer / Split | Yes |
| Preset Songs | 55 |
| Battery | No |
| Foldable | No |
| Dimensions (W×D×H) | 1360×405×855 mm |
| Stand Included | Yes |
| Pedal Included | Yes |
Recommended Accessories
🪑
Stand
Stand included
A sturdy X-stand or furniture-style stand is essential if one isn't included.
🎧
Headphones
Closed-back headphones with good bass response make practice sessions more enjoyable.
🎹
Sustain Pedal
The included pedal is usually basic. A half-damper pedal upgrade is worthwhile for expressive playing.
💺
Bench
An adjustable-height bench helps maintain proper posture during long practice sessions.
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View Details