In the world of digital pianos, Kurzweils don’t seem to get nearly as much recognition among the general population of musicians as, say, Yamaha, Roland or Casio, and yet the company has been producing high-quality instruments for many years.
In this article we look at the current offerings from Kurzweil, compare their main features and provide a full specification comparison across all models.
These are digital pianos listed by Kurzweil as being currently available new, having been released within the past decade. Older, discontinued models may still stand up well and be available from resellers and the second-hand market at reduced prices.
Kurzweil splits its digital piano line across four categories:
- Professional stage pianos
- Home digital console pianos
- Home digital grand pianos
- Home portable stage pianos
It also offers a range of workstations, synthesisers and arrangers, capable of producing authentic piano sounds, but here we’ll concentrate on the instruments primarily focused on producing a realistic piano playing experience.
There are 20 instruments in the lineup at present. This article summarises the main features, and there’s a full specification comparison chart at the bottom of the page — if you want more information on each individual instrument you can visit its dedicated Keyboard Finder page for more data and resources: tap or click on the model numbers below.
Professional Stage Pianos
In this category currently are the SP7 and SP7 Grand along with the SP1.
These are listed as Kurzweil’s professional line of instruments, suggesting they have a higher build quality and feature specification. Certainly the SP7 Grand is constructed from steel and aluminium, while the SP7 and SP1 have plastic bodies. All three feature 88 key fully weighted hammer action keyboards, a significant set of sounds including German D piano samples, and 256 note polyphony.
The SP7 and SP7 Grand also feature a significant number of additional controllers including arpeggiators, pitch and modulation, effects, and a harmony generator.
Gallery
Home Digital Console Pianos
The home digital console piano category features four series:
- M Series (M70, M90, M115, M120, M130W)
- KA Series (KA130, KA150)
- CUP Series (CUP410, CUP1)
- MP Series (MP120)
Here we see quite a range of functionality across ranges which were aimed more at the budding home musician. The CUP series featured graded hammer weight keys, 256 note polyphony, adjustable sensitivity, samples from a German 9′ piano, and decent connectivity. The CUP1 seemed to be a more entry level instrument than the CUP410, which also sported a lot more sounds, a display, and the ability to record and sequence tracks.
The M series primarily featured hammer keys (not ‘graded’ according to specifications) offering a similar playing experience but perhaps of slightly less realism than the CUP or professional line of instruments. Polyphony ranged from a passable 64 note up to 256 notes, along with a modest number of preset sounds and basic accompaniments, along with recording and decent connectivity. Also came the ability to set different scale tunings.
The scaled back KA series also had hammer action keys, modest polyphony (the KA130 having an inadequate 32 notes), some accompaniment and recording ability, and general connectivity options.
Finally, the MP120 featured 256 note polyphony, graded hammer keys, a high level of piano realism, scale tuning, drum patterns, recording and connectivity.
Gallery
Home Digital Grand Pianos
A single instrument sits in this category at present, the KAG100. This is styled on a mini grand piano, with an 88-key fully weighted keyboard. It does only have 64 note polyphony, which is a bit of a letdown, but other functions include a lot of presets, accompaniments, effects, 2-track recorder, speakers, three pedals built in, and it comes with a matching bench.
Gallery
Home Portable Stage Pianos
This features two categories:
The KA series is a mixed offering, with features increasing with model number. While they all sport 88 keys, the KA50 has a semi-weighted keyboard, the KA-70 a spring based keyboard, and the top two models hammer keyboards.
Polyphony on the KA50 is very low, at just 32, while the other models have 128 notes. The KA-120 offers the most in terms of sounds, accompaniment, educational features, recording and speaker quality.
The MPS series of digital pianos have graded hammer keys, 256 note polyphony, OLED, and half-pedalling support.
Gallery
Full Specification Comparison Table
Here is a specification table for all twenty current models. You may need to scroll left and right to see data for all models.
|
|
|
KA50 |
KA-70 |
KA-90 |
KA-120 |
MPS110 |
MPS120 |
KAG100 |
CUP1 |
CUP410 |
M70 |
M90 |
M115 |
M120 |
M130W |
KA130 |
KA150 |
MP120 |
SP7 Grand |
SP7 |
SP1 |
|
Keyboard |
Key Action |
88 SW |
88 Spring |
88 H |
88 H |
88 GH |
88 GH |
88 H |
88 GH |
88 GH |
88 H |
88 H |
88 H |
88 H |
88 GH |
88 H |
88 H |
88 GH |
88 FW |
88 FW |
88 FW |
|
Chassis Material |
– |
– |
– |
– |
– |
– |
– |
– |
– |
– |
– |
– |
– |
– |
– |
– |
– |
Steel+Aluminum |
Plastic |
Plastic |
|
|
Chassis Color |
– |
– |
– |
– |
– |
– |
– |
– |
– |
– |
– |
– |
– |
– |
– |
– |
– |
Black |
Black or White |
Black |
|
|
Wood Keys |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
? |
? |
? |
|
|
3-Point Velocity Sensor |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
No |
No |
Yes |
? |
? |
? |
|
|
Adjustable Sensitivity |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
4 |
3 |
8 |
4 |
4 |
10 |
10 |
10 |
6 |
Yes |
10 |
|
|
|
|
|
Interface/ Controls |
Display |
n/a |
LED |
LED |
LCD |
OLED |
OLED |
LCD |
No |
OLED |
No |
LED |
LED |
LED |
LED |
LED |
LED |
LED |
1024 x 600px, high resolution 7? color LCD touch screen |
480 x 282px, high resolution 4.3? color LCD touch screen |
3 char LED |
|
Pitch Bend |
n/a |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
n/a |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
|
Sound |
Polyphony |
32 |
128 |
128 |
128 |
256 |
256 |
64 |
256 |
256 |
64 |
64 |
189 |
256 |
256 |
32 |
68 |
256 |
256 |
256 |
256 |
|
Factory Presets |
16 |
20 |
20 |
600 |
178 |
178 |
200 |
1 |
49 |
16 |
16 |
30 |
30 |
30 |
16 |
128 |
128 |
301 |
301 |
16 |
|
|
User Presets |
No |
No |
No |
48 |
1 |
1 |
20 |
No |
1 |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
32 |
No |
No |
128 |
128 |
5 |
|
|
German 9′ Piano |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
|
|
Triple Strike Piano |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
|
|
String Resonance |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
|
Pedal Resonance |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
|
Piano Key-Off Samples |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
|
General MIDI |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
|
Sound Control |
Tune |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
|
Tuning Scales |
No |
7 |
7 |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
|
|
Transpose |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
|
Splits/Layers |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
|
Effects |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
|
Accompaniment |
Performance Assistant |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
|
Styles |
No |
50 |
50 |
230 |
No |
No |
100 |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
26 |
No |
No |
No |
No |
|
|
Drum Patterns |
No |
No |
No |
No |
10 |
10 |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
30 |
20 |
20 |
No |
No |
14 |
No |
No |
No |
|
|
Recording/ Playback |
Sequencer |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
|
Metronome |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
|
|
Songs |
16 |
60 |
60 |
125 |
No |
No |
16 |
50 |
50 |
451 |
16 |
50 |
50 |
50 |
271 |
14 |
50 |
No |
No |
No |
|
|
Educational Features |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
No |
No |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
|
|
Sound System |
Speakers |
4 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
4 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
4 |
2 |
2 |
4 |
No |
No |
No |
|
Power |
30W |
60W |
60W |
70W |
24W |
24W |
35W |
100W |
70W |
30W |
30W |
50W |
25W |
70W |
30W |
20W |
50W |
? |
? |
? |
|
|
Connections |
Audio Outputs |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Main+Monitor |
Main+Monitor |
Main |
|
Audio Inputs |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
(2) XLR-1/4? combi |
(2) XLR-1/4? combi |
(2) 1/4? |
|
|
Mic Input |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
|
Headphone |
1 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
(1) 1/4? |
(1) 1/4? |
(1) 1/4? |
|
|
MIDI Ports |
No |
Out |
Out |
In/Out |
No |
No |
Out |
No |
No |
No |
Out |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
|
USB-MIDI |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
|
USB-Audio |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
|
USB-Device |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
No |
No |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
|
|
Bluetooth |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
|
|
|
|
|
Switch Pedal Input |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Sustain/Soft/Sost Pedals |
Sustain/Soft/Sost Pedals |
Sustain/Soft/Sost Pedals |
Sustain/Soft/Sost Pedals |
Sustain/Soft/Sost Pedals |
Sustain/Soft/Sost Pedals |
Sustain/Soft/Sost Pedals |
Sustain/Soft/Sost Pedals |
Sustain/Soft/Sost Pedals |
Sustain/Soft/Sost Pedals |
Sustain/Soft/Sost Pedals |
2 |
2 |
1 |
|
|
Half-Damper |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
|
Soft Pedal |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
|
Sostenuto Pedal |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
|
|
Expression Pedal Input |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
|
Supplied Accessories |
Music Stand |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
|
Sustain Pedal |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
|
Bench |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
|
|
Power |
External Adaptor |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Battery |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
|
|
Other |
– |
– |
– |
– |
– |
– |
– |
– |
– |
– |
– |
– |
– |
– |
|
|
|
Software Editor, FX Inserts, Aux FX Bus, Master FX, Auto Pitch Correction, Harmony Generator, Arpeggiators |
Software Editor, FX Inserts, Aux FX Bus, Master FX, Auto Pitch Correction, Harmony Generator, Arpeggiators |
Software Editor, FX Inserts, Aux FX Bus, Master FX, Auto Pitch Correction, Harmony Generator, Arpeggiators |
|
|
RRP |
– |
– |
– |
– |
– |
– |
– |
– |
– |
$1299 |
$1499 |
– |
– |
– |
– |
– |
– |
$1499 |
$1999 |
$899 |
|
|
Year |
2021 |
2018 |
2015 |
2018 |
2020 |
2020 |
2016 |
2016 |
2020 |
2019 |
2019 |
2021 |
2022 |
2022 |
2016 |
2015 |
2017 |
2022 |
2022 |
2018 |
|
Kurzweil is definitely a brand considering when looking for a quality digital piano.
Our advice would be to avoid the very low end models, particularly when it comes to polyphony. 32 notes is far from adequate and even 64 is only passable for some types of music.
Other than that, you need to decide whether you want the additional functionality beyond a faithful piano experience, such as the accompaniments, extra voices, recording and such like. They are nice features to have but not essential if all you want to do is play the piano.
