Kawai K5

$225.00 Price Tier: Budget

4.0 (3)

2 Critic Reviews

1 Review

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Page last updated Jun 01, 2026

Pricing and availability

We compare 600+ stores and found this item at 1 store. Prices updated June 1, 2026.

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5.0 (1)

$225.00 11 available Used

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Average Price: $225

Budget/Beginner

$500

$1501+

Price Tier

In the Synthesizers category, Kawai K5 is priced in the Budget/Beginner range. This is great gear to get started with or for creators on a budget.

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Description

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Explore the sonic possibilities with the Kawai K5, a synthesizer that combines classic digital synthesis with modern capabilities. Designed for musicians who crave precision and versatility, this synth offers a unique additive synthesis engine that sets it apart from typical subtractive synthesizers. With its rich harmonic complexity, the K5 allows you to sculpt sound like never before, providing an expansive tonal palette for crafting everything from lush pads to cutting leads.

The Kawai K5 is equipped with 61 keys and features 48 oscillators, enabling dynamic sound creation with ease. Its digital architecture allows for extensive waveform manipulation, making it an ideal choice for studio professionals and live performers alike. Connect with other gear seamlessly through its MIDI compatibility, and store your creations with the built-in patch memory. Whether you're an electronic producer or a keyboardist seeking new textures, the Kawai K5 delivers a powerful blend of innovation and musicality.

Key Features:

Additive synthesis engine for unique sound creation
61 velocity-sensitive keys for expressive playability
48 oscillators offering a wide range of harmonic possibilities
Patch memory for saving custom sounds
MIDI compatibility for integration with other musical equipment
Comprehensive waveform manipulation options

Product specs

Brand	Kawai
Model	K5 61-Key Digital Synthesizer
Finish	Black
Year	1987
Categories	Digital Synthesizers, Keyboard Synths
Analog / Digital	Digital
Key Size	Full Size
Keyboard Action	Synth Action
MIDI I/O	MIDI Input, MIDI Output, MIDI Through
Number of Keys	61 Keys
Polyphony	16 Voices

FAQs

What synthesis method does the Kawai K5 use?: The Kawai K5 utilizes additive synthesis, allowing users to create complex sounds by combining up to 127 harmonic levels.
How many keys does the Kawai K5 have and are they velocity-sensitive?: The Kawai K5 features a 61-key keyboard with full-size keys that are both velocity and pressure-sensitive, providing dynamic expression in performance.
What is the polyphony capacity of the Kawai K5?: The Kawai K5 offers a polyphony of 16 voices, enabling the simultaneous playing of up to 16 notes.
Does the Kawai K5 have MIDI connectivity?: Yes, the Kawai K5 includes MIDI Input, MIDI Output, and MIDI Through ports for seamless integration with other MIDI-compatible devices.
What type of filters does the Kawai K5 include?: The Kawai K5 is equipped with dedicated resonant low-pass digital filters, allowing for detailed sound shaping and tonal control.

Videos

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Eaglechild

KAWAI K5 Synthesizer 1987 - Sounds Presets Demo (NO TALKING, ONLY PLAYING) 80s Vintage synthesizer

Eaglechild

Synth Stuff Ep. 51 - Kawai K5

tritonrecordings

KAWAI K5 (DIGITAL MULTI-DIMENSIONAL SYNTHESIZER) REVIEW by TIAGO MALLEN - ANO : 1987 #kawai

Tiago Mallen

KAWAI K5 | The analog nature of a too digital synthesizer

oRangeOfSound

KAWAI K5

Keyboards - review - repair

Reviews

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Owner Insights

We analyzed real musician discussions from forums and Reddit to find what players love, question, and tweak about Kawai K5.

Features and functionality

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The Kawai K5 employs additive synthesis, differing from the more common subtractive synthesis, which can create unique digital textures and unusual sounds.
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The K5 is multitimbral, allowing users to layer patches for a thicker sound.
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User experience

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Some owners find the K5 challenging to program due to its minimal 80s interface, impacting ease of use.
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Owners miss the K5's keybed after selling, indicating a lasting positive impression of its playability and tactile response.
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Use cases and applications

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Ideal for crafting interesting pads, strings, and bells, not suitable for classic analogue-style basses or Moog-like sounds.
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Comparisons

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Unlike many synthesizers, the K5 includes a digital filter, adding to its sound-shaping capabilities despite its digital nature.
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The K5 keybed is described as neither purely synth-action nor heavily weighted, suggesting a unique balance appealing to pianists and synth players alike.
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Build quality

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The Kawai K5 keybed offers a subtle, nuanced feel, suitable for intricate piano parts, with well-balanced weight and key travel depth.
Source

Critic Reviews

Kawai K5: As Digital As It Gets | digitalsynth.net

digitalsynth.net

The Kawai K5 is a polarizing relic from 1987, celebrated for its unique, additive synthesis but notorious for its complex programming and lack of effects. It's a heavyweight in both build and learning curve, with its cryptic interface hindered by aging hardware issues like sticky buttons and a dim display. While its sounds are distinctive, offering a digital timbre far removed from analog, it lacks the convenience and lushness of modern synths. The K5 is more a historical curiosity than a practical tool, suited for those intrigued by its rarity and technical foresight rather than mainstream appeal.

neutral

Full Review

Kawai K5 (SOS Dec 87)

muzines.co.uk

The Kawai K5 is a notable leap forward in additive synthesis, combining real-time harmonic editing with user-friendly programming tools. It offers a unique sound palette, highlighted by the impressive 'Big Time' brass patch, and stands out with its ability to manipulate harmonics dynamically. While not all factory presets are groundbreaking, the synthesizer's flexibility makes it a formidable contender against contemporaries like the DX7II and D50. Its comprehensive feature set, including a digital filter and multi-patch mode, makes it a versatile choice for both sound design and live performances. A strong entry from Kawai in the digital synth market.

positive

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4.0 out of 5

Based on 1 Review and 3 Ratings

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jimmarchi1

40997

almost 6 years ago

YES YES YES

very tedious to program, but truly unique additive engine. I'll only get rid of this once I obtain the fabled k5000 with the macro controller.... timbrality is in the dx7 camp but is totally its own thing. its really capable of a lot of dx7 signature sounds but goes about them a different way, not by modulation but by collecting partials at different intervals to create those metallic overtones. As a result it can make sounds a dx7 never could. I dock 1 star for the awful itnerface. You can tell that Yamaha and Kawai were once the same company, really, when you try to deal with like aK5 or EX5, what are these guys thinking? I'm a smart guy but the time spent programming these monsters, even once proficient, is a total inspiration killer. The secret of these digital synths is to build patches for their own sake for days n on end, save everything and then use it as a rompler of your own signature sounds later.

Roles:

Guitarist Bassist Keyboardist

Genres:

Electronic Orchestra Alternative rock

Artist usage

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Jean Michel Jarre

Keyboardist, Music Producer

The Dustbins

Verified via 45worlds

There is a list of the used instruments on the "Revolutions" album by Jean-Michel Jarre. Its inside the front cover. The text contains the following instruments (and two choirs): "Roland D50, Roland D550, Fairlight CMI II, Fairlight CMI III, Synthex, AKS, Oscar, EMS Vocoder, Dynacord ADDI, Cristal Baschet, AKAI MPC-60, Emulator, Ensoniq ESQ1, ARP 2600, Kawai K5, Geiss Matrisequencer, Cavagnolo MIDY 20, Elka, AMK 800, Drums, Simmons SDX, Bass, Trumpet, Megaphone, Guitar, Choir." Cd cover can bee seen at http://www.45worlds.com/cdalbum/cd/8370982

Jan Hammer

Keyboardist

The Mahavishnu Orchestra

Verified via Muzines

"Sometimes if nothing comes, I shut off the TV monitor, stop thinking about the show and just go fool around with anything - it might be playing with the Fairlight Series III or trying to create a new sound on the Kawai K5."