Synths ⇝ Kawai ⇝ Kawai K5

The Kawai K5 is an additive synthesizer. Sounds are created by setting the levels for up to 126 sine wave harmonics.

The K5 is one of the worst-sounding and most difficult to program synthesizers ever produced. It is the predecessor to the K5000, which was fairly popular, but the K5 has no class, no charm, and little sonic depth. Thinking that the K5 would be nearly as good as the K5000 because they have a similar architecture would be an easy mistake to make, but still a mistake.

It is available in rackmount form as the Kawai K5m.

Specifications

Year Released: 1987

MSRP: $2000

Keyboard: 61 keys with velocity and aftertouch

Polyphony: 16 notes

Multitimbral: 15 parts

User Patches: 48

User Performances: 48

Screen: 64 x 240 pixel LCD

Power Consumption: 12 watts

Dimensions: 1040 mm x 339 mm x 99 mm

Weight: 12.8 kg

User Demo Videos

Rating

File Downloads

Kawai K5 Sound Library

Kawai K5 and K5m Manual

Items for Sale on Reverb

Graphic Display Upgrade - KAWAI K5 / K5M / K5000 / K5000S / K5000W / K5000R ($91.86)

Kawai K5 OS version 1.3 EPROM Firmware Upgrade KIT / New ROM Final Update Chip ($19.99)

Kawai K5 OS version 1.3 EPROM Firmware Upgrade KIT / New ROM Final Update Chip ($21.18)

Kawai K5 k5m card slot ($20)

Kawai K5 ($300)

Kawai K5 1996 ($350)

Kawai K5 1.3 EPROM OS firmware upgrade - not for rackmounted K5m ($19.99)

Kawai K5m 1.2 EPROM OS firmware upgrade - not for K5 keyboard ($17.64)

Kawai K5m 1.2 EPROM OS firmware upgrade - not for K5 keyboard ($19.99)

SM Kawai K5000S / K5000W Luxury Dust Cover ($19)

Kawai K5m display contrast board ($12)

USB HxC Floppy Drive Emulator for Kawai K5000 plus 100's of disks & OLED Display ($95)

Kawai K5m OS version 1.2 EPROM Firmware Upgrade KIT / New ROM Final Update Chip ($19.99)

Kawai K5m value rotary data knob with control pcb ($30)

KAWAI K-5000W - Full Set of 64 Panel Switches - NEW K5000W ($25.35)

Kawai K5m rear output jacks jack board assembly ($30)

Kawai K5m headphone jack and memory protect switch board ($15)

Floppy Drive Emulator USB for Kawai K5000 K5000S incl. 220+ Sound disk files and blank disks ($82.59)

Kawai K5M Rack ($424.74)