Kawai K800ASEP

About the Kawai K800ASEP

At 134cm tall, 153cm wide and 65cm deep, the K-800 is built to narrow the gap between an upright and a grand. Its Millennium III action uses ABS-Carbon composite components for consistent, fast repetition, running on extended 222mm key sticks that give more leverage and control than a shorter upright action typically offers. Key surfaces use Kawai's NEOTEX material, a cellulose-fiber surface designed to mimic the feel of genuine ivory and ebony while improving grip and moisture absorption over plain plastic. The solid spruce soundboard is tapered and spans 1.53 square meters across 12 ribs and 6 back posts, with the No. 1 string speaking at 1,280mm. Full duplex scaling - both upper and lower - is paired with agraffes across the lower 51 keys for tighter string alignment and a more even, clearly defined tone. Three pedals include a genuine sostenuto, not a simulated bass-only version, and the cabinet adds a slow-closing fallboard, double casters and a steel-reinforced keybed. This particular configuration ships in a high-gloss Ebony Polish finish, the "EP" Kawai uses across its catalog to mark that specific surface.

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Sound character of the Kawai K800ASEP

Full duplex scaling and agraffes across the lower keys combine with the tapered spruce soundboard to produce a tone described as colorful and dynamic across a wide volume range: a big, slightly brassy, well-sustaining bass, a genuinely singing midrange, and a bright, clearly defined treble.

What owners of the Kawai K800ASEP say

Specialist dealer reviews are consistently glowing, placing the K-800 among the very best uprights in its class and describing the tone as colorful, warm and dynamic with an unusually wide dynamic range. The bass register draws particular praise - big, with a touch of brassy edge, and sustaining well rather than dying out quickly - while the midrange gets described as having a genuine singing quality and the treble as bright and clearly defined. No independent critical feedback turned up in the sources checked, which is worth noting given that dealer-published reviews naturally skew positive; the broader reputation of the K-series as a grand-alternative for serious players is well-established regardless.

Playability & handling of the Kawai K800ASEP

The extended 222mm key sticks are singled out in reviews for giving noticeably more leverage and control than a standard-length upright action, and the ABS-Carbon Millennium III mechanism is built for fast, reliable repetition rather than feeling like a compromise next to a grand. NEOTEX key surfaces add grip and absorb moisture from the fingers better than plain plastic, which matters during long practice sessions. Reviewers describe the overall playing experience as one of the closest things to an actual grand piano in an upright's footprint, helped along by a grand-style cabinet design and a tone escapement panel that directs sound toward the player rather than just out into the room. That combination puts it squarely in the hands of teachers, advancing students and working professionals who need genuine grand-like response in a space that can't fit a grand.

Recommended accessories & strings for the Kawai K800ASEP

As a high-end acoustic piano, the main ongoing need is professional tuning - typically twice a year - and stable room humidity around 45-55% to protect the soundboard and action from swelling or cracking over time. In unusually dry climates or heated rooms, a piano humidity-control system is a worthwhile addition to protect the investment long-term.

Technical data for the Kawai K800ASEP

Price history for the Kawai K800ASEP

Cheapest seen: 15.193 EUR  ·  Most expensive seen: 15.193 EUR

The history of the Kawai K800ASEP

Kawai's K800ASEP represents the flagship size within the brand's professional K-series, built for maximum tonal projection.

About Kawai as a manufacturer

Kawai's founder, Koichi Kawai, grew up next door to Torakusu Yamaha in Hamamatsu, Japan, and was taken on as an apprentice by the watchmaker-turned-reed-organ-builder, eventually joining the team that introduced pianos to Japan at what became Yamaha's parent company, Nippon Gakki. In August 1927, Kawai struck out on his own with seven colleagues to found the Kawai Musical Instrument Research Laboratory in Hamamatsu. The first Kawai grand piano was completed in 1928, the company took the Kawai Musical Instruments Manufacturing name in 1929, added organ production in 1930, and was reorganized into the stock company known today in 1951. That shared Hamamatsu origin with Yamaha - mentor and former employer rather than unrelated rival - has shaped a decades-long competitive relationship between Japan's two major piano makers.