Buying guide · silent piano
Taller silent pianos: Kawai K-300, Yamaha U1 or Kawai K-500?
A taller piano gives you more sound during the day – and with a silent system you can still practise silently on headphones at night. Here are three pianos between 121 and 130 cm tall.
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Why height matters
On an upright piano, height is not about looks. The taller the piano, the longer the bass strings can be, and the larger the soundboard behind them. You hear it most in the low notes: on a small upright the bass is round but a little short – on a taller piano it becomes deeper and rings on for longer.
| Kawai K-300 ATX4 | Yamaha U1 SH3 | Kawai K-500 ATX4 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Height | 122 cm | 121 cm | 130 cm |
| Weight | 226 kg | 232 kg | 238 kg |
| Silent system | AnyTimeX4 · 90 sounds | SH3 · 25 sounds · USB recorder | AnyTimeX4 · 90 sounds |
| Tone | Full and warm | Clear and bright | Most bass, warm |
Two silent systems
Kawai AnyTimeX4 has 90 sounds and Bluetooth, and its sensors measure the movement of the hammer – not just the key – so even the softest notes are reproduced accurately in your headphones.
Yamaha SH3 has 25 sounds, including Yamaha's CFX concert grand and a Bösendorfer grand, Bluetooth and a USB recorder.
Both do the same thing at night: a rail stops the hammers just before the strings, and you hear a digital grand in your headphones. The action under your fingers is the same as during the day.
What you feel in your fingers
A taller piano does not give you heavier keys – it gives you more to listen to. When the sound gets bigger, you notice sooner whether you are pushing the tone out or letting the weight of your arm sink into the key. In silent mode the keys feel slightly lighter, because the hammer does not strike the string – switch between the two modes in the same practice session.
Three taller silent pianos
Kawai's full silent system for the least money: the K-300 with Millennium III action, mahogany hammer cores and a soft-close fallboard – a real living-room piano with a full sound.
Kawai K-300 ATX4
- 122 cm — more bass and tone
- Kawai AnyTimeX4: 90 voices, Bluetooth MIDI/audio
- Hammer sensing (IHSS) — no contacts under the keys
63.900 kr checked 30.9.2026
See price at ThomannThe music-school classic: the Yamaha U1 – the piano many teachers have played themselves. Clear, bright tone, with bench and piano lamp included.
Yamaha U1 SH3 Silent
- Yamaha U1 with SH3 Silent System
- 25 sounds (incl. CFX and Bösendorfer Imperial)
- USB audio recorder, Bluetooth MIDI/audio, 121 cm
108.700 kr checked 5.10.2026
See price at ThomannMost sound and deepest bass: the Kawai K-500 is 130 cm tall, with a bass that comes closer to a small grand, and a wide music desk.
Kawai K-500 ATX4
- 130 cm — the largest K model with silent
- Kawai AnyTimeX4: 90 voices, Bluetooth MIDI/audio
- Hammer sensing (IHSS) — no contacts under the keys
97.900 kr checked 30.9.2026
See price at ThomannSee all models on the silent piano page.
Before you buy: three things
- Weight. 220–240 kg. Talk to the retailer about delivery, especially if there are stairs.
- Space. A taller piano is not wider, but it fills more of the room with its sound. Place it against an inside wall, away from windows and radiators – a rug helps.
- Tuning. A silent piano is still an acoustic piano and needs tuning once or twice a year.
Practise with your ear too
When you practise a lot on headphones, your fingers learn the piece quickly – but fingers are only one of the ways we remember music. The Art of Memorisation at the Piano describes the five memories a pianist can build: the fingers, the ear, the eye, understanding and patterns. Now and then, lift your hands from the keys and hear the next bars inside before you play them.
The Art of Memorisation on Kindle
Try this tomorrow
Play the same bass note three times – soft, medium and loud – and listen to how long it rings on. Do the same on every piano you try in the shop. It tells you more about the piano than the price tag.
Questions
What is the difference between the Kawai K-300 and K-500?
The K-500 is 130 cm tall against the K-300's 122 cm, and the extra height gives a deeper bass. Both have the Millennium III action and the same AnyTimeX4 silent system.
Is the Yamaha U1 SH3 worth it?
The U1 is one of the best-known pianos in the world and is used in many music schools. The SH3 system has 25 sounds and USB recording. It is the most expensive of the three – choose it if you want Yamaha's clear tone.
Does a silent piano need tuning?
Yes. It is an acoustic piano with strings and needs tuning once or twice a year. The digital sound in your headphones is always in tune.
More guides: Silent pianos · Silent piano: Kawai or Yamaha? · Your first grand piano