Kurzweil KA90 Review

These past few weeks, we have been focusing on pianos that we do not recommend, rather than pianos that we do. Of these 4 pianos that we do not recommend, this model Kurzweil is by far, the least musically offensive. That being said, this stage piano doesn’t have very many top-notch sounds and doesn’t meet up to its so-called selling points (More specifically, being an arranger keyboard and MIDI Controller). So, I had to knock quite a few points off.

This review contains affiliate links to Amazon.com, meaning we get a small percentage of sales at no extra cost to you. 

Kurzweil KA90 Overview

The KA90 is marketed as a digital arranger/stage piano/MIDI Controller. The keyboard has 88 notes and fully graded, weighted hammer-action keys. While this is a solid piano, it is a subpar arranger and MIDI Controller. 

Before we get into the features, I want to add a side note on the maker. Generally, Kurzweil makes solid instruments. The KA90 is a bit of an outlier when it comes to customer satisfaction, or rather, lack thereof. 

Features

50 Auto-Accompaniment Styles 

This piano has 50 built-in interactive backing styles. This feature includes quite a few genres, which is a plus. To use the auto accompaniments, all players need to do is turn the setting on, and play left-hand chords. 

20 Nifty Factory Presets 

Of the factory presets, one of the most popular settings in the “triple strike” piano. Other presets on the instrument include strings/guitar sounds, and organ sounds. 

You can take a listen to the triple strike piano sound here.

I think the factory piano sounds are decent, but nothing to write home about.  The non-piano sounds could stand to be better. 

Intuitive Control Panel

Another pro to the KA90 is that the control panel is really simple to navigate. 

4-Speaker Sound System

A lot of $1,000 and under keyboards have 2 speakers rather than 4, so this is another plus for the Kurzweil KA90. Since it has the four speakers built into the cabinet, it has more “umph” to it than some of its competitors. Plus, you won’t have to worry about external amplification, which can be intimidating if you are just getting started. 

Kurzweil KA90 Specifications

• Weight: 27.1 pounds
• Dimensions: 14.4 x 53.7 x 5.4 inches

Who Is The KA90 Suitable For?

While I wouldn’t expressly recommend the KA90, this model piano is most suitable for those who want an economical stage piano. It is not suitable for those looking for arranger/MIDI Controller features, but that’s what it’s advertised as. And, on the other hand, while it does have everything a beginner would need to get started, it doesn’t have any educational tools. I think this is an instrument aimed at intermediates, that fell short. 

The KA90 in Action

Take a listen to this link to hear what the KA90 sounds like.

While Mattea Sabetta’s playing is beautiful, I can think of some other models that would do the low end of the piano sound a bit more justice. Moreover, the non-piano sounds are pretty clunky and rough! If you listen much past the first sound, you’ll realize that it only goes downhill from there.  I will give you that the synth sounds are good- But for me? The strings and organs all sound a bit too bright or sound-scapey and unrealistic for my taste. 

Amazon Reviews:

The Kurzweil KA90 was rated a 3.7/5 on Amazon.com, which is a bit lower than a lot of the other keyboards we reviewed. Let’s see why. 

Positive customer comments: 

• “Great results in the studio”
• “Good quality product” 

Critical customer comments: 

• “It’s not as much of a MIDI controller”
• “Not a great arranger” 

Pros and Cons

Pros

• The piano has 4 built-in speakers
• The auto-accompaniment feature will keep learners entertained as they learn
• It’s an instrument with a good brand name and a sturdy built
• It has everything you need to get started

Cons

• The piano doesn’t work as advertised-It’s a bit mislabeled
• We aren’t exactly sure who the target audience is or what the brand is aiming for
• The non-piano sounds aren’t amazing
• There are no user presets available
• It doesn’t have string resonance
• Threre are no sound samples
• It doesn’t have general MIDI
• There is no mic input
• There are no drum sounds
• There is no USB to audio or USB to device: the connectivity isn’t great
• It doesn’t have any educational learning features

Alternatives

If you are an intermediate to pro player looking for a MIDI controller or stage piano, I suggest trying out the Nord Stage series instead. 

Quick View 

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Kurzweil KA90 isn’t a terrible choice- There are just better options out that are better!

6.5Expert Score

These past few weeks, we have been focusing on pianos that we do not recommend, rather than pianos that we do. Of these 4 pianos that we do not recommend, this model Kurzweil is by far, the least musically offensive. That being said, this stage piano doesn’t have very many top-notch sounds and doesn’t meet up to its so-called selling points (More specifically, being an arranger keyboard and MIDI Controller). So, I had to knock quite a few points off.

PROS

• The piano has 4 built-in speakers
• The auto-accompaniment feature will keep learners entertained as they learn
• It’s an instrument with a good brand name and a sturdy built
• It has everything you need to get started

CONS

• The piano doesn’t work as advertised-It’s a bit mislabeled
• We aren’t exactly sure who the target audience is or what the brand is aiming for
• The non-piano sounds aren’t amazing
• There are no user presets available
• It doesn’t have string resonance
• Threre are no sound samples
• It doesn’t have general MIDI
• There is no mic input
• There are no drum sounds
• There is no USB to audio or USB to device: the connectivity isn’t great
• It doesn’t have any educational learning features