To understand the GX-2, you must first respect the RX-2. The RX Series (replacing the older RX-2, RX-3, etc.—confusingly, Kawai reused the "RX" badge) was produced from the mid-1990s until approximately 2012. It was the benchmark for mid-sized grand pianos in its price range, rivaling the Yamaha C2 and C3. The RX-2 was a workhorse: reliable, responsive, and musically satisfying.
In 2012, Kawai discontinued the RX line and introduced the GX Series. The GX-2 was the direct successor to the RX-2. However, do not confuse the GX line with the older, entry-level GE Series (like the GE-30). The GX-2 is a true professional instrument, built with features borrowed from Kawai’s concert grand, the EX.
The short version: If you are buying new, you buy a GX-2. If you are buying used, the RX-2 is an excellent value—but you must know what you are sacrificing. kawai rx2 vs gx2
| Musical Passage | RX-2 Performance | GX-2 Performance | | :--- | :--- | :--- | | Chopin Nocturne (piano) | Sweet, intimate, slightly closed | Open, breathy, with more harmonic shimmer | | Beethoven Hammerklavier (forte) | Punchy, clear, but runs out of headroom | Powerful, authoritative, surprising bass depth | | Bill Evans jazz voicings | Warm, woody, vintage | Clean, modern, with a glassy top end | | Rachmaninoff C# Prelude (climax) | Breaks up slightly with heavy pedal | Stays clear and resonant |
Winner: GX-2 (for control & nuance) – though the RX-2 is no slouch. To understand the GX-2, you must first respect the RX-2
This is the most critical difference for a pianist.
The RX-2 was Kawai’s best-selling 5'10" (178 cm) professional grand piano, produced from the late 1990s until 2012. The GX-2 is its direct replacement (2012–present). The GX-2 is not a completely new piano but a significant evolution—sharing the same scale design but with a completely redesigned action, upgraded materials, and enhanced structural rigidity. If buying new, get the GX-2. If buying used, the RX-2 is an excellent value, but the GX-2 is objectively better. This is the most critical difference for a pianist
The GX-2 inherits its scale design from the Kawai EX concert grand. The most notable change is the inner rim: Kawai uses a combination of maple (outer rim, hard) and alder (inner rim, softer). This softer inner rim absorbs less high-frequency energy, allowing the soundboard to vibrate more freely. The result is a darker, richer fundamental tone with a longer sustain and a "halo" of colored harmonics.
Try this: Play a low C octave on both. On the RX-2, you hear a clean pitch. On the GX-2, you hear the pitch plus a growl of harmonic richness.