Kawai builds acoustic pianos that can be silenced on demand - and offers two very different ways to get there. Anyone asking which Kawai with ATX or AURES 2 is the right one is really facing one simple decision: should the piano be truly silent in muted mode, with the digital sound only on headphones, or should the digital sound come from the instrument s own wooden soundboard.
This guide sorts the models from the compact K-15 up to the K-600 and the GL-10 grand, and says who each version suits. To dig into the technology behind silent and hybrid systems, see our articles on silent and TransAcoustic pianos and on hybrid pianos.
Practice silently, digital sound on headphones
Ideal for: For anyone who wants to practise considerately without the neighbours hearing - the piano goes fully silent.
See all Klaviere - Neu →Digital sound from the wooden soundboard
Ideal for: For anyone who wants to hear the digital sound in the room - adjustable volume, no headphones required.
See all Klaviere - Neu →01ATX and AURES 2: two paths in the same acoustic piano
Both systems sit inside an entirely normal, fully playable acoustic Kawai piano with strings and action. The difference shows in muted mode.
With the ATX silent system, a stop rail moves in front of the strings and catches the hammers just before they strike - no acoustic tone is produced. Optical sensors read the touch of each key and generate a digital sound you hear on headphones. The piano is genuinely silent.
AURES 2 goes one step further in muted mode: instead of headphones, several transducers excite the piano s wooden soundboard. The digital sound therefore comes from the piano body itself, at an adjustable volume and without external speakers. AURES 2 also includes the ATX mute function but can additionally sound freely in the room. In both cases the piano remains fully playable as an acoustic instrument at any time.
02Which models come with ATX, which with AURES 2
The ATX mute function runs through the entire K series - from the compact K-15 through the much-requested K-200 and K-300 up to the K-500 and K-600, plus the GL-10 grand with ATX4. The small K-15 carries the ATX3L variant, the larger models the current ATX4.
The AURES 2 soundboard system is concentrated on the pianos with a larger, fuller-sounding body: the K-200, K-300 and K-500 are available as AURES 2 versions. If you want the most compact option, you land on ATX; if you want the hybrid sound in the room, you start at the K-200 and up. A good reference point is Kawai K-300 Klavier schwarz poliert mit ATX4 Silent System on the ATX side and Kawai K-300 Klavier schwarz poliert mit Aures 2 System on the AURES side - the same piano, two systems.
03Who ATX suits - and who AURES 2
ATX is the right choice when the main reason for muting is consideration: late practice, thin walls, sleeping children. You play on headphones and the instrument stays silent to the outside. It is also the more affordable and compact solution, available in every K size.
AURES 2 pays off when the digital sound should be more than quiet in your ear - a real sound in the room, for listening together, running an accompaniment over Bluetooth, or simply enjoying the soundboard character that pure headphone playing lacks. That calls for the larger body from the K-200 upwards.
And the grand: anyone already leaning towards a grand piano who wants the silent option will find it in the Kawai Flügel GL-10 schwarz poliert mit ATX4 Silent System. An overview of all new models is in Klaviere - Neu.
| Model | ATX (silent) | AURES 2 (soundboard) | Typical fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| K-15 | yes (ATX3L) | no | Compact, entry, mute only |
| K-200 | yes (ATX4) | yes | Popular all-rounder, both paths |
| K-300 | yes (ATX4) | yes | Fuller sound, both paths |
| K-500 / K-600 | yes (ATX4) | K-500 yes | Larger body, more volume |
| GL-10 grand | yes (ATX4) | no | Silent option in a compact grand |
The choice is ultimately simple: ATX if the piano should be truly silent in muted mode with the digital sound on headphones - in every K size and in the GL-10. AURES 2 if the digital sound should fill the room from the soundboard, from the K-200 upwards.
Frequently asked questions
Is a Kawai with ATX or AURES 2 still a real acoustic piano?
What is the main difference between ATX and AURES 2?
Which K models come with AURES 2?
Does the ATX system make the piano completely silent?
Find the right Kawai with a silent or hybrid system
Compare the K series and the GL-10 in ATX and AURES 2 in our overview of new pianos.
Browse new pianosKawai K-300 with AURES 2Passende Produkte
Kawai K-200 upright piano polished black – 114 cm height, ATX4 Silent system, Millennium III action
