I was absolutely stunned on your new intro! the previous style of your reviews were absolutely useful and now its even more impressive. always a fan of your playing expertise, critics and opinions which helped me a lot when I bought my FP 30X. Long live Sir!
Thanks a million for your kind words and support of our channel! We appreciate it and we're glad to hear that our videos were helpful in your decision making process. Enjoy your amazing Roland FP30X! :)
I have an ES-110 and would like to have Bluetooth streaming audio like the ES-120. Also, I believe that the ES-120 app works with Android, whereas mine only works with iOS. The better features always come out right after I buy any keyboard!
I am sorry to hear that your timing was just a little off. With that said, the ES110 is an extraordinary piano and I imagine you were able to save some money on the purchase. The other benefit of the ES110 is the inclusion of the F10H pedal, which is fantastic and a superior to the pedal that comes with the ES120.
Regarding the Kawai ES110 having a noisy keyboard.. Yes, the key return felt & rubber stop strips on the front of the keys, are too hard. There are two of them. One for the white keys, and one for the black keys. I needed to be inventive to do the black keys, but the results are amazing. I used a single thread of knitting wool for each strip. It's very simple in concept. The white keys stop-strip is on the front, so is easy to access, but to thread the wool through the insides of the entire keyboard length for the black keys stop-strip, required a long straight steel wire ~3mm diameter. Timber dowel would be good too. But to thread the wire through, I needed to first, weigh down ALL the black keys (I used floor board offcuts) Then gently thread the wire through all the way and tie the wool onto it, then gently pull the wire back out. Then, I needed to secure all the ends of the wool with enough tension to straighten the wool. Positioning the wool is vitally important so the stop tabs under the front of each of the keys, hit the wool, and not miss it. The job, including investigations and design, took me well under 2 hours. It's so much quieter now. It's almost as quiet as my Kawai ES8.
That is very cool and inventive! Thanks for sharing your ES110 action mod process! The added cushioning in the ES120 has significantly reduced the overall key noise. But, it is very exciting to see that you have come up with a workaround for the ES110 predecessor to yield the key noise reduction. :)
@@MerriamPianos Yes, your video inspired me to have a look. I was surprised to eventually discover that the "hammer" weights never fall back onto anything, so the entire return momentum stop is transmitted through the action components, to two tiny tabs, under the fronts of each key. I'm looking forward to comparing the results to my friend's recently acquired ES120
I've completely changed my opinion of the ES120 since my first impressions comments. I think it's superior to the ES110 in every way: touch and keyboard action are GREATLY improved, the sound is greatly improved, and it is of course easier to select sounds and other functions. I guess I just needed an adjustment period to appreciate the differenced between these two models. I honestly don't know how a piano player looking for a high quality digital keyboard could find anything superior to the ES120. I already had the better quality sustaining pedal from my ES110 so I've never needed the cheaper one included with the ES120. I've been playing my ES110 for more than a year and just acquired the ES120. Played yesterday for the first time. I'll fill out these comments further after another week or so but I liked the action more on the new model, and there is a bit less key bounce. The one thing that stood out for me was the actual sound of the ES120. I like the sound of the older model better... a real shock to me. The bottom firing speakers and the top speakers don't seem "unified" as one piano sound. I haven't tried headphones as I've never listened that way, but I will. I was playing the first movement of the Ravel Sonatine and the beauty of those magical chords are less beautiful to me on the new Kawai. The cosmetics and overall design of the new model are outstanding. The keys feel more sharply 'carved out' under my fingers so I have to play a bit more accurately. I tried three of the primary Kawai piano emulations and I preferred the EX Concert Grand over the SK-EX Concert Grand. I'm planning now on keeping the ES110 rather than passing it on to a friend as I'd like to switch between the two instruments. I'll just need another stand. I use the Liquid Stands Z style model and it's worked great for me over the last year. The Merriam Music reviews such as this video have been extremely valuable to me in selecting my two digital keyboards and thanks very much to them!
Hi! Thanks for tuning in and writing in! I am sorry to hear that you are disappointed with the ES120's tone. It is true that there are some differences in terms of tone between the ES110 and ES120. With that said, for me, the improvements to the action on the ES120 are quite meaningful. Of course, it comes down to the personal preferences of the player. In some cases though, it can be a matter of getting more accustomed to the change and the sound that your new piano provides. Thanks again and happy playing! :)
@@Persun_McPersonson initially I preferred the speaker balance of the 110. But I changed my mind after using the 120 for a few days. That's why I revised my initial thoughts.
The picture at 1:03 is the speaker system of the ES520/920. Those long black boxes are the speaker boxes upside down. It is hard to see in the picture, but notice the holes on top: those are the bass reflex/ported design, and they fire down when the piano is assembled. The 8x12 cm oval speakers would face up. What you see here is the ES520/920 disassembled with the speaker panel flipped, as the black box actually face down when assembled. The speaker system of the ES120 looks different, in fact, it has no speaker box, with the 12 cm drivers facing down. It is not possible to put 12 cm speakers in boxes without making the design much wider. That is why the Yamaha DGX-670 is so big: you have very large boxes inside that instead of being about 3 inches wide (Kawai ES520/920) they are about 5 inches wide, to accommodate the 12 cm speakers with tweeters in a ported design. In reality, the DGX-670 speaker boxes are much larger than what they appear from the outside as they almost meet in the middle of the instrument, they are not short boxes but run almost the entire length of the instrument. The DGX-670 speaker box is the largest of any portable piano: the Roland FP90X, FP60X, Kawai ES520/920, Yamaha P515 all have similar speaker boxes, but they all feature smaller oval speakers. The DGX-670 features full 12 cm round speakers. The DGX-670 is about 2 inches deeper than the FP-90X and about 3 inches deeper than the ES520/920: you need them to accommodate the larger speakers (4 cm wider speakers on the DGX-670). The Yamaha P-125/125a, Kawai ES120, and Roland FP30X all have a "cradle" (lower case assembly) where the speaker is placed without a box. It is a nice design that allows the speaker to breathe and leak sound through the key bed. The P-125/125a incorporates a little trick: there is no speaker placed on the speaker grills on top, and that is a very large sound port. The tweeters are on the side of those sound ports.
Thanks for the very detailed and informative breakdown! There is always a balance that manufacturers need to strike between portability and optimal sound. It is always exciting to examine the interesting and innovative ways different manufacturers and models tackle this issue. :)
I also have a ES110 side-by side with a ES120. When I play continuos jazz eighth note lines on the ES120 (SK-EX piano samples) the notes nicely flow into each other in a very smooth legato manner, like "dah-bah-dah-bah". But on my ES110 (EX piano samples) the eighth note lines sound more marcato, like "tak a tak a tak". The ES110 will not allow me to create as legato a sounding line as the ES120 no matter how hard I try to do so. The SK-EX piano samples on the ES120 sound to me as if they have more "color" or details and overtones in them, especially in the important mid range. The ES120 SK-EX piano samples are beautiful and seem to express a more emotional quality, especially on slower ballad playing. The ES120 SK-EX overall behaves more pianisticly than the EX sample in the ES110. The ES110 plays a bit like a rock piano compared to a classical concert grand piano. The Fender Rhodes (Tine EP) is also now more legato for playing eighth note lines and the samples sound more detailed, especially when I turn off the odd tremolo Effect and set the Touch to Hard so that the velocity jumpiness is nicely smoothed out. At the Medium Touch setting the hard strike velocity samples are still too jumpy on the Tine EP, just as it is on the ES110's Tine Piano. I think they use the same samples but they increased the resolution somewhat and somehow made it behave more legato.
Thanks for tuning in and sharing your insights! The improvements to the ES120 definitely come across when performing certain types of passages as you've discovered. I definitely agree with the notion that the combination of the action and sonic improvements allows for greater expressivity and musical range. Thanks again and happy playing! :)
Thanks for the review. I used to own and love the ES-110 for travel. It had to go for reasons, but listening to the 120, it's like a whole different instrument!! Both helpful AND inspiring!
200€ difference on a budget dpiano where I live... I think I'll skip the 120 and go for the 110 unless the prices drop. It's just too much for the intended purpose (taking it to my friends studio to play, for fun). 729€ for the 120 and 529€ for the 110. Not a very fair price considering you could get a full cabinet already with a triple pedal set for close to that amount of money
I’m a beginner and have been using the 110 for 8 mo. As for the speakers, since I’m a beginner, I use headsets, but if I were serious, I’d buy external speakers anyway. The 110 keyboard upgrade (quieter) would be welcome. Although wouldn’t use it currently, would like the Bluetooth feature. As for additional sounds, I only use the #1 concert grand, so no benefit for me. The pedal was one of the features that led my decision for the Kawai over the Yamaha-why they don’t include that with the 120 is a mistake. I really like the 110 and would recommend the 120 to anybody, but get the pedal as the reviewer said.
Hi Keith! Thanks for checking out the video and writing in with your thoughts! The ES110 and ES120 are both wonderful musical offerings from Kawai. I definitely understand your stance on the ES110's inclusion of the F10H pedal. It is a nice luxury to have! With that said, the updates to the ES120 are quite meaningful. :)
I have in front of me both Es110 and Es 120. I bought the Es 120 because of this review although i loved the 110 and thought "why not buy an even greater 110?" . BUT... i am cancelling the buyer of my 110 and returning back the 120. I will keep the 110 after hours of comparison by myself. The 110 has SO MUCH RICHER sound( also much louder onspeakers and much louder and brighter in headphones). Es110 makes your fingers in a strange way, connect better with its keys. The es120 has better features and they gived so much attention to other things BUT they missed the magic of 110... In MY opinion dont even think to go from 110 to 120... Dont make the same mistake as i did.
They are both excellent digital pianos with wonderful cost-to-value ratios. It comes down to things being a matter of preference. In either case, I am confident you will be thrilled with what the piano offers musically. :)
After years of practice on many pianos, I have just bought the 110 used and its feel is a true miracle. I was about to make the same mistake as you and for the same reasons. You reassure me in my idea that miracles are exceptional. So, a bigThank you. 🤗
continuation: I have since, tried the 120, and I confirm, the wonderful touch of the 110 is no longer there (to be fair, it is also less noisy, which probably explains it). 🤗
I definitely notice quite a difference on my end too! I think the updates to the speaker system and reverb engine in particular have led to a more refined sound presentation of those samples.
I have an ES110 and really like the key action as well as Kawai’s piano tones and wondered if it would be silly to upgrade to the 120 or go up to the 920. Love all of your reviews.
Thanks for tuning in and supporting our channel! We appreciate it. While the ES120's action is a slight upgrade from the ES110 (it is quieter and a bit more solid feeling thanks to the additional cushioning), I think moving to the ES920 would be a much more meaningful upgrade. :)
Hi, love your content! Will you ever review any of the Studiologic digital piano line? I have heard really good things about their TP400 Wood keybed, would love to see your guys's experiences with their stuff. Thanks!
Thanks so much for your kind words and for tuning in! We appreciate it. We do our best to tackle as many lines and models as possible, but, as you can imagine, it is difficult to get to all of them. I will certainly add Studiologic to our list of potential candidates for future video reviews/comparisons and we'll do our best to tackle it. :)
Thanks for the review. Enjoyable as always. These points that Stu mentions are critical improvements on the ES110, which was one of my least favourite portable pianos. Five minutes in a showroom was enough to put me off the ES110. I hope to spend a bit longer than that trying the ES120. Congratulations Kawai for listening to reviewers & customers and fixing these things. When Stu first talked about the improvements, he wasn't too sure how far they went, so it's good to see this solid confirmation. I smiled when Stu said it's round and it's flat, referring to the new speaker EQ. I think we know what you mean Stu 🤔 though I doubt that studio engineers have the same definition of flat as piano reviewers and us DP nerds. Is flat the new magical/politically correct term in music? Maybe it replaces round? Don't mind me, I'm just being mischievous! More seriously now, I really hate it when there's a pronounced V dip on a DP, but that's not to say that certain frequencies cannot be highlighted. There's a world of possibilities between flat and V dip. Keep up the good work!
Brent here! Thank you kindly for tuning in and sharing your wonderful words and insights! It is always nice to see a company, Kawai in this case, listen to the feedback from its users and make the necessary improvements to their next generation of models. By the word "flat", I believe that Stu means there are no obvious spikes or boosts in specific ranges or frequency bands. It is a more neutral and balance equalization and tonal profile. Thanks again and happy playing! :)
Hi! Brent here! While the RHC and PHA4 are both excellent actions that offer different feels, the updated RHC action of the ES120 is objectively quieter. This is partially due to the fact that it is a lighter action/key stick, which means less resultant mechanical noise. The new RHC action in the ES120 also has extra cushioning, which further reduces mechanical key noise.
Hi Chris! Brent from Merriam Music here! Thanks for taking the time to check out our video! In terms of external speakers, my suggestion would really depend on the context in which you're using the piano and speaker combo in. If you are using the external speakers for gigging situations, a keyboard amplifier or PA setup (depending on the size of venue) would likely be the best solution. If you're using the external speakers for home practice and personal use, mid to high end studio monitors can do a very solid job at representing the piano sounds from your instrument's tone engine. On that note, an overview video on studio monitors and amplifiers is on our list of topics to cover in the near future. Thanks again and Happy New Year! :)
Hi Stu! Loved this review. I'm about to start my journey towards learning how to play the piano, and I'm planning to buy the Kawai ES120. Any insights on where to start?
Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! Thanks so much for tuning in and for your kind words! The ES120 is a fantastic piano and would serve as a wonderful starting point for your piano journey. In terms of where to begin, I would personally recommend trying to find a reputable teacher to work with that aligns with your goals. While there are a lot of helpful TH-cam video tutorials and apps out there, in my opinion, nothing compares to the experience of studying with a teacher one-on-one. They will custom tailor lesson plans and repertoire selections to your specific goals, which makes the process far more engaging and enjoyable in the long run. :)
So I bought the ES120 after watching Stu's comparison vs the Roland FP 30X and on that video the Kawai ES120 sounded warmer and nicer to me. Stu mentioned that there was a noticeable difference to him regarding the key action being improved as well as cushioning on the bottom of the key bed and quieter keys. If that is true and the ES120 is in any way an improvement on key action and feel, I would hate to ever experience the ES110. The Kawai ES120 was the absolute worst digital piano experience I have ever had. The keys made unpleasant thuds when the keys were pressed down and made a springy type noise on the way up. It reminded me of a diving board type sound. I hated it. It also felt unpleasant to my fingers when playing as the thud for each and every key was loud and obnoxious plus the keys barely felt weighted to me at all. Surprisingly the tones or sounds in person were not like what I had heard on the videos here or on other TH-cam video channels. I was not happy with the sounds at all. We have a Donner DEP 20 as a house piano that is much more pleasing to my ears and fingers than the Kawai. It also felt noticeably more weighted than the Kawai. I returned the Kawai after 2 days trying to get used to it, back to my local music store, and checked out the pianos that they had on the display floor. The Yamaha P125a had nice feeling action as did the Casio 1100 and the 3100. But I knew that nothing was going to satisfy me more than the PHA4 action of the Roland FP 30X. As the FP60X was no longer in my budget without the significant 15% off Black Friday discount. Luckily the FP 30X was on sale for $699 US with an additional $70 off for an in-store holiday discount. So I bought the FP 30X for $630 US and have been super happy as it is everything I need and want in a digital piano. It checks all the boxes for me and the tones and voices are just perfect. I won't ever go near a Kawai digital piano again.
Hi there! Brent from Merriam Music here! I am sorry to hear you did not enjoy the experience of the Kawai ES120. Of course, tone and touch preferences come down to the tastes and playing style of the player. The ES120 is certainly much more solid feeling and has substantially less key noise in comparison to the ES110. However, even the more solid feeling action of the ES120 is going to feel substantially lighter than the PHA4 action. I am a huge fan of both the ES120 and FP30X, but, when it comes to action, I tend to agree with you in that the FP30X has a superior touch that I feel more connected to. However, I have seen many players in our showrooms prefer the lighter touch and absence of escapement on models like the ES120 and PXS1100. Thanks for tuning in and enjoy your new Roland FP30X! :)
@@jose.austria Actually in the last 2 months that I have been in the market for a digital piano, I have watched every video here on this channel regarding every Roland, Kawai, Casio, and Yamaha digital piano made since the beginning of 2021. So I have actually watched and rewatched the same videos multiple times to the point of even memorizing some of the things Stu says and I am very familiar with his understandable preference of the Roland PHA4 action and it’s escapement capability. I have even mentioned that myself in my comments on other videos on this channel. By the way Stu actually says Roland’s action is hard to beat among digital pianos under $2000.00.
I know this is pushing it, but I recently visited a Kawai/Yamaha acoustic piano dealer which also have high-end Yamaha digital pianos. The only thing there that felt as having an action like an acoustic piano was the $15,000 AvantGrand N2. Even the NU1X and the $10,000 Clavinova CLP-795GP didn't feel like an acoustic action. I know that's extreme because the N2 actually has a real acoustic grand piano action, so obviously it must feel like one. But even the NU1X, which has a real upright piano action, feels a bit strange when compared to a Yamaha b2, for example. And the Roland PHA-4 is not even comparable to a real acoustic action. Nothing else feels like an acoustic piano action. Not the PHA-4, not the PHA-50, none of those Kawai wooden actions, not the GrandTouch action in Clavinovas either... they all fall short of authentic. Strangely, when I play real Kawai and Yamaha acoustic pianos, I always forget the feel of the action. I think it is because the action and the sound become one at the same time in normal pianos, you can't talk about the action in a real piano without mentioning its sound. But now that I say that... I played a Yamaha U1 with the silent system about 4 days ago and I lost my chance to experience how the action really feels without the sound (I didn't think about it at that moment). I did turned off the AvantGrand N2 and NU1X and played the action alone though... maybe I should go back and check the U1 with the silent system again and compare it with a high-end Clavinova, although I already did that in a way with the N2, and it's not the same feel. But honestly, nothing really feels like an acoustic piano action... I am no piano action expert, but there is something I felt in the N2 that made it real and wasn't like the other stuff on the market... once again, I know it's kind of ridiculous to say it because the N2 does have a real acoustic grand piano action... but it is somehow detectable. I did play the Kawai NV10 once, but I don't remember much about it, other than it sounded like a Yamaha AvantGrand (that was when the NV10 came out). I owned the Roland RP401R with the PHA-4 before, and I think that action is too bouncy... it has a weird travel feel in general. And the PHA-50 is overly cushioned. I don't know how to articulate it, but that's not how an acoustic piano action feels, in my opinion. At least, not what I experience when I play new Yamaha and Kawai acoustic pianos. It is difficult to make direct comparisons with cheaper models like the P-125, ES120 and FP-30X because acoustic piano dealers generally focus only on the high-end digital pianos, so you don't really see those basic models in piano stores... but from memory, I think there is quite a difference in feel.
You can't just say all Kawai digitals are bad just by trying the ES120. It is their base model digital piano, and it is not their best efforts on making a digital piano🎹🎶
@@Instrumental-Covers some times people forget just how pricey acoustic pianos are which is why you can't expect a cheap digital piano to feel, and sound like an acoustic piano or even a high end digital. I hope you don't take my reply the rong way. I just wrote this because people often expect so much from cheap digitals that they forget acoustic pianos cost way more than something like a Roland FP10. I agree with you that nothing can beat a true acoustic piano. I'll never forget the time I tried a Yamaha C5X it was such an amazing experience to be inspired to play the pieces that I find some times challenging to play on my ES110🎹🎶
Thank you! The ES120 still comes with a sustain, but it is a simpler square plastic sustain pedal. The F10H pedal that came with the ES110 is available separately as an upgrade for the ES120. :)
Sir, in your vast experience and knowledge, which piano do you recommend among these 3? Kawai Es120 / Casio Px 770 or Roland Fp 30x? I only want good action, dinamic and warm sound to Only play classical. Thank you-
Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! While it comes down to one's musical preference, I would personally suggest the Kawai ES120 if you're seeking a warm sound that is appropriate for solo classical piano repertoire. It should be noted that the FP30X has a heavier and slightly more authentic feeling action (at least in my opinion). But, given what you're seeking, the ES120 would be the sweet spot in terms of tone and touch.
For me, the ES120 and FP10 would be my top choices, but for different reasons. I think the ES120 offers the most realistic piano sounds, whereas the FP10 offers the most realistic action. It will ultimately come down to what you prioritize more. But, this is a very subjective matter of course.
Awesome comparison! But I have a question. As a beginner in the piano world, I am wondering if I should directly go with the triple padel stand or if that would be overkill. Maybe this is the wrong forum to ask, but what are the benefits of the three pedals against the single one? I am a bit overwhelmed and don't want to make the wrong choice. Edit: During my research I also found the Kawai KDP-120. How does that compare to the Kawai ES-120? Any recommendations?
Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! The triple pedal system is not essential if you are just starting out. The una corda and sostenuto pedals will eventually be used (especially if you are playing classical repertoire), but that is something you can always add down the road. However, if you are looking for longevity, its not a bad investment off the hop. The KDP120 is a different offering than the ES120 in a number of ways. Firstly, it is a console design opposed to a portable design. It has a superior action in the RHC II touch as well as a more powerful speaker system. At the end of the day, the choice comes down to the player and their preferences. My suggestion would be to test both pianos out to see if you notice a substantial different with the KDP120. Thanks and hope this helps! :)
That's a good point. My 2 cents worth is that the 110 felt like it would fall apart with that loose wobbly action. (I'm not saying that they do fall apart) From what Stu is saying here, we might guess that the action will hold together better on the 120, and not suddenly get very loose. Have you had a bad experience with the ES110? As we know, any lightweight piano with few metal panels is going to be more vulnerable to destructive accidents say than the tougher stage pianos, so I carry my plasticky P-255 to my little gigs like it's made of glass. So far, it's been a brilliant instrument, and keeps functioning flawlessly. PS I had a great NYE gig without a piano, playing other instruments in a duo format. It was so nice, not having to set up a piano and all the accessories in a jam-packed restaurant (the stress gets ridiculous) but I did miss it.
Hi there! Brent from Merriam Music here! From my own personal experiences with the two models, I would say that the action and control interface feel a lot more robust and solid on the ES120 in comparison to its predecessor.
@@Zoco101 the problem is not so much with the action, but the build quality of the case because over time the top just above the keys becomes loose, and makes a clunking sound when pressing the keys. Over time this worsens to the point where the music rest starts to shake, and makes it's own sound. I think it's because the plastic case has some flex to it so even if it was fixed the problem might come back again. Actually I just had it fixed because it was attact by ants, and the first key that efected was the A above middel C🎹🎶
@@MERCEDES-BENZS600GUARD_V12 Gracious! Well, all the more reason for Kawai to replace it! I see that Merriam has just confirmed an improvement on these things you mention. So now maybe we can recommend Kawai's entry level piano.
Hi how does px 160 casio compare to es 120? We have the cn29 at home but we need another one that will be portable ti play at school. Till now the cassio px 160 was ok for playing in the class but since we had the cn29 at home my son don't like to play the cassio at school at all. We wonder if the es120 can be more satisfying to play in school than the old cassio px 160
Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! The PX160's action is going to be substantially lighter feeling than the CN29. The ES120 is ultimately going to be in the middle of those two actions. It is a bit more solid feeling, but unlike the CN29, it does not have escapement. If you would like to optimize the consistency with the CN29 feel, I would recommend the Kawai ES920 as it uses the same action as the CN29 (RHIII). Alternatively, an FP30X's PHA4 action will be a bit more similar to the CN29 and be at a more comparable price point to the ES120. Thanks and hope this helps! :)
Hi! Brent here! While it comes down to a matter of subjectivity, in my opinion, the ES120 would be an excellent upgrade to start tackling your piano studies again. :)
I think the ES110 sounds much better. The ES120 seems to have a thin/bright reverberation added to the default sound, you can replicate this by increasing the reverb on the ES110. It is always better to have a default sound with no reverb and then add to it rather than have too much reverb which cannot be backed off. As for the higher notes sounding very slightly sharp on the ES110 this is due to the default temperament ie. set to equal. Setting the ES110 to meantone temperament would eliminate this effect. When comparing updated models you need to understand the manufacturer can simply alter the default settings very slightly, this provides a different sound in the new model but with a few setting tweaks/changes the older model can sound exactly the same, something a reviewer should be mindful of. I can edit my Korg PA 300 grand piano sound to produce piano sounds exactly the same as my Digital Kawai's concert grand. I do think your reviews are some of the best on TH-cam but deeper analysis when comparing sounds in instruments would assist in better understanding of what sounds you can achieve.
Hi there! Brent from Merriam Music here! Thanks for the kind words about our reviews and for taking the time to write-in. As Stu digs into in this video, one of the primary differences/updates between the ES110 and ES120 is the reverb engine. While the update was undoubtedly a result of Kawai's RND team feeling like it was an improvement upon the predecessor, when it comes to tonal/sonic preferences, it is a matter of subjectivity and preference of course and each player will have their own thoughts and feels on the matter. Also, given Stu's immense experience with digital and acoustic pianos, he is also extremely well-versed with emulating piano sounds through setting tweaks. However, most of the time when it comes to this style of comparison video, our videos are centred around the default piano sounds and the updates/changes the manufacturer has made to the model. On that note, we appreciate the feedback immensely and I will certainly pass it along to our production team. Tackling the capabilities and tonal range of the tone engines and doing a test to see how close the pianos sounds can be replicated by each model would be a fun thing to explore! Thanks again for supporting the channel and writing in! We appreciate it. Happy New Year! :)
i dont get it, is it really worth it to add 200 dollars more for the es-120 im not sure is there a better piano for 800 dollars on the market if yes please tell me.
The ES110 is an excellent value given its price point! However, the ES120 has some meaningful updates, namely the action, which feels far more solid and offers a greater sense of connection to the instrument.
You're very welcome! We just received our first shipment of the new CA901 model, so you can expect some review and comparison videos coming your way shortly! ;)
I have a totally nerdy question but do you know if it’s possible to connect the Kawai usb out to another midi capable keyboard via the second keyboards usb port? As in usb to usb? I’m wondering because I’d been hoping that I might be able to use the Kawai to control other keyboards directly? Kind of hoping it could be a part time midi controller
Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! Thanks for the question. While I have not tried this myself, in theory, I believe it should work just fine. If it didn't work, you could also get a USB to MIDI converter or some type of USB/MIDI bus that would do the job. Unfortunately, most companies are moving away from 5-pin MIDI ports in favour of Bluetooth MIDI and USB MIDI.
Hi there! Brent from Merriam Music here! We have had a few requests to cover this model in an upcoming review. We have added it to the list and will do our best to tackle it in the future. Thanks for the suggestion! :)
Like your video. Very helpful. FP30x seems not bad after watching your review. But it's slightly expensive for me as I m going to buy for my 8yo daugher who is a beginner. Any recommendation for digital piano under $400/500?
Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! The FP30X is a great piano that offer a lot of longevity if your budget allows for the investment. With that said, the Roland FP10 is a more affordable alternative. Casio is another place to look for excellent cost-to-value ratio. The Casio CDPS350 or CDPS360 packs a lot of value. Thanks and hope this helps! :)
The ES110 will eventually be fully phased out as far as I know. The ES120 is in fact intended to be a replacement to the ES110 from my understanding. The price drop to the ES110 was a result of the release of the ES120. Thanks so much for tuning in and happy playing! :)
I don't think you can really compare the price of an ES110 released 5 years ago to the price of an ES120 released just a few months ago. _Quite a lot_ has happened to the global economy and the way that goods and services are bought and sold in those 5 years.
Haven't heard the video yet, however I did hear these pianos in seperate videos. They sound some what the same spite of using different piano samples n fat the S K EX sample and the EX sample sound almost the same and I don't know if this is because these are just very low qquality samples or what🎹🎶
There is no a massive difference in terms of the samples themselves as Stu outlines in this video. However, the sonic experience is rather different due to other factors such as the speaker EQ. We hope you enjoy the video when you get a chance to watch it! :)
@@MerriamPianos I actually think it is the opposite. There is quite a difference in the samples, which is translated to the speaker output. The speakers are the same 12 cm drivers. I do hear a good difference between the SK-EX and the EX.
@@Instrumental-Covers perhaps there is a difference because of the speakers. For me now after listening to the video although I do hear some difference I can't help feeling the impression that they sound the same almost, but to some extent of corss🎹🎶
@@Instrumental-Covers if anything I'd like to know if the ES120 has improved build quality because as you know I have an ES110, and though I'm not interested on geting an ES120 the build quality I think could be improved upon by the ES120. The problem I noticed, and I think I already told you about this before is after a serten amount of use the top just above the keys gets loose and makes a clunking sound when you press the keys. Over time this worsens to the point where the music rest starts to shake, and makes it's own sound. If my keyboard wasn't attact by ants I wouldn't have it fixed haha🎹🎶
@@MERCEDES-BENZS600GUARD_V12 Hi, Happy New Year! May I ask what speakers or headphones you use? The reason I ask is because not all speakers or headphones are equally revealing. When I want to pay attention to the sound, I use a pair of Audio Technica studio monitors. Other speakers may not differentiate the sound much. 🎵🎵
That is a decision that every player will have to make for themselves of course. It depends on the context of use and personal tastes of the player. For instance, the ES120 has a far quieter keyboard due to he extra cushioning on the updated RHC action. It also has a more solid feeling action, whereas there is a bit more key bounce to the ES110. Different players gravitate towards different feels ultimately.
Thanks for the suggestion! That would certainly make for an excellent review. It is on our list of comparisons to tackle in the future. We'll do our best to get to it as soon as possible. :)
Hi there! While we typically compare pianos from the same category (e.g. portable vs portable or console vs console, etc.), I will certainly add it to the list of potential comparisons to tackle in the future. Thanks for the suggestion! :)
Grazie Stu, il miglioramento è evidente anche qui su TH-cam. L'Es110 ha acuti troppo brillanti e medi in evidenza. L' es120 è più equilibrato. Quello che colpisce subito è la silenziosità dei tasti. Rendendola una delle più silenziose sul mercato e questo non è poco se suoni a basso volume o in cuffia. Ti propongo due confronti Kawai Es120 Vs. Kawai Es520 e Kawai es120 Vs. Yamaha p125a (a proposito che differenze ci sono con il precedente modello Yamaha p125? A me sembrano uguali!!) Felice di ritrovarti, un caro saluto dall'Italia! . Buon anno in musica. Ciao.
For better or for worse, Kawai has 4 different SK-EX tone generators... and they don't sound the same. I recently played a Kawai KDP75, a CN29, and a CA49 side by side. I used studio headphones only. The KDP75, which has the same tone generator as the ES120 (SK-EX with Harmonic Imaging), sounded unrefined compared to the CN29 and CA49. Kawai says that the SK-EX Progressive Harmonic Imaging (CN29/CA49) uses a larger tonal “database” than regular Harmonic Imaging to provide greater tonal details throughout the dynamic range... and they really mean what they say. I think they should stop using the Harmonic Imaging and go directly to the PHI, because you lose quite an amount of detail in their lower tone generator. But what surprises me the most is how bright the ES120 sounds. For a company that has a reputation of having a "warm" sound profile, this is the complete opposite: my Yamaha DGX-670 sounds much warmer than the ES120. I am pumping right now the ES120 piano sound through my studio headphones and playing along the DGX-670, and the "CFX" default sample is way warmer. In fact, to compete with the level of brightness the ES120 has, I have to use the "Bright Piano" patch.. and still cannot match the Kawai brightness! The ES110 is in another level of brightness: I have to use the "Rock Piano" patch on my DGX-670 to generate that sound profile. That's how bright these Kawai digital pianos are. The idea that "Kawai is warm" loosely applies to real pianos, and only by a little bit, compared to Yamaha current offers on the market. I recently played several Kawai and Yamaha acoustic pianos in a piano store, and you hear a slightly brighter tone in the Yamahas... so maybe that's where the reputation comes from.... but in digital pianos at this price point? Absolutely no way these instruments can be labeled as "warm".
There is definitely varying degrees of detail and nuance between Kawai's various tone engines and SKEX samples. I don't think many people would argue that notion. I definitely agree that the Progressive Harmonic Imaging tone engine is a meaningful step up from its little brother, the Harmonic Imaging tone engine. With that said, it is all relative to the associated price points of course. One should expect to receive a higher degree of quality and fidelity when making a larger investment into a portable digital piano. Regarding the tonal profile of Kawai and Yamaha digital pianos, I definitely think some of the perception within the piano community comes from the tonal contrasts between their respective acoustic pianos. However, with that said, in my personal experiences, when comparing a Kawai ES110/ES120 against a Yamaha P45/P125 side-by-side, I personally find the entry-level P series instruments to be quite brittle and tinny sounding. Of course, as we already know, this is a very subjective experience. One could even argue that the connotations of the words "bright" and "warm" themselves are subjective. At the end of the day, we will all have our own personal reasons as to why we gravitate towards one instrument over another. Thankfully, we live in an age where is a large selection of instruments on the market to choose between! :)
@@MerriamPianos I would personally skip both the P-45/125 and Kawai ES110/120 and choose the DGX-670. Unless you plan to move the digital pianos a lot (gigging, etc), I see no reason to choose such stripped down instruments (P-45/125/ES110/120). The DGX-670 is such a feature-rich instrument that makes the entry-level Kawai and Yamaha offers look bad. You get several piano patches with resonance modeling, along with over 600 high quality tones, almost 300 full featured auto-accompaniment styles with 4 main variations, one of the most powerful speaker systems available in any portable digital piano at any price point, a beautiful large color screen, an audio interface, virtually unlimited ability to save presets... it is just so much you get that, honestly, you really must be in dire need of the portability of the entry-level offers by Yamaha and Kawai to choose the ES120 or P-125a. You objectively get so much more from the DGX-670, but in the end people will choose what they like, of course :)
@@YvesPecqueur He he, good point. 🙂🙂But I still think the DGX-670 is objectively a better choice, even in your situation: better samples, better speaker system, easier to navigate with its large color screen (unless you want to dive into its detailed menus). There is nothing complicated in the DGX-670 to access its basic functionality, it has a very simple operation: turn it on and play. There is something called "Piano Room", with beautiful pictures of what you are doing (if you care about changing anything at all). You can always ignore the extra functionality and use it in a basic manner. You get an audio interface you don't get in the ES120, which is quite useful if you want to record yourself. Unless you plan to move the instrument constantly (very unlikely, unless you gig a lot), once you position it inside your home, it will be there for you to play without hurting yourself 😁For people who plan to play at home most of the time, the DGX-670 is a more comprehensive offer than the stripped-down ES120 or P-125.
@@Instrumental-Covers I think it depends on where it's priced. In other countries the DGX670 is over 1,100 dollars wile the ES110, ES120, P125, and P45 are priced more or less under 950 dollars. Not everyone has the budget to spend that high🎹🎶
@@MERCEDES-BENZS600GUARD_V12 Mmmm.. interesting. Here in the US the DGX-670 is $50 cheaper than the ES120. So, you get 10 times more features while paying less. That's why I don't see the point of buying an ES120 over the DGX-670 here in the US. 🎵🎵
It is a matter of personal preference of course! There are many players that prefer the ES110's default sound over the ES120's. With that said, keep in mind that there are various parameters that can be adjusted to custom tailor the sound to your preference. :)
Aside from workstation and stage pianos, virtually all piano manufacturers are moving away from 5-pin MIDI connectors these days. The focus is on Bluetooth MIDI and USB connectivity. It seems like those connectors will be phased out more as time progresses.
The downgraded pedal is extremely disappointing, but 5-pin DIN ports are outdated (though, to be fair, so are the USB-B ports most USB-using electronic instruments use - switch to USB-C already, it's about to become a 10-year-old standard). The slowness of progress in certain aspects and sectors of the tech world is frustrating, if you ask me.
I think it should be mentioned that the Bluetooth features and Kawai Bluetooth software only works with Apple devices. I wrote the review below in 2020 on the Google Play Kawai PianoRemote app page. I just tried the app again today with my late model Samsung Android phone. The app displayed all jumbled, and with no way to exit. I still like my ES110, but will not consider an upgrade until Kawai makes working software options. --------------------------------------------------------------- Kawai makes great pianos, but they are really behind the times in software. I was excited to see Kawai finally make an app for Android. Sadly, this app is compatible with ONLY 3 of Kawai's CA models in their current lineup of.....18 digital pianos! I just got a brand new ES110. Love the sound and action. Impossible to use the functions without going to the manual, flipping to the table of contents, then finding the function specific page, and figuring out which combination of buttons and piano keys to press. After, there is no way to know the function is activated until you use it. I was hoping this app was the answer. Guess not. I get cutting out the screen and extra buttons to save cost and reduce complexity, so make up for it by putting those functions in an App. We all already carry a screen with us, so use it for YOUR cost cutting and OUR ease of use. Give us an app that works on more than 3 of the models you sell. One of the selling point of the ES110 was it's Bluetooth, but currently, Kawai apps for it only work on iOS. So the one modern feature in my Kawai product is useless. The market has changed, making this kind of software only for iOS and Mac is no longer viable or acceptable.
Thanks for tuning in! Unfortunately, app compatibility with certain operating system can be problematic. With that said, hopefully, all manufacturers get in the habit of releasing apps that are universally accessible.
Bluetooth MIDI works fine on the iOS, macOS, and Android devices that I've tried. Windows also seems to be possible using a workaround involving third party apps. I also didn't have any problems connecting to an ES120 using the PianoRemote app running on my Sony Xperia phone, and could exit the app using the double-tap task switcher (swipe up) in Android OS.
![[Eng Sub] KAWAI ES120 compact digital piano](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/XT-Obke4gKU/mqdefault.jpg)
![[Eng Sub] KAWAI ES120 compact digital piano](/img/tr.png)
I was absolutely stunned on your new intro! the previous style of your reviews were absolutely useful and now its even more impressive. always a fan of your playing expertise, critics and opinions which helped me a lot when I bought my FP 30X. Long live Sir!
Thanks a million for your kind words and support of our channel! We appreciate it and we're glad to hear that our videos were helpful in your decision making process. Enjoy your amazing Roland FP30X! :)
I have an ES-110 and would like to have Bluetooth streaming audio like the ES-120. Also, I believe that the ES-120 app works with Android, whereas mine only works with iOS. The better features always come out right after I buy any keyboard!
I am sorry to hear that your timing was just a little off. With that said, the ES110 is an extraordinary piano and I imagine you were able to save some money on the purchase. The other benefit of the ES110 is the inclusion of the F10H pedal, which is fantastic and a superior to the pedal that comes with the ES120.
For future reference, always look up when a keyboard was released. They tend to release a new model every 4 to 5 years.
Regarding the Kawai ES110 having a noisy keyboard..
Yes, the key return felt & rubber stop strips on the front of the keys, are too hard.
There are two of them. One for the white keys, and one for the black keys.
I needed to be inventive to do the black keys, but the results are amazing.
I used a single thread of knitting wool for each strip. It's very simple in concept.
The white keys stop-strip is on the front, so is easy to access, but to thread the wool through the insides of the entire keyboard length for the black keys stop-strip, required a long straight steel wire ~3mm diameter. Timber dowel would be good too. But to thread the wire through, I needed to first, weigh down ALL the black keys (I used floor board offcuts)
Then gently thread the wire through all the way and tie the wool onto it, then gently pull the wire back out.
Then, I needed to secure all the ends of the wool with enough tension to straighten the wool.
Positioning the wool is vitally important so the stop tabs under the front of each of the keys, hit the wool, and not miss it.
The job, including investigations and design, took me well under 2 hours.
It's so much quieter now. It's almost as quiet as my Kawai ES8.
That is very cool and inventive! Thanks for sharing your ES110 action mod process! The added cushioning in the ES120 has significantly reduced the overall key noise. But, it is very exciting to see that you have come up with a workaround for the ES110 predecessor to yield the key noise reduction. :)
@@MerriamPianos Yes, your video inspired me to have a look. I was surprised to eventually discover that the "hammer" weights never fall back onto anything, so the entire return momentum stop is transmitted through the action components, to two tiny tabs, under the fronts of each key.
I'm looking forward to comparing the results to my friend's recently acquired ES120
I've completely changed my opinion of the ES120 since my first impressions comments. I think it's superior to the ES110 in every way: touch and keyboard action are GREATLY improved, the sound is greatly improved, and it is of course easier to select sounds and other functions. I guess I just needed an adjustment period to appreciate the differenced between these two models. I honestly don't know how a piano player looking for a high quality digital keyboard could find anything superior to the ES120. I already had the better quality sustaining pedal from my ES110 so I've never needed the cheaper one included with the ES120.
I've been playing my ES110 for more than a year and just acquired the ES120. Played yesterday for the first time. I'll fill out these comments further after another week or so but I liked the action more on the new model, and there is a bit less key bounce. The one thing that stood out for me was the actual sound of the ES120. I like the sound of the older model better... a real shock to me. The bottom firing speakers and the top speakers don't seem "unified" as one piano sound. I haven't tried headphones as I've never listened that way, but I will. I was playing the first movement of the Ravel Sonatine and the beauty of those magical chords are less beautiful to me on the new Kawai. The cosmetics and overall design of the new model are outstanding. The keys feel more sharply 'carved out' under my fingers so I have to play a bit more accurately. I tried three of the primary Kawai piano emulations and I preferred the EX Concert Grand over the SK-EX Concert Grand. I'm planning now on keeping the ES110 rather than passing it on to a friend as I'd like to switch between the two instruments. I'll just need another stand. I use the Liquid Stands Z style model and it's worked great for me over the last year. The Merriam Music reviews such as this video have been extremely valuable to me in selecting my two digital keyboards and thanks very much to them!
Hi! Thanks for tuning in and writing in! I am sorry to hear that you are disappointed with the ES120's tone. It is true that there are some differences in terms of tone between the ES110 and ES120. With that said, for me, the improvements to the action on the ES120 are quite meaningful. Of course, it comes down to the personal preferences of the player. In some cases though, it can be a matter of getting more accustomed to the change and the sound that your new piano provides. Thanks again and happy playing! :)
What exactly about the '110's sound would you say is superior to the sound of its successor?
@@Persun_McPersonson initially I preferred the speaker balance of the 110. But I changed my mind after using the 120 for a few days. That's why I revised my initial thoughts.
@@scottweaverphotovideo
Oh, I think the way it was formatted confused me, thank you for clarifying.
The picture at 1:03 is the speaker system of the ES520/920. Those long black boxes are the speaker boxes upside down. It is hard to see in the picture, but notice the holes on top: those are the bass reflex/ported design, and they fire down when the piano is assembled. The 8x12 cm oval speakers would face up. What you see here is the ES520/920 disassembled with the speaker panel flipped, as the black box actually face down when assembled. The speaker system of the ES120 looks different, in fact, it has no speaker box, with the 12 cm drivers facing down. It is not possible to put 12 cm speakers in boxes without making the design much wider. That is why the Yamaha DGX-670 is so big: you have very large boxes inside that instead of being about 3 inches wide (Kawai ES520/920) they are about 5 inches wide, to accommodate the 12 cm speakers with tweeters in a ported design. In reality, the DGX-670 speaker boxes are much larger than what they appear from the outside as they almost meet in the middle of the instrument, they are not short boxes but run almost the entire length of the instrument.
The DGX-670 speaker box is the largest of any portable piano: the Roland FP90X, FP60X, Kawai ES520/920, Yamaha P515 all have similar speaker boxes, but they all feature smaller oval speakers. The DGX-670 features full 12 cm round speakers.
The DGX-670 is about 2 inches deeper than the FP-90X and about 3 inches deeper than the ES520/920: you need them to accommodate the larger speakers (4 cm wider speakers on the DGX-670).
The Yamaha P-125/125a, Kawai ES120, and Roland FP30X all have a "cradle" (lower case assembly) where the speaker is placed without a box. It is a nice design that allows the speaker to breathe and leak sound through the key bed. The P-125/125a incorporates a little trick: there is no speaker placed on the speaker grills on top, and that is a very large sound port. The tweeters are on the side of those sound ports.
Thanks for the very detailed and informative breakdown! There is always a balance that manufacturers need to strike between portability and optimal sound. It is always exciting to examine the interesting and innovative ways different manufacturers and models tackle this issue. :)
@@MerriamPianos Thanks for the feedback! :)
I also have a ES110 side-by side with a ES120. When I play continuos jazz eighth note lines on the ES120 (SK-EX piano samples) the notes nicely flow into each other in a very smooth legato manner, like "dah-bah-dah-bah". But on my ES110 (EX piano samples) the eighth note lines sound more marcato, like "tak a tak a tak". The ES110 will not allow me to create as legato a sounding line as the ES120 no matter how hard I try to do so.
The SK-EX piano samples on the ES120 sound to me as if they have more "color" or details and overtones in them, especially in the important mid range. The ES120 SK-EX piano samples are beautiful and seem to express a more emotional quality, especially on slower ballad playing. The ES120 SK-EX overall behaves more pianisticly than the EX sample in the ES110. The ES110 plays a bit like a rock piano compared to a classical concert grand piano.
The Fender Rhodes (Tine EP) is also now more legato for playing eighth note lines and the samples sound more detailed, especially when I turn off the odd tremolo Effect and set the Touch to Hard so that the velocity jumpiness is nicely smoothed out. At the Medium Touch setting the hard strike velocity samples are still too jumpy on the Tine EP, just as it is on the ES110's Tine Piano. I think they use the same samples but they increased the resolution somewhat and somehow made it behave more legato.
Thanks for tuning in and sharing your insights! The improvements to the ES120 definitely come across when performing certain types of passages as you've discovered. I definitely agree with the notion that the combination of the action and sonic improvements allows for greater expressivity and musical range. Thanks again and happy playing! :)
Have you also tried the ES-520? If so how does the action compare in terms of control?
very good comparison. i own an ES120 now for two month. the key action was the main reason for me, because i play most of the time the VSL D-274. 😀
Thank you kindly! Congrats on your Kawai ES120! It really does have an excellent touch, which is quite solid yet very responsive. :)
Is that better than e110?
The comparison that I’ve been waiting for!
Thank you for your patience! We're glad to finally be able to release this one! :)
Thanks for the review. I used to own and love the ES-110 for travel. It had to go for reasons, but listening to the 120, it's like a whole different instrument!! Both helpful AND inspiring!
You're very welcome! We're glad you found it helpful! The ES120 is quite impressive to say the least. :)
Thank you for making this video! I think the upgrades of the ES120 definitely justify the current price difference between it and the ES110
You're very welcome! As Stu lays out nicely in this video, the updates to the ES120 are quite meaningful indeed. :)
200€ difference on a budget dpiano where I live... I think I'll skip the 120 and go for the 110 unless the prices drop. It's just too much for the intended purpose (taking it to my friends studio to play, for fun). 729€ for the 120 and 529€ for the 110. Not a very fair price considering you could get a full cabinet already with a triple pedal set for close to that amount of money
120 is $720 here yet 110 only $500. Really want the bluetooth feature but its hard to justify the price difference 😂
I’m a beginner and have been using the 110 for 8 mo. As for the speakers, since I’m a beginner, I use headsets, but if I were serious, I’d buy external speakers anyway. The 110 keyboard upgrade (quieter) would be welcome. Although wouldn’t use it currently, would like the Bluetooth feature. As for additional sounds, I only use the #1 concert grand, so no benefit for me. The pedal was one of the features that led my decision for the Kawai over the Yamaha-why they don’t include that with the 120 is a mistake. I really like the 110 and would recommend the 120 to anybody, but get the pedal as the reviewer said.
Hi Keith! Thanks for checking out the video and writing in with your thoughts! The ES110 and ES120 are both wonderful musical offerings from Kawai. I definitely understand your stance on the ES110's inclusion of the F10H pedal. It is a nice luxury to have! With that said, the updates to the ES120 are quite meaningful. :)
Stu, thanks for an excellent review. I'm going for the es-120.
Thanks so much for tuning in! We're happy to hear that you enjoyed review! You will be thrilled with what the ES120 has to offer musically. :)
I have in front of me both Es110 and Es 120. I bought the Es 120 because of this review although i loved the 110 and thought "why not buy an even greater 110?" . BUT... i am cancelling the buyer of my 110 and returning back the 120. I will keep the 110 after hours of comparison by myself.
The 110 has SO MUCH RICHER sound( also much louder onspeakers and much louder and brighter in headphones).
Es110 makes your fingers in a strange way, connect better with its keys. The es120 has better features and they gived so much attention to other things BUT they missed the magic of 110...
In MY opinion dont even think to go from 110 to 120... Dont make the same mistake as i did.
They are both excellent digital pianos with wonderful cost-to-value ratios. It comes down to things being a matter of preference. In either case, I am confident you will be thrilled with what the piano offers musically. :)
After years of practice on many pianos, I have just bought the 110 used and its feel is a true miracle. I was about to make the same mistake as you and for the same reasons. You reassure me in my idea that miracles are exceptional. So, a bigThank you. 🤗
continuation: I have since, tried the 120, and I confirm, the wonderful touch of the 110 is no longer there (to be fair, it is also less noisy, which probably explains it). 🤗
Wow, the SK-EX piano sound on the ES120 sounds soooooo much better than the EX piano sound on the ES110!
I definitely notice quite a difference on my end too! I think the updates to the speaker system and reverb engine in particular have led to a more refined sound presentation of those samples.
Thanks, I played the ES-110 at store a week ago. I just want to know what the differences from ES-120 beside the price. 🎹 🎼
You're very welcome! In this video, Stu dives into the key differences between the two models. :)
I have an ES110 and really like the key action as well as Kawai’s piano tones and wondered if it would be silly to upgrade to the 120 or go up to the 920. Love all of your reviews.
Thanks for tuning in and supporting our channel! We appreciate it. While the ES120's action is a slight upgrade from the ES110 (it is quieter and a bit more solid feeling thanks to the additional cushioning), I think moving to the ES920 would be a much more meaningful upgrade. :)
@@MerriamPianos
Thank you very much. Your reviews and advice are so greatly appreciated.
Fl9dodozo9z
@@MerriamPianosI have been learning piano for 5 years now, will this be good enough for a few years of my practice?
@@yupitzmeeee
Did you end up getting it, or something else?
Great video mate Thanks a lot.
You're very welcome! Thank you so much for taking the time to check it out! :)
Hi, love your content! Will you ever review any of the Studiologic digital piano line? I have heard really good things about their TP400 Wood keybed, would love to see your guys's experiences with their stuff. Thanks!
Thanks so much for your kind words and for tuning in! We appreciate it. We do our best to tackle as many lines and models as possible, but, as you can imagine, it is difficult to get to all of them. I will certainly add Studiologic to our list of potential candidates for future video reviews/comparisons and we'll do our best to tackle it. :)
14:06 😄in one glimpse of an eye
Sweet touch - "unboxing" done right.
Thank you kindly! :)
Thanks for the review. Enjoyable as always.
These points that Stu mentions are critical improvements on the ES110, which was one of my least favourite portable pianos. Five minutes in a showroom was enough to put me off the ES110. I hope to spend a bit longer than that trying the ES120. Congratulations Kawai for listening to reviewers & customers and fixing these things. When Stu first talked about the improvements, he wasn't too sure how far they went, so it's good to see this solid confirmation.
I smiled when Stu said it's round and it's flat, referring to the new speaker EQ. I think we know what you mean Stu 🤔 though I doubt that studio engineers have the same definition of flat as piano reviewers and us DP nerds. Is flat the new magical/politically correct term in music? Maybe it replaces round? Don't mind me, I'm just being mischievous!
More seriously now, I really hate it when there's a pronounced V dip on a DP, but that's not to say that certain frequencies cannot be highlighted. There's a world of possibilities between flat and V dip.
Keep up the good work!
Brent here! Thank you kindly for tuning in and sharing your wonderful words and insights! It is always nice to see a company, Kawai in this case, listen to the feedback from its users and make the necessary improvements to their next generation of models. By the word "flat", I believe that Stu means there are no obvious spikes or boosts in specific ranges or frequency bands. It is a more neutral and balance equalization and tonal profile. Thanks again and happy playing! :)
In your opinion, which key action is less noisy between the Roland FP-30X one and the Kawai ES120 one? Thank you for all your fantastic videos!
Hi! Brent here! While the RHC and PHA4 are both excellent actions that offer different feels, the updated RHC action of the ES120 is objectively quieter. This is partially due to the fact that it is a lighter action/key stick, which means less resultant mechanical noise. The new RHC action in the ES120 also has extra cushioning, which further reduces mechanical key noise.
at 00:27 it labels ES110 but he's playing the ES120
Thanks for catching that! Our apologies for the mixup! :)
What external speakers do you recommend ? Studio monitors ? Can you do a review of digital piano external speakers? Stew is a beast.
Hi Chris! Brent from Merriam Music here! Thanks for taking the time to check out our video!
In terms of external speakers, my suggestion would really depend on the context in which you're using the piano and speaker combo in. If you are using the external speakers for gigging situations, a keyboard amplifier or PA setup (depending on the size of venue) would likely be the best solution.
If you're using the external speakers for home practice and personal use, mid to high end studio monitors can do a very solid job at representing the piano sounds from your instrument's tone engine.
On that note, an overview video on studio monitors and amplifiers is on our list of topics to cover in the near future. Thanks again and Happy New Year! :)
Hi Stu! Loved this review. I'm about to start my journey towards learning how to play the piano, and I'm planning to buy the Kawai ES120. Any insights on where to start?
Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! Thanks so much for tuning in and for your kind words! The ES120 is a fantastic piano and would serve as a wonderful starting point for your piano journey. In terms of where to begin, I would personally recommend trying to find a reputable teacher to work with that aligns with your goals. While there are a lot of helpful TH-cam video tutorials and apps out there, in my opinion, nothing compares to the experience of studying with a teacher one-on-one. They will custom tailor lesson plans and repertoire selections to your specific goals, which makes the process far more engaging and enjoyable in the long run. :)
So I bought the ES120 after watching Stu's comparison vs the Roland FP 30X and on that video the Kawai ES120 sounded warmer and nicer to me. Stu mentioned that there was a noticeable difference to him regarding the key action being improved as well as cushioning on the bottom of the key bed and quieter keys. If that is true and the ES120 is in any way an improvement on key action and feel, I would hate to ever experience the ES110.
The Kawai ES120 was the absolute worst digital piano experience I have ever had. The keys made unpleasant thuds when the keys were pressed down and made a springy type noise on the way up. It reminded me of a diving board type sound. I hated it. It also felt unpleasant to my fingers when playing as the thud for each and every key was loud and obnoxious plus the keys barely felt weighted to me at all. Surprisingly the tones or sounds in person were not like what I had heard on the videos here or on other TH-cam video channels. I was not happy with the sounds at all. We have a Donner DEP 20 as a house piano that is much more pleasing to my ears and fingers than the Kawai. It also felt noticeably more weighted than the Kawai.
I returned the Kawai after 2 days trying to get used to it, back to my local music store, and checked out the pianos that they had on the display floor. The Yamaha P125a had nice feeling action as did the Casio 1100 and the 3100. But I knew that nothing was going to satisfy me more than the PHA4 action of the Roland FP 30X. As the FP60X was no longer in my budget without the significant 15% off Black Friday discount. Luckily the FP 30X was on sale for $699 US with an additional $70 off for an in-store holiday discount. So I bought the FP 30X for $630 US and have been super happy as it is everything I need and want in a digital piano. It checks all the boxes for me and the tones and voices are just perfect. I won't ever go near a Kawai digital piano again.
Hi there! Brent from Merriam Music here! I am sorry to hear you did not enjoy the experience of the Kawai ES120. Of course, tone and touch preferences come down to the tastes and playing style of the player. The ES120 is certainly much more solid feeling and has substantially less key noise in comparison to the ES110. However, even the more solid feeling action of the ES120 is going to feel substantially lighter than the PHA4 action. I am a huge fan of both the ES120 and FP30X, but, when it comes to action, I tend to agree with you in that the FP30X has a superior touch that I feel more connected to. However, I have seen many players in our showrooms prefer the lighter touch and absence of escapement on models like the ES120 and PXS1100. Thanks for tuning in and enjoy your new Roland FP30X! :)
@@jose.austria Actually in the last 2 months that I have been in the market for a digital piano, I have watched every video here on this channel regarding every Roland, Kawai, Casio, and Yamaha digital piano made since the beginning of 2021. So I have actually watched and rewatched the same videos multiple times to the point of even memorizing some of the things Stu says and I am very familiar with his understandable preference of the Roland PHA4 action and it’s escapement capability. I have even mentioned that myself in my comments on other videos on this channel. By the way Stu actually says Roland’s action is hard to beat among digital pianos under $2000.00.
I know this is pushing it, but I recently visited a Kawai/Yamaha acoustic piano dealer which also have high-end Yamaha digital pianos. The only thing there that felt as having an action like an acoustic piano was the $15,000 AvantGrand N2. Even the NU1X and the $10,000 Clavinova CLP-795GP didn't feel like an acoustic action. I know that's extreme because the N2 actually has a real acoustic grand piano action, so obviously it must feel like one. But even the NU1X, which has a real upright piano action, feels a bit strange when compared to a Yamaha b2, for example. And the Roland PHA-4 is not even comparable to a real acoustic action. Nothing else feels like an acoustic piano action. Not the PHA-4, not the PHA-50, none of those Kawai wooden actions, not the GrandTouch action in Clavinovas either... they all fall short of authentic. Strangely, when I play real Kawai and Yamaha acoustic pianos, I always forget the feel of the action. I think it is because the action and the sound become one at the same time in normal pianos, you can't talk about the action in a real piano without mentioning its sound. But now that I say that... I played a Yamaha U1 with the silent system about 4 days ago and I lost my chance to experience how the action really feels without the sound (I didn't think about it at that moment). I did turned off the AvantGrand N2 and NU1X and played the action alone though... maybe I should go back and check the U1 with the silent system again and compare it with a high-end Clavinova, although I already did that in a way with the N2, and it's not the same feel. But honestly, nothing really feels like an acoustic piano action... I am no piano action expert, but there is something I felt in the N2 that made it real and wasn't like the other stuff on the market... once again, I know it's kind of ridiculous to say it because the N2 does have a real acoustic grand piano action... but it is somehow detectable. I did play the Kawai NV10 once, but I don't remember much about it, other than it sounded like a Yamaha AvantGrand (that was when the NV10 came out). I owned the Roland RP401R with the PHA-4 before, and I think that action is too bouncy... it has a weird travel feel in general. And the PHA-50 is overly cushioned. I don't know how to articulate it, but that's not how an acoustic piano action feels, in my opinion. At least, not what I experience when I play new Yamaha and Kawai acoustic pianos. It is difficult to make direct comparisons with cheaper models like the P-125, ES120 and FP-30X because acoustic piano dealers generally focus only on the high-end digital pianos, so you don't really see those basic models in piano stores... but from memory, I think there is quite a difference in feel.
You can't just say all Kawai digitals are bad just by trying the ES120. It is their base model digital piano, and it is not their best efforts on making a digital piano🎹🎶
@@Instrumental-Covers some times people forget just how pricey acoustic pianos are which is why you can't expect a cheap digital piano to feel, and sound like an acoustic piano or even a high end digital. I hope you don't take my reply the rong way. I just wrote this because people often expect so much from cheap digitals that they forget acoustic pianos cost way more than something like a Roland FP10. I agree with you that nothing can beat a true acoustic piano. I'll never forget the time I tried a Yamaha C5X it was such an amazing experience to be inspired to play the pieces that I find some times challenging to play on my ES110🎹🎶
Happy New Year.
Happy New Year to you too! :)
Wow they don't include the pedal? The one included with the es110 is so good.
Great video.
Thank you! The ES120 still comes with a sustain, but it is a simpler square plastic sustain pedal. The F10H pedal that came with the ES110 is available separately as an upgrade for the ES120. :)
Great review - as always :) So I really really like bright sounding piano. Does that mean the 110 is the better choice for me ?
Thanks so much! There are some slight differences in tone, so it very well could be that you resonate more with the ES110. :)
@@MerriamPianos Thank you for taking the time to respond. Much appreciated.
Sir, in your vast experience and knowledge, which piano do you recommend among these 3? Kawai Es120 / Casio Px 770 or Roland Fp 30x? I only want good action, dinamic and warm sound to Only play classical. Thank you-
Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! While it comes down to one's musical preference, I would personally suggest the Kawai ES120 if you're seeking a warm sound that is appropriate for solo classical piano repertoire. It should be noted that the FP30X has a heavier and slightly more authentic feeling action (at least in my opinion). But, given what you're seeking, the ES120 would be the sweet spot in terms of tone and touch.
@@MerriamPianos Thank you so much, Brent. You guys have the best piano channel in the World! Cheers from Argentina
Kawai Es 120, casio px-160, yamaha p-45, yamaha p-125 or roland fp 10?
For me, the ES120 and FP10 would be my top choices, but for different reasons. I think the ES120 offers the most realistic piano sounds, whereas the FP10 offers the most realistic action. It will ultimately come down to what you prioritize more. But, this is a very subjective matter of course.
Awesome comparison! But I have a question. As a beginner in the piano world, I am wondering if I should directly go with the triple padel stand or if that would be overkill. Maybe this is the wrong forum to ask, but what are the benefits of the three pedals against the single one? I am a bit overwhelmed and don't want to make the wrong choice.
Edit: During my research I also found the Kawai KDP-120. How does that compare to the Kawai ES-120? Any recommendations?
Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! The triple pedal system is not essential if you are just starting out. The una corda and sostenuto pedals will eventually be used (especially if you are playing classical repertoire), but that is something you can always add down the road. However, if you are looking for longevity, its not a bad investment off the hop. The KDP120 is a different offering than the ES120 in a number of ways. Firstly, it is a console design opposed to a portable design. It has a superior action in the RHC II touch as well as a more powerful speaker system. At the end of the day, the choice comes down to the player and their preferences. My suggestion would be to test both pianos out to see if you notice a substantial different with the KDP120. Thanks and hope this helps! :)
left pedal started leslie effect right side pedal no.
@Merriam Music thanks for the reply. I did injoy the video. I would like to know if the ES120 has improved build quality compared to the ES110?🎹🎶
That's a good point. My 2 cents worth is that the 110 felt like it would fall apart with that loose wobbly action. (I'm not saying that they do fall apart) From what Stu is saying here, we might guess that the action will hold together better on the 120, and not suddenly get very loose.
Have you had a bad experience with the ES110? As we know, any lightweight piano with few metal panels is going to be more vulnerable to destructive accidents say than the tougher stage pianos, so I carry my plasticky P-255 to my little gigs like it's made of glass. So far, it's been a brilliant instrument, and keeps functioning flawlessly.
PS I had a great NYE gig without a piano, playing other instruments in a duo format. It was so nice, not having to set up a piano and all the accessories in a jam-packed restaurant (the stress gets ridiculous) but I did miss it.
Hi there! Brent from Merriam Music here! From my own personal experiences with the two models, I would say that the action and control interface feel a lot more robust and solid on the ES120 in comparison to its predecessor.
@@Zoco101 the problem is not so much with the action, but the build quality of the case because over time the top just above the keys becomes loose, and makes a clunking sound when pressing the keys. Over time this worsens to the point where the music rest starts to shake, and makes it's own sound. I think it's because the plastic case has some flex to it so even if it was fixed the problem might come back again. Actually I just had it fixed because it was attact by ants, and the first key that efected was the A above middel C🎹🎶
@@MERCEDES-BENZS600GUARD_V12 Gracious! Well, all the more reason for Kawai to replace it! I see that Merriam has just confirmed an improvement on these things you mention. So now maybe we can recommend Kawai's entry level piano.
@@Zoco101 I've always recomended the ES110 it's just that like the W211 E Class it ain't perfect🎹🎶
Hi how does px 160 casio compare to es 120? We have the cn29 at home but we need another one that will be portable ti play at school. Till now the cassio px 160 was ok for playing in the class but since we had the cn29 at home my son don't like to play the cassio at school at all. We wonder if the es120 can be more satisfying to play in school than the old cassio px 160
Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! The PX160's action is going to be substantially lighter feeling than the CN29. The ES120 is ultimately going to be in the middle of those two actions. It is a bit more solid feeling, but unlike the CN29, it does not have escapement. If you would like to optimize the consistency with the CN29 feel, I would recommend the Kawai ES920 as it uses the same action as the CN29 (RHIII). Alternatively, an FP30X's PHA4 action will be a bit more similar to the CN29 and be at a more comparable price point to the ES120. Thanks and hope this helps! :)
I have a Yamaha P-105 and am returning to my piano studies…would the 110 or 120 be a significant upgrade in action or tone?
Hi! Brent here! While it comes down to a matter of subjectivity, in my opinion, the ES120 would be an excellent upgrade to start tackling your piano studies again. :)
@@MerriamPianos Thanks for responding.
I think the ES110 sounds much better. The ES120 seems to have a thin/bright reverberation added to the default sound, you can replicate this by increasing the reverb on the ES110. It is always better to have a default sound with no reverb and then add to it rather than have too much reverb which cannot be backed off. As for the higher notes sounding very slightly sharp on the ES110 this is due to the default temperament ie. set to equal. Setting the ES110 to meantone temperament would eliminate this effect. When comparing updated models you need to understand the manufacturer can simply alter the default settings very slightly, this provides a different sound in the new model but with a few setting tweaks/changes the older model can sound exactly the same, something a reviewer should be mindful of. I can edit my Korg PA 300 grand piano sound to produce piano sounds exactly the same as my Digital Kawai's concert grand. I do think your reviews are some of the best on TH-cam but deeper analysis when comparing sounds in instruments would assist in better understanding of what sounds you can achieve.
Hi there! Brent from Merriam Music here! Thanks for the kind words about our reviews and for taking the time to write-in. As Stu digs into in this video, one of the primary differences/updates between the ES110 and ES120 is the reverb engine. While the update was undoubtedly a result of Kawai's RND team feeling like it was an improvement upon the predecessor, when it comes to tonal/sonic preferences, it is a matter of subjectivity and preference of course and each player will have their own thoughts and feels on the matter.
Also, given Stu's immense experience with digital and acoustic pianos, he is also extremely well-versed with emulating piano sounds through setting tweaks. However, most of the time when it comes to this style of comparison video, our videos are centred around the default piano sounds and the updates/changes the manufacturer has made to the model. On that note, we appreciate the feedback immensely and I will certainly pass it along to our production team. Tackling the capabilities and tonal range of the tone engines and doing a test to see how close the pianos sounds can be replicated by each model would be a fun thing to explore!
Thanks again for supporting the channel and writing in! We appreciate it. Happy New Year! :)
i dont get it, is it really worth it to add 200 dollars more for the es-120 im not sure is there a better piano for 800 dollars on the market if yes please tell me.
The ES110 is an excellent value given its price point! However, the ES120 has some meaningful updates, namely the action, which feels far more solid and offers a greater sense of connection to the instrument.
Thank you!
When CA901 review btw? :)
You're very welcome! We just received our first shipment of the new CA901 model, so you can expect some review and comparison videos coming your way shortly! ;)
@@MerriamPianos wow! ty!
I have a totally nerdy question but do you know if it’s possible to connect the Kawai usb out to another midi capable keyboard via the second keyboards usb port?
As in usb to usb?
I’m wondering because I’d been hoping that I might be able to use the Kawai to control other keyboards directly? Kind of hoping it could be a part time midi controller
So annoying they left out the 5 pin midi, the 520 and 920 still have 5 pin as well as usb out 😭
Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! Thanks for the question. While I have not tried this myself, in theory, I believe it should work just fine. If it didn't work, you could also get a USB to MIDI converter or some type of USB/MIDI bus that would do the job. Unfortunately, most companies are moving away from 5-pin MIDI ports in favour of Bluetooth MIDI and USB MIDI.
Thank you 🙏
Hi stu, could you please doing a review for a NUX npk 10? Thank you
Hi there! Brent from Merriam Music here! We have had a few requests to cover this model in an upcoming review. We have added it to the list and will do our best to tackle it in the future. Thanks for the suggestion! :)
Like your video. Very helpful. FP30x seems not bad after watching your review. But it's slightly expensive for me as I
m going to buy for my 8yo daugher who is a beginner. Any recommendation for digital piano under $400/500?
Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! The FP30X is a great piano that offer a lot of longevity if your budget allows for the investment. With that said, the Roland FP10 is a more affordable alternative. Casio is another place to look for excellent cost-to-value ratio. The Casio CDPS350 or CDPS360 packs a lot of value. Thanks and hope this helps! :)
@@MerriamPianos TQ very much, will take a look on those :)
i have the kawai es110! it's still super amazing!
Absolutely! It is an excellent portable digital piano. The inclusion of the F10H is also a nice perk with the ES110! :)
i'm not expecting that es120 sounds way better than es110. i won't call this a replacement since they have price gap.
The ES110 will eventually be fully phased out as far as I know. The ES120 is in fact intended to be a replacement to the ES110 from my understanding. The price drop to the ES110 was a result of the release of the ES120. Thanks so much for tuning in and happy playing! :)
Not to mention it's not a small price gap. This just looks like a price update rather than a generational replacement
I don't think you can really compare the price of an ES110 released 5 years ago to the price of an ES120 released just a few months ago. _Quite a lot_ has happened to the global economy and the way that goods and services are bought and sold in those 5 years.
Haven't heard the video yet, however I did hear these pianos in seperate videos. They sound some what the same spite of using different piano samples n fat the S K EX sample and the EX sample sound almost the same and I don't know if this is because these are just very low qquality samples or what🎹🎶
There is no a massive difference in terms of the samples themselves as Stu outlines in this video. However, the sonic experience is rather different due to other factors such as the speaker EQ. We hope you enjoy the video when you get a chance to watch it! :)
@@MerriamPianos I actually think it is the opposite. There is quite a difference in the samples, which is translated to the speaker output. The speakers are the same 12 cm drivers. I do hear a good difference between the SK-EX and the EX.
@@Instrumental-Covers perhaps there is a difference because of the speakers. For me now after listening to the video although I do hear some difference I can't help feeling the impression that they sound the same almost, but to some extent of corss🎹🎶
@@Instrumental-Covers if anything I'd like to know if the ES120 has improved build quality because as you know I have an ES110, and though I'm not interested on geting an ES120 the build quality I think could be improved upon by the ES120. The problem I noticed, and I think I already told you about this before is after a serten amount of use the top just above the keys gets loose and makes a clunking sound when you press the keys. Over time this worsens to the point where the music rest starts to shake, and makes it's own sound. If my keyboard wasn't attact by ants I wouldn't have it fixed haha🎹🎶
@@MERCEDES-BENZS600GUARD_V12 Hi, Happy New Year! May I ask what speakers or headphones you use? The reason I ask is because not all speakers or headphones are equally revealing. When I want to pay attention to the sound, I use a pair of Audio Technica studio monitors. Other speakers may not differentiate the sound much. 🎵🎵
Es120 is $300 more expensive, is it worth?
That is a decision that every player will have to make for themselves of course. It depends on the context of use and personal tastes of the player. For instance, the ES120 has a far quieter keyboard due to he extra cushioning on the updated RHC action. It also has a more solid feeling action, whereas there is a bit more key bounce to the ES110. Different players gravitate towards different feels ultimately.
More resonance ES120
For sure! There are definitely some aspects of the tone that have been refined and optimized. :)
I'd like a comparison between the Casio px-s1100 and the es120. They're about the same price.
Thanks for the suggestion! That would certainly make for an excellent review. It is on our list of comparisons to tackle in the future. We'll do our best to get to it as soon as possible. :)
ES120 vs KDP75？
Hi there! While we typically compare pianos from the same category (e.g. portable vs portable or console vs console, etc.), I will certainly add it to the list of potential comparisons to tackle in the future. Thanks for the suggestion! :)
Grazie Stu, il miglioramento è evidente anche qui su TH-cam. L'Es110 ha acuti troppo brillanti e medi in evidenza. L' es120 è più equilibrato. Quello che colpisce subito è la silenziosità dei tasti. Rendendola una delle più silenziose sul mercato e questo non è poco se suoni a basso volume o in cuffia. Ti propongo due confronti Kawai Es120 Vs. Kawai Es520 e Kawai es120 Vs. Yamaha p125a (a proposito che differenze ci sono con il precedente modello Yamaha p125? A me sembrano uguali!!) Felice di ritrovarti, un caro saluto dall'Italia! . Buon anno in musica. Ciao.
For better or for worse, Kawai has 4 different SK-EX tone generators... and they don't sound the same. I recently played a Kawai KDP75, a CN29, and a CA49 side by side. I used studio headphones only. The KDP75, which has the same tone generator as the ES120 (SK-EX with Harmonic Imaging), sounded unrefined compared to the CN29 and CA49. Kawai says that the SK-EX Progressive Harmonic Imaging (CN29/CA49) uses a larger tonal “database” than regular Harmonic Imaging to provide greater tonal details throughout the dynamic range... and they really mean what they say. I think they should stop using the Harmonic Imaging and go directly to the PHI, because you lose quite an amount of detail in their lower tone generator.
But what surprises me the most is how bright the ES120 sounds. For a company that has a reputation of having a "warm" sound profile, this is the complete opposite: my Yamaha DGX-670 sounds much warmer than the ES120. I am pumping right now the ES120 piano sound through my studio headphones and playing along the DGX-670, and the "CFX" default sample is way warmer. In fact, to compete with the level of brightness the ES120 has, I have to use the "Bright Piano" patch.. and still cannot match the Kawai brightness! The ES110 is in another level of brightness: I have to use the "Rock Piano" patch on my DGX-670 to generate that sound profile. That's how bright these Kawai digital pianos are.
The idea that "Kawai is warm" loosely applies to real pianos, and only by a little bit, compared to Yamaha current offers on the market. I recently played several Kawai and Yamaha acoustic pianos in a piano store, and you hear a slightly brighter tone in the Yamahas... so maybe that's where the reputation comes from.... but in digital pianos at this price point? Absolutely no way these instruments can be labeled as "warm".
There is definitely varying degrees of detail and nuance between Kawai's various tone engines and SKEX samples. I don't think many people would argue that notion. I definitely agree that the Progressive Harmonic Imaging tone engine is a meaningful step up from its little brother, the Harmonic Imaging tone engine. With that said, it is all relative to the associated price points of course. One should expect to receive a higher degree of quality and fidelity when making a larger investment into a portable digital piano.
Regarding the tonal profile of Kawai and Yamaha digital pianos, I definitely think some of the perception within the piano community comes from the tonal contrasts between their respective acoustic pianos. However, with that said, in my personal experiences, when comparing a Kawai ES110/ES120 against a Yamaha P45/P125 side-by-side, I personally find the entry-level P series instruments to be quite brittle and tinny sounding. Of course, as we already know, this is a very subjective experience. One could even argue that the connotations of the words "bright" and "warm" themselves are subjective.
At the end of the day, we will all have our own personal reasons as to why we gravitate towards one instrument over another. Thankfully, we live in an age where is a large selection of instruments on the market to choose between! :)
@@MerriamPianos I would personally skip both the P-45/125 and Kawai ES110/120 and choose the DGX-670. Unless you plan to move the digital pianos a lot (gigging, etc), I see no reason to choose such stripped down instruments (P-45/125/ES110/120). The DGX-670 is such a feature-rich instrument that makes the entry-level Kawai and Yamaha offers look bad. You get several piano patches with resonance modeling, along with over 600 high quality tones, almost 300 full featured auto-accompaniment styles with 4 main variations, one of the most powerful speaker systems available in any portable digital piano at any price point, a beautiful large color screen, an audio interface, virtually unlimited ability to save presets... it is just so much you get that, honestly, you really must be in dire need of the portability of the entry-level offers by Yamaha and Kawai to choose the ES120 or P-125a. You objectively get so much more from the DGX-670, but in the end people will choose what they like, of course :)
@@YvesPecqueur He he, good point. 🙂🙂But I still think the DGX-670 is objectively a better choice, even in your situation: better samples, better speaker system, easier to navigate with its large color screen (unless you want to dive into its detailed menus). There is nothing complicated in the DGX-670 to access its basic functionality, it has a very simple operation: turn it on and play. There is something called "Piano Room", with beautiful pictures of what you are doing (if you care about changing anything at all). You can always ignore the extra functionality and use it in a basic manner. You get an audio interface you don't get in the ES120, which is quite useful if you want to record yourself. Unless you plan to move the instrument constantly (very unlikely, unless you gig a lot), once you position it inside your home, it will be there for you to play without hurting yourself 😁For people who plan to play at home most of the time, the DGX-670 is a more comprehensive offer than the stripped-down ES120 or P-125.
@@Instrumental-Covers I think it depends on where it's priced. In other countries the DGX670 is over 1,100 dollars wile the ES110, ES120, P125, and P45 are priced more or less under 950 dollars. Not everyone has the budget to spend that high🎹🎶
@@MERCEDES-BENZS600GUARD_V12 Mmmm.. interesting. Here in the US the DGX-670 is $50 cheaper than the ES120. So, you get 10 times more features while paying less. That's why I don't see the point of buying an ES120 over the DGX-670 here in the US. 🎵🎵
Almost the same
They're quite similar sonically, but the ES120's action is improved and provides a more solid feel.
¾ tin
Thanks for tuning in! :)
IM SORRY TO SAY BUT
ES 110 SOUND IS BETTER THAN ES120..
ES 110 SOUND IS MORE CRISP BUT SOFT AND PLEASANT IN THE EARS..
It is a matter of personal preference of course! There are many players that prefer the ES110's default sound over the ES120's. With that said, keep in mind that there are various parameters that can be adjusted to custom tailor the sound to your preference. :)
Removed the 5-pin DIN MIDI port. No longer including the solid full-size damper pedal. Boo Kawai. Bad, Bad Kawai.
Aside from workstation and stage pianos, virtually all piano manufacturers are moving away from 5-pin MIDI connectors these days. The focus is on Bluetooth MIDI and USB connectivity. It seems like those connectors will be phased out more as time progresses.
The downgraded pedal is extremely disappointing, but 5-pin DIN ports are outdated (though, to be fair, so are the USB-B ports most USB-using electronic instruments use - switch to USB-C already, it's about to become a 10-year-old standard). The slowness of progress in certain aspects and sectors of the tech world is frustrating, if you ask me.
Lifoelikieiiieididie
Thanks for tuning in!
I think it should be mentioned that the Bluetooth features and Kawai Bluetooth software only works with Apple devices. I wrote the review below in 2020 on the Google Play Kawai PianoRemote app page. I just tried the app again today with my late model Samsung Android phone. The app displayed all jumbled, and with no way to exit. I still like my ES110, but will not consider an upgrade until Kawai makes working software options.
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Kawai makes great pianos, but they are really behind the times in software. I was excited to see Kawai finally make an app for Android. Sadly, this app is compatible with ONLY 3 of Kawai's CA models in their current lineup of.....18 digital pianos! I just got a brand new ES110. Love the sound and action. Impossible to use the functions without going to the manual, flipping to the table of contents, then finding the function specific page, and figuring out which combination of buttons and piano keys to press. After, there is no way to know the function is activated until you use it. I was hoping this app was the answer. Guess not. I get cutting out the screen and extra buttons to save cost and reduce complexity, so make up for it by putting those functions in an App. We all already carry a screen with us, so use it for YOUR cost cutting and OUR ease of use. Give us an app that works on more than 3 of the models you sell. One of the selling point of the ES110 was it's Bluetooth, but currently, Kawai apps for it only work on iOS. So the one modern feature in my Kawai product is useless. The market has changed, making this kind of software only for iOS and Mac is no longer viable or acceptable.
Thanks for tuning in! Unfortunately, app compatibility with certain operating system can be problematic. With that said, hopefully, all manufacturers get in the habit of releasing apps that are universally accessible.
Bluetooth MIDI works fine on the iOS, macOS, and Android devices that I've tried. Windows also seems to be possible using a workaround involving third party apps. I also didn't have any problems connecting to an ES120 using the PianoRemote app running on my Sony Xperia phone, and could exit the app using the double-tap task switcher (swipe up) in Android OS.