James -- just wanted to say thanks for your videos. I was in the market for a sub $1000 88 key MIDI controller and your side-by-side videos really helped steer me to seek out an ES110 to try. As soon as I sat down at it, I knew this was the winner! The unit strikes a fantastic balance of keyboard action, weight, tone quality and price. It definitely checked off all the big "must haves".
Wow, I am loving the sound of that ES8! Saving up to get my first digital piano later this year and definitely getting the ES-110. My dad upgraded to an ES-100 a few years ago from having used a Clavinova from the late eighties with only 32 note polyphony! Loved the action on the ES-100, and I can always connect the ES-110 to Pianoteq 7 for some more tonal variety and greater dynamic control. Love your videos and I very much appreciate your unbiased analytical style. Thanks for all you do!
Most stores only sell YAMAHA, Casio, and Roland. Not sure if it's really "overhyped" or that's simply their only options. Everyone says not to buy an instrument you can't test yourself so that rules out most online stores for people - especially when even with good return policies you still have to pay a lot for shipping. Kawai is probably the least widespread of the big names. Nord is at least easy to find in higher end stores but the only place selling Kawai in my entire state only sells cabinet pianos, not stage.
i was forced to buy the es110 because the yamaha p125 wasn't available and man now i am glad i got the es110 (my friend got the p125 and the kawai sounds more realistic and easier to play)
I am Impressed with this video - it shows what additional performance and features one gets by going from a lower-priced piano to a higher-priced model, and vice versa. However, I am hankering for more videos in which you compare competing models from different companies. For example, I would love to see the following comparison - Kawai CA79 vs. Roland LX708 vs Yamaha CLP685.
I'm shopping for either an ES110 or a ES8. Scouring TH-cam for comparisons for weeks. Then you play Clair DeLune (spelling?). How do you keep it together playing such a beautiful, cinematic, heart wrenching song. Great job. It was my Mom's favorite.
Another great video. Keep them coming...i might take piano lessons after watching these videos always been interested had casio keyboards when i was way younger(1st was pt80).
I love your reviews, because you're so thorough and impartial. I'm currently considering buying either a Kawai ES8 or a Yamaha P515. Of course, I've watched your reviews of those two, and I'm now eagerly awaiting the direct comparison. I'd go to the nearest store and compare them to my limited ability (I last played a piano a few decades ago), but that would be about a 600-mile round trip in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic. (I'll leave to your imagination how one could live in the USA and be that far away from the nearest piano store, but it's true.) Thanks for all your work and dedication!
@@ThePianoforever Thanks for the quick reply! I'm excited. I can't really imagine what goes into creating one of these reviews. It's easy to think it only takes 48 minutes to create a 48-minute video. I hope you're seated and don't fall out of your chair laughing, when you read that. :-) Obviously, you have to put a lot of thought into all the aspects, qualities, and features of the keyboards you're comparing and how you're going to demonstrate and explain these, and in what order to create a coherent comparison. I'm sure the ES8 vs. P515 comparison will be very interesting! Btw, I also like your videos on the history of pianos and manufacturing--the things I didn't know about pianos I could never afford!
@@ThePianoforever I love your reviews and have actually been holding off on buying my next digital piano while I wait for this review. I've been checking your channel daily to see if it's up. Don't know how much longer I can wait :)
So based on the test done at 22:15 the ES110 doesn't have as many grades of volume in the keys compared to the ES8. Is that because the sensors aren't detecting the variations in speed/pressure?
I like the ES110's drum loops. Fun for a quick and dirty jam. I heard that it's not possible to turn off the Speaker EQ on the ES8? Correct me if I'm wrong on that, but it is certainly possible on the ES110 which is ESSENTIAL for the best sound quality via Line Outputs.
PLeeeeeease... do a comparison of the MP7/ES8 to the Nord Grand. Although you found the Nord Stage 3 a disappointment, many of us are wondering if the Kawai action along with Nord's excellent library will combine for the best of both worlds.
I currently have an ES110 and have been given the opportunity to purchase a second hand ES8 for £800. Is it worth the upgrade for that price? Action and touch is perhaps the most important element as the sounds on the ES110 are perfectly adequate in my view...
I adjusted the touch curve to heavy and the let of is felt but not heard and it seems to fix the let of problem. But you feel it when playing softly. Setting the touch curve to light might be better. The wiggly keys cannot be fixed. You right it sux. I would buy the yamaha
Thank you for this comparison. I really like the church organ sounds of the ES 8. Perhaps the sounds are subjective. Do either function as a midi input. Also do either have an out put to go to an amp?
Another great comparison. Ohhh difficult to say which one is better. The total sound of the se8 sounds deeper to me. Maybe because of the speakers? Maybe the sounds itself is better? Don’t know but a lot off the sounds are the same. And the Se-8 got more sounds that’s true. But that’s logic for that price. So, although the piano sound of the se-8 is really beautiful I still like the se-110. I got the impression that you really get more for the money you pay with the Se-110. I notice btw that the section of the interface in the video is twice. Funny. That’s for the comparison. I got a question besides this. Do you ever thought about a midi-keyboard? I know that you need to use either a laptop/computer or a midi device to let it sound but I had the opportunity to play with the studiologic sl-88 studio. That got a weighted action and plays like nothing else. I almost had the feeling I was playing a grand piano. So I want to mention it to you because you’re into keyboards. Thank you for sharing and playing!
I know that you've probably heard this a million times already but, do you plan on making a video/releasing the sheets to buy to your treble and bass piece?
I changed from the ES7 to the ES8, because I am a critical pianist, and have from time to time gigs, and want the the best, the ES8 i slightly better in the piano sounds, fuller. With a large gap in price the ES7 is a great piano. greetings from the Netherlands.
*When you leave the keys on the ES8, it looks like forever to return to the up position. Yamaha pianos keys respond instantly for high speed and repetition. Is it sluggish* ?
@@ThePianoforever I own a Yamaha P140, but I feel it´s action terrible. It needs a very weight to begin to move down, but once they begin to move, it goes down fastly. It´s stiff. My arms hurt. I had a Roland A90 and I could "fly" in fast passages, playing over the escapement. It was very easy to play fast passages. Now, this Yamaha P140 makes me lazy. When I think about playing something hard and fast, I change the idea, because I know it would hurt my arms. I like to play very smooth, very gentle, I have played some Steinway pianos and many of them are very easy to play, like those from the pianist Liberace. He could "fly" on the keyboard without effort. Perhaps I need an MP-11.
Not all Yamaha keyboards are created equal. I have not played a P140 before but I can attest to the excellence of both the P515 and the MP11SE, which is a step or two above the P515. Some Steinways (especially new ones) have a very light action, which makes performing on them very easy, but in my opinion a light action is detrimental to practice unless it is pre-performance warmup.
@@ThePianoforever It´s good to practice on heavy piano actions, then, to perform in very light actions, you literally "fly" over the keyboard without effort. Octaves in two hands fast passages become easy to play. Concert pianos are very light and delicious to play, and you feel the escapement and a powerful dynamics and control, nothing is stiff.
@@ThePianoforever thank you for the answer James. I just can't compromise, so until I can buy a grand it'll be the mp11se. Cheers and greetings from Bruges!
Contrary to popular belief, I do not have any affiliation with any digital piano manufacturers and therefore won't be able to get early access to prototypes or pre-relases. I will, however, buy an ES9 (if such a thing does come out as rumored) and review it when the product is available.
Hello, James👋 once again a very interesting settlement. I find the Kawai 110 is the sound more interesting and better processed piano compared to the Roland FP30. The ES8 is currently the most natural digital piano with MP11se. I would like to see a comparison of ES8 with a real Kawai SK Piano! 👍😎 What do you mean?
James -- just wanted to say thanks for your videos. I was in the market for a sub $1000 88 key MIDI controller and your side-by-side videos really helped steer me to seek out an ES110 to try. As soon as I sat down at it, I knew this was the winner! The unit strikes a fantastic balance of keyboard action, weight, tone quality and price. It definitely checked off all the big "must haves".
We would really like to see that showdown between the es8, p515 and the sv2s
Finally, the battle we've all been waiting for...
The battle we've all been waiting for is the es8 vs p515
Wow, I am loving the sound of that ES8! Saving up to get my first digital piano later this year and definitely getting the ES-110. My dad upgraded to an ES-100 a few years ago from having used a Clavinova from the late eighties with only 32 note polyphony! Loved the action on the ES-100, and I can always connect the ES-110 to Pianoteq 7 for some more tonal variety and greater dynamic control. Love your videos and I very much appreciate your unbiased analytical style. Thanks for all you do!
I love my ES110, thank you James for another great reviews. You're the best
The bass at 10:45 is absolutely stunning
I wish more people realized how top class these instruments are compared to the over hyped stuff from Roland and Casio D:
Most stores only sell YAMAHA, Casio, and Roland. Not sure if it's really "overhyped" or that's simply their only options. Everyone says not to buy an instrument you can't test yourself so that rules out most online stores for people - especially when even with good return policies you still have to pay a lot for shipping. Kawai is probably the least widespread of the big names. Nord is at least easy to find in higher end stores but the only place selling Kawai in my entire state only sells cabinet pianos, not stage.
i was forced to buy the es110 because the yamaha p125 wasn't available and man now i am glad i got the es110 (my friend got the p125 and the kawai sounds more realistic and easier to play)
I am Impressed with this video - it shows what additional performance and features one gets by going from a lower-priced piano to a higher-priced model, and vice versa. However, I am hankering for more videos in which you compare competing models from different companies. For example, I would love to see the following comparison - Kawai CA79 vs. Roland LX708 vs Yamaha CLP685.
For each price point, they both sound fantastic. Great, in depth demonstration, thanks!
love it how you had to hold back a smirk after that glissando - 28:56
Would love to see you:
Review midi keyboards
Review online piano courses
Love your content!
Somehow I was just thinking about how these two would compare and here it is! Keep up the good work!
I'm shopping for either an ES110 or a ES8. Scouring TH-cam for comparisons for weeks. Then you play Clair DeLune (spelling?). How do you keep it together playing such a beautiful, cinematic, heart wrenching song. Great job. It was my Mom's favorite.
Another great video. Keep them coming...i might take piano lessons after watching these videos always been interested had casio keyboards when i was way younger(1st was pt80).
I love your reviews, because you're so thorough and impartial. I'm currently considering buying either a Kawai ES8 or a Yamaha P515. Of course, I've watched your reviews of those two, and I'm now eagerly awaiting the direct comparison. I'd go to the nearest store and compare them to my limited ability (I last played a piano a few decades ago), but that would be about a 600-mile round trip in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic. (I'll leave to your imagination how one could live in the USA and be that far away from the nearest piano store, but it's true.) Thanks for all your work and dedication!
I have that review ( ES8 vs P515 ) in the works and it should be uploaded in a couple of weeks. I think you will find it a very interesting review.
@@ThePianoforever Thanks for the quick reply! I'm excited. I can't really imagine what goes into creating one of these reviews. It's easy to think it only takes 48 minutes to create a 48-minute video. I hope you're seated and don't fall out of your chair laughing, when you read that. :-) Obviously, you have to put a lot of thought into all the aspects, qualities, and features of the keyboards you're comparing and how you're going to demonstrate and explain these, and in what order to create a coherent comparison. I'm sure the ES8 vs. P515 comparison will be very interesting! Btw, I also like your videos on the history of pianos and manufacturing--the things I didn't know about pianos I could never afford!
The yamaha has an audio interface built in. That is practical
@@ThePianoforever I love your reviews and have actually been holding off on buying my next digital piano while I wait for this review. I've been checking your channel daily to see if it's up. Don't know how much longer I can wait :)
So based on the test done at 22:15 the ES110 doesn't have as many grades of volume in the keys compared to the ES8. Is that because the sensors aren't detecting the variations in speed/pressure?
I like the ES110's drum loops. Fun for a quick and dirty jam. I heard that it's not possible to turn off the Speaker EQ on the ES8? Correct me if I'm wrong on that, but it is certainly possible on the ES110 which is ESSENTIAL for the best sound quality via Line Outputs.
PLeeeeeease... do a comparison of the MP7/ES8 to the Nord Grand. Although you found the Nord Stage 3 a disappointment, many of us are wondering if the Kawai action along with Nord's excellent library will combine for the best of both worlds.
Kawai Es110 : 14:02 ; Kawai Es8: 13:55
Casop Cts1: *23:50* Kawai Es8: 14:10
Going to get one of these. I like the sounds in ES8
I have an es110 and it does not sound like that when I play. Must be a faulty one.. 🙄😂
if you're playing through the speakers then that's probably why, he records his through direct output so it sounds a lot better
@@lilyana0 he might be joking skills wise.
@@lilyana0 He's joking that he can't play like that
Which would you recommend for an advanced level student playing classical music?
I currently have an ES110 and have been given the opportunity to purchase a second hand ES8 for £800. Is it worth the upgrade for that price? Action and touch is perhaps the most important element as the sounds on the ES110 are perfectly adequate in my view...
Great stuff! U should do ES8 vs ES920
The ES8 is a great sounding keyboard and is nicely build and it has a nice feel but i still like the Yamaha P515 better.Good review.
Why you prefer the Yamaha p515
Do you think we’re DUE for a newer model ES110?
YES! Thank you for this.
apologies if this has been asked to death, but what is the tune at 17:13? thanks in advance!
Love metal stuff
Can you do a review on the Kawai MP7SE,wondering about the keys / noise ?
I adjusted the touch curve to heavy and the let of is felt but not heard and it seems to fix the let of problem. But you feel it when playing softly. Setting the touch curve to light might be better. The wiggly keys cannot be fixed. You right it sux. I would buy the yamaha
What Do you think about the New Es120? It comes unfortunately not with the sustainpedal F-10H but with a small plastik pedal 😐
Another suggested comparison would be Kawai ES8 vs Yamaha P515.
I can do that for you.
Really good reviews btw 😄
Thanks...Which song is at 17:12?
27:21 oh man that's the patch they use on the Super Mario World 64 main theme 🤗
James! Would you ever review the new Clavinova CVP 809 series digital piano? I would love to see that!
I own the es8 but wonder if the kawai midi keyboard and pianoteq was a better buy
Very good reviews. Can you compare the Korg C1 air.to Kswai ES8. THANKS AL
Great review and comparison! Could you please compare the Kawai ES8 and the Yamaha P515?
I will upload that one in a couple of weeks.
Great keyboards! I love the sounds... BTW, are you going to review any Dexibell, like the Dexibell VIVO H1? They look really cool... Thanks!
How about ES8 vs. P-515?
Coming soon, stay tuned.
Could you tell us which clavichord sound is best on which keyboard
Thank you for this comparison. I really like the church organ sounds of the ES 8. Perhaps the sounds are subjective. Do either function as a midi input. Also do either have an out put to go to an amp?
Both have the proper outputs for an amplifier, in addition to headphones which is always nice. Both also have a DIN MIDI input and output.
Could we Please get console digital piano reviews? Kawai kdp110 yamaha ydp s52 ?
Does the ES110 have many rhythms under Metronome?
Another great comparison. Ohhh difficult to say which one is better. The total sound of the se8 sounds deeper to me. Maybe because of the speakers? Maybe the sounds itself is better? Don’t know but a lot off the sounds are the same. And the Se-8 got more sounds that’s true. But that’s logic for that price. So, although the piano sound of the se-8 is really beautiful I still like the se-110. I got the impression that you really get more for the money you pay with the Se-110. I notice btw that the section of the interface in the video is twice. Funny. That’s for the comparison. I got a question besides this. Do you ever thought about a midi-keyboard? I know that you need to use either a laptop/computer or a midi device to let it sound but I had the opportunity to play with the studiologic sl-88 studio. That got a weighted action and plays like nothing else. I almost had the feeling I was playing a grand piano. So I want to mention it to you because you’re into keyboards. Thank you for sharing and playing!
I know that you've probably heard this a million times already but, do you plan on making a video/releasing the sheets to buy to your treble and bass piece?
I think that would be a fun thing to do once the piece is completed.
@@ThePianoforever if you're anything like most musicians I know, that will be in 20+ years LOL
I'm currently looking at a used ES7. How close is that that to the ES8 please?
I changed from the ES7 to the ES8, because I am a critical pianist, and have from time to time gigs, and want the the best, the ES8 i slightly better in the piano sounds, fuller. With a large gap in price the ES7 is a great piano. greetings from the Netherlands.
*When you leave the keys on the ES8, it looks like forever to return to the up position. Yamaha pianos keys respond instantly for high speed and repetition. Is it sluggish* ?
You are correct, Yamaha's action is very "snappy", in my words. It pops right back up and in my opinion is anything but sluggish.
@@ThePianoforever I own a Yamaha P140, but I feel it´s action terrible. It needs a very weight to begin to move down, but once they begin to move, it goes down fastly. It´s stiff. My arms hurt. I had a Roland A90 and I could "fly" in fast passages, playing over the escapement. It was very easy to play fast passages. Now, this Yamaha P140 makes me lazy. When I think about playing something hard and fast, I change the idea, because I know it would hurt my arms. I like to play very smooth, very gentle, I have played some Steinway pianos and many of them are very easy to play, like those from the pianist Liberace. He could "fly" on the keyboard without effort. Perhaps I need an MP-11.
Not all Yamaha keyboards are created equal. I have not played a P140 before but I can attest to the excellence of both the P515 and the MP11SE, which is a step or two above the P515. Some Steinways (especially new ones) have a very light action, which makes performing on them very easy, but in my opinion a light action is detrimental to practice unless it is pre-performance warmup.
@@ThePianoforever It´s good to practice on heavy piano actions, then, to perform in very light actions, you literally "fly" over the keyboard without effort. Octaves in two hands fast passages become easy to play. Concert pianos are very light and delicious to play, and you feel the escapement and a powerful dynamics and control, nothing is stiff.
Anyone know of a good place for New Yorkers to buy the ES110? Apparently many sellers are out of stock
Sweet water is a good place!
They're on backorder. So it could be a while before they become available.
does either work as a midi controller?
Es110 or p145 ?
how does the Kawai ES110 compare to the mp11SE? I am about to buy a mp11SE, is the huge difference in price justified?
If you have the funds the MP11se is the best stage piano on the market today when you are considering realistic piano action and sounds.
@@ThePianoforever thank you for the answer James. I just can't compromise, so until I can buy a grand it'll be the mp11se.
Cheers and greetings from Bruges!
I think the es110 has 100 drum rhythms whereas you stated it did not
I neeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeed to see you do an IN DEPTH review of mp7se! 48 minutes PLUSS! I NEEEEEEEEEEEEED IT!!!!
I will do that in the future. I've got a couple things in the works that I'll be getting to first, like a Crumar Seven, but the MP7SE is on the list.
@@ThePianoforever That is the best thing Ive heard since i peared into this world from my mothers womb on my first day!
I'm wondering why you compared these two when there's a $1200 Cdn price difference between the two?
To showcase what more money will bring to the table...
He told why in the beginning of the video
Save $1000 more for MP11ES.
ES8
Ah man... Why did i watch es8 for... Was pretty sure my budget was es110, now it has became es8
Get in contact with Kawai and see if you can an insight of their new ES8(9?). 😇👍☝️😉Liked!
Contrary to popular belief, I do not have any affiliation with any digital piano manufacturers and therefore won't be able to get early access to prototypes or pre-relases. I will, however, buy an ES9 (if such a thing does come out as rumored) and review it when the product is available.
@@ThePianoforever Sorry, not saying that you were connected to any piano company, but just to ask about. Thank you!
ES8 X P515
Coming soon!
I have to agree with Gilotopia: Yamaha P515 vs Kawaii ES8 head to head, same price range, 1,500 - 1,700 is the review I would most like to watch.
th-cam.com/video/XwaDOf568Ko/w-d-xo.html
Hello, James👋 once again a very interesting settlement. I find the Kawai 110 is the sound more interesting and better processed piano compared to the Roland FP30. The ES8 is currently the most natural digital piano with MP11se. I would like to see a comparison of ES8 with a real Kawai SK Piano! 👍😎 What do you mean?