Nice, we got two winners and I totally agree with you. I am not a beginner but not a pro either and because of the muscle problem I can’t play much anymore but if I see these two.... maybe on one day. Maybe if I can afford it. I like them both. What I also like is seeing you fiddling around. Playing is fun! Thank you for sharing and playing!
There is a way to modify the dynamic response of the P125; Modify the "Touch Sensitivity" by holding down the "piano" voice button and pressing D7 (Yamaha D6). That takes it off the default to allow more expressive playing. (see owner's manual p.17); (Cheat sheet group 2). Does that make a difference that brings it closer to the ES110, perhaps?
I'm a professional pianist and teacher, and chose the P-125 for a night time practice instrument or when I want to spare my neighbors a bit. I'm very happy with it, keeps up with pretty much any repertoire from Bach's French overture to Chopin's and Rachmaninov's concerti, to Scriabin and Ravel. I actually prefer its main piano sound over the Kawai which sounds less pleasing, more artificial and uneven to me (there's a certain point where dynamic richness becomes a negative, especially on a digital piano that will always have its limitations with the action). The P-125 or any other digital for that matter (I've tried a good portion of them, including the $4000+ ones) isn't replacing my U3 any time soon but it's still quite surprisingly VERY enjoyable to practice on and I'd highly recommend it for anyone regardless of skill level if they're looking for a cheap practice instrument.
@@aBachwardsfellow If you want that kind of thing, you should also press "piano" + the highest D (traditionally D4 but I think it's called D3 or D5 in the P125 manual) to set the response "harder". It's like moving the hammer row a bit closer to strings on an upright which is what I usually do with my acoustic pianos.
Thanks for your feedback as it surely helps others like me trying to make a decision and I’m about to purchase my P-125 , however do you think it plays classical music well? Since it’s my passion and is the P-45 still a good choice as i think there’re alot of features that i don’t need in the P-125 (it’s still affordable but idk if it’s worth it)
I’m a beginner and reading reviews I hear people complaining about clicking keys. Have you any experience of which brands are best in terms of lasting the test of time without this problem
thank you so much for your reviews! i used to play when i was younger and had a yamaha upright, but basically haven’t touched a piano in the last ~10 years. i somehow got it into my head to pick it back up and here we are! i was originally just going to go with the yamaha p45/71 after reading some articles, but after watching some reviews (mostly yours) i decided to invest just a little bit more in it. was going back and forth on the yamaha p125 vs kawai es110 for a while after watching this and was leaning towards the yamaha, but i actually went to a guitar center to try the p125 (and p45, but unfortunately they didn’t have kawai in stock). i actually didn’t love it and thought that it was a bit too heavy, so decided to take a chance and just order the kawai instead. tldr: i just got the kawai a few days ago, but it plays beautifully and is great for my needs. i’m sure the p125 is perfect for others too but from my initial experience i’m really happy with my decision. thanks again!!
Hi James, thank you for your enthusiastic, entertaining, and informative reviews of digital pianos! I've watched a few today, back-to-back, as I am looking for a beginner's digital piano for my daughter's 16th birthday present - but want it to be performance playable live or busking right from the start. She's gone through some grades on the flute and has expressed an interest in piano now and I'm delighted as I played when younger and should surely start again! Among others, I've heard you talk about the Roland FP-30, the Kawai ES110, and the Yamaha P125. Over the last few days, I watched a few other people's reviews and ended up just confused. Today, I've watched your individual reviews and the head-to-head comparisons and have come to a clear conclusion. I'm going to plump for the Yamaha P125 for a few individual reasons. As you say, the Kawai is an excellent option for many, many reasons. But this video helped me decide once-and-for-all on the Yamaha and I'll just buy a Yamaha FC-4 Sustain Foot Pedal to overcome that particular gripe. Just to point out that the P125's top speaker grilles are just the tweeters. The rest of the sound comes from speakers underneath (as with the ES110). The 125 has an EQ setting to compensate for this if you place it flat on a table or desk rather than on a stand. Also, I know that there are many generic piano learning and playing apps, but the Yamaha Smart Pianist App that can buddy up with the P125 looks just awesome! Once again, many thanks and keep on helping people get into and enthuse about the wonder that is...the piano!
You made a great decision, the P125 is stellar for a beginning pianist! I wish both you and your daughter the very best, I'm glad I could be of help! :D
Even though you made great videos of them separately, I was really waiting for that inevitable direct comparison to shine one last light on my decision! Thanks for the quality content.
I'm a total beginner and today i bought my first digital piano thanks to you. I saw every review you made and went in a very big shop to buy the es110. Once inside i asked wich was the closest action to an acoustic and they made me try a 30k yamaha grand piano. Then i tried yamaha p125, p45, kawai es110, es8, casio psx1000 and kawai ca48. The one i liked the most was the ca48 but it was too big, i wanted something i could take around with me in the future. I then saw a slightly used (2 months old) es8 with a good discount (990 euro) and made the purchase. Like i said, i'm a total beginner, but i could feel the action is very similar to a grand piano (it only misses wooden key in my opinion). Thanks you very much for the good work you post on this channel. I went inside the shop with a good base knowledge after watching your videos.
Thanks so much for your detailed review! it helped me so much to hear them being played with different styles, ranges, and samples, especially since going to a music store and trying them out myself isn't an option these days. Yamaha P125 will be my birthday present to myself :) thanks again!
Thank you very much James, I’ve been looking at reviews so much recently about these two instruments some saying one thing some saying the other but your review really outlined the flaws and benefits of each helping me decide that the P-125 is the one for me.
I'm no expert, but to me the Kawai ES 110 actually sounds brighter, at least when playing louder, compared to the P125. And that is probably the main reason I will choose it over the the P125; I just love that change in sound as the dynamic response increases. Whereas the P125 kinda has the same sound throughout. Edit: Thank you for the comparison! It was quite educational! Bit dissapointed about the fender rhodes sound in the ES 110, but my main purpose for getting it is piano sound.
I am getting my Yamaha P125 tomorrow, I just can’t wait. And I have an acoustic piano I can play every day. Just look forward to play around with it in the evening when the kids are sleeping and no one will be bothered by me playing! Thanks so much for all your amazing reviews. You are truly talented.
From what I’ve heard, it seems like the Kawai is better suited for piano performance and simulating a real acoustic while the Yamaha has the edge in all the other instruments. I’d love to have this theory confirmed
@ThePianoforever - Imagine going from a Casio CTK-2090 to the Kawai ES110. I got the CTK-2090 for christmas and found playing very fun. In case you've never touched something so cheap, it has no touch sensitivity, and while it has a port for a pedal, my brother in law didn' have a pedal when he gave it to me (he's got an acoustic piano now, don't know what kind). I had finally decided to upgrade it, decided this is something i want to invest my time into. After watching comparison videos and demos for hours upon hours spanning almost a months time, your video review of it and comparison video with the P-125/FP-30/ES110/crap-action-1000 (sorry lol, i don't remember the Casios model number), i finally made the decision, trusted you and took a leap of faith. I absolutely LOVE the ES110. It accurately responds to me and tells me how bad i am all the time when i touch it, but it says it so sweetly lol. Learning how to use the pedal and to play loud or soft is much harder then i anticipated. I changed the "touch" setting to light just so i can hear the pieces i learned a little more accurately (I don't have the pinky strength and control to get consistent sharp tones from a note). I can't hate the old instrument, it has absolutely helped me build accuracy so that i'm not hitting the wrong notes all the time, but on the flipside it's impossible to go back to with how bad it is in comparison. Anyhow, wanted to chime in here and let you know just how much i appreciate your expertise and review videos leading up to this expensive (for me) purchase decision. I have no regrets. Also, officially subscribed :).
And thank you for helping me to decide too. After many reviews of different pianos from different price ranges I have become a fan of the warmer sound of kawai. Although the bank of sounds is better in Yamaha I am not interested in those. I have heard complaints about Yamahas action being too heavy terrible on the fingers. Kawai has more dynamic which is good for someone who is trying to learn piano. The Roland f30 has a very good action but I just don't like the sound of Roland and it doesn't beat Kawai on dynamic. Yamagata might have better speakers, more volume but I want my piano to play at home. I don't need it to be loud.So next Tuesday I will be trying both Yamaha p125 and Kawai s110 but I am leaning towards Kawai s110.
I tested both of these in store recently, and I also noticed the Yamaha's distortion in the treble - I'm glad it wasn't just me! It also happened in my headphones, but only when the volume was at maximum. I'm currently leaning towards getting a P125 - the collection of non-piano sounds are better suited to me, selecting voices on the Kawai was difficult, and as a lifelong audio tweaker I can't possibly have an instrument in my studio that has a button that says "other"! Interestingly, in Australia the Yamaha is 25% more expensive than the Kawai.
Just got a p 125 on your recommendation so that I could play at night without bugging the neighbors. It feels and sounds great, I can't stop playing it. I especially appreciate the option in the app to change the environment, it makes playing with headphones on a lot nicer. Thanks for your help jps!
So maybe as a summary, to my ears, ES110 piano sound is better due to it's dynamic responsiveness and the P125 has a way more impressive sound bank. The piano tones between the two are personal preferences of course!
These brands need to come together... and make a new collaborative brand: Franken. :P Then you have the classy looks of the Kawai and its response, the key feel of the Roland, the better selection of the Yamaha etc. And could it hurt them to add a little tiny Casio watch-like digital display to indicate what instrument you're using? Geez louise! Enjoyed that! Was cool seeing your play both at the same time! Very talented!
Imagine you got the billions to buy all the company and combine them to produce the product you just mentioned. Except when you actually got the billions, you will forget about it.
Couldn't be happier with my P125, a very nice upgrade from the P45 and I think imma stay here for a while. This thing has got a lot and it would satisfy even intermediate players
Hey James, this is kinda unrelated, but you playing the Yamaha combined with the kawaii is just really peaceful, have you ever considered making like a medley of all the stuff you play, like just having fun for like 10 mins or so, with any keyboard you want? I mean I'd totally watch/listen to it for like an hour. Basically me gushing over your playing lmao
This video didn't make my choice any easier, so i just bought the kawai based on looks for my first piano. Thanks for all your honest reviews! i watched dozens of them to make my decision!
Excellent comparison. Very similar pianos but I feel Yamaha has a more spread sound than Kawai. I don't know if it's because of the speakers set or Kawai is really more 'shy', even.
One thing that may be worth considering is that the yamaha can be used as a midi controller over usb and the kawaii needs a 5-pin din box. If you wanted to use one of these pianos as a controller I think that's worth considering
Yamaha's FC4A sustain pedal is a must-have upgrade for the P125. It's also only 30 bucks, which is less than the price difference between these two pianos.
Wow, this video is so valuable! I've been going back and forth on what to buy for months, and finally I'm able to come to a decision. Thank you for your expertise!
Hi, Apart from the three pedal unit for the Yamaha P125 there is the single pedal FC3A with half damper function. I own the previous model of the piano P-115 and have more recently purchased the FC3A. I find the FC3A even more stylish than the Kawaii's, stays in place and performs well.
Alright, that last piece convinced me to get the Kawai ES110....side note, that piece has been my favorite for years. I decided on 10/11/20, that I wanted to learn the piano and eventually be able to play that piece of music.
The D1 appears to have the same Korg RH3 key action as SV1, SV2 and Grandstage, so check those reviews for the key action. From my understanding the B2 has the NH budget key action - not as good.
Great review as always James. For me, and because I believe it to be a tad more versatile, I have decided to go ahead with the purchase of the Yamaha P121. The Kawai is a great instrument, but didn't show me enough to dissuade me from getting the Yamaha.
Hey James. Thank you so much for being such an incredible and knowledgeable reviewer. You are seriously the best out there. I have been learning piano for a couple of months now on a casino unweighted keyboard and want to upgrade to the P125 or the ES110. I have tried acoustic pianos and do like the feel but another one of my goals may be to use the keyboard as a midi and get into electronic music production. I want to continue to hone my piano skills but may get more techy in the future with different sounds from computer production software. I know the Yamaha does have input to receive sounds via USB from the computer which can play out of the onboard speakers while the Kawai does not. Would you recommend the Kawai or the Yamaha for the goal of piano playing as well as midi production?
Question: Does the greater "dynamic response" of the Kawai come more from the sensitivity of the sensor/action or from the sample/sound engine? I ask because I want to know whether there is a difference in range for velocity when using it with MIDI. Does that make sense?
I believe its the sample. I recently started using VST, and i can tweak my p125's velocity curve to an extent that makes it feels like there are more sensors on the key (idk if that makes sense), but certainly the keys got more responsive. Nonetheless, the original velocity curve is not bad at all, and sometimes im too lazy to bother with the original velocity curve since its already very acceptable.
In all of the comparison videos I've watched my ears immediately hear a more authentic, organic, clean, pleasing sound from the P125. When you switched over to the ES110 it sounded odd, muffled and "digital".
Yeah I know nothing about pianos, but I noticed this too. the P125 sounded more like a real piano, the Kawai sounded like a digital piano with piano samples.
I guess maybe to a serious player, the dynamic response and all this other stuff is more important than the actual samples used...? I'm only guessing here.
@@mercster I just bought the p125 and I’ll let you know that you can alter the dynamic response. Also action wise it isn’t as good as more expensive digital pianos but it’s really good for the price and in general
Your really opening my eyes to what kind of piano I need to upgrade to. I have the dgx 660 but it's lacking in a few departments . The action started out rather stiff and now it feels quite loose , might have just gotten used to it . Thank you for all the info though it's much appreciated 😉
Great content as always. if you wouldn’t mind, could you please make a separate-proper video or clip for the peace that you wrote. It keeps repeating over my head and I would truly appreciate it if there was a special record of it.
I was going to get the ES110 based on videos of Kawai vs Yamaha vs Roland comparison and the ES110 unboxing. Unfortunately I’d have to order the ES110 from Ontario and have it delivered to BC. And it would be on back order. The Yamaha I can get easier in BC. It’s only for me to restart my lessons from many years ago and a grandson (8) wanting to start. Thank you for the help deciding. It’s appreciated.
It’s funny not yet a year ago prior to me finding you here on TH-cam. I bought a P-125 to learn on myself. Having been a musician most of my 6 decades of life. I bought a keyboard the same way I’d have bought a guitar. With my eyes closed. How does it feel in my hands? How does it sound to my ears. I played a number of keyboards in that price range. Including the Casio that didn’t feel right to me. Now I know why. I’m still not very good but yesterday I stumbled across a Yamaha Clavinova CLP 330 you’d have been a very young pianists in 2008. Though still better than me now. I should practice more. But I picked up the CLP 330 for a hundred bucks plus 30 to replace the cable for the pedals. I do love it. Full midi in & out and audio is the same way. There are some excellent deals out there for some amazing pianos. Keeping my eyes out for the Bösendorfer imperial for a hundred bucks. We would have to use it as a dining table for Thanksgiving and Christmas. However I would not pass up that deal.
Many thanks for this review. Personally, I would go with the Yamaha P125 because I think it would be better for playing with my two bands. If I would like a piano to play alone at home, I would go with the other one. We are currently using a Yamaha P85 since about 10 years. Do you think it would be a huge improvement if we get a P125?
While Yamaha piano sounds fuller, Kawai piano is more expressive. This becomes a lot more apparent when you play that classical piece at the end (I don't know the name of). xD Kawai becomes superior on that comparison. However, the rhodes on Yamaha sounds absolutely fantastic at such affordable price. That's the sound I'm looking for. Other sounds are also more punchy and fuller on Yamaha, so I think Yamaha is the winner for me. :D
Maybe, get the chainsaw first, then do a video that 'tests' which keyboard holds up better while you cut them in have (with the chainsaw)... If the video goes viral, you might be able to monetize it to buy another keyboard!... Of course, you'll have to borrow the money for the two 'test' keyboards.
I chose the Yamaha because of the 50 dollar gift card rebate they had in March- they might be coming out with the new p125 successor (just a guess) the Yamaha sounds best with a good pair of headphones but for some reason their “live piano” sounds honky tonk on headphones but different with the internal speakers. I’m not sure what live piano means tho. I might get a pair of powered monitors for it. I don’t regret the purchase it has been pretty good so far.
The ES 110 seems better if you're looking for everything surrounding the piano itself (Dynamic response, sound font, pedal), but the yamaha seems better when it comes to the more general purpose aspects (additional sound fonts, usability). In looking for a practice keyboard the ES 110 seems better suited for it because it seems a bit more specialized, but the yamaha has a lot more that I think I would have fun messing with haha.
Hello James, first of all I would like to thank you for the countless great reviews that have you uploaded so far! Your unbiased opinion is a great help and very much appreciated. At the end of the video you mentioned that you are not able recommend one of these pianos over the other unless someone asked about a specific topic. So I wanted to ask you if you could be so kind to offer me some advice/ a recommendation: * I would like to play classical music and pieces from the japanese composer Hiroyuki Sawano (as well as OST from anime or movies) * I was between a beginner and intermediate level but didn't play for the last 4 years * I would like to have action/touch that is close to an acoustic piano to reinforce good habits * I don't particularly want to upgrade in the future and I am fine with spending a little bit more money if it comes with lasting quality * I am currently deciding between the P-125, ES110 and even the P-515 but I am open for recommendations Could you recommend something after this specification? Thanks again and best regards!
The ES110's action has a very piano-like dynamic response, and plays great, although it is incredibly light and really doesn't feel like a piano, if that makes sense. While the ES110 would work well for your needs, if you are willing to buy that P515, I'd highly recommend it instead. It's far superior to both the ES110 and P125 in terms of action, build quality, speakers, tone, everything. The action is far more piano-like on that instrument (it uses one of the best actions out there right now) and the build quality seems very high and I would expect it to last many years.
@@ThePianoforever Hello James, thank you very much for the fast and thorough reply! I think I'll follow your suggestion and invest in the P515. Once again thanks for your great videos and have a nice day!
For me, I have to go with the Yamaha. I'll admit that for me it's about brand loyalty. I trust Yamaha. The other brand names are certainly interesting and are very well respected in their own right but I feel like you can never go wrong with a Yamaha.
That Kawai definitely does piano dynamics MUCH better that the Yamaha! If I had been a better player when I was choosing a keyboard that may have won me over. The Rhodes sound of the Yamaha, the P121’s portability combined with the price and the fact that I already owned a nice damper pedal was really what sold me on the Yamaha... it’s been above a year and now I’m a little less sure than I was a couple weeks ago. Lol! Thanks James!
I ended up getting the ES110. The pedal honsestly sold it for me. Saved me a fair buck in comparison to the Yamaha. The Kawai non-acoustic piano sounds are pretty rubbish as far as I'm concerned. Action-wise repeated notes can be tricky on the Kawai, not sure how it compares to the Yamaha. The button interface is annoying on the Kawai but can be remedied through two apps.
Roland just released fp30 X and it seems that, at least on paper, it addressed most of the flaws that fp30 had. Your review about the new fp 30 X would be really appreciated and how it stacks, compared with these 2 🙏🏼
Which one would yo recommend me the most, the Yamaha p125, Kawai ES110 or the yamaha arius ydp-144? I don't have a big budged but I want to start learning piano, I want to buy something that could keep me learning for a few years at least...
Thanks for the review. I'm looking to replace an older Yamaha P60 which a neighbor kindly gave me when I started lessons a year ago. As I've improved (slowly, but surely) I find action is not very good. I think the ES-110 will be a good replacement for the near future before I decide to spend a good deal more money for an acoustic. piano.
Nice, we got two winners and I totally agree with you. I am not a beginner but not a pro either and because of the muscle problem I can’t play much anymore but if I see these two.... maybe on one day. Maybe if I can afford it. I like them both. What I also like is seeing you fiddling around. Playing is fun! Thank you for sharing and playing!
There is a way to modify the dynamic response of the P125; Modify the "Touch Sensitivity" by holding down the "piano" voice button and pressing D7 (Yamaha D6). That takes it off the default to allow more expressive playing. (see owner's manual p.17); (Cheat sheet group 2). Does that make a difference that brings it closer to the ES110, perhaps?
same question
I have.. does it?
Excellent review! Thanks! Can't wait for your comparison between the ES110 vs the ES8!
ES110 vs Es8 is in the works.
@@ThePianoforever Great! ;-)
I'm a professional pianist and teacher, and chose the P-125 for a night time practice instrument or when I want to spare my neighbors a bit. I'm very happy with it, keeps up with pretty much any repertoire from Bach's French overture to Chopin's and Rachmaninov's concerti, to Scriabin and Ravel. I actually prefer its main piano sound over the Kawai which sounds less pleasing, more artificial and uneven to me (there's a certain point where dynamic richness becomes a negative, especially on a digital piano that will always have its limitations with the action). The P-125 or any other digital for that matter (I've tried a good portion of them, including the $4000+ ones) isn't replacing my U3 any time soon but it's still quite surprisingly VERY enjoyable to practice on and I'd highly recommend it for anyone regardless of skill level if they're looking for a cheap practice instrument.
@@aBachwardsfellow If you want that kind of thing, you should also press "piano" + the highest D (traditionally D4 but I think it's called D3 or D5 in the P125 manual) to set the response "harder". It's like moving the hammer row a bit closer to strings on an upright which is what I usually do with my acoustic pianos.
Thanks for your feedback as it surely helps others like me trying to make a decision and I’m about to purchase my P-125 , however do you think it plays classical music well? Since it’s my passion and is the P-45 still a good choice as i think there’re alot of features that i don’t need in the P-125 (it’s still affordable but idk if it’s worth it)
I’m a beginner and reading reviews I hear people complaining about clicking keys. Have you any experience of which brands are best in terms of lasting the test of time without this problem
thank you so much for your reviews! i used to play when i was younger and had a yamaha upright, but basically haven’t touched a piano in the last ~10 years. i somehow got it into my head to pick it back up and here we are!
i was originally just going to go with the yamaha p45/71 after reading some articles, but after watching some reviews (mostly yours) i decided to invest just a little bit more in it. was going back and forth on the yamaha p125 vs kawai es110 for a while after watching this and was leaning towards the yamaha, but i actually went to a guitar center to try the p125 (and p45, but unfortunately they didn’t have kawai in stock). i actually didn’t love it and thought that it was a bit too heavy, so decided to take a chance and just order the kawai instead.
tldr: i just got the kawai a few days ago, but it plays beautifully and is great for my needs. i’m sure the p125 is perfect for others too but from my initial experience i’m really happy with my decision. thanks again!!
You're a really true artist making reviews. Congrats from Spain!
Hi James, thank you for your enthusiastic, entertaining, and informative reviews of digital pianos! I've watched a few today, back-to-back, as I am looking for a beginner's digital piano for my daughter's 16th birthday present - but want it to be performance playable live or busking right from the start. She's gone through some grades on the flute and has expressed an interest in piano now and I'm delighted as I played when younger and should surely start again! Among others, I've heard you talk about the Roland FP-30, the Kawai ES110, and the Yamaha P125. Over the last few days, I watched a few other people's reviews and ended up just confused. Today, I've watched your individual reviews and the head-to-head comparisons and have come to a clear conclusion. I'm going to plump for the Yamaha P125 for a few individual reasons. As you say, the Kawai is an excellent option for many, many reasons. But this video helped me decide once-and-for-all on the Yamaha and I'll just buy a Yamaha FC-4 Sustain Foot Pedal to overcome that particular gripe. Just to point out that the P125's top speaker grilles are just the tweeters. The rest of the sound comes from speakers underneath (as with the ES110). The 125 has an EQ setting to compensate for this if you place it flat on a table or desk rather than on a stand. Also, I know that there are many generic piano learning and playing apps, but the Yamaha Smart Pianist App that can buddy up with the P125 looks just awesome! Once again, many thanks and keep on helping people get into and enthuse about the wonder that is...the piano!
You made a great decision, the P125 is stellar for a beginning pianist! I wish both you and your daughter the very best, I'm glad I could be of help! :D
Even though you made great videos of them separately, I was really waiting for that inevitable direct comparison to shine one last light on my decision! Thanks for the quality content.
I'm a total beginner and today i bought my first digital piano thanks to you. I saw every review you made and went in a very big shop to buy the es110. Once inside i asked wich was the closest action to an acoustic and they made me try a 30k yamaha grand piano. Then i tried yamaha p125, p45, kawai es110, es8, casio psx1000 and kawai ca48. The one i liked the most was the ca48 but it was too big, i wanted something i could take around with me in the future. I then saw a slightly used (2 months old) es8 with a good discount (990 euro) and made the purchase. Like i said, i'm a total beginner, but i could feel the action is very similar to a grand piano (it only misses wooden key in my opinion). Thanks you very much for the good work you post on this channel. I went inside the shop with a good base knowledge after watching your videos.
Thank you for the review James, you're my favorite piano reviewer on You Tube!
The video we were all waiting for!! Thank you so much for this comparison review! I will buy yamaha tomorrow! :)
Thanks so much for your detailed review! it helped me so much to hear them being played with different styles, ranges, and samples, especially since going to a music store and trying them out myself isn't an option these days. Yamaha P125 will be my birthday present to myself :) thanks again!
really like this type of comparison, ty fot your hard work and passion for sharing this video.
Thank you very much James, I’ve been looking at reviews so much recently about these two instruments some saying one thing some saying the other but your review really outlined the flaws and benefits of each helping me decide that the P-125 is the one for me.
I'm no expert, but to me the Kawai ES 110 actually sounds brighter, at least when playing louder, compared to the P125. And that is probably the main reason I will choose it over the the P125; I just love that change in sound as the dynamic response increases. Whereas the P125 kinda has the same sound throughout.
Edit: Thank you for the comparison! It was quite educational! Bit dissapointed about the fender rhodes sound in the ES 110, but my main purpose for getting it is piano sound.
Yes! The one we've all been waiting for! :D Cheers
This splits my decision
21:00 organ comparison (Yamaha sounds beautifull)
27:05 piano comparison (kawai sounds realistic)
30:05 conclusion
After first missing note on Kawai, tried their after sales service... Yamaha will be 10 times better choice.
I am getting my Yamaha P125 tomorrow, I just can’t wait. And I have an acoustic piano I can play every day. Just look forward to play around with it in the evening when the kids are sleeping and no one will be bothered by me playing! Thanks so much for all your amazing reviews. You are truly talented.
How Is it?
Love the treble piece you wrote James!!
From what I’ve heard, it seems like the Kawai is better suited for piano performance and simulating a real acoustic while the Yamaha has the edge in all the other instruments. I’d love to have this theory confirmed
@ThePianoforever - Imagine going from a Casio CTK-2090 to the Kawai ES110.
I got the CTK-2090 for christmas and found playing very fun. In case you've never touched something so cheap, it has no touch sensitivity, and while it has a port for a pedal, my brother in law didn' have a pedal when he gave it to me (he's got an acoustic piano now, don't know what kind). I had finally decided to upgrade it, decided this is something i want to invest my time into. After watching comparison videos and demos for hours upon hours spanning almost a months time, your video review of it and comparison video with the P-125/FP-30/ES110/crap-action-1000 (sorry lol, i don't remember the Casios model number), i finally made the decision, trusted you and took a leap of faith.
I absolutely LOVE the ES110. It accurately responds to me and tells me how bad i am all the time when i touch it, but it says it so sweetly lol. Learning how to use the pedal and to play loud or soft is much harder then i anticipated. I changed the "touch" setting to light just so i can hear the pieces i learned a little more accurately (I don't have the pinky strength and control to get consistent sharp tones from a note). I can't hate the old instrument, it has absolutely helped me build accuracy so that i'm not hitting the wrong notes all the time, but on the flipside it's impossible to go back to with how bad it is in comparison.
Anyhow, wanted to chime in here and let you know just how much i appreciate your expertise and review videos leading up to this expensive (for me) purchase decision. I have no regrets. Also, officially subscribed :).
And thank you for helping me to decide too. After many reviews of different pianos from different price ranges I have become a fan of the warmer sound of kawai. Although the bank of sounds is better in Yamaha I am not interested in those. I have heard complaints about Yamahas action being too heavy terrible on the fingers. Kawai has more dynamic which is good for someone who is trying to learn piano. The Roland f30 has a very good action but I just don't like the sound of Roland and it doesn't beat Kawai on dynamic. Yamagata might have better speakers, more volume but I want my piano to play at home. I don't need it to be loud.So next Tuesday I will be trying both Yamaha p125 and Kawai s110 but I am leaning towards Kawai s110.
@@Taichientaoyin what did you end up with after trying both?
I tested both of these in store recently, and I also noticed the Yamaha's distortion in the treble - I'm glad it wasn't just me! It also happened in my headphones, but only when the volume was at maximum.
I'm currently leaning towards getting a P125 - the collection of non-piano sounds are better suited to me, selecting voices on the Kawai was difficult, and as a lifelong audio tweaker I can't possibly have an instrument in my studio that has a button that says "other"!
Interestingly, in Australia the Yamaha is 25% more expensive than the Kawai.
Thank you for your review. I am in the market to buy a digital Piano and all your reviews have helped me greatly. Thanks again.
Just got a p 125 on your recommendation so that I could play at night without bugging the neighbors. It feels and sounds great, I can't stop playing it. I especially appreciate the option in the app to change the environment, it makes playing with headphones on a lot nicer. Thanks for your help jps!
Glad to watch you have fun. Fair and balanced. Thank you.
So maybe as a summary, to my ears, ES110 piano sound is better due to it's dynamic responsiveness and the P125 has a way more impressive sound bank. The piano tones between the two are personal preferences of course!
These brands need to come together... and make a new collaborative brand: Franken. :P
Then you have the classy looks of the Kawai and its response, the key feel of the Roland, the better selection of the Yamaha etc.
And could it hurt them to add a little tiny Casio watch-like digital display to indicate what instrument you're using? Geez louise!
Enjoyed that! Was cool seeing your play both at the same time! Very talented!
Imagine you got the billions to buy all the company and combine them to produce the product you just mentioned. Except when you actually got the billions, you will forget about it.
I was thinking of getting the Kawai, but Yamaha sounds so much better to me, and more suitable for rock.
I was about to buy a piano, just an impulse purchase you do but then thought come on check out few reviews. 4 days later I am so lost haha.
Sameeee hahah i cant decide at all.
Couldn't be happier with my P125, a very nice upgrade from the P45 and I think imma stay here for a while. This thing has got a lot and it would satisfy even intermediate players
Does the action feel the same?
@@MrC77 yes probably
I’m upgrading from the p45 to the p125 soon so good to hear it was a nice upgrade 👍
Hey James, this is kinda unrelated, but you playing the Yamaha combined with the kawaii is just really peaceful, have you ever considered making like a medley of all the stuff you play, like just having fun for like 10 mins or so, with any keyboard you want? I mean I'd totally watch/listen to it for like an hour.
Basically me gushing over your playing lmao
I like your suggestion
Really enjoyed that review. I'm going to go with the Kawai.
Excellent review James.
This video didn't make my choice any easier, so i just bought the kawai based on looks for my first piano. Thanks for all your honest reviews! i watched dozens of them to make my decision!
Im still trying to decide between these two, are you happy with the kawai?
Excellent comparison. Very similar pianos but I feel Yamaha has a more spread sound than Kawai. I don't know if it's because of the speakers set or Kawai is really more 'shy', even.
Usually i prefer Kawai when I play a digital piano but in this case, about touch and sound, Yamaha P125 is the winner!!
Please consider listing what you believe are the best digital pianos in price categories, for particular applications, your opinion is appreciated.
Hearing the piano sounds, I would say Yamaha sounds better. But I want to prefer the ES110 because of how nice it is to play
I bought a p125b based on this review. Wife likes it thus far. I'm thinking about learning to play.
I bought the Yamaha P121 as it is shorter/ save space and I actually love the unique brightness of Yamaha CF sound.
I'd like to buy a P121 too. Is 73 keys an issue, or you never found that a problem?
Please do a review of Korg D1.
One thing that may be worth considering is that the yamaha can be used as a midi controller over usb and the kawaii needs a 5-pin din box. If you wanted to use one of these pianos as a controller I think that's worth considering
Yamaha's FC4A sustain pedal is a must-have upgrade for the P125. It's also only 30 bucks, which is less than the price difference between these two pianos.
The FC4A is of lower quality than the Kawai standard pedal. It is close to the 12usd pedals u can find from oem.
it's better to by the Fc3A Sustain pedal because it has the "half pedal"
Lesson learned: when you can't pick one, buy both 😂
Jk I'm broke lmao
LOL!
Wow, this video is so valuable! I've been going back and forth on what to buy for months, and finally I'm able to come to a decision. Thank you for your expertise!
What have you decided on?
I don't understand people who post these comments and don't tell people what they decided on lmao
Great comparison. Very helpful for my shopping.
Hi,
Apart from the three pedal unit for the Yamaha P125 there is the single pedal FC3A with half damper function. I own the previous model of the piano P-115 and have more recently purchased the FC3A. I find the FC3A even more stylish than the Kawaii's, stays in place and performs well.
Alright, that last piece convinced me to get the Kawai ES110....side note, that piece has been my favorite for years. I decided on 10/11/20, that I wanted to learn the piano and eventually be able to play that piece of music.
Definitely the sound of the Yamaha is better in my opinion.Thanks for the review I'm going to get it
Kawaie Es110 for me!!
I like the Yamaha piano sound. Great video!
Today with the Roland FP30X, this still being the best two options?
Hey James, have you thought about looking at some of the Korg instruments in this price range? B2 and D1 for example?
Wondered about that too!
The D1 appears to have the same Korg RH3 key action as SV1, SV2 and Grandstage, so check those reviews for the key action. From my understanding the B2 has the NH budget key action - not as good.
Nice review.
Nice playing.
Great review as always James. For me, and because I believe it to be a tad more versatile, I have decided to go ahead with the purchase of the Yamaha P121. The Kawai is a great instrument, but didn't show me enough to dissuade me from getting the Yamaha.
Hey James. Thank you so much for being such an incredible and knowledgeable reviewer. You are seriously the best out there. I have been learning piano for a couple of months now on a casino unweighted keyboard and want to upgrade to the P125 or the ES110. I have tried acoustic pianos and do like the feel but another one of my goals may be to use the keyboard as a midi and get into electronic music production. I want to continue to hone my piano skills but may get more techy in the future with different sounds from computer production software. I know the Yamaha does have input to receive sounds via USB from the computer which can play out of the onboard speakers while the Kawai does not. Would you recommend the Kawai or the Yamaha for the goal of piano playing as well as midi production?
Question: Does the greater "dynamic response" of the Kawai come more from the sensitivity of the sensor/action or from the sample/sound engine? I ask because I want to know whether there is a difference in range for velocity when using it with MIDI. Does that make sense?
I would love to know this too as I am considering the sensitivity of the es110 as a midi controller
I believe its the sample. I recently started using VST, and i can tweak my p125's velocity curve to an extent that makes it feels like there are more sensors on the key (idk if that makes sense), but certainly the keys got more responsive. Nonetheless, the original velocity curve is not bad at all, and sometimes im too lazy to bother with the original velocity curve since its already very acceptable.
@@matheusfpilar cheers. Thats helpful to know.. I imagine this would be the same with the Kawai.. Thanks
In all of the comparison videos I've watched my ears immediately hear a more authentic, organic, clean, pleasing sound from the P125. When you switched over to the ES110 it sounded odd, muffled and "digital".
You got it mixed up
@@Seramics nope
Yeah I know nothing about pianos, but I noticed this too. the P125 sounded more like a real piano, the Kawai sounded like a digital piano with piano samples.
I guess maybe to a serious player, the dynamic response and all this other stuff is more important than the actual samples used...? I'm only guessing here.
@@mercster I just bought the p125 and I’ll let you know that you can alter the dynamic response. Also action wise it isn’t as good as more expensive digital pianos but it’s really good for the price and in general
Your really opening my eyes to what kind of piano I need to upgrade to. I have the dgx 660 but it's lacking in a few departments . The action started out rather stiff and now it feels quite loose , might have just gotten used to it . Thank you for all the info though it's much appreciated 😉
I think in your case, you may want to make a bigger upgrade. Maybe Yamaha 515.
yeah, DGX660 actually shares a lot of the same thing with the P125... not sure if switching to that is really going to do a lot for you....
Nevertheless I think your work and your channel is amazing. Thanks for your good work!
Just getting into piano. Thanks for your guidance, it’s a p125 for me!
The YAMAHA is fantastic..would be great to start.
Still prefer the Kawai because the keys are more expressive.
Great content as always. if you wouldn’t mind, could you please make a separate-proper video or clip for the peace that you wrote. It keeps repeating over my head and I would truly appreciate it if there was a special record of it.
Is it just me or the kawai sounds brighter and more open than the yamaha? I found the Yamaha sounding more muffled sounding.
If you can: compare in a store. Yamaha should be brighter.
I was going to get the ES110 based on videos of Kawai vs Yamaha vs Roland comparison and the ES110 unboxing. Unfortunately I’d have to order the ES110 from Ontario and have it delivered to BC. And it would be on back order. The Yamaha I can get easier in BC. It’s only for me to restart my lessons from many years ago and a grandson (8) wanting to start. Thank you for the help deciding. It’s appreciated.
I do want a Rhodes on a piano thanks for the comparisons. I do like ES110 piano and the P125 Rhodes
Excellent review.
Hi great review. Anyone knows the piece played at 16:10?
+1
What’s the song played at 8:04 ? If you do please let me know.
Treble test piece. Check the replies to noerbad's comment.
It’s funny not yet a year ago prior to me finding you here on TH-cam. I bought a P-125 to learn on myself. Having been a musician most of my 6 decades of life. I bought a keyboard the same way I’d have bought a guitar. With my eyes closed. How does it feel in my hands? How does it sound to my ears. I played a number of keyboards in that price range. Including the Casio that didn’t feel right to me. Now I know why.
I’m still not very good but yesterday I stumbled across a Yamaha Clavinova CLP 330 you’d have been a very young pianists in 2008. Though still better than me now. I should practice more. But I picked up the CLP 330 for a hundred bucks plus 30 to replace the cable for the pedals. I do love it. Full midi in & out and audio is the same way. There are some excellent deals out there for some amazing pianos. Keeping my eyes out for the Bösendorfer imperial for a hundred bucks. We would have to use it as a dining table for Thanksgiving and Christmas. However I would not pass up that deal.
If someone gave me an imperial, I'd throw out my bed and sleep under it
Treble test on Yamaha is phenomenal
These videos are so helpful! Thank you for taking the time.
Many thanks for this review. Personally, I would go with the Yamaha P125 because I think it would be better for playing with my two bands. If I would like a piano to play alone at home, I would go with the other one. We are currently using a Yamaha P85 since about 10 years. Do you think it would be a huge improvement if we get a P125?
Nice review. I just can't figure the piece at 27:08. Anyone knows?
Ok, got it. Beethoven moonlight sonata 3rd mvt
Wonderful review James. However i'm still waiting for you to review korg d1 as it falls in the same price segment.
I was just about to ask about this digital piano too, since I've read it uses one of Korg's higher end actions.
While Yamaha piano sounds fuller,
Kawai piano is more expressive.
This becomes a lot more apparent when you play that classical piece at the end
(I don't know the name of). xD
Kawai becomes superior on that comparison.
However, the rhodes on Yamaha sounds absolutely fantastic at such affordable price.
That's the sound I'm looking for.
Other sounds are also more punchy and fuller on Yamaha,
so I think Yamaha is the winner for me. :D
I'm conflicted. Should I get one of these or a Stihl chainsaw?
Maybe, get the chainsaw first, then do a video that 'tests' which keyboard holds up better while you cut them in have (with the chainsaw)... If the video goes viral, you might be able to monetize it to buy another keyboard!... Of course, you'll have to borrow the money for the two 'test' keyboards.
@@kennikuhlmann-clark9860 😅
chainsaw
Please do a comparison with Roland FP30X!
I chose the Yamaha because of the 50 dollar gift card rebate they had in March- they might be coming out with the new p125 successor (just a guess) the Yamaha sounds best with a good pair of headphones but for some reason their “live piano” sounds honky tonk on headphones but different with the internal speakers. I’m not sure what live piano means tho. I might get a pair of powered monitors for it.
I don’t regret the purchase it has been pretty good so far.
Is it at all possible to connect the Kawai to a phone or computer, run a VST and listen to the VST effects through the piano speakers?
Yes, but in that case you would save a lot of money by buying a midi controller instead of a digital piano
The ES 110 seems better if you're looking for everything surrounding the piano itself (Dynamic response, sound font, pedal), but the yamaha seems better when it comes to the more general purpose aspects (additional sound fonts, usability). In looking for a practice keyboard the ES 110 seems better suited for it because it seems a bit more specialized, but the yamaha has a lot more that I think I would have fun messing with haha.
If your concern is the sound font library you can plug your keyboard into a DAW like FL Studio
AcidSeth hi, what’s a DAW? Would for sure be looking at more / better sounds for the Kawai.
27:05 begin demo dynamic response (26:36 discussion/preamble)
what is the title of this 27:11 ? thanks so much!
Hello James,
first of all I would like to thank you for the countless great reviews that have you uploaded so far! Your unbiased opinion is a great help and very much appreciated.
At the end of the video you mentioned that you are not able recommend one of these pianos over the other unless someone asked about a specific topic. So I wanted to ask you if you could be so kind to offer me some advice/ a recommendation:
* I would like to play classical music and pieces from the japanese composer Hiroyuki Sawano (as well as OST from anime or movies)
* I was between a beginner and intermediate level but didn't play for the last 4 years
* I would like to have action/touch that is close to an acoustic piano to reinforce good habits
* I don't particularly want to upgrade in the future and I am fine with spending a little bit more money if it comes with lasting quality
* I am currently deciding between the P-125, ES110 and even the P-515 but I am open for recommendations
Could you recommend something after this specification?
Thanks again and best regards!
The ES110's action has a very piano-like dynamic response, and plays great, although it is incredibly light and really doesn't feel like a piano, if that makes sense. While the ES110 would work well for your needs, if you are willing to buy that P515, I'd highly recommend it instead. It's far superior to both the ES110 and P125 in terms of action, build quality, speakers, tone, everything. The action is far more piano-like on that instrument (it uses one of the best actions out there right now) and the build quality seems very high and I would expect it to last many years.
@@ThePianoforever Hello James,
thank you very much for the fast and thorough reply! I think I'll follow your suggestion and invest in the P515.
Once again thanks for your great videos and have a nice day!
Is the yamaha 125 better overall sound and feel than the Casio Px s1000?
The Yamaha P125 is by far the better choice
Can someone help me? I plan on getting a yamaha ydp-164 and wanted to know if there are even better options in that price bracket
Kawai kdp110 is a better piano abd direct competitor to the YDP164
Expecting a vibraphone and getting a harpsichord is surprisingly jarring
For me, I have to go with the Yamaha. I'll admit that for me it's about brand loyalty. I trust Yamaha. The other brand names are certainly interesting and are very well respected in their own right but I feel like you can never go wrong with a Yamaha.
Maybe I missed it but, I didn't hear it mentioned that the Yamaha has play-along rhythm tracks.
I don't think the p125 has those. I could be wrong
fantastic ! just the video :D
Your reviews are the best! Can you please review casio's px 360, or compare it to other digital pianos in that price range? Thanks!
That Kawai definitely does piano dynamics MUCH better that the Yamaha! If I had been a better player when I was choosing a keyboard that may have won me over. The Rhodes sound of the Yamaha, the P121’s portability combined with the price and the fact that I already owned a nice damper pedal was really what sold me on the Yamaha... it’s been above a year and now I’m a little less sure than I was a couple weeks ago. Lol! Thanks James!
I plan on using a P121 in my control room.
8:02 name of this song?
It's a piece I wrote called "Treble Test.
@@ThePianoforever Thanks a lot! A beautiful piece! best regards!
@@ThePianoforever Where we can find this piece (9:00)? Have you published it somewhere (e.g. scores how to play it)?
I ended up getting the ES110. The pedal honsestly sold it for me. Saved me a fair buck in comparison to the Yamaha. The Kawai non-acoustic piano sounds are pretty rubbish as far as I'm concerned. Action-wise repeated notes can be tricky on the Kawai, not sure how it compares to the Yamaha. The button interface is annoying on the Kawai but can be remedied through two apps.
May I know what composition/title you are playing from 8:04 to 9:56? You are playing. awesomely. Thank you.
Roland just released fp30 X and it seems that, at least on paper, it addressed most of the flaws that fp30 had. Your review about the new fp 30 X would be really appreciated and how it stacks, compared with these 2 🙏🏼
I would like to review the Roland FP30x, but do not have a contact with Roland to get one of the new FP30x models.
I had es110 but i had to change p125. I like p125 than es110, the sound is
Better for me. I am happy
What made you change your mind?
Yamaha seems to have a wider sound spectrum range. 8:40 vs 8:57.
Which one would yo recommend me the most, the Yamaha p125, Kawai ES110 or the yamaha arius ydp-144? I don't have a big budged but I want to start learning piano, I want to buy something that could keep me learning for a few years at least...
The same phenomena seem to be happening on the Wurlitzer (Kawai) stepped volume? Where the Yamaha has a smoother transition from soft to loud?
Thanks for the review. I'm looking to replace an older Yamaha P60 which a neighbor kindly gave me when I started lessons a year ago. As I've improved (slowly, but surely) I find action is not very good. I think the ES-110 will be a good replacement for the near future before I decide to spend a good deal more money for an acoustic. piano.