🎹 Piano Showdown: Yamaha P-525 vs. Kawai ES920 - Which Wins the Battle of Sound? 🎹
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 5 ก.ค. 2024
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🛒 Shop Kawai ES-120 ▸ geni.us/Kawai-ES120
🛒 Shop Yamaha P-225 ▸ geni.us/Yamaha-P225
🛒 Shop Casio PX-S3100 ▸geni.us/Casio-PXS3100
🛒 Shop Roland FP-E50 ▸ geni.us/Roland-FP-E50
🛒 Shop Yamaha DGX-660▸ geni.us/yamaha-DGX-660
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🛒 Yamaha P125 ▸ geni.us/Yamaha-P125
🛒 Kawai ES920 ▸geni.us/Kawai-ES920
🛒 Korg B2 ▸geni.us/Korg-B2
Introduction
The recently released Yamaha P-525 is the update to the P-515. Today we’ll be comparing it to the Kawai ES920, an instrument that has been around for a couple of years.
The Yamaha is priced at USD1,500, while the Kawai is USD1,800 and together they make a fantastic match-up. We’re not here to declare a winner but to describe the differences and define some of the specs so you can make a well-informed decision.
A Few Of My Favourite Things
Yamaha P-525
The Action
The P-515 had a heavy action that, even with a good range of motion, could be fatiguing. The P-525 has a more natural feeling geometry and weight, more closely simulating an acoustic grand piano. It has a better texture and a more enjoyable playing experience.
USB Audio
Included with the P-525 is a 24-bit USB Audio interface, which allows for professional, high-quality audio output for use in a DAW.
Kawai ES920
The Action
The ES920 comes with Kawai’s RHIII action, one of their best in the last 10 years, which has also been used by NORD in their Grand product. It is responsive, highly dynamic, and extremely reliable. The white and black keys have a micro-texture that is less obvious than the Yamaha, but that works in a variety of styles and settings.
Piano Options
The ES920 comes with a high quality and a wide breadth of piano options. It provides 21 editable parameters, including a variety of resonance engines, as well as multiple single-note, multi-layered, stereo piano sample sets; the SK-EX grand, SK-5 grand, EX grand, and K-60 upright. The range of professional-sounding pianos is extraordinary for this price point.
A Trio of Tweaks
Yamaha P-525
First, when in the lower third of the keyboard, the tone and sonic presentation lose some clarity and definition.
Second, while the CFX sample set is really enjoyable, it’s the only one that provides the dynamic expression and tonal palate that would be expected from a top-shelf stage piano.
Third, the overall weight is on the heavier side, although this is hard to avoid when using wood cores and longer pivot lengths. It’s not the heaviest, but along with the Roland FP-90X or Kawai MP11SE, they are not easy to move around on a regular basis.
Kawai ES920
First, the addition of a USB Audio interface would allow for unconverted audio to be sent to a digital recording environment.
Second, the fairly low-resolution screen, while functional, is less intuitive than the Yamaha.
Side-By-Side
Auto-accompaniment
Both instruments include some auto-accompaniment, but Kawai has much better in-depth control and more options; including multiple variations for each style, and which parts are being played.
Effects
The P-525 and ES920 both have onboard effects including amp and reverb effects.
Recording
The Yamaha has 16 tracks available for onboard recording while the Kawai only has 2, so any serious recording with the ES920 will require a computer connection.
Stu’s Thoughts
If you love the sound of the CFX, enjoy the feel of the keyboard on the P-525, and don’t mind the weight, the Yamaha has a lot to offer. It is a little bit less expensive than the Kawai and the overall piano experience, if you stay confined to the CFX, is quite solid and of high value for the instrument’s price point.
If you enjoy a variety of tones, the depth, quality and nuance across the various piano models offered in the ES920 are quite exceptional. The speaker presentation in terms of depth and refinement, particularly the bottom of the EQ range, is great, and if weight is an issue, the Kawai is 10 pounds lighter than the P-525.
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Well, based on this review/comparison I made my way to your Oakville shop to try the ES920. To say I was disappointed would be an understatement. I was especially underwhelmed by the auto accompaniment. The good news is there was P 525 available so I snapped it up. Honestly, for me there was no comparison but perhaps having played Yamahas exclusively for over 25 years has robbed me of any impartiality. Your video, however, was convincing enough to make me come in and give it a fair shake.
That is totally fair! Tone and touch preferences are very subjective of course. Every player will resonate with a different musical experience. I'm happy to hear that you were able to secure the P525. Thanks so much and happy playing!
I bought my ES920 a few months ago and couldn't be happier. I also own a 9' concert grand piano and I can say the ES920 does a very good job at simulating not only the sound but also the feel of the concert grand, making it the perfect practice instrument when I can't play on my acoustic piano. I have recently tried the Yamaha P-525 and found the action to be too light. Its predecessor, the P-515, had the opposite problem and felt too heavy. The Kawai ES920 is just right! In my opinion, to find a digital piano that does a better job at replicating the feel of a 9' concert grand I would have to move up to a NV10S, but that will be for another day!
We are so happy to hear that you are loving your ES920! It is an incredible instrument with one of the best cost-to-value ratios on the market as far as I'm concerned. I agree with your comments about how well it renders the tonal nuances of a 9' concert grand and how the action feels "just right" (at least for many players). It does come down to subjectivity of course. We have had customers feel that the ES920 is too light for their musical needs and preferences. Thanks so much for tuning in and happy playing! :)
As it goes for the "feel"... have you ever tried the kawai mp11se?
@@actie-reactie No, but I heard very good things about its action, because it is mechanically more similar to the action of an acoustic grand. But it is more expensive than the ES920 of course.
Is there a Rhodes Suitcase sound on it? If so, is it good?
As an ES920 owner for 4 years now, having gigged, played and taught piano on it I'm very pleased with my purchase and can't recommend it enough for fellow musicians. That being said I haven't tested the newest Yamaha - I'd trust Stu's impressions any time :)
The ES920 is a powerhouse! We're so happy to hear that you've been enjoying the piano. Thanks for tuning in! :)
Thanks Brent ! a pleasure@@MerriamPianos
I think I prefer the sound of the Kawai. I think it sound a bit warmer in my opinion.
For sure! The warmth and depth of the SK-EX samples are very tough to compete with. :)
Thank you for this great compharrison video!
You're very welcome! Thanks for tuning in! :)
I just got an ES920 recently to play when I'm not home and I've been really happy with it so far.
That is awesome to hear! They're fantastic instruments. :)
I've owned the ES920 for a while now, I bought it based on many of your previous videos and it's been an absolute pleasure to own. I'm no expert and I got no fancy words to say, so I'm not even going to pretend, but yeah, loving the piano, thank you kindly.
That is great to hear! Congrats on your ES920! It is an amazing instrument on all fronts! :)
I've played the Kawai ES920 and I find it's action to be really crisp for an all-plastic-component action. In fact, I played the ES920 side by side the Kawai K-15 (which is Kawai's cheapest upright piano), and I have to say that ES920 gave me a much better playing experience than the K-15 which, while being a real piano, didn't impress me at all. Kawai probably tried too cut the costs when it designed ES920, but this is still a solid premium-level keyboard.
Interesting...kawai ES920 action better that a real piano ...
What do you mean by saying that the action of ES920 was better than the action of acoustic upright piano? Was it closer in its feel to a grand piano or that it was easier for you to play?
I only judge digital piano action by how close that are to acoustic piano actions.
Thank you,
Michael
It all comes down to a matter of subjectivity and personal preference of course, but I can understand where you are coming from. Sonically, the ES920 is giving you the tonal character of a 9' concert grand opposed to a console upright. It is ultimately a topic that every player will have a different opinion on. But, that is what keeps things exciting! :)
@@mfurmana Ihre Frage hat mich grundsätzlich nachdenklich gemacht. Auch über meine Kriterien unabhänig der ihriergen.
Es gibt ja den Spruch" Äpfel nicht mit Birnen zu vergleichen". Nur gibt es heute schon Kreuzungen davon. Vergleiche ich eine kreuzung mit einem Apfel oder mit einer Birne.
Nur weil es das Aussehen eines Apfels kann es schmecken wie eine Birne und umgekehrt.
Ist die Tastatur dann falsch oder falsch der Klang? wenn der Klang falsch ist und die tastatue richtig ist dann ein richtiges oder ein falsches klavier? denn der Anschlag für Flügel wäre ja falsch weil es ein anderer ist. und trotzdem könnte der Klang eunes Flügels drauf erzeugt werden. Aber wiederum gibt es Möglichkeiten beides zu verändern. mal zum klavier mal zum Flügel. Und doch wird immer zu merken sein oder nur fühlen..
Ein echtes Klavier ein echter Flügel das wäre auch meine Frage zum echten immer zu unterscheiden. Aber die Gewichtung muss der vornehmen der spielen wird.
@@morleriassternutatio8150 I will need to translate your post before responding to it 😊
The ES920's piano sounds are magical. Also love the seamless transition between line-out audio and speaker audio in the midst of playing.
It really is an impressive piano! And I certainly agree with your sentiment about the remarkable consistency between the line out, headphone, and onboard speaker sound. :)
Thanks again Stu. I detect a bit more character in the Kawaii and the Yamaha has a bit of that spikey digital tone in the mid-upper register. Otherwise they are both lovely instruments. PS, thanks again for your RD88 review some time back, I bought it and fell in love with the action (not the menus..ha!). I honestly look forward to placing my hands on it every day and improvising or creating, it really is perfect.
Hi! Brent here! Thanks for tuning in and sharing your thoughts! Congrats on your RD88! They're fantastic machines. We're happy to hear that Stu's videos were helpful through your decision making process. :)
The Kawai ES920 has been on my Wishlist for a minute. What a robust piano sound. But even then, Stu can make any keyboard sound good!
Hi! Brent here! The ES920 is fantastic! It is one of my favourite all-in portable digital pianos on the market right now. :)
Great video Stu ! very informative video ! you are an expert and i always take your opinion into consideration ! Thanks for sharing your knowledge !
Hi! Brent here! Thank you for tuning in! I will be sure to pass on your kind words to Stu for you. :)
How are the onboard speakers of the P-525? Does it feel like you can play it at max volume and still have room for more before distortion? Or do they max out pretty good to where you gotta bring it down a notch?
To some extend, it depends on what kind of tonal profile you're working with. Overtly bright piano settings can get a bit crunchy/crispy at the max volume, but for more transparent or warmer sounds, the speakers have quite a bit of headroom.
Both of them sound very nice. The EX sample sort of reminded me of my ES110 that was replaced by a DGX670 a few months ago. Kawai and Yamaha are definitely my go to for digital pianos.
Also just a question? Do both of these models have physical buttons to at least make blinde users lifes easier?🎹🎶
Very interesting comparison.
Can I put in a plea for a review devoted solely to the P525? And could this be of comparable length to the P515 review?
Many thanks as ever.
Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! Thanks for the suggestion! I will pass it along to our production team on your behalf. :)
Which keyboard action/feel is better to you? Yamaha p525 or Kawai VPC1 that has even more wood and a longer pivot length.. Will you review also this VPC1 separately? I am still waiting for the separate review of the p525 :) But thanks for the current comparison!
Hi! Brent here! Thanks for the suggestions! I imagine P525 and VPC1 reviews will be coming shortly. As for which action has a better or more authentic feel, it is a matter of subjectivity of course. But, for me, the VPC1 is hands down the more authentic feeling action. :)
Hi Stu, I practice a lot with headphones. How would you compare the keyboard noise between the two? Regarding the fact not to disturb other people in the room, when playing with headphones, I heard the 525 is louder ?
Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! The ES920 is a touch quieter in my experience. However, they both have a little bit of mechanical key noise, which is quite normal (particularly with heavier actions).
I really wish Kawai would update the ES920. It was released 4 years again. Roland and Yamaha seem to have a better release cycle and makes worthwhile incremental improvements.
While I understand the sentiment because of how awesome the ES920 is, the ES920 still holds up as one of the best all-in portable digital pianos in 2024 in my opinion.
Great review thank you. Is it possible to import more sound samples? Maybe connecting them with their midi interface to a vst…?
Thank you kindly! We appreciate it. While you can access more sounds via MIDI connectivity and VST plugins, you cannot import more patches/samples on these pianos. You would need a sampler piano to do so. Some of the Nord pianos do offer that functionality though.
@@MerriamPianos Thank you very much for this fast and exhaustive response
Kawai ES920 through speakers sounds remarkably close to line outs. Impressive! Plus the warmer tone of the piano, to me it's the clear winner here.
That is a very good point! The consistency between the speaker system, headphone output, and line outs is quite impressive! :)
Gr8 comparison!
Thank you so much! :)
Thx so 4 sharing both beautiful keyboards but I love my yamahas 🎉
You're very welcome! Thanks for tuning in! :)
Eine andere Frage seitens der Bedieng oder später über I Pad mit Sprachausgabe. Sehbehinderte und blinde Menschen: welches von
beiden ist da besser geeignet?
Oder in wie weit muss einmalige ( einrichten) oder zu jedem spielen (erneute Einstellung) Unterstützung eingelant werden?
Vielen Dank
Gerade diese beiden interessieren mich.
Ps. sorry einige Tippfehler waren enthalten
Thank you for the question! Truthfully, I am not really sure as to what additional features are available and present on either model in that regard. Perhaps, one of our community members that has experience with these features or capabilities can chime in with some feedback. :)
Many have commented on how 'light' the 525 action is. I own a 515, play mainly classical, and find the action good for keeping up finger strength when transitioning to an acoustic. I'm worried about losing that if I upgrade to the 525. Obviously I need to try it, but can you comment on that 'lightness' of the 525? You say it compares to an acoustic grand - quite a claim!
Hi! Brent here! Thanks for the question! It really comes down to subjectivity and personal preference. In addition to the quantifiable static weight of a key, there are many other elements to the action that dictate the "feel" of the piano. Even the interconnectivity between the action and tone engine can affect the "feel" of the piano. Like most, I have found the P525 to be on the lighter side compared to the P515 in terms of the touch.
Just bought my Yamaha 525 love it for a guitarist
Congrats! Enjoy the piano and happy playing! :)
It seems like the Kawai just keeps winning no matter who it goes up against (so far)
It is an impressive instrument - that is for sure! :)
Excellent review. Just wish you would have compared the key action of each a little more. Thank you!
We have covered the key action of each of these instruments quite extensively in other videos. :)
(In Spanish from Spain)
Habitualmente nos mostráis las muestras de sonido con direct line-out.
No se si todos los demás usan un amplificador y altavoces externos.
Pero a mí me gustaría más oír las demostraciones a través de los altavoces integrados, de forma que la voz de Stu me sirva de referencia, y adicionalmente en la forma en que suena por los auriculares.
¿Os he agradecido otras veces el esfuerzo que hacéis en mostrarnos los pianos? Es siempre un gran placer encontrar un nuevo video con Stu explicándonos cosas y demostrándonos como suenan.
Muchísimas gracias a todo Merriam Pianos.
Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! Thanks for the kind words and support! We sincerely appreciate it. With some reviews, we do feature the onboard speaker sound. This is typically indicated in the video when we showcase that aspect of the piano. With that said, the issue with capturing the onboard speaker sound is that there are so many variables that can affect how it is captured and presented. The room that you're recording in as well as the type of microphones being used and their placement can all have a drastic impact on the sound. From this perspective, some shoppers may hear a sound that is very different from that which they will experience once they bring the instrument home or hear it in another showroom. :)
1. Which has closer to even weight or preferably even weight between the white and black keys? This what i don't like the most about dps. I don't remember my yamaha upright has lighter black keys than the white...
2. Which is better for fast repetitions?
Hi! Brent here! There will be an element of subjectivity in this regard. For me, the ES920's RHIII action has the edge here. I find the feel more consistent between the white and black keys. I also find the keyboard to be more responsive with a faster repetition speed. However, it is always best for players to test the pianos out for themselves in person when making decisions of course. :)
Hi Stu, I’m playing a lot with headphones. How would you compare the keyboard noise between the two, when it’s about disturbing other people in the room when playing through headphones… I heard the Yamaha is louder, especially when pushing the keys down…
Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! The ES920 is a touch quieter in my experience. However, they both have a little bit of mechanical key noise, which is quite normal (particularly with heavier actions).
Hi Mr Stu Harrison. I am a huge fan of your Merriam Music piano reviews TH-cam channel!! Have you reviewed the Yamaha P-S500 digital piano?
Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! Thank you for supporting our channel! I know Stu and our production team appreciates it immensely. We have not yet reviewed the PS500 model, but I will be happy to pass the suggestion along to our production team and I'm sure they will do their best to tackle a review of it if possible. :)
@@MerriamPianosThanks
Just wondering how Stu gets the clarity of his piano sound?I don’t know if it’s how your recording it or running through a mixer or what,or internal settings,would be nice to know,I can’t quite get that good of a sound on my brand new fp90x?
Hi! Brent here! The sound is captured via direct line outs from the piano into an audio interface. So, in other words, the sound you are hearing is not the onboard speakers.
@@MerriamPianos okay ,thx
Been deciding between these 2 for a while. The es920 speakers/sounds are better but I liked the action of the p525 more so I ended up getting the p525
That is totally fair! They are both great instruments. It really comes down to personal preference at the end of the day.
@@MerriamPianos it really felt like splitting hairs between the two. Was not an easy decision for me
The action of ES920 that I tested was very clicky and unacceptably bouncy for me. Even the action of ES120 was better. GrandTouch-S action is much better although a bit heavier than the action of C7 that I play often.
Michael
It all comes down to subjectivity of course. Different players will have different priorities and concerns. Thankfully, there are a lot of models on the market to choose from.
The Yamaha CFX treble is very "pingy" and unpleasant IMO. The Kawai SK is much more rounded. Though I assume this is highly accurate to both acoustic pianos. The (widely reported) improved action on the 525 would have been worthy of testing if I hadn't already a got digital piano last year, but in tone there's no comparison.
It comes down to subjectivity of course, but the ES920 is very difficult to compete with on the tone front. The SK-EX samples are remarkable! :)
I find that the “pingy” sounds really just come from one key: D5. For some reason, it is the only key that does this. All the rest sound just fine.
I thought I was going to plump for the Yamaha, but after hearing the Kawai, that, to me, sounds so much better. Does the Kawai have a Rhodes Suitcase sound and if so, how does it compare to the Roland? I have a Roland 60X and the Rhodes on that is perfect.
The Kawai ES920 does have a number of electric piano sounds, including a Rhodes sound. I would rate it quite highly, but it comes down to a matter of subjectivity and preference as to which one a specific player prefers.
I agree. I was gunning for the p525 mainly due to wooden keys, but this video has probably swayed me after viewing it twice now over a few weeks. The proof is in the pudding though and I’m keen to try them in person… however my gut says kawaii. I also wonder how they compare to console pianos. I know they are a different market but I would say I am considering both… but will probably opt for a more portable option like these. I would love more of a crossover between stage pianos and these type pianos… kind of of like what Korg sv2s is doing. I love the idea of the kawaii mp11se…. Except it doesn’t have speakers. I have excellent quality monitors but I want speakers in the keyboard.
Can you all comment on how many accompaniments the 525 ha included? I was replied earlier on the 920 and I thought I’d ask for this one since these are my final choices. Thanks for all the great content! Never tire of seeing your reviews! 👏👏
Hi there! The P525 has 40 built-in accompaniment rhythms. :)
@@MerriamPianos thank you much for the reply, Really appreciate it!! 👍
thank you , i was waiting for this ... but kawai 1250 euros in my country!! now let's watch
You're very welcome! :)
We hope you enjoy the video!
The comparison between Kawai ES920 and Yamaha P525 is great! Thanks. Sadly, the P525 is not available in my country (India). Regarding the ES920, is it a matter of concern that it was released 3 years ago? I mean, is it outdated? If Kawai might release a new model, then should I wait?
Hi! Brent here! We have not received any updates from Kawai about an ES920 replacement. For me, it still holds up as one of the best cost-to-value ratios on the market for top-tier all-in portable digital pianos. :)
Thanks @@MerriamPianos
I recently purchased the Yamaha. I do like the piano sound on the Kawai and that came in a close second. The only issue is I heard a review that said the Kawai produced a vibration sound due to the speaker resonating through the cabinetry. So that is pretty much why I went with the Yamaha.
Congrats on your P525! These are both excellent instruments of course, so it all comes down to personal preference. That was an issue with early batches of the ES920, but it has since been resolved and we have not seen that issue coming up on warranty claim. Thanks again and happy playing! :)
@@MerriamPianos happy to hear they fixed that!
Believe it or not, i actually just returned my P525 for that very reason… it happened on the one i demo’d in the store, and i thought maybe it was just that one, i purchased a p525 on amazon brand new and the same exact problem…
If I were to purchase an es920 now, how would I be able to tell whether I was getting an ‘early batch’ with the warranty issue or the later batch? It’s hard to know whether a particular store has been holding on to an old version it wants to get rid of, or ether it’s a newer version, considering it’s still got the same name. It’s not called es920s or anything different. ??
Can you please do a similar comparison between the Yamaha P515 and P525? Thank you!
We will do our best to tackle that comparison for you. Thank you for the suggestion!
@@MerriamPianos Thank you!
The CFX sounds singular. It sounds emotional in a feeling of strings resonating and, yeah, it sounds stringy. The SK-EX is more rounded and sounds effortless so it's less emotional to my sensibilities and quite pretty. The Yamaha isn't so pretty but is somewhat vulnerable and still tinged like a subtle perfume in a way. I guess the Bosendorfer has a different character but I don't think that it sounds like an Imperial, the vastness and power of it isn't quite captured.
It is certainly a very nuanced conversation. The relationship between tone and expressivity is quite an elaborate equation that is a little different for every player. At the end of the day, the important thing is to find instruments that you fully connect with emotionally. :)
for piano sound they are all great ... but kawai is in a league of it's own ... it's like there's so much piano :)))))
It is hard to disagree with that statement! The ES920 is an incredible piano with one of the most authentic piano sounds on the market. :)
7:22 Loved that bit, Stu!😛
Thanks for tuning in! I'll be happy to pass along your kind words to Stu. :)
Great comparison! The ES-920 seems fantastic, it will replace my Yamaha P-155. I find the keys too heavy on the Yamaha.
Thank you! The ES920 is an excellent piano. If you found the Yamaha keys to be on the heavy side, I think the ES920 is a wonderful choice. It is a very authentic feeling touch.
So my question is - when connected to audio out source, do the internal speakers turn off?
If you are using line out connections, it would not disengage the speakers. With that said, if you are taking a feed from the headphone output, it would disengage the onboard speakers.
@@MerriamPianos The user manual page 78 writes this: 'The Line Out Volume setting is used to determine whether the Line Out level can be adjusted using the Master
Volume slider, or whether the Line Out level should be fixed. This setting may be useful when connecting the ES920
digital piano to a mixing console or PA system, while using the instrument’s built-in speakers as local monitors.' That would mean that if you want you can switch of the onboard speakers with the master volume and select a fixed volume for the Line Out. Is that correct?
@@MerriamPianosgreat!!!! Thanks
@@mdezwartThat is correct. There is also a switch on the back of the piano to easily turn off the speakers.
Thank you Stu regards!!
Thanks for tuning in! :)
Call me def leppard, but I just absolutely love Bossendorfer sound from Yamaha. Since I am not playing that much and the budget is an issue, I got myself Roland FP30x (based on Stu's reviews of many competing instruments) and I am quite satisfied with both the sound and the action (especially the action). But I keep on dreaming about the upgrade -- to ES920 ;-)
Congrats on your FP30X! It is a powerhouse machine that greatly outperforms its price tag. Also, I hope you're able to upgrade to the ES920 at some point. It is hands down one of my favourite all-in portable digital pianos. The tone on the ES920 is nothing short of spectacular. :)
Are the keys lighter or heavier on the ES920 compared to the p525 ?
In my experiences, the P525's touch is lighter than the ES920's. :)
@@MerriamPianos thanks!! Ima def go with it then! I found the touch on the 525 to be too light but I’ve read people saying online that the ES920 is even lighter but they must not know what they are talking about!
@@MerriamPianos also, how is the click clack compared to the Yamaha p525?
I played both and I find the kawai lighter. But it’s all subjective I suppose. Kawai spongier. Both great keyboards. If they weren’t so close it would be an easy decision. Try before you buy if you can.
I’m having the hardest time deciding what to buy. Someone choose for me. Budget $3k, want a keyboard over a digital piano for a newer student that I hope lasts them a long time without having to upgrade again.
Hi! Brent here! It really comes down to personal preference. At the end of the day, it is a decision that every player must make for themselves. With that said, my personal favourite around that price category is the ES920. I think it has fantastic touch, tone, and functionality for the investment. :)
Kawai 😍
The ES920 is a gorgeous sounding and playing piano! :)
Built-in speakers audio quality judging turns sometimes also into a comparison between good and bad miking (and respective post-processing 🙃) - just compare for instance with P525 raw zoom recording in th-cam.com/video/1_j9W71sf_k/w-d-xo.html, but frankly, this link sounds more what I experience in any shop when trying out the P525. In opposite to that, the ES920 sounds full and rich to my ears from the start already in the show room through internal speakers. You can improve that with P525 Smart Pianist app and internal EQ, but the initial impression remains as more on the glassy spiky range (although because of that base sound character it will likely more cut through in a live band scenario).
These things matter if you gig with piano with others or alone in tiny venues or if you intend to play more jazzy or classic tunes - you choose. For me, the ES920 absolutely delivers in the realm of jazz voicings in the critical mid-range or changing the tonal character with the EQ on the fly when playing solo. Stu demonstrates this in detail in some other vids, such as in th-cam.com/video/sVkM15V8Q4w/w-d-xo.html.
The key repetition in ES920 is the only thing I dislike. If you come from an P525 and change to ES920 side-by-side, you immediately notice the more "sluggish" key response. You can get used to, but it might take a while.
For my solo or small jazz combo work, ES920+ with P525-like keys, sturdy metal case and USB-C would be a no-brainer buy for me. I even accept 5kg more schlepp factor for that. Do you read this, Kawai? 😄
Thanks for tuning in and sharing your thoughts/insights! We appreciate it. Generally speaking, we always capture the audio directly from the line outs of the instrument without any post-processing in an attempt to demonstrate piano sounds as transparently as possible. :)
What do you think about the fact that the p525 doesn't have counterweights? And the fact that the es920 does have counterweights? How do you perceive this difference when playing both?
It all comes down to a matter of personal preference and subjectivity of course. With that said, for me personally, the counterweights do provide a more authentic touch and sense of control through the entire motion of the key. Different players will gravitate towards different feels though of course. :)
@@MerriamPianos The p525 does not have weights and despite that the comments are better for the p525 keys than the es920 weighted keys. This is not a criticism of Yamaha for not using counterweights, I think they are doing something very well at the Yamaha factory that we have not yet discovered. I have tried the GrandTouch and it has been very exhausting for me, at the same time, it is difficult for me to invest in a piano without counterweights (I have not been able to try the GrandTouch-S yet)
I say this because the Kawai RHIII counterweights are good, I think the disadvantages of the Kawai key are that it is very plastic and the rebound. However, the kawai key, in terms of counterweight, I think is very well done.
@@MerriamPianos Taking into account these two comments, it is very difficult for me to buy the p525 with my eyes closed, however, I think that buying it is something I should do
Great comparison this two boards flagships. I returned Yamaha P-515 only because the key weight was really heavy feelings to my taste, but sound quality on Yamaha was beautiful all ways. Using about 5 last month Kawai ES920 and just love this board...sounds quality best to me, keys feelings and others futures as a weight (still this is COMPACT keyboard for possible relocations any time) and more. Interesting if you can saying a couple words about keys weight compare with P-525/P-515...
Thank you a lot for this great comparison again!
NWX action is indeed too heavy (I mean, it is much heavier than any acoustic piano action I played). I returned P-515 after a few months of use. I started to have finger problems
@@mfurman Wow, so I'm not alone with my feelings about P-515.
@@alexgoriatchenkov Far from it 😀
Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! Thanks for taking the time to check out the video and write in with your experiences. We appreciate it! The key weight of the P515 is definitely on the heavy side, so I certainly understand where you're coming from. I am a bigger fan of the Kawai ES920's RHIII myself in that regard. :)
@@mfurmanI am in the lucky circumstances that I own a few instruments.... the 515 I love ,but you are right that its heavy so I only use it twice a week....my dgx 670 I love the feel , only not between the black keys.... the kawai es 520 I love because its light and great to practice a lot....but the best of all is the kawai mp11se..... buttersmooth... just simply lovely as verstappen would say....😄
I really respect stu’s reviews and objective points of view, but (and I know stu recommends this) I thoroughly recommending taking it all with a grain of salt and trying yourself. I went to buy a kawai es920 over the p525 based upon stus review but when going to the store I found I probably preferred the 525. I still haven’t bought one and in Australia the kawai is a lot cheaper so I still may buy the kawai or even the mp7se by kawai which has the same action. I found the es920 was too muddy in the low end, unnaturally so. When playing 5ths in a blues style it was not right, to the point where I just wouldn’t play blues left hand 5ths style. I think the Yamaha was very good. Kawai a tiny bit behind (just my opinion: try yourself if you can and do what your gut says)
I also should say that it could have been a quirk of that particular machine, although I couldn’t seem to change it. It also occurred with headphones so it wasn’t the speakers.
Thank you so much for tuning in and sharing your experiences! I agree with your sentiments about the importance of testing these instruments in person whenever possible. Firstly, it is important to feel an action in person to determine preferences. Secondly, the sonic experience is quite different in person as well given that there can be some significant differences between listening to a line out feed of an instrument and the sound produced via its onboard speaker system. Thanks again and happy playing! :)
I've had the P-525 keyboard for less than 3 months, and there's a key that's no longer working. Despite it still being under warranty, the technical service is asking for 100 euros for the repairman's visit. Beware of the manufacturer's warranty, which is really poor.
Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! I am very sorry to hear that you have experienced issues with your manufacturer's warranty from Yamaha. We are not Yamaha dealers at this time, so I don't have too much experience with the company in terms of warranty claims. In any case, I hope that your P525 can be repaired at the lowest possible expense to you. Best of luck!
I see the ES920 going on eBay for $1300.. dollars you think that is real or a scam? Really thinking about buying it
I am not sure to be honest. For reference, the price of a new ES920 here in Canada is $2399 at this time.
It's interesting that Yamaha has such limited rhythm options on their flagship portable. The PSR line, the DGX line, and their high end arrangers show Yamaha can do rhythms. But the P-515 and P-525 come with only 40 with no variation choices in each rhythm.
Different manufacturers tend to focus on different elements of their digital piano offerings. This is true when it comes to specific features like accompaniment and which lines/price points they are offered at.
I am surprised you complimented the kawai ES920 that much considering the vibration problem, a one that has veen talked about also in forms. It is soo annoying how Kawai decided to but this beautiful sound engine and "theoritically" decent speaker system in such a cheap chassis where sound gets often distorded and the cheap plastic's vibrations (especially in high volumes) scratch the ears!
The ES920 is a remarkable instrument with many great things to talk about! While earlier manufacturing runs of the ES920 had a few issues with the speaker vibration you speak of, that seems to have been corrected. We have not seen warranty claims for that issue (or virtually any) recently in regard to the ES920.
Love Stu tips about, but Merrian is a store and obviouslly they will never brag abour a product they're selling (and because people can be passionate about brands too, not a fight to pick in business).
That said, I had a P-515 (before P45, then P121, then DGX 660, then the P515 because "best portable yamaha ever / same sample and NWX from upper clavinova") and today have a totally entry level Kawai KDP75.
The Kawai entry is an universe above the best yamaha (then why you bought a lot of yama's? Because at my place, stores don't have this kind of product so must buy online "in dark" and yamaha is consolidated brand, with warranty and stuff).
And why I thik Kawai is better?
Better sample: its not about audio here (taste), its the tech: kawai sample lasts for more than 1 minute(!!!!), yamaha CFX/bose fades aways after 30-40 secs.
Keys: Man, if KDP75 is the entry of kawai and its a lot better than any yamaha key i've touched, just can't imagine how better RHIII, Grand Feel e etc are (nwx is in fact hard to play, one of worsts in my opinion than GHS, PHA4 and even Casio PX160 keys).
Do a favor to yourself: if you are between both, go for kawai here.
Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! Thanks for tuning in and sharing your thoughts and experiences! The Kawai SK-EX samples are amazing across all lines and price points. I certainly agree with your sentiment that they are immensely impressive. I'm glad you got a chance to discover what Kawai has to offer. :)
You go Stu!
:)
I love Yamaha sound❤..good comparision.👍
Thank you! We appreciate it!
It is worth mentioning that, using a specific piano sample and Virtual Technician on the Kawai ES-920 (while having all the necessary knowledge) it is possible to create (or recreate) and save stunningly similar virtual "copies" of nearly all brands of piano (both contemporary and historic models). There are claims that, for instance, you can build from scratch on the ES-920 a virtual CFX that sounds more authentic than the sample that is present on the P-515 or P-525. Sound engines have big muscles nowadays.:) Thank you for another great video.
That is an excellent point! The customization options make these high-end digitals very compelling and capable of replicating a vast array of different pianos. :)
Interestingly in Australia the ES920 is between 10% and 20% cheaper than the P-525.
Pricepoints change per region. In the Netherlands the P 525 costs about € 1900,- and the Kawai is about € 400,- cheaper. But price is not the only point that makes the decision about buying one or the other.
Very true. I got my es920 for$700 cheaper than in the USA.
Go for it - before they change their mind.
Mi diverto a provarli nel negozio di musica dove ho comprato il mio pianoforte digitale. L'aspetto che prendo subito in considerazione è quello della tastiera. Sarà un impressione, ma quella di Yamaha che preferisco, mi sembrava il tasto un po' più stretto e di qualità un po' economica. Silenziosità ottima. Con quella di Kawai es920 non mi trovavo ma si tratta come sempre di sensazioni personali. In Italia il differenziale di prezzo fra i due è notevole ben 500,00 eur a favore di Kawai che risulta più conveniente. Ciao❤
At the end of the day it's all about geting the piano you like not the piano you have to like know what I'm sayin?🎹🎶
Knock knock!
Who’s there?
Roland!
Roland who?
Roland updating the RD-2000 Stage Piano please:)
Haha I guess we shall see what the future holds soon enough! ;)
Owner the P515 for a brief two days and returned. The P525 has an improved sound system compared to the 515 as well. The samples are better and the VRM is also more pronounced with default settings. It is a night and day difference.
For sure! It is a meaningful upgrade. Glad to hear you're happy with the new model. :)
No! Nord Grand uses outdated action that is nothing close to Kawai’s. I accidentally bought a Grand and it’s action is so not what they claim it is.
That is fair. Kawai is definitely one of the most pro-active companies when it comes to refining their actions (both in regard to their digital and acoustic instruments). In any case, it all comes down to a matter of personal preference. Everyone will gravitate towards a different piano touch and feel. :)
Yeah unfortunately Nord prioritized in weight for gigging. I could be wrong with what they did with the Nord Grand piano.
I believe they took the lightest weighted key in the graded action and replicated that across the keybed, making it not graded and the lightest feeling keystroke across the keybed.
es920
The ES920 is an amazing instrument! It is hard to argue that! :)
Such a pity that kawai has such amazing sound and speakers and so cheap plastic built.The Yamaha instrument will last a lot more years than this Kawai.If you are a strong person that pushes the keys to their limit stay away from the Es920.
The ES8 (predecessor to the ES920) was a much more robust, metal chassis, but the common complaint was portability. Kawai's decision with the ES920 was based on portability and practicality as a gigging instrument.