Great video and especially helpful now to those of us trying to decide whether to wait for an ES920 (as you probably know, they are not to be had until late Q3 2022) or pick up a 520. Coming from an ES8, the deal-breaker for me (even more than the loss of escapement), is that the 520 is missing my favorite Kawaii sample - the SK-5, which has a more mellow, intimate sound for home playing being of course a smaller grand. Also - for those who play classical and solo jazz: As much as I love Yamaha gear, I switched from Yamaha to Kawaii initially because most Yamaha actions are in fact very heavy compared to any acoustic grand - they feel good in the store, but over time are fatiguing. The Kawaii, in contrast, can feel a bit squishy and "bouncy", until you get it home and start tossing everything from Bach to Ravel at it, and realize how natural the response is. Anyway, really appreciate your in-depth reviews!
Thank you, Stu! This comparison is what many have been waiting for! And this video is extremely well done, because all the main differences have been made very clear. Excellent job!
Wow, thank you very much for the kind words and feedback! And yes, we agree, showing the difference between internal speakers and line-outs is very helpful. Thanks for watching -LP
The ES920 is the more refined piano. More refined speakers, more refined sound. I don't know about the touch but in both 520 to 920 comparisons I've heard, the ES920 comes up as the better of the two. So, might as well spend a few more hundred dollars if you choose the ES920 Kawai over Roland or Yamaha's offerings. It's one of the tops in its segment and now it weighs less than its predecessor.
As you say, yes, Stu Harrison is a professional musician. I'm a big fan of his. He has made recordings which I think you'll find well worth seeking out. 1 possibility of many is the playlist I intend to put online in next few days, where I've also written info for anyone interested. It'll be called "Stu Harrison, pianist - an appreciation". Happy listening!
Great comparison. Two more differences that come to my mind but seem to have been omitted by Stu are: 1) the ES920 has a few more settings available in the Virtual Technician than the ES520. These are: Undamped String Resonance, Cabinet Resonance, Hammer Noise and Release Time (21 vs 17); 2) the ES920 has 4 more sounds than the ES520 (38 vs 34). Great job, Stu and please keep on opening our eyes to music ever more. :)
Thank you kindly for tuning in and sharing your insights! Naturally, there are a lot of dimensions to cover when comparing two models, so, every now and then, there may be a few that aren't covered in our videos. With that said, we're very fortunate to have amazing community members like yourself to help fill in the gaps. Thanks so much for sharing those additional differences! We sincerely appreciate it. :)
With the ES120 out and the prices at least in Germany being as low as 620€ for the ES120 and 820€ for the ES520 compared to the big jump to 1450€ for the ES920 the comparison between ES120 and ES520 would be very interesting! Are the 200€ more for the ES520 definitely worth it or has the ES120 gotten so good that the lighter, smaller and cheaper option is the way to go?
Hi there! It is quite interesting that the price gaps are so different between different markets. Also, to your point, I think a comparison video of the ES120 and ES520 would be awesome. I will add it to the list of potential video topics for the future. In terms of the jumpy between the ES120 and ES520 musically, it comes down to a matter of preference, but, personally, I find the jump to the ES520 to be quite meaningful and an improvement from the ES120, which is already an awesome instrument!
Thank you so much for getting back to me in a mere second! 😊 Since I don’t have any pressure to get one tomorrow I can comfortably wait for a good deal for the ES520. And btw: your reviews are exceptional! Reading out loud a spec list or acting as if every instrument is the best is just useless. I want quality, experience, an honest opinion and especially the „who is this for“ and „and what are the pros/cons compared to model x“ And you deliver - awesomely! 🙂
Stu Harrison - review is intelligent, informative, fair, helpful and your playing is so very enjoyable to hear. Your playing helps in major way to sell these instruments. Thank you!
Hi! Brent here! Thank you so much for tuning in! We're glad you enjoy Stu's reviews and playing. I will be more than happy to send the kind words to Stu for you. :)
@@dang579 I bought both to find out. It turns out, each is good at different things and it depends on your priorities. The implementation of the RHIII action in the ES920 feels better to me but the built-in Nord sounds are far superior to the ES920's, especially if you don't use monitors, stereo speakers, or headphones with the ES920. I searched and searched to try and understand if the Nord was hype or justified and I'll say that I now understand the beauty of the Nord is that you get truly beautiful, engaging, varied piano (and other instrument) sounds that always work, with all controls right in front of you in a gorgeous wood casing, but for double the price. With the Kawai, you get a cheap plastic keyboard with a better version of the RHIII action than in the Nord but, to me, the sounds (especially coming through the inbuilt speakers) are pretty toy-like, they sound like a plastic fake piano/'90s keyboard. Connected to monitors or headphones, the ES920 starts to sound much better, but the Nord is indeed special because I can switch from a bright Steinway to a deep Bösendorfer in two clicks and they both have a sparkle and realness that I believe. Oddly, when I connected headphones to the Nord rather than monitors or my home stereo speakers, the headphones sounded compressed and weird. Not sure why. Ultimately, I decided to keep the Kawai ES920 as a MIDI controller for its better action, buy a small pair of monitors (I would need these anyway for the Nord since it has no speakers) and get a couple of nice VST and a new computer to run them, a new Kawai soft case with wheels, a stand, cables, and all for the same price as just the Nord alone. Now I have sounds to rival the Nord (or, frankly, offer even more detail but what the Nord does with its small memory capacity is, frankly, incredible) but the RHIII action of the Kawai with the escapement and let off features they removed from the RHIII action in the Nord. The Nord feels good, but the Kawai feels better. If the Nord had the full RHIII rather than the lightened up version of it (it just feels light all the way from the top of the key to the bottom). Sorry for all the rambling and detail, happy to answer specific questions.
Thank You for sharing this! I was also bewitched by the nord sounds (of course!) but am leaning towards the kawai action. I've had a Roland for many years, but the action is just so dang heavy!! I think I'll follow a similar solution to what you mentioned here... kawai action with my own vsts! Are you still happy with your kawai 920? Thank You!
I love the comparison of the mechanical noise of the actions because I really value a quiet action. How would you say the ES120 compares to the ES520 in terms of mechanical action noise? Also, I know the 520 has a more powerful speaker system - does that provide a meaningful difference in warmth and depth of the tone when using the onboard speakers on the 520 as compared to the 120? Thank you!!
Thanks for the question! The ES120 and ES520 are fairly comparable in terms of key noise. However, the extra cushioning and slightly lighter weight of the ES120's RHC action makes it a bit more quiet overall. The ES520's speaker system yields a far richer, warmer tone than the ES120's due to the added headroom.
You state (at about18:00...) that the RH2 has a slightly shallower keybed." In 2014, I bought both the MP7 and the MP11 and had them side by side. The key dip on the MP7 was .7 cm. On the MP11, 1.0 cm. The current literature states that it is the ES920, not the 520, that shares the same action (RHIII) with the MP7se. So, I wonder what's going on with key dip here! I didn't like hte shallow key dip on the MP7 and returned it for that reason. I LOVE the MP11 action!
Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! The MP11 and MP11SE have a truly wonderful touch. Like you, I am a massive fan of their action! Every detail and nuance it offers seems very well balanced to my fingers. :)
@@MerriamPianos I got to play the MP11's action in the CA46 today. It is not fatiguing at all. Would you say the MP11's ("Grand Feel") actions are lighter, the same or heavier than the 920's? Thanks again, Brent! And thanks for these great videos with Stu! Tell him to cut loose with some be-bop! He's a great player!
Video idea in the benefit of Music College Students, Teachers and Pros. Please, I beg you... Hey man, I like your videos a lot and they are really helpful for buyers of Digital/Acoustic pianos. As a College Student and as a fellow piano player, I think many people like me would love to see a video that would compare all the flagship actions of the best brands. Maybe compare these Home Digitals or Portable Digitals to an actual Key-Action of a Grand Piano or an Upright Piano, ie. How accurate is the Let-off/Escapement? How accurate/realistic are the Dynamics? How wide is the Dynamic Range? How accurate is the weight? Or maybe make it a List??? The video would be made with the objective of finding the best key action in Portable/Home digitals for College Students. The reason for this is that not everyone or not all college students have the space or the budget for Acoustic Grands or Upright Pianos. Please do it, because you as a fellow pianist who reviews both, Acoustic pianos and Digital pianos, you have chance to truly test the which digital is best for us College students.
Hi! Brent here! We don't currently have any tutorials with Stu on this topic, but I think that is a great suggestion. Perhaps, we will have more tutorial videos along those lines in the near future. :)
Is the line out going to sound the same as the headphone out? Many people will be watching youtube videos with headphones I’d guess and if they sound differnt, the headphone output might be a good way to simulate how they’ll sound when played on headphones.
As you're such a fan & wrote that some time back, I expect you've found out by now - worth noting that Stu has recorded a version of this on his "Volume One".
Hi! Brent here! I am not in front of the ES920 currently, so I can't verify, but I don't recall an EQ deactivation. But, with the 4-band EQ right on the control interface, it is quick and easy to make changes as needed. :)
Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! Stu is not currently teaching lessons. However, we have received a number of requests for more tutorial/educational videos from Stu, which we'll hopefully get to sooner rather than later. :)
I assume you mean the Kawai screen, correct? If so, it's related to frames per second and the rate at which the Kawai screen is being updated. It's akin to the acoustic phenomena known as phasing. In this case, the differing rates cause the screen to appear to be flickering, but in person, you wooudln't see that, it would be a continuous image to your eye.
Regarding touch weight / pivot length, key dip, etc. only: Does the 920, with its longer fulcrum (RHIII), feel softer or harder to the touch to play than the 520 (RHC)? You state that the 920 is "marginally heavier." Can you put a number on that? 5%? 10% I know it's difficult! How would these relate to the ES120 (also RHC, but 2, not 3, sensor)? Thanks....
Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! The ES920 definitely has a heavier feel that the ES110 and ES520 to me as well. While it may be a bit arbitrary to say as everyone's perception of feel is different, I would say somewhere around the neighbourhood of 15%. There is a more solid feeling to the action though. The ES120 has a very similar weight to the ES110 and ES520 to me, but it has a bit more of that solidity that the ES920's RHIII possesses. Thanks and hope this helps!
@@MerriamPianos Yes it helps, thanks! 15% isn't trivial. I did play the 120 today at a store and they did have a (very used floor model) 110, which was sloppy and bouncy in comparison to the fairly smooth 120. I wonder if these shorter actions "wear out" quickly?
The 920 comes with a mini drum roll after the press of each and every key. Unless you have it on full volume. You can even hear it when playing whilst wearing headphones
While you could technically use the line-in, neither of these pianos are really designed to support a vocal microphone/track running through them. I would recommend looking at models like the Roland FP-E50 and FP90X models, which have a dedicated microphone input as well as a plethora of onboard vocal effects. :)
Did you find a solution to connect a mic? I have a Roland FP60X, a Yamaha P515, CasioGP510 and just got a brand new Kawai GL40 grand piano. Looking into trading in the Yamaha p515 or Roland for the ES920
@@gustavogo2915 I already got CA59. Quite happy with it. But I also got quite cheaply a nice small acoustic piano, and I like to play it way way more than any digital. So the digital is now a backup, when I use headphones and do not want to disturb others.
I just checked at Amazon on ES920 and a comment by a person said the same thing. Hope you can figure this out. If not, trade for another portable piano.
@@Josifer4GAppFire what did you get instead? I used to have an ES520 and I liked it so much I got a brand new Kawai GL10 baby grand. Then later on I sold the ES520 and got a Yamaha P515 to give company to my Kawai GL10. A few days ago I put a deposit for a KawaiGL30
Ciao Stu, molto interessante questo confronto. Il campione del pianoforte Es920 è leggermente migliore rotondo e meglio definito nel registro dei medi rispetto al es520 che suona più secco e asciutto pur riproducendo un ottimo campione. Grazie mille e come sempre un saluto dall'Italia. Ciao.
You're very welcome! Thank you for tuning in! While these are both exceptional instruments, I definitely agree that the more sophisticated tone engine of the ES920 provides more nuance and a sweeter tone overall. Thanks again! :)
Key noises are annoying, Yamaha GHS has improved a lot ...very quiet indeed.i have Dgx 630, p125,, and Casio pxs1000, 870,. roland rp102 and es520 ...520 is pretty loud, only better than old dgx630😊😊
@@JoeLinux2000 I’m only in month 13, do you think the Bach music will be too difficult? I struggle just reading sheet music as it is from my “SuperEasy Book.” I’m only on Hanon Exercise 3 (of 60) and it’s horribly difficult for me. Thank you in advance, I appreciate your advice and help.
@@JoeLinux2000 I’m sorry my friend, I’ve learned TH-cam recognizes links as “spam” and deletes them immediately. I will look for the Bach book on Amazon, I appreciate your help and advice. Thank you so much my friend, I’m actually practicing right now.
@@JS45678 Look for WIlliam Gillock. He has died, but some of his pieces are exquisite and are designed for beginners. Actaully you might enjoy the Gillock more than Bach. In my case I work on some Bach, but it's tough in the sense that it really cooks your brain. There's another Book I could recommend but won't right now. It's the best book on the science behind learning the piano there is. What you have to understand is you are developing your brain, not your fingers. While Hanon may strengthen your fingers somewhat it does little for your brain, particularly in a musical sense. The scientific book teaches you how to make exercises out of any rough spots you have in a musical composition you are learning. As for the brain, you have to move the musical effort into your subconscious mind. You don't think about breathing, it's something you do subconsciously. That's what has to happen when you learn a complex musical composition. It moves from you active thinking mind into your subconscious mind where the movement of your fingers becomes natural and effortless. Learning new music is always tough. You really aren't practicing a piece until you have learned it first. The problem with Hanon is it takes a lot of time to master it and you are left with nothing. No one is interested in hearing it. It's better to work on music that you and others will enjoy once you have mastered it. It's a lot like growing grass. You water it, but don't see the results until a few days later. Too much water on any given day doesn't help. It just takes time for the grass to grow. When you are learning piano you are growing brain cells or at least strengthening the connections between brain cells (neurons).
Thanks for the suggestion! We will do our best to tackle that comparison for you if at all possible. The ES520 doesn't exactly stack up against those other models in terms of price point though. It is quite a bit higher than the FP30X and PXS5000 here in Canada.
Stu, you really need to work on your posture while playing. I just don't see how you can ever become an accomplished pianist sitting like that... Great review and playing! Always look forward to your videos!. Personally, I would opt for the ES920 because I have far more money than talent.....
It doesn't matter about his posture, he's a proven entirely competent pianist. Watch Cateen. He can play marvlessly well sitting legs crossed on the bench. He also has another video where he only plays with two fingers on each hand with the other fingers taped, and he sounds fantastic. th-cam.com/video/9lMSUQ-gHso/w-d-xo.html
ES920..... I'm trying as hard as I possibly can to justify the idea of getting a Kawai. They make their bread and butter solely on the reputation of their key bed. They charge a high dollar price that is equivalent to other Roland competing products while not matching anywhere near as close to the feature sets that Roland comparable keyboards provide. ES920 cost too much for not enough features. And Kawai's keys are alllllwwwaaaaaayyyyssss suffering from clicky-clunky-clacks and whatnot. Garbage. But it's true that Kawai's key "action" is the best, but that's all. As for piano "sounds".... the sounds are also very good, but again not enough to justify the price tag for just two standout features: key action and piano sounds. That's because I can eliminate one of those two standout features (Piano sounds) by replacing it with extremely high quality VSTs. Pianoteq 7, etc. That's good enough for my needs. this now leaves me to just one remaining standout feature, the key action. I really want to "want" a Kawai MP11SE....but for THAT price, I can get a Roland RD-2000. I know it's a trade-off but you're walking away with way, way, way, way more bang for your buck and a key action that's extremely darn close to the best. Win-win.
@Michael Zhu Sounding significantly better than Roland FP90 or Yamaha CFX/Bosendorfer is absolutely subjective. Even the key action is subjective. And I think a lot of pianos, including Yamaha and Roland are made in Indonesia. The quality control may have little to do with where they are made.
I don't know; I cancelled my es920 pre-order in favor of the Yamaha DGX-670 which is half the price. Now I'm thinking of cancelling the order for the DGX. I have a decent set up with Pianoteq Pro 7 voices. Why spend money on another piano that doesn't sound as authentic as Pianoteq?
@@JoeLinux2000 - did you see my initial comment?? Another Plus for Pianoteq. I haven't gotten yet but can't wait to jump on Version 7. You cancelled the ES-920 for the DGX and now you're thinking of cancelling that. Would that be in favor of simply staying with what you have now coupled with Piantoteq? I am keyboard-less right now. So the FP-60X with Pianoteq 7 Standard is where I'm thinking of pulling the trigger.
@@JrBeny - That's awesome that you like it. ❤️ I personally do not prefer it, but then again I think preferences are honestly subjective. Whatever helps you become a better player, that's what you should marry.
There is Stu the presenter and there's Stu the pianist. Both excellent. A perfect combination!
Great video and especially helpful now to those of us trying to decide whether to wait for an ES920 (as you probably know, they are not to be had until late Q3 2022) or pick up a 520.
Coming from an ES8, the deal-breaker for me (even more than the loss of escapement), is that the 520 is missing my favorite Kawaii sample - the SK-5, which has a more mellow, intimate sound for home playing being of course a smaller grand.
Also - for those who play classical and solo jazz: As much as I love Yamaha gear, I switched from Yamaha to Kawaii initially because most Yamaha actions are in fact very heavy compared to any acoustic grand - they feel good in the store, but over time are fatiguing. The Kawaii, in contrast, can feel a bit squishy and "bouncy", until you get it home and start tossing everything from Bach to Ravel at it, and realize how natural the response is.
Anyway, really appreciate your in-depth reviews!
@@joecat4115 i agree. Yamaha p515 is soo much beavier to play. I much prefer my Kawai es920.
@@michellemonet4358 I did in fact score a barely used ES920 right after posting this, and have been loving it :)
@@joecat4115 great!
I love my white one. Learning rhythms and registrations next.
What are your favorite piano settings?
Can't wait for the ES920 vs the FP90X!
th-cam.com/video/lJdghJdHXGg/w-d-xo.html
Thank you, Stu! This comparison is what many have been waiting for! And this video is extremely well done, because all the main differences have been made very clear. Excellent job!
Wow, thank you very much for the kind words and feedback! And yes, we agree, showing the difference between internal speakers and line-outs is very helpful. Thanks for watching -LP
Honestly i am watching these videos just to watch you play
Report! Creepy 😅😂
Best piano reviews online. So helpful.
Stu I own a piano, but damn, I love watching these
Es 920 sounds warmer and fuller to me.I think it worths the extra money. Great review.
It really is a spectacular piano that presents an excellent cost-to-value ratio. :)
@@jorjajorjan3863 i love mine
The ES920 is the more refined piano. More refined speakers, more refined sound. I don't know about the touch but in both 520 to 920 comparisons I've heard, the ES920 comes up as the better of the two. So, might as well spend a few more hundred dollars if you choose the ES920 Kawai over Roland or Yamaha's offerings. It's one of the tops in its segment and now it weighs less than its predecessor.
I agree with Stu- the difference is minimal for how much more you are getting.
All reasons I bought the 920
Love it.😊
That take on My Romance at the video intro was gorgeous, glad they let you really get into it without cutting you off, sounded awesome 🙌
Absolutely!
Definitely a professional musician I guess
As you say, yes, Stu Harrison is a professional musician. I'm a big fan of his. He has made recordings which I think you'll find well worth seeking out. 1 possibility of many is the playlist I intend to put online in next few days, where I've also written info for anyone interested. It'll be called "Stu Harrison, pianist - an appreciation". Happy listening!
Really good walkthrough of the difference between them, and a great guide for me that’s just about to get one of them. Leaning towards es920. Thanks!
I have the 920. Love mine
'My Romance' - some of the most beautiful piano playing we'll ever hear - thank you so much for this superb video!
You are really the best!
I will be happy to pass on the kind words to Stu! Thanks for tuning in! :)
Very good and really depth comparision. Like it and want this for Roland FP-60X and FP-30X.
You do such great reviews. Also, you play beautifully. Thank you!
Thanks so much for tuning in! I'll share your kind words with Stu on your behalf! :)
Great comparison. Two more differences that come to my mind but seem to have been omitted by Stu are: 1) the ES920 has a few more settings available in the Virtual Technician than the ES520. These are: Undamped String Resonance, Cabinet Resonance, Hammer Noise and Release Time (21 vs 17); 2) the ES920 has 4 more sounds than the ES520 (38 vs 34). Great job, Stu and please keep on opening our eyes to music ever more. :)
Thank you kindly for tuning in and sharing your insights! Naturally, there are a lot of dimensions to cover when comparing two models, so, every now and then, there may be a few that aren't covered in our videos. With that said, we're very fortunate to have amazing community members like yourself to help fill in the gaps. Thanks so much for sharing those additional differences! We sincerely appreciate it. :)
thanks, very useful video for taking a decision.
Thanks for doing these reviews... your videos helped me decide that the 520 was the right digital keyboard for someone my level....
You're very welcome! Congrats on your ES520! It is a wonderful piano with a fantastic touch and tone. I know it will serve you well! :)
With the ES120 out and the prices at least in Germany being as low as 620€ for the ES120 and 820€ for the ES520 compared to the big jump to 1450€ for the ES920 the comparison between ES120 and ES520 would be very interesting! Are the 200€ more for the ES520 definitely worth it or has the ES120 gotten so good that the lighter, smaller and cheaper option is the way to go?
Hi there! It is quite interesting that the price gaps are so different between different markets. Also, to your point, I think a comparison video of the ES120 and ES520 would be awesome. I will add it to the list of potential video topics for the future. In terms of the jumpy between the ES120 and ES520 musically, it comes down to a matter of preference, but, personally, I find the jump to the ES520 to be quite meaningful and an improvement from the ES120, which is already an awesome instrument!
Thank you so much for getting back to me in a mere second! 😊
Since I don’t have any pressure to get one tomorrow I can comfortably wait for a good deal for the ES520.
And btw: your reviews are exceptional! Reading out loud a spec list or acting as if every instrument is the best is just useless. I want quality, experience, an honest opinion and especially the „who is this for“ and „and what are the pros/cons compared to model x“
And you deliver - awesomely! 🙂
Stu Harrison - review is intelligent, informative, fair, helpful and your playing is so very enjoyable to hear. Your playing helps in major way to sell these instruments. Thank you!
Hi! Brent here! Thank you so much for tuning in! We're glad you enjoy Stu's reviews and playing. I will be more than happy to send the kind words to Stu for you. :)
When are you going to review the Yamaha DGX-670? :))
6:06
7:52
Ther isn't kawai es520 review on your channel yet.
How well does the ES920 compete with the Nord Grand?
I'd love to see this as well
@@dang579 I bought both to find out. It turns out, each is good at different things and it depends on your priorities. The implementation of the RHIII action in the ES920 feels better to me but the built-in Nord sounds are far superior to the ES920's, especially if you don't use monitors, stereo speakers, or headphones with the ES920. I searched and searched to try and understand if the Nord was hype or justified and I'll say that I now understand the beauty of the Nord is that you get truly beautiful, engaging, varied piano (and other instrument) sounds that always work, with all controls right in front of you in a gorgeous wood casing, but for double the price. With the Kawai, you get a cheap plastic keyboard with a better version of the RHIII action than in the Nord but, to me, the sounds (especially coming through the inbuilt speakers) are pretty toy-like, they sound like a plastic fake piano/'90s keyboard. Connected to monitors or headphones, the ES920 starts to sound much better, but the Nord is indeed special because I can switch from a bright Steinway to a deep Bösendorfer in two clicks and they both have a sparkle and realness that I believe. Oddly, when I connected headphones to the Nord rather than monitors or my home stereo speakers, the headphones sounded compressed and weird. Not sure why. Ultimately, I decided to keep the Kawai ES920 as a MIDI controller for its better action, buy a small pair of monitors (I would need these anyway for the Nord since it has no speakers) and get a couple of nice VST and a new computer to run them, a new Kawai soft case with wheels, a stand, cables, and all for the same price as just the Nord alone. Now I have sounds to rival the Nord (or, frankly, offer even more detail but what the Nord does with its small memory capacity is, frankly, incredible) but the RHIII action of the Kawai with the escapement and let off features they removed from the RHIII action in the Nord. The Nord feels good, but the Kawai feels better. If the Nord had the full RHIII rather than the lightened up version of it (it just feels light all the way from the top of the key to the bottom). Sorry for all the rambling and detail, happy to answer specific questions.
Thank You for sharing this! I was also bewitched by the nord sounds (of course!) but am leaning towards the kawai action. I've had a Roland for many years, but the action is just so dang heavy!! I think I'll follow a similar solution to what you mentioned here... kawai action with my own vsts! Are you still happy with your kawai 920? Thank You!
I love the comparison of the mechanical noise of the actions because I really value a quiet action. How would you say the ES120 compares to the ES520 in terms of mechanical action noise?
Also, I know the 520 has a more powerful speaker system - does that provide a meaningful difference in warmth and depth of the tone when using the onboard speakers on the 520 as compared to the 120?
Thank you!!
Thanks for the question! The ES120 and ES520 are fairly comparable in terms of key noise. However, the extra cushioning and slightly lighter weight of the ES120's RHC action makes it a bit more quiet overall. The ES520's speaker system yields a far richer, warmer tone than the ES120's due to the added headroom.
You state (at about18:00...) that the RH2 has a slightly shallower keybed." In 2014, I bought both the MP7 and the MP11 and had them side by side. The key dip on the MP7 was .7 cm. On the MP11, 1.0 cm. The current literature states that it is the ES920, not the 520, that shares the same action (RHIII) with the MP7se. So, I wonder what's going on with key dip here! I didn't like hte shallow key dip on the MP7 and returned it for that reason. I LOVE the MP11 action!
Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! The MP11 and MP11SE have a truly wonderful touch. Like you, I am a massive fan of their action! Every detail and nuance it offers seems very well balanced to my fingers. :)
@@MerriamPianos I got to play the MP11's action in the CA46 today. It is not fatiguing at all. Would you say the MP11's ("Grand Feel") actions are lighter, the same or heavier than the 920's? Thanks again, Brent! And thanks for these great videos with Stu! Tell him to cut loose with some be-bop! He's a great player!
@@MerriamPianos It's a shame the darn thing weighs 85 pounds. Where are my roadies when I need them, LOL?
Good choice for monitor speakers ADAM
Thanks for the suggestion! I think doing a comprehensive video comparison on studio monitors would be an excellent project for the future. :)
Great video! Do you think that an ES110 replacement is on the way?
Fwiw, imo...with the FP-30X out, Kawai better have an ES110 replacement coming soon.
Video idea in the benefit of Music College Students, Teachers and Pros. Please, I beg you...
Hey man, I like your videos a lot and they are really helpful for buyers of Digital/Acoustic pianos. As a College Student and as a fellow piano player, I think many people like me would love to see a video that would compare all the flagship actions of the best brands.
Maybe compare these Home Digitals or Portable Digitals to an actual Key-Action of a Grand Piano or an Upright Piano, ie. How accurate is the Let-off/Escapement? How accurate/realistic are the Dynamics? How wide is the Dynamic Range? How accurate is the weight?
Or maybe make it a List???
The video would be made with the objective of finding the best key action in Portable/Home digitals for College Students.
The reason for this is that not everyone or not all college students have the space or the budget for Acoustic Grands or Upright Pianos.
Please do it, because you as a fellow pianist who reviews both, Acoustic pianos and Digital pianos, you have chance to truly test the which digital is best for us College students.
ES920 vs P515 please!!
"more bright electronicy sounding, much heavier action"
16:13 Key Action
:)
Hi Stu, have you got any tutorials on the sequence of chords you play? Cheers
Hi! Brent here! We don't currently have any tutorials with Stu on this topic, but I think that is a great suggestion. Perhaps, we will have more tutorial videos along those lines in the near future. :)
Is the line out going to sound the same as the headphone out? Many people will be watching youtube videos with headphones I’d guess and if they sound differnt, the headphone output might be a good way to simulate how they’ll sound when played on headphones.
Whats the title of the first song Stu played? He is an amazing pianist and I come here to listen to him almost everyday not only for the review. 😻
Rogers and Hart My Romance check out the luminous Bill Evans recordings
As you're such a fan & wrote that some time back, I expect you've found out by now - worth noting that Stu has recorded a version of this on his "Volume One".
Can you turn off bluetooth if you don't want to use it?
I believe so, yes.
5:40 Does the ES-920 have an EQ deactivation option? Because the EQ is obviously not flat. You can tell by the position of the 4 sliders.
Hi! Brent here! I am not in front of the ES920 currently, so I can't verify, but I don't recall an EQ deactivation. But, with the 4-band EQ right on the control interface, it is quick and easy to make changes as needed. :)
Stu, by any chance do you offer online improvisation lessons in the style of your videos?
Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! Stu is not currently teaching lessons. However, we have received a number of requests for more tutorial/educational videos from Stu, which we'll hopefully get to sooner rather than later. :)
Does this have pad sound for a layer with piano?
Yup! There are many other non-piano sounds, including pads that can be used to layer with piano. :)
@@MerriamPianos thank you
Why does it always look like the screen is flickering? Is it like that in person? I see it on all the YT videos...
I assume you mean the Kawai screen, correct? If so, it's related to frames per second and the rate at which the Kawai screen is being updated. It's akin to the acoustic phenomena known as phasing. In this case, the differing rates cause the screen to appear to be flickering, but in person, you wooudln't see that, it would be a continuous image to your eye.
@@Truthasvictim thanks for taking the time to respond. That’s very helpful!
I want what Stu owns.
The 920 STILL doesn't come with a Microphone Jack?
Regarding touch weight / pivot length, key dip, etc. only: Does the 920, with its longer fulcrum (RHIII), feel softer or harder to the touch to play than the 520 (RHC)? You state that the 920 is "marginally heavier." Can you put a number on that? 5%? 10% I know it's difficult! How would these relate to the ES120 (also RHC, but 2, not 3, sensor)? Thanks....
Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! The ES920 definitely has a heavier feel that the ES110 and ES520 to me as well. While it may be a bit arbitrary to say as everyone's perception of feel is different, I would say somewhere around the neighbourhood of 15%. There is a more solid feeling to the action though. The ES120 has a very similar weight to the ES110 and ES520 to me, but it has a bit more of that solidity that the ES920's RHIII possesses. Thanks and hope this helps!
@@MerriamPianos Yes it helps, thanks! 15% isn't trivial. I did play the 120 today at a store and they did have a (very used floor model) 110, which was sloppy and bouncy in comparison to the fairly smooth 120. I wonder if these shorter actions "wear out" quickly?
FP 60X or ES520?
That seems to be close to what i am thinking too. I'd probably go FP90X, but that's a whole lot more money, especially in Canada.
@@Truthasvictim thank you💗💗💗
If you're in Canada AXP and didn;t see my other comment, be forewarned- Kawai USA declared that all their prices are rising effective April 1st.
@@Truthasvictim Ow, thanks again. btw I'm form Philippines.
I would take the FP60X. But it's hard to say. A difference of opinion is what creates the market place.
Hey Stu, do u think a Kawai ES120 is comming out soon in replacement of the ES110 ? Very nice video btw !
He thinks the 520 is the 110 replacement.
@@JoeLinux2000 but its double the price lol
@@JoeLinux2000wrong
The 920 comes with a mini drum roll after the press of each and every key. Unless you have it on full volume. You can even hear it when playing whilst wearing headphones
I believe the issue you mentioned has been addressed in recent batches of the ES920 (namely since they resumed production of the model).
@@MerriamPianosis there a way of differentiating the batches so we can try to avoid getting the older one?
If you want to plug a microphone in for a vocalist how do you suggest that?
While you could technically use the line-in, neither of these pianos are really designed to support a vocal microphone/track running through them. I would recommend looking at models like the Roland FP-E50 and FP90X models, which have a dedicated microphone input as well as a plethora of onboard vocal effects. :)
@@MerriamPianos thanks I already bought the Es920!
Did you find a solution to connect a mic? I have a Roland FP60X, a Yamaha P515, CasioGP510 and just got a brand new Kawai GL40 grand piano. Looking into trading in the Yamaha p515 or Roland for the ES920
@@Gustavo-x8f3q I also have a Yamaha 515 and a kawai es920. I MUCH prefer the kawai!
Why.do you want to replace your p515?
Does the app have Auto Accompaniment features? As in to use with the 520?
The app does not have auto-accompaniment features, but both the ES520 and ES920 have 100 onboard accompaniment patterns to play along to. :)
@@MerriamPianos wow that is great to know. Thank you for this info! Had no idea the 520 had this.
920 seems to be a little warmer
Hmm. So should I get a ES920 or CA49, for learning piano at home?
Ca901 or CasioGP510
@@gustavogo2915 I already got CA59. Quite happy with it. But I also got quite cheaply a nice small acoustic piano, and I like to play it way way more than any digital. So the digital is now a backup, when I use headphones and do not want to disturb others.
The 920 does sound a little fuller,
The ES920 really does have an exceptional tone! :)
please, a question...got ES 920 inside the sound of Kawai EP 308? thanks
I am not sure if I fully understand the question.
Sorry for my bad english, i say if i can find inside ES920/520 the voice of Kawai electric grand model 608/308
Not 4-500 dollar in the netherlands.....but 700 euro difference... thats 740 dollar
I just got a ES920 and my speakers dont sound as good can you tell me whats wrong?
I just checked at Amazon on ES920 and a comment by a person said the same thing. Hope you can figure this out. If not, trade for another portable piano.
@@vickil6325 I already returned it, not worth
@@Josifer4GAppFire huh
@@Josifer4GAppFire silly, you can change the sounds a lot , and where it is placed has a lot of influence too.
@@Josifer4GAppFire what did you get instead? I used to have an ES520 and I liked it so much I got a brand new Kawai GL10 baby grand. Then later on I sold the ES520 and got a Yamaha P515 to give company to my Kawai GL10. A few days ago I put a deposit for a KawaiGL30
Ciao Stu, molto interessante questo confronto. Il campione del pianoforte Es920 è leggermente migliore rotondo e meglio definito nel registro dei medi rispetto al es520 che suona più secco e asciutto pur riproducendo un ottimo campione. Grazie mille e come sempre un saluto dall'Italia. Ciao.
You're very welcome! Thank you for tuning in! While these are both exceptional instruments, I definitely agree that the more sophisticated tone engine of the ES920 provides more nuance and a sweeter tone overall. Thanks again! :)
Stu, I just read on Kawai's own US site that all prices are going up on April 1st. A warning to all of us interested in one of these 2 in particular.
Link?
Source?
Oh wow he’s right
Key noises are annoying, Yamaha GHS has improved a lot ...very quiet indeed.i have Dgx 630, p125,, and Casio pxs1000, 870,. roland rp102 and es520 ...520 is pretty loud, only better than old dgx630😊😊
The guitar sound on the rythym function is terrible,it’s good they have option to leave that out,so cheesy sounding.
I agree.i just use the drums and sometimes bass. Never ALL.😂
👍👌😉
Please, tradution for Portuguese, more importante. Fernando René z- Brasil..
Thanks for writing in! I am not sure if TH-cam offers closed caption translations in Portuguese, but it is certainly worth checking out.
@@MerriamPianos whose is First : ES 520 or ES 920 , ??? YOUR OPINION IS VERY IMPORTANT - Yamaha P-525 , please...
I am a 1000% Roland guy but I love Stu’s reviews so much, I have to just watch and enjoy while practicing my scales and Hanon exercises. 👊🙂🎹
Work on the Bach Inventions rather than Hanon. Learn to play actual music, not exercises.
@@JoeLinux2000 I’m only in month 13, do you think the Bach music will be too difficult?
I struggle just reading sheet music as it is from my “SuperEasy Book.” I’m only on Hanon Exercise 3 (of 60) and it’s horribly difficult for me. Thank you in advance, I appreciate your advice and help.
I posted some links that disappeared. That's not very nice.
@@JoeLinux2000 I’m sorry my friend, I’ve learned TH-cam recognizes links as “spam” and deletes them immediately.
I will look for the Bach book on Amazon, I appreciate your help and advice. Thank you so much my friend, I’m actually practicing right now.
@@JS45678 Look for WIlliam Gillock. He has died, but some of his pieces are exquisite and are designed for beginners. Actaully you might enjoy the Gillock more than Bach. In my case I work on some Bach, but it's tough in the sense that it really cooks your brain. There's another Book I could recommend but won't right now. It's the best book on the science behind learning the piano there is. What you have to understand is you are developing your brain, not your fingers. While Hanon may strengthen your fingers somewhat it does little for your brain, particularly in a musical sense. The scientific book teaches you how to make exercises out of any rough spots you have in a musical composition you are learning. As for the brain, you have to move the musical effort into your subconscious mind. You don't think about breathing, it's something you do subconsciously. That's what has to happen when you learn a complex musical composition. It moves from you active thinking mind into your subconscious mind where the movement of your fingers becomes natural and effortless. Learning new music is always tough. You really aren't practicing a piece until you have learned it first. The problem with Hanon is it takes a lot of time to master it and you are left with nothing. No one is interested in hearing it. It's better to work on music that you and others will enjoy once you have mastered it. It's a lot like growing grass. You water it, but don't see the results until a few days later. Too much water on any given day doesn't help. It just takes time for the grass to grow. When you are learning piano you are growing brain cells or at least strengthening the connections between brain cells (neurons).
FP30X vs PXS5000 vs ES520 ？
Thanks for the suggestion! We will do our best to tackle that comparison for you if at all possible. The ES520 doesn't exactly stack up against those other models in terms of price point though. It is quite a bit higher than the FP30X and PXS5000 here in Canada.
Stu, you really need to work on your posture while playing. I just don't see how you can ever become an accomplished pianist sitting like that... Great review and playing! Always look forward to your videos!. Personally, I would opt for the ES920 because I have far more money than talent.....
It doesn't matter about his posture, he's a proven entirely competent pianist. Watch Cateen. He can play marvlessly well sitting legs crossed on the bench. He also has another video where he only plays with two fingers on each hand with the other fingers taped, and he sounds fantastic.
th-cam.com/video/9lMSUQ-gHso/w-d-xo.html
ES920..... I'm trying as hard as I possibly can to justify the idea of getting a Kawai. They make their bread and butter solely on the reputation of their key bed. They charge a high dollar price that is equivalent to other Roland competing products while not matching anywhere near as close to the feature sets that Roland comparable keyboards provide.
ES920 cost too much for not enough features.
And Kawai's keys are alllllwwwaaaaaayyyyssss suffering from clicky-clunky-clacks and whatnot.
Garbage.
But it's true that Kawai's key "action" is the best, but that's all. As for piano "sounds".... the sounds are also very good, but again not enough to justify the price tag for just two standout features: key action and piano sounds. That's because I can eliminate one of those two standout features (Piano sounds) by replacing it with extremely high quality VSTs. Pianoteq 7, etc. That's good enough for my needs. this now leaves me to just one remaining standout feature, the key action.
I really want to "want" a Kawai MP11SE....but for THAT price, I can get a Roland RD-2000. I know it's a trade-off but you're walking away with way, way, way, way more bang for your buck and a key action that's extremely darn close to the best. Win-win.
@Michael Zhu Sounding significantly better than Roland FP90 or Yamaha CFX/Bosendorfer is absolutely subjective. Even the key action is subjective. And I think a lot of pianos, including Yamaha and Roland are made in Indonesia. The quality control may have little to do with where they are made.
I don't know; I cancelled my es920 pre-order in favor of the Yamaha DGX-670 which is half the price. Now I'm thinking of cancelling the order for the DGX. I have a decent set up with Pianoteq Pro 7 voices. Why spend money on another piano that doesn't sound as authentic as Pianoteq?
@@JoeLinux2000 - did you see my initial comment?? Another Plus for Pianoteq. I haven't gotten yet but can't wait to jump on Version 7.
You cancelled the ES-920 for the DGX and now you're thinking of cancelling that. Would that be in favor of simply staying with what you have now coupled with Piantoteq?
I am keyboard-less right now. So the FP-60X with Pianoteq 7 Standard is where I'm thinking of pulling the trigger.
Yamaha P515 is the Greatest !
@@JrBeny - That's awesome that you like it. ❤️
I personally do not prefer it, but then again I think preferences are honestly subjective. Whatever helps you become a better player, that's what you should marry.
Thatz beatiful play in bro pz email mi
There is Stu the presenter and there's Stu the pianist. Both excellent. A perfect combination!