🎹 Yamaha P225 vs Kawai ES120: Ultimate Digital Piano Showdown 🎹
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- čas přidán 25. 07. 2024
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#yamahap125 #yamahap225 #kawaies #kawes120 #digitalpiano
Overview
The Yamaha P-225 and the Kawai ES120 will provide a common research project for comparison points. Both are 88-key, weighted, portable digital pianos and both are from acoustic piano companies that also make a wide range of digital pianos. The Kawai is slightly more expensive than the Yamaha, but these two instruments are pretty close to an apples-to-apples comparison based on the intended customer and the price.
Specs
Yamaha P-225 (H3)
192-note polyphony
CFX Sound Engine with a resonance engine, reverb, and other sound effects
4 Speaker, 14 Watt system with 2 rear-facing speakers and 2 forward-facing tweeters
6 sound categories with 4 variations each
Bluetooth Audio
USB Audio
Sound layering and keyboard splitting
Onboard Audio Accompaniment with 20 rhythm styles
Dual ¼” outputs
Kawai ES120 (H3)
192-note polyphony
Harmonic Imaging (HI) sound engine
2 speaker, 20 Watt system with tone ports to allow sound out of the top of the instrument
25 sounds with 8 acoustic piano options
Bluetooth Audio and Bluetooth MIDI
Dual ¼” outputs
The HI sound engine uses unfiltered, stereo samples so it has the fattest, raw audio samples to generate its piano tone. This provides a very authentic acoustic piano experience. As with acoustic pianos, each piano has a different character so any preference toward the HI sound engine will be determined by your acoustic piano preferences.
The Kawai ES120 has more editable sound parameters than the Yamaha P-225.
Action
Yamaha P-225
The Yamaha Graded Hammer Compact (GHC) has a more compact keystick compared to the P-125 Graded Hammer Standard (GHS), which means a lighter instrument with a smaller form factor. The difference in weighting from the edge to the middle of the key is more dramatic due to the shorter key stick, but this should only be noticeable to more experienced players. The GHC action utilizes a dual sensor with a matte finish on the black keys and a gloss finish on the white keys.
Kawai ES120
The Kawai ES120 uses the Responsive Hammer Compact action with a dual sensor. The key stick is longer than the P-225 so it has a more uniform and lighter feel. The black and white keys have matte finishes.
Tone
There is a very different character between these two instruments, and personal preference will always come into play. How each performs in the various pitch ranges can often be the deciding factor.
The Kawai has more acoustic piano tones while the Yamaha has a greater variety of sounds.
Features
Both instruments have basic recording functionality that lets you record straight to USB keys. Stands and triple pedals are available for both keyboards as well.
Final Thoughts
The Kawai ES120 has a much-improved design compared to its predecessor, the 110. It has one of the most premium-looking cabinets of any of the portable digital pianos from any of the manufacturers, right up to the $2,000 price point.
Both of these instruments tend to be less dynamic than the equivalent Roland, the FP-30X but are quite similar to each other.
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To my ears the Yamaha sounds like a real grand , while with the kawai I was able to tell its digital . Yamaha for my opinion is the boss of digital pianos
Thanks for tuning in and sharing your thoughts! We really appreciate it. :)
Opposite for me grew up on Steinway.
@watcher9987 Steinway is great , I'm tallink about the ability of digital pianos to sound like a real piano , especially when playing things like classical and Jazz .
@@aselma10 roland
@@watcher9987would you choose the kawai es 120 or Roland fp30x?
Thank you for the great job on the review! Highly appreciated. Cheers.
You're very welcome! Thank you so much for tuning in! :)
I recently got into playing Piano and discovered your channel. I really appreciate your reviews. Also great presentation skills!
Thank you kindly! We're so happy to hear that you've been enjoying Stu's video reviews and comparisons. We appreciate it! :)
Another great video. Cheers
Thanks so much! :)
Been waiting for this
Glad to finally be able to release it! :)
Good vid. Very informative.
Thanks so much! Glad you enjoyed it! :)
Excellent review, thank you very much, I love tenor keys of pianos and you are one of the few who do reviews playing the tenor keys, they sound impressive!!
One question...does the Yamaha P225 sound louder than the P125? I see that the successor now has large speakers and the P125 has somewhat small speakers...
Hi! Brent here! Thank you kindly! We're glad you enjoyed the comparison! :)
While I haven't tried the P125 and P225 side-by-side, my impression is that the P225 is slightly louder in terms of perceived volume.
I was able to test a Yamaha P225 in a store. The black keys near the felt area can be pressed down softly. The white keys near the felt area is at the limit of being able to be pressed down softly. The P125 was slightly easier. The other pianos like Roland FP-30X, 90X, didn't have such an issue.
I'm happy to hear that you had a chance to audition the piano in person! Thanks for sharing your experiences. :)
As Stu hinted, at this price point, Roland makes better actions. To begin with, Roland's PHA-4 has triple sensors and let-off. It also has a deep travel, though some players don't like this.
Action is a huge issue if you're playing any classical music. Otherwise, preferences over patches and built-in speakers might be more important to a clued-up customer. Just to confuse things, the final sound character is also influenced by the playing style and the action's ability to respond to that style.
I like the upright piano sound on the ES-120. The DP industry tends to dismiss upright patches, seldom conspicuously incorporating them, but they can be wonderful too. At this point in time, home digital pianos (and many portables) are used almost exclusively as substitutes for uprights. And then they are expected to sound and feel like grand pianos?
But the best grand pianos would sound all wrong in our homes, and this is where the design of Kawai's NV5 (with upright action) becomes understandable. And who do we know that owns one? Answer: Stu. Ironically, he probably uses the SK-EX (grand) patch with it. I hope he picks an upright patch sometimes - for authencity's sake.
@@Zoco101 is there a still problem with clicky keys on Roland? Red many reviews where they mention some problems with grease spreding on keys and making clicky sounds
@@fleshpie2129 In the video I saw, Stu seemed satisfied that Roland has changed the type of grease on the PHA4 action (to one that doesn't roll away) and that presumably (without the pandemic) there is no more likelyhood of new DPs getting stored in awkward positions in containers for long periods of time. I cannot say conclusively that it is solved, but the scare stories would not deter me from buying a Roland with the PHA4 action. I still believe that it is one of the very best plastic actions available today, and I do like it, though I don't currently own any Roland products.
Can you please include a popular classical piece when comparing sounds? (Fur Elise or Debussy Clair De...) it is very helpful
Thanks for the suggestion! I will pass it onto Stu and our production team. Thanks for taking the time to check out the video! :)
Thank you for this review!!
Low
Yamaha 9:08
Kawai 9:26
Mid
Yamaha 9:41
Kawai 10:02
High
Yamaha 10:27
Kawai 10:53
You're very welcome! :)
This was perfect thank you
kawai is the actual boss against yamaha but i would say the sound is much improved in p225 are compared to the previous p125. Kawai has more bright tone and warm specially when we go to lower octives> I have recently brought Kawai and i am very happy and satisfied. Thank you sir for taking the request of my previous comment.
You're very welcome! Thank you for supporting the channel and tuning in! We appreciate it. And congrats on your new Kawai! Happy playing! :)
Hello, Stu-san. I am writing from Japan and I purchased ES120 yesterday after watching your video and trying both of them. Your video was so supporting for my decision. I prefer the sound of KAWAI which is generally called deep and quiet in Japan. The sound of P-225 sounded bright and sparkling for me and I felt it was kind of childish. The price in Japan ES-120 is about USD480 and P225 is about USD360 (@JPY146/USD).
Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! Hello, from Canada! :)
We're glad to hear that Stu's video review/comparison was helpful. Congrats on your ES120! I think "Deep and quiet" is a wonderful description of the Kawai sound. However, the company's Shigeru Kawai grands are quite powerful in my experiences! ;)
I am happy to hear from you. Regarding Shigeru Kawai grand, at the show room of Kawai, they let me play it even though I am a beginner. It was shining like Godfather of Piano. I hope to watch Stu-san play Shigeru Kawai grand someday. Stu-san's performance has a rich and unique atmosphere, so I am sure it goes well with Shigeru Kawai grand. @@MerriamPianos
Wow! Now that is some fantastic prices. In my country ES120 is 760USD and P225 is 1100USD 😅
They both sound great to me. But i am very picky with the feeling of the keys. They changed the key bed of the p525 so it is different from the p515. My question is what keyboard is the closest ro a grand piano. And feel more grippy and less slippery. I want the closest possible to a grand. But upgrading from a gear4music sdp2 I guess it will be a huge jump...
I think you will certainly be experiencing a far more authentic experience in either case! With that said, determining which one is more authentic feeling really is a matter of subjectivity and personal opinion. For me, an authentic piano experience is created through the symbiotic relationship of the tone and touch. In my opinion, the ES920 is one of the very best instruments on the market in this regard (especially in this price category). :)
Another great video! Is it possible to overwrite the default sound settings on the P225 without using the Smart Pianist so that it loads my custom configuration every time I turn the piano on? Its a bit of a pain if i have to redo my reverb, room and sensitivity settings etc every time my piano is turned off.
Hi! Brent here! Thank you kindly! While I don't have a ton of personal experience with the finer details of the P225, I believe the Smart Pianist app has "registration memory," which allows you to save custom setups of voice, effects, layering, and rhythm configurations for quick and convenient recall. :)
I own a 2022 Kawai CA99 ($6,800) and a 2022 Kawai ES120 ($800) the model shown in this review. I actually prefer playing the ES120 over the CA99 because the action and response are that darn good in the ES120.
That is awesome! It comes down to personal preference and subjectivity. The ES120 is quite the impressive unit! It isn't always a matter of the more expensive option being the preferred one when it comes to musical instruments. :)
As usual, a comprehensive and detailed comparison! Thanks Stu! By the way, I don't entirely agree that shorter keysticks don't matter for beginners. As a piano teacher, I can say that small hands always have to play “inside” from the start in order to reach black keys as soon as the first accidentals are required. Children in particular will struggle with the heavier touch as they also lack the muscle strength to compensate. The children then tend to stretch their fingers and thus train an unfavorable technique. This is also a problem with some upright pianos. This should be taken into account, especially if the instrument is being purchased for children.
Hi! Brent here! Thanks so much for tuning in and sharing your insights! For young students studying classical piano, I can certainly understand your points of concern. Thanks again and all the best!
Hi, just read your comment as I am choosing piano for myself but with the idea that my kids might pick up my new hobby. I almost decided to go for roland fp 30x, but someone told me that the keys on roland will be way too hard for kids of 8 y.o . THis is why I ended up here watching reviews for pianos with supposedly lighter key actions. do you think, as a teacher, that roland's keys would be too hard for kids? Thx in advance
@@PashikTT no, i don‘t think so. Roland builds very fine and controlled actions even to their cheapest models. A little bit of weight and resistance helps to control the movements, and it is more easy to articulate different dynamics. The action of a real acoustic piano is normally heavier than on electric pianos, even Roland‘s... And for centuries children have played on acoustic instruments. There should be no problem.
@@Arthomian Many thanks for your opinion. I can say that it is a relief for me. I have watched way too many reviews, made up my mind already to the point where I almost admire Roland and the idea of dropping Roland and dive into new search for another piano terrifies me to say at least. Will drive to a music shop today to try it out. Thx again
Hello, thanks for your review! I just can’t decide between the Kawai ES-120 and the Roland FP30X. I play at an intermediate level, and I want to choose a piano for the long term. I understand that Kawai sounds better and more lively, but Roland has 3 sensors, and that's why I'm at a loss.
Hi! Brent here! For me, I tend to prioritize the action I prefer because, at the end of the day, it is the invariable component of the piano. You can always add more speaker power by connecting the piano to an external amplifier and you can always access different piano tones via VST piano plugins. The action is the invariable element. Thanks and hope this helps! :)
Thanks for making this! I just got a es120 as my first piano and it’s great to play. One thing I noticed with the built-in speakers is a faint buzz (doesn’t change with volume) and goes away with headphones, have you noticed that?
You're very welcome! Congrats on your ES120! I am confident that you will be very happy with what it offers musically. I have not experienced a buzz with the speakers. I would recommend connecting with the dealer you purchased it from. There may be an issue with the unit.
Would you ever consider reviewing some of Donner’s digital keyboards? Maybe the SE- 1 or one of the ddp models? They’re marketed as being mostly for beginners and intermediate players and are priced between $500-900. For the price and the features I think the se-1 especially might be good to review as a kind what’s out there aside from the big names and how some of these products intended to challenge/undercut the market match up
Personally ive had the the Se-1 for maybe a little over a year and would say it definitely has certain limitations when it comes to sound quality and feel(the action is somewhat light), but for a beginner who is focused solely on the piano sounds I think it’s a pretty good deal pricewise compared to other models in the same category.I also think intermediate players could get a lot out of it as it’s decent enough, although I would recommend other options to intermediate players if money wasn’t a factor.
We have reviewed Donner models in the past, such as the DDP300, which can be seen here:
czcams.com/video/c_kNXIYlpyg/video.html
With that said, we're not Donner dealers, so it is a bit tougher for us to tackle reviews for their models. We do periodically get Donner pianos in on trade, so, if that happens, we may be able to tackle some reviews/comparisons of that line. Thanks for the suggestion!
Thanx for the wonderful review, I cant afford both at once, so I'll get the yamaha, this month and the kawai next month! THANKS AGAIN!, I'M very SENSITIVE TO THE ACTION of the keys and HAVING GROWN UP ON A SHIMMEL 6 FT GRAND and a 9ft yamaha.
I bought a fender strat today, funny thing I've never played a strat before, so It'll be an interesting experience.- used to playing gibson les pauls and other electric guitars , Ibanez, telecasters etc. Great review very helpful!!!
You're very welcome! Thanks so much for tuning in and congrats on your new Strat! The P225 and ES120 are both excellent pianos. As most musicians will understand, one can never have too much gear. ;)
After moving out of my moms house- I Bought myself a baldwin upright in college..... and I was wondering if slightly out of tune upright pianos are also also sampled on electric pianos - to me it would be SO KEWL if they could be made to do that!@@MerriamPianos That baldwin had the best honky tonk sound ever! Fun times in college! Can't wait to brush up on some Scott Joplin!!! along with a dirty lead provided by a stratocaster! (makes me wonder if it was a form of child abuse because my mom NEVER let the shimmel or the yamaha get out of tune ever!!! If it was abuse, it couldnt have been that bad, I have no desire to be dictator of the U.S.!
Just curious: Why getting two budget instead of one high-end, like the Roland FP90X or Yamaha P515, if you’re really picky about the action?
@@matszh THE YAMAHA I got feels like any grand I've ever played, they've been making pianos since 1901, they definitely know what they're doing
Hey @MerriamPianos, is kawai es120 good for learning piano? If the action is too light that means it will disadvantage me when switching mg to a grand for example? Imagine playing on kawai es120 for 4 years and then switching to grand, will i still be as good on the grand or i will not be ?
Hi there! The ES120 is certainly a wonderful choice to study on. It is a bit of a lighter action when compared to pianos like the FP30X, but it is still fully-weighted and more than suitable to study on. In fact, from a sonic standpoint, it has one of the most authentic piano sounds in its price category. :)
For me the only way to hear what's what is for a Little Richard, Liberace or chopin to be played. All that Freinds vib is some what apologetic to what can be achieved.
Other than that, thank you for your video. I really enjoyed it..
Thanks for tuning in! We're really happy to hear that you enjoyed the video! :)
Again the difference in prices is reversed in Europe, the kawai is about 180 euros cheaper than the P-225 but I would still consider them in the same category. I do tend to (again) like the Yamaha's sound more than the Kawai. If I ever get the chance, I would also like to compare the actions.
It is interesting that the price gaps vary quite drastically from market to market. I would certainly recommend testing both pianos out in person as that is the best way to compare the sound and, especially, touch of the pianos. :)
Great comparison, from my ears the Yamaha sounds slightly more defined on the bottom and more crisp overall.
Always enjoy listening to your virtuoso playing ;-)
Thank you kindly for tuning in! I'll be sure to pass on your kind words to Stu! :)
So. If I enjoy playing just for myself or family or friends Liszt and Thalberg transcriptions of other authors, which one is better to keep the fingers in shape?
It really comes down to a matter of personal preference. They are both solid instruments. However, for me, the touch and tone of the ES120 make it more well-suited for the type of classical piano playing you are describing. :)
I find the Yamaha piano sound a bit warmer than the ES120 though ... but again it's through CZcams and laptop speakers so cannot really tell for sure 🤔 However, I am initially a church organ player so church organ sounds are important for me as well, and I find the Yamaha church organ sounds way closer to my village's church organ sound than on the Kawai ! I think that is what will make me lean towards the P225 ... thanks for the nice review ! 👍👍
You're welcome! Thank you for taking the time to tune in! These are both very solid instruments. At the end of the day, the decision comes down to the tone and touch preferences of the player. Thanks again and happy playing! :)
Will you review the P145? maybe even compare it to the old p45. I'd love to see Stu tackling it. Great quality as always, never fails to entertain me
Thanks for the suggestion! We will do our best to do so, but we have quite a few videos planned that are in the queue at the moment. All the best! :)
The p145 is actually more of a upgraded version of the p125. Even though the p225 is supposed to be that. The only thing is the p145 doesn't have as many sounds as the p125 but other than that it is definitely upgraded and sounds slightly better actually at least on the main piano sound@@MerriamPianos
What really surprises me is that, to my ears Yamaha simply sound more pleasant and somehow "tamed", while Kawai sounds somehow broader but "wilder". In other words though samples on Kawai seem to be better or closer to real piano, Yamaha sounds somehow better to me. Better is not good word, though. Different, closer to my taste. To be clear, I never owned Yamaha keyboard, I actually had Kawai long time ago, so I certainly I am not biased by name of manufacturer. I don't know, maybe Yamaha piano sound somehow dominated pop music for several decades so it stayed in my mind as "right" piano.
I also like very much different choices of piano sounds on Kawai. I don't know now what I'd buy from those two pianos 🤔
PS Thank you for stellar presentation, as usually 👍👍👍
I saw on a piano key size guide on sweetwater that the keys on keyboards are a lot smaller than the acoustic piano. Does that mean those keyboards like midi full size keyboards we have are smaller keys in size? Can you demonstrate that or show the exact length the key size should be? Those having no access to acoustic piano will be helped. Also the demo comparisons of the exact weight towards the upper side of the keys will be great. thanks.
Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! Yes, that is correct. The key stick/pivot lengths are compact and reduced. This is common practice for many digital piano actions, especially in the entry level price point. We will do our best to show these aspects in greater detail in future videos. :)
@@MerriamPianos I am aware about the short stick but I was asking about the playable key size itself. I hope our keyboards don't have smaller keys than acoustic and digital pianos.
@@OneStepToday The key size is identical to a real acoustic piano. The stick is shorter but the key of these digital pianos is the same. There are lots of "keyboards" and synthesizers with smaller keys, but 88-key digital pianos such as the yamaha p225, kawai es120, roland fp-30x etc all have full size keys.
Why you dont make a review of some Korg digital pianos, for example Korg D1 which is in this price point?
Thanks for the suggestion! We will do our best to tackle Korg models, but we are not Korg dealers, so it is a bit tougher to tackle those models.
In each such musical Rally the winner is only one - Mr. Stu!
I'll be sure to pass on your kind words to Stu! :)
Hello, Can you help me to choose a Keyboard, I am between Roland fp 30 and the yamaha p225
Hi! Brent here! It really comes down to a matter of personal preference. They are both solid pianos! With that said, I favour the Roland FP30X due to the PHA4 action. I find the FP30X's action to be more authentic feeling in comparison to the P225.
Does anyone know if the es120 would have latency issues when combined with Pianoteq?
There are many factors that can affect latency, including CPU power and capability. Pending everything is of a high enough spec, there should be no (or minimal) latency when using the ES120 as a MIDI controller.
Looking for keyboard with many decent sounds.
Many people don't care much about sounds other than grand piano but i do. I would like to have good harpsichords, organs, bass, choir, e.pianos and I could sacrifice some quality of grand piano for that. What keyboard should I choose under 800 euros? I've watched some reviews but they don't focus on second category sounds. At the moment I am considering between kawai es120 and Yamaha p225 (same price in my area). Maybe you have some other propositions for me? Any help appreciated :)
Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! While these two models are excellent options if you're predominantly using piano sounds, models like the Casio PXS3100 or CDPS360 have tons of built-in sounds. They may be worth exploring (especially the PXS3100!). :)
@MerriamPianos does the app for the yamaha p255 not add more sounds?
Can you please make a video about modx8+
Thanks for the suggestion! We will add it to the list and do our best to tackle that for you in the future. :)
From the review: the Kawai ES120 "has the fattest raw audio samples... super authentic acoustic piano experience... very colorful, very rich and warm sound"... "the Kawai has the longer key stick than the Yamaha"... the Yamaha has "shorter key sticks" (harder to play as you play further back on the keys))
The Kawai ES120 is certainly an impressive instrument with an excellent blend of authentic tone and touch. :)
From this video I’d be happy with either. Kawais a bit cheaper here for me but I’m willing to pay the extra if I prefer the yamys action.
They are certainly both solid pianos. The choice will come down to the personal preferences of the player. :)
@@MerriamPianos ok, I’m more interested in the electric piano emulations like Rhodes type sounds than the grand piano emulations strangely. Which do you prefer? I know Yamaha pull that off well.
Can i have the names of the song played by the kawai es-120 at 8:30 ?
Thanks for tuning in! Unfortunately, I don't know the name of the piece that Stu is playing at that particular moment. Perhaps, one of our helpful community members here will know the answer. :)
So I'm a bit biased in favour of Kawai, but in this video the ES120 sounded brittle and harshly metallic compared with the P225, which sounded much fuller and warmer.
But I'm curious about the quality and differences of the resonance engines at this level. Are they about as complex in each model? And how about the dynamic levels? How much sample stepping?
It could have been at a louder setting than the other that it sounded quite bright, or enhanced mid range. There are other samples for the melow options as well, such as the upright one.
Hi! Brent here! In terms of the resonance engines and their level of sophistication, it is a hard thing to quantify/compare as so much of it comes down to the subjectivity of the player. While one's system from a technical/specification standpoint may be more advanced, that does not mean that it would be the preferred sound to every player. I would say that both of these instruments are relatively on par with one another in terms of their dynamic capabilities (but even that statement is rather subjective). The best bet is to test out the pianos in person whenever that is a possibility. That is the best way to determine which model you personally connect with. Thanks so much and all the best! :)
@@OneStepToday Yeah. It's just that I know they go to some trouble on this channel to make sure that everything is as even as it can be. And the sound had the characteristic I mentioned on the line outs and speakers.
@@MerriamPianos Thanks for the detailed reply. This is all academic to me as an MP11SE owner, but it's good to know the market!
Actually i watched the 120 vs FP30x video where he explained that the sound of Kawai has been given raw, it has a huge mid range, whereas the other brands scoop off the mid range which makes them sound melow and easy to hear, but the 120 may sound loud due to the original sound, to me I think it may be a bit fatiguing to the ear. This video has shown the clearest sound difference@@Biozene
I guess the next logical comparison would be against a PX-S1100? 😁 It would be interesting to get an opinion on the short key length of both.
Thanks for the suggestion! We will do our best to tackle that comparison. I believe it is already on the list of comparisons to tackle soon. ;)
How do you record the pianos?
We generally take direct line outs from the pianos that run into a Focusrite Scarlett audio interface. We don't do any post-processing on the sounds in order to keep things as transparent and representative of the actual pianos' sounds as possible. :)
Good closeup shots at 6:36 to show the keys, however, it will be even better if you start showing extreme closeups to clearly show the surface texture. You can do that for each model and use that specially recorded video in all comparisons. I have watched so many videos and I have been attracted to the ES series, and was wondering why the ES120 is more expensive than the counterparts, even though we expect Kawai to be a cheaper brand than the Yamaha and Roland. I notice that it gives more piano sounds, has a better action, and for the first time ever I have noticed a sound difference. The Kawai sounded a bit louder and sharper, compared to the mellow Yamaha in the default sample, however, there the multiple samples solves all problems of the sound preference. The Kawai definitely sounded better, that I thought maybe its output sound may have been louder, it must be rather for its on your face sound due to the mixing of the sample. The clear perception of sound diff is due to this placement of the keyboards where you played the same phrases one by one on each, it really helped differentiate the sound with precision, unlike previously where you played random long pieces.
Cheers and congrats for always improving great videos for your team. Plz do consider giving us the extreme closeup of the key surface texture in detail, if that's possible.
Hi! Brent here! Thanks for the suggestion! We can certainly do our best to get shots of the key texture. With that said, when it comes to key surface/texture, the most important detail is how it feels, which can only be experienced when playing the instrument in person. That is why we always recommend to demo these instruments for yourself whenever that is a possibility. :)
Also, we generally capture the piano sound from direct line-outs. We don't do any post-production work on those recordings to ensure that they are as transparent of a representation as possible. To that point, the default output volume of different models does vary. Thanks for tuning in and sharing your insights!
Most of us in poor countries like India won't be able to find these instruments to try out, this is why this channel is the best source of research. I have another request. I play with a semi weighted keyboard, and I understand the upper end of the key being harder; and it's a big deal to me even as a beginner, so I would love if you could demonstrate how much is the weight requirement changes as we go to the upper side of the keys, like by using those tiny weight bars, that would be very informative to know exactly what's the difference in these models; how much harder are the shorter key stick action on the upper side. It would be very cool. Maybe you can make one video of showing this comparison for various models.
Thank you. @@MerriamPianos
Exciting comparison.
In other reviews, the ES-120 sounded different via the line-out output than here: more direct, more broadband like the Yamaha. Here the ES-120 sounds similar to the microphone via the line-out: more inidirect/remote and somewhat limited frequency response. Could it be that the line-out of the ES-120 has switched on some kind of (3D) effect here?
Thanks for tuning in! I am not sure to be honest. I would have to ask the production team if there were any specific settings being used to capture the line-out sound.
I agree, good word, I too was excited when I found this comparison!
Great work! Can you compare them with the Yamaha CK88! That one doesn't seem to have resonance modelling and it's so light so does it have short keys too?
How is the bluetooth midi on the Kawai? Is there a lag?
Do any of these have Midi2.0?
Thanks so much! We appreciate that. We will do our best to tackle a comparison with the CK88, but we have several videos in the queue right now. The Bluetooth MIDI on the Kawai is quite good in my experiences. I have not experienced any significant latency with it. None of these pianos are compatible with MIDI 2.0 to my knowledge. That standard hasn't quite taken off yet in the digital piano world from what I can tell.
wow that yamaha sounds incredible
These are both very excellent sounding pianos. They offer a different flavour musically, each of which will resonate with different players depending on their musical tastes.
Ciao Stu, li ho provati entrambi ma mi sarei aspettato qualche cosa di più da Yamaha rispetto al p125a in fatto di campionamenti. E' stato aggiunto solo il cfx e mi sembra più scuro rispetto al suono del p125a I piani elettrici e gli organi sono sempre di alta qualità ma sono gli stessi del p125a. Kawai ha una qualità sonora nei pianoforti più articolata, mentre meno dettagli rispetto Yamaha p225 si trovano nei piani elettrici e soprattutto negli organi. Eccezionali da parte di Kawai gli strings che superano anche Roland e Yamaha. Peccato per i prezzi che distanziano parecchio questi due pianoforti digitali. Qui in Italia il prezzo per Yamaha p225 è fissato ad eur 800,00 mentre il prezzo del Kawai è allineato a quello di Roland fp 30x intorno ai 589,00 eur. Questi pianoforti li ho confrontati anche con Casio px s1100 che per me per caratteristiche e prezzo rimane un best buy. Un saluto dall'Italia.❤
Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! As always, thanks for tuning in and sharing your insights! Every instrument definitely has its strong points when it comes to the non-piano sounds. That is why every player will ultimately have a different opinion when it comes to which piano is the "best" out of the options available at this price point.
I think I am liking the yamaha more than the Kawai. With the kawai you it sounds much more like the notes are being played from a speaker while the yamaha feels like it's actually creating the sounds by string (hope that makes sense). I guess I will have to test how the keys feel in person. My only piano experience is the roughly 60 years old acoustic piano of my mother, which, although its innards have been fully replaced at some point, also has quite heavy white key action in the black key area.
That is certainly fair to say! Tonal preference is a very subjective matter, so tastes will vary from player to player of course. At the end of the day, it is always a good idea to assess a piano in person whenever possible. :)
Hey, it's because the Speaker EQ setting is set on which can cause a difference in the actual sample. when you turn it off it sounds much warmer and fuller. Though I love the Yamaha too. Might actually get one for myself when I find the budget. Cheers!
Do you think yamaha p125 is better interims of tone engine and key action or p225?
It really comes down to a matter of subjectivity. I haven't compared them side-by-side, but I would say that I prefer the feel of the P125 and the sound of the P225.
Listen to this P-125. It's amazing:
czcams.com/video/Ex-dqY2jaTc/video.html
Maybe it's not a P-125. She used to play one and it sounded very nice. The fillowng link may be the P-125:
czcams.com/video/PArNR0-2ZFs/video.html Playing starts at 6:30
I think (after using P-225) that P-125A has a better action (not by far). The sound of P-225 has very low volume on headphones. P-225 has Digital Audio Interface though and it looks nice!
Which action do you like more between those two?
Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! I have played the ES120 far more extensively than the P225 at this point, so, maybe that has something to do with it, but I personally favour the RHC action on the ES120.
@@MerriamPianos thanks for reply
Great review Stu. I have an idea. We selected our digital preference by comparing acoustic pianos in the store. Surprised how great they compared.
Could you review the Kawai digital with a Kawai acoustic and same for the Yamaha? Unsure if it’ll be worthwhile.
Hi! Brent here! Thanks so much for the suggestion! That would be a very cool video to tackle. I will pass the suggestion along to our production team.
Great idea!
I've purchased the Kawai ES120B should arrive in 1-3 days. Hopefully the 700 euro I'm going to pay for it will be worth the upgrade from broken no audio Yamaha P-95(2010 tech GHS action I bought it used in 2021 I believe.) Hopefully its going to be fun and pleasant to play on.
Congrats on your ES120! It is a phenomenal piano with a great touch and tone. I am quite confident you will be thrilled with what it has to offer. :)
@serifpersia any thoughts so far?
Since there are now so many digital pianos which are highly dependent on apps, isn't it time to do an app comparison review? We need to push manufacturers to improve these things.
Multi-track recording/sequencing (even 4 tracks) would be nice, but I know that Smart Pianist can't do that.
That is an excellent suggestion! I will certainly pass that along to our production team. I think it would be quite an interesting topic to explore. :)
kawai not having the USB audio interface means it cannot be connected to an AUDIO INTERFACE like focusrite?
Thanks for the question! You cannot transmit audio information via the USB port, but you can still transmit audio to an audio interface via the 1/4" headphone output. :)
@@MerriamPianos so basically no midi support via USB??
@@matteo4134Debería poderse, sino ese puerto perdería mucho su utilidad
Even if Yamaha could have add more acoustic piano samples and electric pianos or other instruments, the distance for reaching Roland fp30x had been less than now. And with a keyboard with 3 sensors for each key than 2 of actual one Ghc. However it's better of Ghs, indeed!!!!!👍👍👍
Thanks for sharing your thoughts! These are all solid digital pianos, but they all offer something a bit different musically. At the end of the day, every player will have their own personal preference of course. :)
The Kawai has such a warmer, more well-rounded tone. much more pleasant on the ears.
It is a very beautiful, authentic tone! Thanks for tuning in! :)
@@MerriamPianos oh I get that bell notification. I look forward to anything Stu reviews! ✌🏼
That's my feeling too. The Yamaha is perhaps more authentic sounding, but the ES-120 is more listenable.
Ah yes, the old warmer sound generalisation. Don't be fooled by the first thing you hear coming out of each piano or by the limitations of CZcams streaming.
The final sound you get depends very largely on location, and will change with altered acoustics. But The sound you will need depends on application. Home practice is not the same as band rehearsing or gigging or recording. These pianos are portable pianos (with line outputs) precisely so they can be used in any of these applications.
Happily, the two pianos each have several piano sounds offering assorted tonal characteristics. On many Yamaha pianos, the third sound (often called GP3) has a much thicker tone -a bit more akin to the favourite Kawai sound. I'm currently using that on my Yamaha P-255, which uses the older CFiiiS sounds. I love it.
For reasons of functionality, however, the ES120 looks like a good deal to me. The P-225, less so.
@@Zoco101 lol. For sure. I’ve been lucky enough to try all of Kawai’s digital line as well as play on their line of acoustic pianos, and I’ve done the same with Yamaha. My city has both a Yamaha dealer and a Kawai dealer within 15 miles of each other. And after all the pianos I’ve played, Kawai always takes me. Easily get lost in the richness of tone.
But like you said, Yamaha is a great gigging piano because of the brighter tones which allow it to punch through in a live mix easier than the Kawai.
Does p225 use the same sound engine of p525?
Hi there! They are not the same sound engines. The P525 is more advanced and offers additional concert grand patches as well as more sophisticated resonance/expression modelling. You can review these differences with the following spec chart:
ca.yamaha.com/en/products/musical_instruments/pianos/p_series/p-525/specs.html#product-tabs
These are both great models. I just picked up a Roland FP30x, but will be returning it for the Yamaha in this review. The Roland is really nice until you start getting a random popping sound from various keys due to a grease or lubricant issue. It's only been a week, and I get keys popping up all over the place. Looking online, it's been a problem with the FP30x and other Roland boards for at least a few years. So def consider the Yamaha or Kawai in this review.
Hi there! I'm sorry to hear that you have had a bad experience with the FP30X. I am aware of a batch that had some issues with grease/lubrication. However, I will say that Roland's post-sale warranty support is excellent. They could certainly resolve that issue for you with no charge to you under warranty. In any case, I hope that you end up with a piano that you thoroughly enjoy. :)
@MerriamPianos Thanks so much! Love your reviews, and they've been very helpful and enjoyable. Just walked in with my new Yamaha P225 - likely a little more suitable for my liking, too. It seems Roland's unique triple sensor PHA4 action causes the random grease issues for various Roland boards, and has been an on and off problem for a few years (from my online research). Considering I could still return the Roland for the Yamaha, i went ahead and did so.
@@JoshHumblehey i'm having the same issue with Roland fp 30x and its really noticible with the black keys and as You said im afraid i'll have to change it instead for a Yamaha p225 or kawai es120, i want to know your experience with the Yamaha piano, could give some pros and cons comparing your p225 to the Roland fp 30x, sound,action noise (specially this one) ,speakers all of that, i would really appreciate your opinión on this subject, thx and if You have some experience with Kawai es 120 please share it here :)
@lonelywolfd6529 I overall like the Yamaha more. It's warmer, smoother. Like a lot of people say, it's better for jazz and a lot of non-classical. The Roland is brighter, heavier feel on hammer action. They're both very nice, but Roland kinda irked me with the issue affecting some units. They gotta fix that. I do notice the Yamaha's speakers to be a little bassy, though - too much for some things. Line out to different monitors would help. Also - and this is an oddity to me, the decay and release is a little long and loud when sustaining notes to me. Just not something I noticed with the Roland or the cheap Casio 88 key I had. Makes me want to edit it just a little with an ADSR amplitude adjustment. Tamper off the decay and release just a little. I really like the Yamaha overall, though.
@@JoshHumble thank you si much for your response, ill have your comments into account for my final decision
The problem with the Roland FP30x for example is that it takes a slightly longer for it to come back up when you are playing real fast. This can be very disturbing. As far as sound quality between the p225 and this Kawai, to me the Kawai is just kind of hard to listen to. It doesn't sound like a real piano to me. Maybe it's just because I play on Yamaha a lot and I'm used to the way they sound lol. But to me the Yamaha sounds more mellow and less electronic than the Roland or the Kawai😅 That's just my opinion but buy whichever pleases you
You certainly make a great point! So much about what we gravitate towards musically (both in terms of touch and tone) is a direct result of what we're familiar with and what we've been exposed to throughout our life musically. At the end of the day, the P225, ES120, and FP30X are all excellent options that appeal to different players. The most important thing is to find the model that you resonate with. :)
@@MerriamPianos very true. I've been playing mostly Yamaha for many years. That's what I'm used to. I guess that explains why I think it sounds more authentic.
@@MerriamPianos I bet if I played on some other brand like Roland or Casio or Kawaii or Korg or Nord or probably any of them, if I played on that for maybe a year or two and then I played Yamaha again it might not sound right anymore because my ears may have adjusted to a different sound by then. Lol
The Yamaha sounds more opened in the lineout recording in my opinion. This is just threw the video, and me listening threw headphones🎹🎶
There are definitely some differences between the lineout and onboard speaker sound.
Since I use a virtual piano with DAW, the expressiveness and feel of the ACTION is much more important. Which one FELT like a REAL piano more?
It really comes down to a matter of subjectivity. Personally, I find the ES120 has a more authentic feel compared to the P225. The ES120 has a feel that I tend to compare to an upright piano action. Other models with heavier touches, such as the FP30X feel a bit more like an acoustic grand piano. In terms of what the best choice is really comes down to personal preference.
Thanks for the interesting review. Several points came up that I'd like to add to or qualify.
Yes, these pianos are very closely matched. Here in Europe the ES120 is cheaper than the P-225, and accordingly offers better value for money IMO. As for saving weight, both instruments weigh virtually the same.
But if weight matters... the most portable piano with a graded weighted action is still the P-121, both in terms of weight and width. It's inexpensive, and it's much easier to squeeze into a car, at the sacrifice of a few keys. And (unlike the P-125a) the P-121 still has audio over USB.
With the arrival of the P-225, you might ask who would bother with the P-125a now. Well, here in Europe, there are some amazing deals on that model right now.
Not enough is made of the variance in tone on the assorted piano patches. We hear again and again from reviewers and viewers how Kawai patches are thicker/richer/warmer. Certainly, the first patch on any Yamaha is clear and crisp, but the classical piano patch (typically the third one) is decidely thicker, and very attractive in a home setting IMO. The Kawai EX patch is deemed to be brighter, and closer to some Yamaha patches, but IMO it is outdated and harsh compared to any Yamaha patch.
The editable aspect of the Kawai patches is a real winner at this pricepoint, and so is the MIDI and audio over bluetooth, though cables are normally a bit more reliable. In my experience, bluetooth devices typically lose the first note on playback. This could be critical if it's the first note/bleep of a count-in or of a backing track.
I do not agree that Kawai portable digital pianos normally have heavier actions than the corresponding Yamaha models. That was true up until the ES8 and P-255, but roles have been reversed. The ES120, ES560 and ES920 all have lighter actions. In the case of the P-515, the difference is incredibly pronounced. Another role-reversal aspect is build. Kawai is making lighter, less sturdy portables than before, but some of us prefer that to lugging monsters around. Yamaha's short keystick solution on the P-225, however, does not impress me.
It's a shame that neither model offers battery power.
At times I feel the S K EX sample on the ES120 lineouts sounds stranggeled compared to the CFX sample on the P225 lineouts🎹🎶
Thanks for sharing your insights! We appreciate the commentary. It is all very subjective in the end of course. Both sets of instruments offer very different musical experiences to the player. It is up to the player to test the various models and determine which is most aligned with their touch and tone preferences. Some players prefer a warm tone; others prefer a bright tone. Some players prefer a light action; others prefer a heavy action. The good thing is that we have many models to choose from on the market! :)
Kawai 👌
The Kawai ES120 is an awesome instrument with a great tone! With that said, it all comes down to personal preference of course. :)
Idk the kawai is probably going to have the better action but the yamaha sounds considerably better to my ears. Should I just go with the yamaha based off that?
It is ultimately a personal decision. For what it's worth, I tend to prioritize action when selecting a digital piano because it is the invariable component of the design. You can always get more speaker power by connecting the piano to an external amp and you can always get different piano tones via VST piano plugins. The action is the thing that you're ultimately stuck with. Thanks and hope this helps! :)
Low and mid range I like the Yamaha far better, but! High range the Kawai wins out. Over all I love the sound of Yamaha. Thank you Stu.😅
Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! Thanks for tuning in and sharing your thoughts on these pianos. We appreciate it. :)
I prefer the Yamaha sound 🎊 🎉
Thanks for tuning in and sharing your insights! :)
I already said this before if anyone has an ES110 and wants to upgrade to the ES120 it might be wize to swop the sustain pedals🎹🎶
For sure! That was definitely one perk of the ES110 package. With that said, you can still buy the F10H pedal separately as an upgrade for the ES120.
Hallo Stud, for me this competition has as winner Yamaha p225
Hi! Brent here! Thanks for tuning in and sharing your thoughts! We appreciate it. :)
@@MerriamPianos Thank you for your answers an I wish you an Happy and heathy New Year 2024!!!!! Hallo Stud and many compliments for your reviews, always so pro and interesting for us musicians....👏👏👏👏👏👏👍👍👍👍
Yamaha is ok. But Kawai has life, spirit. Of course this is not his best model, but kawai is unique.
Kawai digitals certainly have a very rich, nuanced, and authentic piano tone! :)
I was about to buy the Kawai but the sound difference with the yamaha is night in day. The kawai sounded so thin and cheap compared to the rich tone of the yamaha
They are both very solid instruments, but, needless to say, it comes down to a matter of musical preference. :)
Having owned both Es110 & Es120, I experienced issues with keys going out. Replaced with a P125 with no issues. The Yamaha build quality is better.
I'm sorry to hear that you experienced issues with the ES110 and ES120. That is quite rare in my experiences. They're usually extremely durable and reliable instruments. I'm glad you have found an instrument that has been reliable for you. That is very important of course!
Can't vary split point in es120...real bummer split at middle C..
Not all pianos offer adjusting the split point unfortunately.
@@MerriamPianos actually most do
You can adjust it only on the app
@Merriam Music true, but considering the ES120 is more expensive than the ES110 was buying the sustain pedal seperately may or maynot be that worth it it's best to keep the F10H if you already had the ES110 that came with it🎹🎶
That is true! For customers making the move from an ES110 to an ES120, it is not a bad idea.
waiting for yamaha p525 review
It is on the list of candidates for an upcoming review video!
Given how long it took for the P225 to appear in Canada once it was available in Europe and other countries, I wish I knew how long we'd have to wait. I've been eye'ing the Kawai ES920 but they just don't seem available and the Roland FP-90x seems REALLY nice but is a bit more than I want to spend. The ES120 does sound nice to me. I don't like the keyboard feel of the P225.
@@DanInTheTOIt will be announced in December (probably the beginning of).
Michael
If your setup of Direct line on and Speaker is similar in both pianos, I could state that 4 speakers including the tweeters on P225 definitely fail their job. Ignoring the tone engine in 2 pianos, the bass sound is distorted on Yamaha. Tbh, P225 is perfectly downgraded product even in the key action. About portable piano key action, roland pha4 outperforms the others then comes the kawai. ES120 and FP30x personally I think they re better choices.
Thanks for tuning in and sharing your thoughts! For certain applications, different pianos will be better suited of course. Personally, in this price category, I favour the piano sound of the ES120 and the PHA4 action of the FP30X the best. With that said, every player will have their own preferences between these models. :)
You can’t judge high quality piano samples via the low-quality 126kbps audio in all CZcams videos - you can only properly evaluate these pianos in person.
And if you’re using Bluetooth earphones or headphones to listen to CZcams then you’re making the audio even lower quality!
I certainly agree that it is always best to experience pianos in person whenever possible. And, of course, there will always be some quality loss when playing audio back through online platforms like CZcams. Our production team always does their best to maintain as much of the fidelity and nuance of a piano's sound as possible though.
Listening on headphones - neither of them sound *amazing*....but the Yamaha definitely has the edge and sounds more natural. The Kawai tries to be more hyper-realistic, but it winds up sounding less convincing as a result...it has a bit more of a tinny, "emulation-y" sound. Whereas the Yamaha isn't trying that hard, and while it sounds less 3-dimensional, it also sounds better as a result - it does what it does relatively seamlessly...if I heard someone singing and playing piano on the Yamaha, the piano sound wouldn't attract my attention at all, and I mean that in a good way - it would just go unnoticed because it just sounds like a piano to the point where unless you're really looking for it, you're not going to notice it's digital. Even if it doesn't sound like the best piano in the world, it sounds right. If I heard someone singing and playing on the Kawai, I would find the piano sound distracting and unconvincing.
Thanks for tuning in and sharing your insights! At the end of the day, it really comes down to a matter of personal preference. Tone and touch is a very subjective matter of course. :)
Ese sonido CFX suena mas tosco a comparación del DGX 670 o un YDP144...
There are certainly some tonal differences between the P225 and the other Yamaha models you mentioned.
I think you skipped the Rhodes on the Yamaha.
It is possible we didn't cover every single built-in sound. We do our best to show as many sounds as features as possible while still keeping the focusing on the core piano elements (i.e. action and tone).
YAMAHA sounds like a real piano
The P225 is a very solid instrument! Both of these pianos are excellent and quite authentic sounding. They simply offer a different musical flavour.
No doubt.
I just bought the 225 !!!! Yamaha Concert CFX sample.Amazing! Thank you!
I also ordered p225.
Yamaha line out: 7:12
Kawaii line out: 8:13
Thank you! :)
I think Tsu didn't feel that comfortable with the dinamism of both pianos
I'd have to ask Stu as to his thoughts on that, but, every new instrument takes a few moments to get used to its musical output of course.
He's been spoiled with the best pianos on the market! :p
His playing is always awesome I believe these models don't have a very good Action
kawai just sounds better
They are both solid instruments of course, but I tend to lean in favour of the ES120 for its wonderfully-authentic tone. :)
i nave a yamaha 660 but i really love the Kawai sound@@MerriamPianos
Kawai sounds more distinctive and clearer than Yamaha~ Also, it seems Kawai has better organ sound than Yamaha, Interesting~~! Yamaha started as a reed organ company and now Kawai digital organ sounds better than Yamaha~~
It comes down to a matter of personal preference of course, but it is very tough to compete with the authenticity of Kawai's SK-EX samples. :)
Thank you for this comparison Stu. As a matter of fact, I have just started to think again about getting ES120. It will replace P-225.
I am probably going to call Merriam Music next week 😊
Thank you,
Michael
You're very welcome! Thanks for tuning in! The ES120 is quite the impressive instrument for the money. :)
I would like to add that I actually do not like the visual aspects of ES120. Those shiny, non-discrete buttons are definitely not my preference and weight against getting ES120.
I expected to hear more sophisticated and warmer sound from Kawai and I usually don't like Yamaha's sharp sounds, but this time I should say, Yamaha sounded much better. Kawai's sound was very shallow and toys like. I am not sure why.
It comes down to a matter of subjectivity of course. With that said, I would also recommend testing out the pianos in person as the onboard speaker sound is quite different than the sound you'll hear from a recorded direct lineout feed.
My experience was the same
.
I hear from different comments ES120 is plauged with a nightmarish bug. Start up piano sound is horribly bright until YOU TURN OFF THE EUALIZER in the settings...Seems abysmal for both customers and a big name like Kawai known for warm, rich and dark piano sound. Kawai has really fked up this time. Btw, I do not own ES120.
Kawai seemed to be very synthetic. Yamaha, more natural.
Thanks for tuning in and sharing your thoughts! We appreciate it. Every player will have their preference between these two excellent digital pianos of course. :)
Kawai sounds more convincing.
It really is a beautifully authentic tone! :)
Clearly Kawai sounds more digital. Yamaha sounds more acoustic.
Thanks for tuning in and sharing your thoughts! We appreciate it. :)
Yamaha sounded much cleaner and closer to a live accoustic.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts! They're both very solid models and every player will have their own personal preference between the two of course. :)
Man Stu for some rason your sample on the kawai sounded so distorted compared to yamaha sample you play. In real life the 120 natural pino tones smoke all the competiton even some of those in a higher price range. Roland sucks and should be called a keyboard not a dp. They sound so electronic to me. Their effects are ok. But why would you get one when yamaha has a descent natural piano selection and prolly the best samples/effects on the market. That es120 can really take advantage of some blending. I tend to blend pop piano with its blues organ and it sounds fantastic. Play along with tool, pearl jam and pink floyd i have some videos of me playing all 3 brands. Gurentee the first p.o
s. you will spot is the roland. Yamaha will make a crappy player sound good the kawai feels and sounds much more realistic imo. My friends say the same when they hear me play them in person. Everyone gravitates to the 120 over my fp60x, dgx670 for its audible authenticity over the others. So i agree both yamaha are good as a second choice or lower budget or if you really like a layered unrealistic sound. Yet still sounds cool, get the yamaha. Both of these dps, will up the novice game.
Thanks for tuning in and sharing your thoughts! The ES120 is quite the amazing instrument, particularly in regard to its authentic and natural piano tone. With that said, it is always best to compare these pianos in person to get the full experience. It is the best way to test the touch and tone of an instrument of course. :)
I generally agree with you but it all depends what acoustic piano sound and feel one likes. I practice regularly on Yamaha C7 and it is my reference point! I really do not care much about built in sounds of a digital pianos because I use my piano VSTs anyway.
Michael
@@MerriamPianos The commentor is right. Please check your setup. Indeed the ES-120 normaly sounds better. Somehow the output you recorded is distorted. I suspect DSP effects...
I watched the video again. Now the problem seems to be fixed. Video recreated?
Shorter keys is a killer and makes playing higher up the keys terrible as it requires far more effort. One of the worst things about Casio and I have no idea why Yamaha has seemingly dabbled into it now.
In the case of Casio, one of the goals is to make the enclosure as compact and portable as possible. With that said, the new PXS models are quite enjoyable to play in my opinion. It is definitely worth giving them a shot, but the touch won't be for everyone of course.
Yamaha sounds way better….at least on utube
They are both very solid instruments! Every player will have their own preference between the two. Thanks so much for tuning in and sharing your thoughts - we appreciate it! :)
Yamaha sounds more elegant, Kawai sounds generic and uninteresting, i never liked Kawai. However, i still prefer the old Yamaha sound engine, on yamaha p125, p155 etc. It has some brilliance, and many youtubers are still using that older Yamaha CF-IIIs sound as opposed to modern VSTs.
Thanks for tuning in and sharing your thoughts on these two popular pianos! We appreciate it. Ever player will have their favourite between these two formidable digital pianos. :)
Both sound pretty fake and it is easy to point out a digital piano is playing. Having said that, the piano sound from the Kawai is worse. Maybe the Yamaha would sound well in a band but as a solo instrument is pretty unacceptable.
Everyone's thresholds for what a suitable tone is will be different of course. With that said, these are entry level digitals of course. There are higher end models that have more advanced tone engines and are capable of greater authenticity.
Do yourself a favor and buy an acoustic instrument, even a used upright piano is waaay better than any digital piano, trust.
There are a number of situations where a digital piano is required. For instance, in situations where headphone practice and volume control is needed, a digital piano is the only real option (aside from an acoustic hybrid, which may be out of the budget for some).
Not true.
But where do I plug in the headphones.
Thats not true, specially today with the dp's you have out today.
Not my opinion at all. Pianoteq can be added to most any digital piano, and it blows away most every acoustic that people can afford. Plus there are a lot of issues with acoustic pianos. I don't think I would buy another acoustic even if I won the lottery.