🎹 Yamaha P515 vs Kawai ES920 Showdown | Which Digital Piano Is Right for You? 🎹

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#YamahaP515 #KawaiES920 #DigitalPianos
0:00 - Video Introduction on the Kawai ES920 v.s. Yamaha P515
0:15 - Opening Playing Demo on the Kawai ES920
0:26 - Opening Playing Demo on the Yamaha P515
0:37 - Piano Action Reviews begin on the Kawai ES920 v.s. Yamaha P515
0:56 - Kawai RHIII Piano Action
1:37 - In depth Kawai RHII Piano Action Review
2:58 - Playing Demo on the Kawai ES920
5:13 - Triple Sensor and Escapement on the Kawai ES920
5:56 - Yamaha P515 NWX Piano Action Review
6:56 - Key Texture on the Yamaha NWX Action
7:34 - Playing Demo on the Yamaha P515
8:50 - Playing Demo on the Yamaha P515
9:22 - Differences in the action weight on the Kawai ES920 v.s. Yamaha P515
10:04 - Conclusions on the Piano Actions
10:47 - Piano Action Spec Slide on the Kawai ES920 v.s. Yamaha P515
10:56 - Speaker Performance Review
12:05 - Speaker Specs on the Kawai ES920 v.s. Yamaha P515
13:41 - Playing Sample on the Kawai ES920
16:06 - Conclusions on the ES920 Speakers
17:09 - Yamaha P515 Speaker Review begins
18:06 - Playing Sample on the Yamaha P515
19:44 - Conclusions on the Yamaha P515 Speaker Sound
20:14 - Piano Tone Review on the Kawai ES920 v.s. Yamaha P515
21:20 - Tones: Yamaha CFX Grand
21:50 - Tones: Yamaha Bösendorfer Piano
22:22 - Tones: Yamaha Studio Grand
22:54 - Tones: Bright Grand
23:12 - Tones: Ballad Piano
23:27 - Tones: Warm Grand
24:27 - Tones: Kawai SK-EX Concert Grand
25:21 - Tones: Kawai EX Concert Grand
25:37 - Tones: Kawai Jazz - Clean
25:46 - Tones: Kawai Warm Grand
26:10 - Tones: Kawai Pop Grand
26:48 - Tones: SK-5
27:17 - Tones: Kawai Upright
30:27 - Tone Selection and User Interface on the Kawai ES920 v.s. Yamaha P515
33:48 - Connections on the Kawai ES920 v.s. Yamaha P515
34:06 - Bluetooth Connectivity on the Kawai ES920 v.s. Yamaha P515
34:23 - Conclusions on the User Interface
35:03 - Piano Weight Review on the Kawai ES920 v.s. Yamaha P515
36:35 - Accessories Review on the Kawai ES920 v.s. Yamaha P515
37:21 Piano Spec Slides on the Kawai ES920 v.s. Yamaha P515
Hello and welcome! Today we’ve got a much-requested matchup as we’ll be comparing the relatively new Kawai ES920 against the popular Yamaha P515.
Overview
These are two of the best and most popular 88-key weighted action all-in-one portable units, serving as their manufacturer’s flagship model in their respective all-in-one portable lineups. They’re very similar in price, so for folks needing this type of instrument, these two are absolutely going to end up on your list of pianos to take a close look at.
Piano Action
The ES920 is equipped with a version of the RHIII action with redesigned sensors. Note that this is not the newer version of the RHIII that was just introduced in the CN201 with improved cushioning to reduce mechanical key noise.
The P515 conversely is using Yamaha’s NWX action which features wooden core white keys, similar to what Roland has done with their PHA50. Yamaha has gone with a matte texture on the white keys and an ebony texture on the black keys.
Speaker Performance
Both pianos have a rated power output of 40 watts of power, however, the sound is presented quite differently from one to the other.
The ES920 has dual 20-watt speakers, and underneath the pianos are two large tone ports for improving the bass tone. There’s also a tactile 4-band EQ for shaping the sound in real-time. The tone is well sculpted with a wide stereo image and definitely competes with similarly priced home-based console pianos speaker-wise.
The P515 doesn’t have any tone ports, but they’ve split each speaker into a domed tweeter and a 2-way main speaker. They’ve also angled the speaker so they’re pointed more directly at the player's ear. There’s no EQ to lighten the treble, so the high end does sound a little harsh at higher volumes.
Piano Tone
Both pianos are equipped with sound engines built around samples of their company’s flagship concert grand piano - the P515 used the Yamaha CFX engine built around the CFX, while the ES920 uses Kawai’s Harmonic Imaging XL built around the SKEX.
The P515 also has a Bosendorfer Imperial sample, while the ES920 also has Kawai’s EX and SK5 samples, so there are multiple core piano tones on both pianos. Polyphony is the same at 256 notes.
Thanks for watching!
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25 июл 2024

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Комментарии : 285

@skjori Год назад

Thank you for this comparison and for all previous content related to es920. I finally got hold of one of those. Your reviews have been important as I haven't been able to try it in any local store before purchase. I tried p515 in the store - definitely solid, but with heavy keys. I "discovered" the Kawai keyboard as a result of trying the Nord Grand. I really enjoy playing the es920, its keybed, samples and its simple yet modern interface and controls.

@MerriamPianos Год назад

You're very welcome! Congratulations on your ES920! I know you will be thrilled with what it offers musically. :) We're glad that our videos were able to assist you in your decision making process!

@shaolin95 Год назад

The ES920 speakers and samples are on another level. I also much prefer the action but that is more of a personal preference. The matching stand and triple pedal are a plus as well.

@MerriamPianos Год назад

The ES920 is definitely an impressive all-around offering! The combination of excellent speakers, samples and action make for a wonderful playing experience! :)

@rap4880 Год назад

You really give excellent comparison reviews in a way that even a beginner like myself can understand and appreciate.Thank you!

@MerriamPianos Год назад

You're very welcome! Thank you so much for tuning into our channel! :)

@martoneill Год назад

Very helpful and enjoyable to watch - thank you!

@MerriamPianos Год назад

You're very welcome! Thanks for tuning in! We're happy to hear that you found the comparison helpful. :)

@juergenbachmann8449 Год назад

Superb review, thank you very much!

@MerriamPianos Год назад

You're very welcome! Glad you enjoyed it! :)

@georgmuc2020 9 месяцев назад

Great review! That is exactly how I would do it. Very helpful info in terms of key action. Thank you!

@MerriamPianos 9 месяцев назад

You're very welcome! Thanks so much for tuning in! :)

@gregmiller7638 Год назад

Stu, you make some of the best demonstration/comparison videos of any kind that I've seen, and this is another fine example. I purchased a Kawaii ES 520 last year, and would recommend it for those who are interested in the 920 but find it a bit beyond their budget.

@MerriamPianos Год назад

Thanks for tuning in! We appreciate your kind words and support immensely! Congrats on the ES520! It is a wonderful instrument and I know it will serve you well for many years to come. In addition to being a little more affordable than the ES920, some players actually prefer its action as escapement/let-off (which is included with the ES920's RHIII action) is not everyone's cup of tea.

@what.company Год назад

He's an OG, if I was Merriam Pianos I would literally give him the company

@hyperseah Год назад

Good call out on static and dynamic resistances. I was just thinking about them regarding weighted keys and bam! Stu discussed it like he read my mind. 😋

@MerriamPianos Год назад

Stu has been known to be a bit of a mind reader! ;) I'm glad to hear that the video aligned with the details you were considering though!

@KM1980Music Год назад

I have the P515 and I love the action. It feels like I’m playing at a real acoustic piano.

@MerriamPianos Год назад

Congrats on your P515! I'm very happy to hear you've found a musical experience in it that you are enjoying! :)

@christinecarver1665 Год назад

Have you tried the Kawai ES920 yet?

@KM1980Music Год назад

@@christinecarver1665 No, I have not. No one has them i where I live

@craigt.7862 Год назад

Thanks so much for this excellent comparison and demo! A quick note...The P515 has a 3-band Equalizer with fairly easy access: On right side of keyboard, use the button marked 'Sound Boost/EQ'. And, since the EQ is listed second, press the button twice to get to the EQ function. Then when you see 'User >', press the right arrow...and you are at the 3-band EQ. Use the left or right arrows to move between the EQ bands; and, use up or down arrows to increase or decrease the specific band. P.S. I always set the Lo = -1. When recording to create a .wav file, I set Hi = +1. Otherwise, when performing, I set Hi = -1. Hope this helps!

@MerriamPianos Год назад

Thanks for tuning in! We're glad to you enjoyed the comparison! Also, thanks for sharing your insights and tips regarding the P515's 3-band EQ. Much appreciated! :)

@michellemonet4358 Год назад

Can you explain more Craig please?

@calote Год назад

Excellent review, specially liked the part about the different key actions. I could not help but notice a hint of a roland fantom-08 review, it would be nice to see a review of this against the Kurzweil K-2700 or Yamaha Modx8+, very curious about action and polyphony👍

@MerriamPianos Год назад

Thank you so much! We appreciate it. The Roland Fantom-08 is a powerhouse that packs a punch for its price point! I know Stu is a huge fan of that particular model. Thank you for your suggestions! I am fairly confident that you will see a few comparisons to the Roland Fantom-08 in the near future. ;)

@AdiascarCisneros Год назад

I really like the new format on this review. I find spending more time talking about action and technical features is more useful than going over a lot of sounds. You could also add a comparison between the app interface experiences.

@MerriamPianos Год назад

Thank you! We're glad you have liked the subtle tweaks we have made to the format. We appreciate the feedback and kind words. Also, thank you for the suggestion! I will pass it along to Stu and the production team and, perhaps, we can tackle the topic of app interfaces for each model in future videos. Thanks again and happy playing! :)

@mfurman Год назад

I agree. It was a very good review. More balanced in its approach than any previous ones.

@robertmichalscheck3072 Год назад

I disagree,I’d rather hear an instrument being played than someone talking about it.

@rafaelgomez1989 8 месяцев назад

YES MORE ABOUT ACTION PIANO TONES !

@dronesaddict1737 Год назад

yay a new upload!!!

@MerriamPianos Год назад

@geoff7517 Год назад

Thank you for this comparison. I really like the balance of Kawai sound and that treble range sounds wonderful.

@MerriamPianos Год назад

You're very welcome! I certainly agree. The Kawai ES920 is an impressive musical offering to say the least! :)

@nordlyselsker Год назад

Great comparison! I got the Yamaha P515 for work last year and have been very happy with it. I did a lot of research beforehand, but it partly came down to availability, as no local dealers had the ES920. But I would likely have ended up with the P515 anyway not only because of the main piano sound - which I consistently prefer on all reviews I have seen, although it's always hard to judge just from recordings -, but also because of something that will be of no significance whatsoever for most people, but is a huge advantage for me: It has the power button and volume control on the left side, while the ES920 has them on the right. On the P515, you can also lock all other buttons with a combination (I don't know if this is possible on the ES920, but it's something I miss terribly on the keyboard I also have in the music room). I work as a music therapist with children, and they often play the piano with me, sitting on the right side, and some of them love to press buttons randomly or to crank up the volume to a painful level, so it's a major advantage to have the main controls on my side of the piano and to be able to lock other functions (that *can* be unlocked by random pressing of buttons on the right side, but I think it has happened only once in the whole school year).

@MerriamPianos Год назад

Thank you kindly! We're glad you enjoyed it. And thanks for tuning in and sharing your thoughts. We really appreciate it. :) Every player will have their own personal needs and preferences. The most important thing is to find an instrument that satisfies your needs and musical tastes. It sounds like the P515 has done that for you, which is awesome. Thanks again and all the best!

@user-sr8mx9uz5z 6 месяцев назад

He brings it on point. All of these comparisons are gold standard. Thanks

@MerriamPianos 6 месяцев назад

You're very welcome! Thank you so much! We're glad you enjoy Stu's comparisons and reviews. :)

@pianowhizz Год назад

Perfectly accurate descriptions of both actions Stu - you are one of the most open, honest and direct piano reviewers on the internet. Thanks for earning so much trust. It’s worth noting that the Yamaha P-515 is due to be replaced by its successor this year (possibly between Easter and July). This new model will likely receive the GrandTouch-S action from the Yamaha CLP-745 which is much more buttery like the RH-III - I’ve owned both of these actions (CLP-745 for a year and the ES920 for 2 months so far).

@MerriamPianos Год назад

As always, thanks for tuning in! We appreciate it! I know Stu sincerely appreciates those kind words. You can certainly bet that we will have things covered with reviews and comparisons for any new models that the big players release in the coming months. ;)

@benjaminsmith2287 Год назад

Waiting for the P515 successor. Any semi-confirmed news from a reliable source it will be this year?

@Youtube_deleted_my_favourites Год назад

thats the news I've been waiting for, will wait for the successor

@lumpichu Год назад

So far they got the crappy P-S500 for the price, maybe that was it? They will hardly introduce soon something with the GrandTouch-S action for similar price as the new P-S500 which was downgraded to GHS instead of upgraded.

@davidkyle2073 9 месяцев назад

Ya, nope didn’t happen…

@godseiern8022 Год назад

Thank you very much for your many good explanations the different sounds and technical possibilities on different pianos. I bought the Kawai ES 920 last year and I like the 4 band EQ so much, because it satisfied my desire in an easy way to find the right level of bass, midrange and treble. I am also happy that it is possible to regulate the weight and resistance of the keys. Thanks again for convincing me that I made a good purchase 🙂

@MerriamPianos Год назад

You're very welcome! Thank you for tuning in! We're so happy to hear that our reviews and comparisons were helpful throughout your decision making process. Congrats on your ES920! I know it will serve you well for many years to come. I totally agree about the 4-band slider EQ. It is incredibly useful, especially if you're performing/gigging with the instrument! :)

@george0t Год назад

It is not possible to regulate the weight and resistance of the action, you can only adjust the touch curve.

@godseiern8022 Год назад

@@george0t When I set the touch curve level on top to "Light 4", the keys is easier to press down when I play. (I apologize that my English is not the best, so some words and expressions can be misunderstood.)

@Zoco101 Год назад

Everyone knows I'm a Yamaha fan, but when Stu played Liebestraum with the Kawai SK-EX patch, I was very impressed. That cello register melody sounded so warm and tender that I had to rewind and check the other patches again. No doubt about it, this was the crowning moment of the video.

@MerriamPianos Год назад

Yamaha and Kawai definitely offer a little different flavour musically! The ideal situation is to have both pianos of course. With that said, certain tonal profiles just seem to be perfectly matched to specific pieces of repertoire. :)

@MERCEDES-BENZS600GUARD_V12 Год назад

I just came across a Kawai ES110 test unit with uneven keys, loose piano button, and no texture on both the white and black keys. I know I use mine a lot, but this one looks really used, and as far as I know only few people go to that store. Don't know if it was like that right out of the box. It looked a bit different from mine the shape of the bottom case was mor squaredout, and it says ES110B wile mine just says ES110. Both are black by the way. The Yamaha P125 was in much beter condition than that Kawai. Both the Yamaha and Kawai were ressting on top of boxes stacked on top of each other + the Kawai was behind the Yamaha so I don't know how that Kawai looked more used than that Yamaha. The Yamaha did feel more well built than the Kawai🎹🎶

@Zoco101 Год назад

@@MERCEDES-BENZS600GUARD_V12 to be fair, the ES110 probably came out before the P-125 and the demo model might have beed very old. The demo model I found was in almost as bad a condition. The B at the end seems to suit some distributors/online suppliers. I do think it means black. My main supplier has this appended to the model names on many of the black keyboards it sells, and W for white and so on.

@MERCEDES-BENZS600GUARD_V12 Год назад

@@Zoco101 to be honest I don't know what came first mine or the other one. As I've mentioned before in my previous reply there're some differences in the shape of the bottom case, and mine doesn't say ES110B it just says ES110. Both are the same colour. Also the store has changed locations a few ties no🎹🎶

@Zoco101 Год назад

@@MerriamPianos I don't suppose that Yamaha or Kawai instruments will ever sound the same as each other. It's wonderful for the consumer to have such contrasting choices from two Japanese companies that sort of grew out of one. Yamaha sounds are not always brighter/clearer. Recently I've been switching to the GP3 patch on my Yamaha P-255 for part of my practice. It has a more intimate sound than the sparkling GP1 patch, and makes a nice contrast. I seldom used GP3 before, so I wonder whether my hearing is shifting? GP3 is probably just a heavily tweaked version of GP1 (a CF sample) but I convince myself that I'm playing a smaller grand.

@thomasbrown7980 Год назад

I have been playing the 515 for 3 years. It is the piano I began with and it has been fine for learning. It is, of course getting a bit “long in the tooth”. I will stick with it until I can afford an upper range Yamaha or Kawai digital. Thanks for the review.

@MerriamPianos Год назад

You're very welcome! The P515 is an excellent starting point and I'm sure it has served you well up to this point. Thanks so much for tuning in! :)

@EverSoaringEagle Год назад

I've been waiting for this comparison video! Personally, I love both, so I am buying both. One down, one to go.😉

@MerriamPianos Год назад

One can never have too many digital pianos! ;) I am a strong advocate for the "different tools for different jobs" philosophy whenever it is feasible. Thanks for tuning in!

@ryanluchuck8445 Год назад

Great comparison!

@MerriamPianos Год назад

Thanks so much! We're glad you enjoyed it! :)

@MarvinRWard 16 дней назад

🎉.❤Great job Bro!

@MerriamPianos 16 дней назад

Thanks for tuning in! :)

@ArminBub Год назад

A great decent video answering everything you want to know. I found the fly in the ointment: 33:57 Yamaha P515 instead P15. Greetings from Germany

@MerriamPianos Год назад

Haha thanks for letting us know! We appreciate it. :) And thank you for tuning in! We're happy to hear you found the video useful.

@febriyudiono Год назад

Hi...thank you for your channel, very intuitive, helpful and your explanation are easy to understand for me as beginner. If I may, I would love to hear your opinion about this piano that I'm considering to buy for my first piano. The first one is Kawai CN201 and the second also the latest is Yamaha P-S500. If you're as a beginner, which one will suites you? Thank you and greetings from East Borneo Indonesia.. 🙏🙏🙏

@MerriamPianos Год назад

Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! Thanks for tuning in and supporting our channel! We really appreciate that. :) In my opinion, I would take the CN201 over the PS500 without question. The whole "stream lights" function of the PS500 is a bit of a non-useful feature in my opinion if you're planning on doing any type of serious studying on the piano. The CN201's value is fully-packed into its core piano experience (action and tone engine), which I personally thinks provides a better cost-to-value ratio. Of course, needless to say, it will always be a matter of opinion and preference.

@mikepyne Год назад

Hi Stu, Nice job! Very good detailed analysis! In your opinion, which of these keyboards have the best action and the overall best piano sound: Kawai ES920, Yamaha P515, Yamaha CK88? I like that two out of the three above have 256 note polyphony.

@MerriamPianos Год назад

Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! I can't speak on behalf of Stu of course, but, for me, I favour the ES920 in terms of its combination of tone and touch. Some players may find the action to be a little on the light side (I like the weighting of the ES920's RHIII action personally), but the SKEX samples are incredibly vivid and authentic sounding. Thanks and hope this helps!

@brickmissing8295 Год назад

Nice review. I owned the P515 for 2 years. It greatly benefitted from the addition of an external subwoofer to fill out the rather lacking low end. Agree the action is rather heavy - my hands would literally ache after a long practise session.

@MerriamPianos Год назад

Thank you kindly for tuning in and sharing your insights! We really appreciate it! :)

@michellemonet4358 Год назад

Mine toooo.achyyy

@giuseppepaparo8977 3 месяца назад

Che sub hai aggiunto?

@Oleg__ Год назад

36:44 - Out of the box, the Yamaha P‑515 comes with a pedal that does not support pedal gradation (half‑pedaling).

@MerriamPianos Год назад

Unfortunately, there are several companies that are moving in this direction these days. Thankfully, most of them make an upgraded pedal or pedal system that does support half-pedalling, which can be purchased separately.

@The-Organised-Pianist Год назад

@@MerriamPianos I haven't checked the specs on the Yamaha myself (I'm not trying to buy a piano at present) but just as a general point, whatever the company is, I don't think people should have to buy something extra just to get ordinary functionality from a pedal.

@wolfpsx6210 Год назад

Your description of "static vs dynamic resistance" was excellent, that immediately made it clearer in my mind what I'm looking for in the action. Static resistance makes it feel less like an acoustic keyboard, even though I like Yamaha and Roland in general. I'd like to see a much heavier action, I've tried majority of them and everything feels light after playing a lot of grands and uprights for decades, even the P515 feels way light..

@MerriamPianos Год назад

Stu definitely has a knack for find the perfect way to articulate certain nuances and sensations when it comes to describing various aspects of the piano experience. It definitely takes some time to find the perfect fit for your preferences and style of play, especially if you're coming from playing an acoustic grand piano for a number of years, But, with so many models (and new ones coming out all the time), I am confident you will find a model that provides a satisfying playing experience. :)

@MERCEDES-BENZS600GUARD_V12 Год назад

I have the same feeling after playing my heavy upright action. I use an ES110 now, but some times I play on my upright so my fingers won't forget the feel of a heavy action🎹🎶🎹🎶

@mfurman Год назад

I agree. I got the heavier action of Yamaha exactly because of its action

@Zoco101 Год назад

Wow, the P-515 is renowned for a firm action - and yes I like that aspect. If you need a still heavier/firmer action (due to playing the firmer uprights) I am impressed but also concerned. I'm suggesting that the heaviest actions are going out of fashion and might disappear altogether as upright pianos themselves all but disappear.

@Fretless1 Год назад

Thanks Stu I just bought a P-515 and the action is super solid I have a Roland RD-88 with, as you know has the PHA-4 action The comparison is "night and day" I really appreciate your advice and knowledge Besides being an amazing pianist I hear some "Oscar" in your playing at times.....Oh yeah! Anyhow, Thank you for taking the time to compare and show the differences in these instruments All the best Dave

@MerriamPianos Год назад

Hi Dave! Brent from Merriam Music here! Thanks for tuning in! I will be sure to share your kind words with Stu. I can definitely hear the "Oscar" influence. ;) Congrats on your new P515! I hope it serves you well in the next phase of your musical journey! As always, thank you so much for supporting our channel!

@IsabelMakesMusic Год назад

Thank you so much for this detailed comparison! I was pretty much set on the Yamaha until I watched this. Even as an experienced pianist with fairly strong hands, I still don't want heavy action. I'd much rather have something that feels more true to an acoustic piano. Going to try them both out soon, super excited! Edit: I've tried them both now and I really don't get the hype around the Yamaha. It feels nothing like a real piano and I really hate how much it's holding you back from playing the quieter dynamics. Therefore I chose the Kawai, it felt amazing to play. I also tried the Roland and found it quite nice, although it felt a bit too slow for my taste.

@MerriamPianos Год назад

You're very welcome! We're glad to hear that you found it helpful! All the best with your selection process and enjoy auditioning the pianos. :)

@Zoco101 Год назад

Thanks for the video. Enjoying it. Wow, this took a while in coming? Any "console of a similar pricepoint" will have part of its value invested in the furniture. I'm guessing that to play as well as the ES920, the console piano would need a bit more spent on it. But if it had the exact same spec as the ES920, plus furniture, the console might sound a little better. It's not really apples to apples, partly because there'd be more space for better speakers. I prefer the action on the P-515, but then I do play/practise a lot and I don't need much pianissimo. I also prefer its main patch (CFX) to the Kawai SK-EX or EX patches, though I'm not sure it's perfectly implemented in this model. I like almost nothing else about the P-515, but I believe it should make a good training instrument for a serious pianist. The ES920 is like a later version of the (deleted) Yamaha P-255, which I own and prefer for very subjective reasons. It's ironic that Kawai has borrowed the lightweight pseudo stage piano concept of the P-255, complete with physical EQ sliders. Yamaha has left a hole in the market through its failure to replace the P-255 with a truly portable piano. Accordingly, if I had to recommend a portable piano to a pianist with classical music ears, I'd probably pick the ES920.

@MerriamPianos Год назад

You're very welcome! Thank you for tuning in and sharing your thoughts! Within the Kawai line, the CN201 would be the most affordable console unit that would offer the RHIII action that is featured on the ES920. With that said, from a tone engine standpoint, the ES920 would still be superior. There is a lot of truth to the notion that some of what you pay for when buying a console digital piano is the cabinet. However, this is also reflected in the fact that matching wooden stands and triple pedal systems for portable digital pianos can get quite expensive as well. In terms of the Yamaha versus Kawai debate, it is really a matter of personal subjectivity and preference in terms of what sound and touch one connects with more. The style of music you are playing will definitely have an impact too. Perhaps, in a perfect world, all pianists will have access to both instruments for their "musical tool boxes". One can never have too many pianos! ;)

@thewillage 11 месяцев назад

Great review. Would you recommend monitor speakers for this to round out sound?

@MerriamPianos 11 месяцев назад

Brent here! Thanks so much for tuning in! You could use monitors in addition to the onboard speakers, but, for me, the onboard speaker systems are quite robust and provide a very full, rich sound (especially in the case with the ES920 in my opinion). :)

@davidkyle2073 Год назад

Excellent explanation on touch. Covered a lot

@MerriamPianos Год назад

Thank you kindly! We appreciate you taking the time to tune in. :)

@abath07 Год назад

The Kawai has a smoother attack, more mid-range frequencies, and sounds more colorful. I get a more emotional response when I listen to the Kawa SK-EX. The Kawai sounds smoother when phrasing lines. The Kawai action is also smoother, I found the Yamaha P515 action to be stiff at 80 grams with bad "static vs dynamic resistance".

@MerriamPianos Год назад

Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! It is certainly a matter of preference, but I personally agree with your sentiments. The ES920 is probably my favourite all-in portable digital piano on the market right now. The combination of the RHIII action with the SKEX samples really make it a home run for me. I find the control interface to be very user-friendly and intuitive as well, which is always a helpful plus. :)

@gustavogo2915 Год назад

@@MerriamPianosgood to know this is you’re favorite. I got a Kawai ES520 Christmas of 2021 and I enjoyed that digital piano so much I got a brand new Kawai GL10 baby grand a few months after on Valentines Day 2022. I later sold the Kawai ES520 and got a Yamaha P515 and a CasioGP510. So now I’m pretty content with the Kawai GL10, YamahaP515 and CasioGP510. My next goal is upgrading to the Kawai GL30 or GX1 and getting a Kawai ES920

@gustavogo2915 Год назад

@@MerriamPianos……

@michellemonet4358 10 месяцев назад

I agree.

@Frank-in-NY Год назад

Anxious to see a review of the new Roland FP-E50. Merriam Music with Stu Harrison are the tops with keyboard reviews.

@MerriamPianos Год назад

You can certainly bet on that coming your way very soon! ;)

@JoeLinux2000 Год назад

Stu is such an excellent player you can really hear how these instruments sound when played by a real pro. Some of the people demonstrating pianos on RU-vid are not strong enough players when it comes to polytonal extensions and what the Korean pianist like Jimin Dorothy refer to as voicing tensions. I don't get much from listening to someone who is locked into exclusively diatonic playing. Jimin Dorothy: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-m0UoJZWpvs8.html

@Krishnafred Год назад

Thanks for the review. Confirms my choice for the ES920 when I tested both at the shop. For key action but especially tone. The upper range especially is very beautiful.

@MerriamPianos Год назад

You're very welcome! Congrats on your ES920! It is a wonderful piano with a beautiful tone and responsive touch! :)

@andriandm 7 месяцев назад

I use to play many electronic pianos and so far the best feeling I got from it was when I played Kawai ES8 (I think ES920 has the same key bed). It is not perfect as it has some issue with repetition (like a trill), but as I understand to in order to overcome the issue the keyboard suppose to have the real piano action which is meaningless to implement on the portable instrument.. But the impression after playing Kawai is just next to perfect, all the rest of portable pianos stay way behind. PS Thank you much for review, it was great!

@MerriamPianos 7 месяцев назад

You're very welcome! We're glad you enjoyed it. The Kawai ES8 and new ES920 models are fantastic! They're very impressive instruments with both a great touch and great tone! :)

@mfurman 11 месяцев назад

I tested ES920 again very recently and I would really like to understand why Stu never even mentions that the Kawai actions (especially on ES920 but also on other digital pianos such as CA49 and CA401 that I also tested) are so annoyingly bouncy (the white keys do not just stop at the rest position but oscillate). The action noise if ES920 is unacceptably loud (ES120 seems to be a bit quieter). As I said, Stu always glosses over these problems of Kawai actions.

@MerriamPianos 11 месяцев назад

It is not a matter of glossing over these "problems" as tone and touch preferences are a highly personal and subjective matter. Some players do not like an overly stiff action and actually prefer a little bit of bounce out of the keys. In terms of key noise, some players are not remotely bothered by some mechanical key noise. However, it totally depends on the context of use and the volumes in which the player typically plays at. The ES120's new RHC action has extra padding, which makes it a little quieter.

@Justin_collier Год назад

Stu, great playing as always. I have a question, don’t all the newer kawais along with the mp7 have the same exact tone engine and same shiguru? I use my mp7se still, i have not had issues with the keybed in the rh3 action even after a year of having it, so many people had it, i guess i got lucky or maby kawai fixed those issues and i happened to get lucky not having the pads wear out?? Also, I’m looking for a second keyboard in a cheap pricerange with a good organ drawbar setup that would do well with updated worship pads that’s light weight and easy to throw in your back seat to take to church so i don’t scratch mine up. Some of the sounds on the kawai are kind of dated especially the pads, What would you suggest???

@MerriamPianos Год назад

Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! Thanks for tuning in and writing in with your questions! I believe Kawai addressed some of the issues with the pads in later batches of the MP7SE. At our stores, we have actually had a very low warranty claim rate on that particular model. They seem to be quite reliable! As far as the tone engine and sample sets go, there are a variety of different tiers of tone engines within the Kawai line. Many of the higher end digital pianos (like the MP7SE) use the Harmonic Imaging XL tone engine. Some even have the SK-EX Rendering engine, which is Kawai's top-of-the-line engine. In terms of the samples, the newer models that are coming out have additional sample sets like the SK-EX Competition Grand. So, all-in-all, there is some disparity between the various models. In terms of a suggestion for a cheaper, lightweight digital piano with the sounds and features you're looking for, I would suggest looking into the Roland FP-E50, Roland RD88, and Casio PXS6000. They are all quite portable, but their sound and feature offerings are immense.

@Roberto-qb2dj Год назад

Grazie Stu per questo nuovo confronto, fra due top digital piano. La maggiore differenza fra i due è sicuramente l'azione del tasto. Il peso del tasto di Yamaha nel registro dei bassi arriva a 100 gr.!!! Non è poco, soprattutto per un principiante. Inoltre il registratore a 16 traccie è una rarità. (che io sappia solo Yamaha dgx 670 lo possiede) Come sempre per quanto riguarda il suono è sempre una questione di gusto personale. Ultimamente è uscito Yamaha p s500, un tutto fare interessante. Aspetto una tua prova a breve. Ciao dall'Italia.

@MerriamPianos Год назад

You're very welcome! Thank you so much for taking the time to tune in! We appreciate it. We will definitely do our best to tackle the Yamaha PS500 in an upcoming video. Thanks for the suggestion! :)

@THECEV Год назад

Great comparison. I found the keybed of the Yamaha P515 way better than the keybed of the ES920. The Kawai seems to have a little bit of a plastic feel with more noise than the Yamaha. At first the Yamaha keybed feels a bit stiff/heavy but after a few days of playing my hands were adjusted. The amount of control you have with this keybed is insane.

@MerriamPianos Год назад

Thank you kindly! We appreciate you tuning in and sharing your thoughts. Both of these amazing portable digital pianos offer a slightly different feel and tone. At the end of the day, it comes down to the personal preferences of the player to determine which is more appropriate for them. :)

@michellemonet4358 10 месяцев назад

I find the p515 way too heavy

@gustavogo2915 9 месяцев назад

@@michellemonet4358weak 🤡

@RA-el6zj 3 месяца назад

That sk-ex sample sounds amazing to me. My ears seem to like it far better than anything on a Yamaha or a Roland. But, I think the Bosie on the Yamaha sounds pretty nice as well, that's a nice extra piano to have.

@MerriamPianos 3 месяца назад

They are both impressive sounding pianos, but I do agree with you about the SK-EX samples. The richness and authenticity is very tough to compete with (especially in a portable format)! :)

@shaolin95 Год назад

Stu, can you please do a video with your favorite settings for the es920 like you did for the CA79? Thanks!!!

@MerriamPianos Год назад

Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! Thanks for the suggestion! I will certainly pass it on to Stu and the production team. :)

@shaolin95 Год назад

@@MerriamPianos A whole series for the pianos reviewed doing that would be amazing!

@josemiguelcarrizo7373 Год назад

An excelent suggestion. I have a Kawai ES8 and I'm curious to know what it would sound like with the favorite settings of a professional

@joshtackett 7 месяцев назад

I’m down to deciding between the ES920, the new Yamaha P-525 and the new Studiologic Numa X GT. Just curious if you had any advice on these! Thanks

@MerriamPianos 7 месяцев назад

It really comes down to a matter of tone and touch preferences. For me, the ES920 has the most authentic tone of the bunch. It is very difficult to compete with the amazing SK-EX samples. However, this is a very subjective matter of course. The best bet is to audition the various models in person to see which one you connect with the most.

@JosephAkins Год назад

I have the P515 and other than changing the reverb type, I have to take a deep dive in the menu to edit effects. Drives me crazy! It shouldn't be so hard for example, to add chorus to your electric piano. I suspect the Kawai is a little easier, but I'm not sure.

@MerriamPianos Год назад

Some pianos are a little easier to navigate in terms of their control interfaces. The Kawai ES920 is quite intuitive and simple to use I'd say. Thanks for tuning in! :)

@JosephAkins Год назад

@@MerriamPianos Thanks for the reply!

@WayneJoyce1973 9 месяцев назад

I currently own a P515 and previously owned Yamaha's P255. Although the P515 is clearly much superior, I did miss the physical equalizers and also the dedicated transpose button from the old P255. Having to go into the menu system to use these functions was something of a downside, particularly transpose which is such a commonly used feature for me. Now seeing the equalizers and dedicated transpose button on the ES920, combined with the much lighter weight - it's starting to look tempting. I do like a warmer piano sounds and pretty much exclusively use the Bosendorfer sampling on the P515 rather than the CFX grand. I also am starting to get some arthritis in my little finger joints, so extensive playing sessions on the heavy wooden-keyed P515 starts to hurt, so a bit lighter action also might suit me. Food for thought anyway!

@MerriamPianos 9 месяцев назад

For sure! The ES920 is quite the powerhouse and has a really wide array of convenient features and functions. Plus, the SK-EX Concert Grand samples and RHIII action are amazing! :)

@johnnylong2023 8 месяцев назад

@@MerriamPianos pha 4 or RH III??????

@VegaJing-zn1cx 7 месяцев назад

@@MerriamPianosHi please help ,I read from someone's comment you can't transpose in pianist mode (nv10s model if I remember correctly ) isit true ? How about nv5s , ca909 , mp11se and es920 ,can I transpose with the sk piano sound or in pianist mode?

@WayneJoyce1973 7 месяцев назад

@@MerriamPianos So I took the plunge and bought an ES920. Actually I had to take it back to the store and get a replacement, because the unit I got had a weird issue where there was so much play in some of the white keys that they were clicking against each other during normal play. But that seemed to be a manufacturing issue with that 1 specific unit. The store replaced it with another which was much better. Now I love it. I find the action a little lighter, and much smoother, than my old P515. Dedicated transpose button and equalization sliders are great. Also I love the way I can layer two voices, and then easily at a button touch balance the volume between the 2 instruments for that temporary pairing. You can't do that on the P515 - best you can do is set the volume of the individual instrument but that's all the time for that instrument and not possible to balance directly against another. The 28 registrations are also very handy. I feel Kawai have really understood that gigging pianists don't really want to dive into a menu system to access common functions that change or need accessing during live performances. Plus the SK Concert Grand sounds divine - I love the warm sound. And somehow feels like a more REAL piano sound than the P515. I guess it's subjective and a lot down to personal preference, but I personally much prefer the Kawai. I'll be selling my Yamaha P515.

@YotamPiano Год назад

Nice review and great playing by Stu of course ! I had a 515 for a week and returned it due to a speaker malfunction. I switched to the 920 and right off the bat realized the 920 is on a whole other level. Better sounds (except the Church Organ), better interface for dialing in effects and better action most importantly. The 515 build quality does feel more chunky however, but for transportation the extra weight is definitely felt.

@mfurman Год назад

We definitely have different preferences as far as action is concerned. I chose P-515 over FP-90X and (especially) ES920.

@MerriamPianos Год назад

Thank you kindly for tuning in! I will be sure to pass on your compliments to Stu. :) Congrats on your ES920! It is a wonderful instrument and definitely a home-run on all fronts as far as I'm personally concerned. With that said, it is a matter of personal preference when it comes to tone and touch. I am glad to hear you have found a musical experience you connect with in the ES920 though!

@YotamPiano Год назад

@@MerriamPianos Thanks for your comment!

@shaolin95 Год назад

Fully agree. There is nothing on the 515 that I will take over the es920

@mfurman Год назад

@@shaolin95 P-515 has better, wooden action (plastic actions, especially Kawai’s are very noisy) and has Digital Audio Interface which is very important. Its build is also much better.

@MERCEDES-BENZS600GUARD_V12 Год назад

I think you already made a video comparing the P515 to the ES920 back in 2021🎹🎶

@MerriamPianos Год назад

There was a P515 versus the ES8 (Kawai's predecessor to the ES920) released in 2020, but I don't believe the P515 versus ES920 comparison has previously been covered.

@Instrumental-Covers Год назад

There are some inaccuracies regarding the speaker system in the Yamaha P515 in the video, as well as in the comment section by Merriam. In addition, there are a few omissions, for example regarding the EQ. They say in the comment section: "The P515 doesn’t have any tone ports, but they’ve split each speaker into a domed tweeter and a 2-way main speaker. They’ve also angled the speaker so they’re pointed more directly at the player's ear. There’s no EQ to lighten the treble, so the high end does sound a little harsh at higher volumes." 1) The P515 does have "tone ports"... although the correct expression for both the ES920 and P515 is not "tone ports" but "bass ports". Tone ports and bass ports are not the same thing: you have "tone ports" in the ES120/P125 but "bass ports" in the ES920/P515. Tone ports are not designed to increase the bass output, they just let the sound breathe. Bass ports, on the other hand, are for the back wave of the speaker escape, emphasizing the bass which is calculated according to formulas ("box tuning"). The hole in the ES920 is facing down while on the P515 is facing up. Both the ES920 and P515 have bass reflex/vented port design speaker boxes. P-515 also features the Twisted Flare Port: Yamaha technology that offers a clear and precise bass sound. The flared and gently twisted shape evenly diffuses the air flow through the port. Compared to a conventional port, the Twisted Flare Port reduces air turbulence noise, resulting in clear and accurate low frequency reproduction. The ES920 does not have flared twisted bass ports, which in addition to its all-plastic case, can produce some turbulence while reproducing bass notes (for example, organ sounds with deep bass). This is shown in a video in another channel. Those 10 lbs of weight saving have their price. In engineering, nothing is free, everything has its cons and pros. 2) Yamaha does not have a "2-way main speaker" in addition to the dome tweeter: it is simply an oval 12 x 6 cm "single-way" speaker. The Roland HP704 does have that type of speaker, and the technical name is called "coaxial", where there is a main coaxial speaker (tweeter is "time-aligned" with the woofer) + spatial speakers. Yamaha does have a 2-way speaker system, but not a "2-way main speaker" in the sense of Roland HP704. The 2-way in the Yamaha means the speaker system consists of a woofer and a tweeter, but the woofer is not a "2-way main speaker" (not a coaxial speaker). 3) The Yamaha P515 does not have physical EQ sliders like the ES920, but it does have a 3-band EQ accessible via the menus. Granted, it is more convenient to have a 4-band EQ in the Kawai ES920 than a 3-band EQ via buttons in the P515. However, you can definitely access the equalizer via the physical "Sound Boost/EQ" button on the board. You have presets as well as a custom EQ designed to fit your tastes you can save. I have played both of these keyboards. I prefer the touch, feel and sound of the P515, but it is just personal preference. One thing that should be taken into account is that these samples can be modified so much that you can make one piano sound like another. I do this with my Yamaha DGX-670 all the time: I can make it sound like a Kawai ES920 easily via a very powerful built-in 5-band EQ. The DGX-670 has a 5-band equalizer, and not only that, I can adjust every single one of those bands to a large set of frequencies via a beautiful large color display. You are stuck with the frequencies given to you by both the ES920 and P515. Furthermore, I can even adjust the width that each frequency band can have, which is not available in the ES920 or P515. If we are going to talk about the equalizer, the DGX-670 is way more powerful than either the ES920 or P515 to sculpt the sound you want.

@MerriamPianos Год назад

In some cases, when disassembling a unit is not desirable or possible, the production team are going off the information provided by the manufacturers' spec sheets. From that perspective, this is exactly what is communicated about the Yamaha P515 from Yamaha's Canadian website: "Powerful onboard speaker system: P-515 features 15w + 5w amplifiers along with 2 way speaker system which provides an immersive, authentic piano experience with astonishing clarity. P-515 also features a Twisted Flare Bass Port, Yamaha's technology that offers a clear and precise bass sound. The flared and gently twisted shape evenly diffuses the air flow through the port. Compared to a conventional port, the Twisted Flare Port reduces air turbulence noise, resulting in clear and accurate low frequency reproduction." SOURCE: ca.yamaha.com/en/products/musical_instruments/pianos/p_series/p-515/features.html#product-tabs As you've correctly pointed out, the P515 does include bass ports, which are different than tone ports when you get down into the nitty-gritty details. However, like many things, the terms are sometimes inaccurately used synonymously. As you can see from Yamaha's own description, they refer to the system as a "2 way speaker system". Of course, this would not be the first time that a spec sheet from a manufacturer is not fully-accurate or thorough. The vast majority of digital pianos have the capacity to adjust the EQ of a specific instrument sample or patch internally within the menus of the unit, but, in this case, the presence of an onboard EQ on the control interface itself was what was being discussed. In any case, it is fantastic to have these conversations and dig into the finer details to give as many piano enthusiasts and shoppers the most complete and thorough picture of each model as possible. With that said, as we often discuss, at the end of the day, spec sheets and design details are secondary to many players that simply rely on the tactile and sonic experience an instrument provides. As always, thanks for sharing the insights and tuning in! :)

@Instrumental-Covers Год назад

@@MerriamPianos Yamaha's own description is accurate, and as I mentioned, the P515 has a two-way speaker system understood as a tweeter + woofer per side. What is not accurate is what Stu said in the video as well as what is written in the description. You have written: "they’ve split each speaker into a domed tweeter and a 2-way main speaker." That is inaccurate because of the phrase "2-way main speaker". If you already mention the tweeter, then the other part is the woofer/full range unit. But not a "2-way main speaker" in the same sentence where you mention the tweeter. I think accurate language is important in this case, because there are actually 2-way main speakers (coaxial speakers) in some digital pianos (Roland HP704) in addition to other satellite speakers. You are giving the impression that the P515 has a two-way main speaker (coaxial) and a tweeter, which is not the way the P515 2-way speaker system is done. You also wrote: "There’s no EQ to lighten the treble, so the high end does sound a little harsh at higher volumes." Technically, that is an inaccurate statement. The P515 does have EQ to lighten the treble if you wish to do so, but it is via menus, not graphic sliders. It is important to make the distinction and also clarify (which was not done in the video) that the P515 does have a 3-band EQ. Not mentioning it can give the impression there is no equalizer at all. A better statement would be "The P515 does not have a graphic equalizer accessible via physical sliders, but you can lighten the treble if you wish via its 3-band built-in equalizer". By the way, great video as always and lots of fun interacting with you! :)

@JoeLinux2000 Год назад

Glad to see you continue to be a strong advocate of the DGX. I don't fully understand how to adjust the EQ. I was wanting to move a voice to another memory location, and couldn't figure that out either. I was going to call Yamaha support, but never got around to it. I think the DGX does offer the most bang for the buck, and have no big issues with the action. That said, the Scriabin prelude for the left hand only was somewhat difficult because of the long stretches. You have to learn to play out to the end of the key because of the short pivot length. This could be a problem with other digital actions too. The DGX action is not noisy. As always the DGX played in tandem with Pianoteq is always superb. I've never played a better sounding digital piano. Basically I just use two voices. One is a modified CFX and the other is the Yamaha Warm Grand. These two can be combined with various Pianoteq voices. Almost all sound good. It just depends on the particular composition. The CFX has a more pure sound whereas Warm Grand is just as it says, a bit warmer, but not as clean as the CFX.

@Instrumental-Covers Год назад

@@JoeLinux2000 Hi! I sent you in my last reply the two steps on how to move a voice memory: basically select the voice, press "Memory", then press your Bank number of choice. That's all. You have several EQ's on the DGX-670: Master EQ, Voice EQ, and EQ's for each one of the 16 tracks in the sequencer. The DGX-670 is a workstation + arranger + digital piano. No other keyboard on the market is all of that with that quality and professional features.

@nicolasarianos9731 Год назад

Hi.what about Kawai CA901 ? We are waiting for a review please . Thank you

@MerriamPianos Год назад

Hi there! We just received our first shipment of the Kawai CA701 and CA901 models a little over a week ago. Video reviews and comparisons are definitely in queue! ;)

@covenantpiano Месяц назад

Bro, I like your video. Let me teach you something. I'm a piano technician. Escapement is NOT resistance. It is actually a loss of resistance at the end of the key travel after the Jack has escaped from the knuckle. This is not to diminish your knowledge in any way. Just something you should know. Blessings, Bro!

@MerriamPianos Месяц назад

Hi! Brent here! Thanks so much for taking the time to tune in and share your insights. We appreciate it! :)

@jpdj2715 Год назад

Great video, great piano playing, and valuable to people who want to choose between these. Others hinted to associations with something "Oscar" - in old Europe, my associations went to that legendary Canadian pianist mr. Peterson (oh wait, Oscar). On a less important yet serious level, the weight difference between these two keyboards according to manufacturer specifications is between 22 kg for the Yamaha and 25 kg for the Kawai - that's 3 kg and not 10 lbs (= about 4.5 kg). Still, 3 kg by itself is a noticeable amount of mass, but between a heavy 22 kg and a heavy 25 kg it will be hard to notice, I guess. Another detail - less important but serious - is about the "Watts" published by manufacturers next to the amount of speakers. Those values are total fairy tales or meaningless. If you are into hi-fi, then you have read about a loudspeaker's efficiency in dB (real volume) at 1 meter distance at 1 Watt energy put into that speaker and one speaker may do under 80 dB at that, when another may do over 100 dB - for the same Watt, at the same distance, and the same test sound. Efficiency aside, there is another way of looking at Watts: how many Watts can the power supply input into the "instrument"? You see, what an amplifier does is relay power from the power supply to the speaker(s) by first making the input power from AC into DC and then modulating this DC into "sound" waveform AC. In the power supply are losses and in the conversions too. Bottom line, a keyboard with a 20 Watt power supply cannot, can never, output 40 Watts sound (times dB/1W/1m efficiency). At least it cannot sustain that longer than a fraction of a second (because its power stages in the amplifier that hold power reserves will be drained that fast). If you incidentally have a dB meter and want to take this very seriously, then it would be good to measure dB per instrument at 1m, for a standardised chord or chords or polyphony at a standardised playing volume level.

@MerriamPianos Год назад

Hi there! Brent from Merriam Music here! Thanks for tuning in and sharing your detailed insights! I will be sure to pass on your kind words to Stu. :) In terms of speaker power ratings, you are certainly correct regarding the correlation between power rating and actual dB output. The other thing to factor in is perceptual loudness, with which there is even a psychoacoustic element at play as we associate specific frequency bands with both proximity and loudness. Perhaps, companies should shift towards sharing dB output levels instead of amplifier power ratings. However, as you can imagine, that might be unrealistic given how long this standard specification has existed. In any case, thank you for your thoughts and insights! :)

@jorjajorjan3863 4 месяца назад

Excellent reviews sir. It is so bad that after so many decades the keyboards evolving so slowly...I was searching a lot about digital pianos and synths in 2003-2010 and I own a few and after so many years it looks almost the same. In an era that everything is "smart" we still have to pay so much money to get something that still looks like it is in 2000.. no touchscreen in 2024? So disappointing to have such a cheap small screen... I am not talking about Kawai and Yamaha but for all the brands.. What do you think everybody?

@MerriamPianos 4 месяца назад

Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! Thank you for tuning in and sharing your insights. One thing to consider is that many companies are spending a lot of time and resources developing their partnering apps. While not everyone will be a fan of the trend, many models are being specifically designed to be used in conjunction with an app. This allows manufacturers to keep the control interfaces on the pianos themselves simpler, which, in turn, saves money and weight. The additional savings typically means that the companies are able to invest more dollars into the elements that affect the core piano experience (e.g. action, tone engine, etc.). While it is a bit of an adjustment to make, I will say that some companies have done an incredible job with their partnering apps. It is definitely worth exploration in my opinion! :)

@tibisuperlegoarms Год назад

Hi I know it's been a while but I have a question about the ES920: apparently the virtual technician app is only available on iPad so I'm curious if it adds something in terms of sound tweaking or it's just a more user friendly interface. As an android user not being able to access all of the settings would be pretty sad (my brother has an iPhone so I thought we could download it there but apparently it's limited to iPad). Another question I'd like to ask you (I know it's pretty specific...) is if it can cover the whole 1-127 velocity range when used as a controller, that's the reason I got rid of my Yamaha but I can't find anything about it! Thanks in advance from Italy,I love your videos🙃

@MerriamPianos Год назад

Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! Thanks for tuning in and writing in with your questions! The ES920's Virtual Technician is also onboard, so you could make those adjustments directly from the piano. The app simply provides users with a more convenient and easy-to-navigate layout. So, I don't think you'll be missing out on anything on that front. While I have used the ES920 as a MIDI controller before (with which it was excellent!), I did not do any testing as to whether it covers the entire 1-127 velocity range. I would assume it would, but Kawai does not actively mention anything related to this in their literature on the ES920.

@tibisuperlegoarms Год назад

@@MerriamPianos Hi,thank you so much for the fast answer even 5 months after the update! I,and probably lots of other people,really appreciate the effort you guys put in it! As an android user,knowing I won't have to buy an iPad really reassures me! Knowing it worked very well as a midi controller is a really nice thing. I don't know if this is the case so I'm sorry if I'm asking too much,if you ever happen to put your hands on it as a controller again...could you please give it a try in terms of velocities? I know I'm asking quite a bit so it's ok if you can't obviously. Thanks in advance ;)

@bermonbasilan Год назад

30:15 mine is Yamaha P255, the predecessor of P515, it has 3 way equalizer.

@MerriamPianos Год назад

Very nice! That is a very solid model! :)

@craigt.7862 Год назад

The P515 has a 3-band Equalizer with fairly easy access: On right side of keyboard, use the button marked 'Sound Boost/EQ'. And, since the EQ is listed second, press the button twice to get to the EQ function. Then when you see 'User >', press the right arrow...and you are at the 3-band EQ. Use the left or right arrows to move between the EQ bands; and, use up or down arrows to increase or decrease the specific band. P.S. I always set the Lo = -1. When recording to create a .wav file, I set Hi = +1. Otherwise, when performing, I set Hi = -1. Hope this helps!

@MERCEDES-BENZS600GUARD_V12 Год назад

@Merriam Music perhaps I was thinking about the ES920 vs ES8 review haha! My bad sorry🎹🎶

@MerriamPianos Год назад

Not a problem at all! :)

@abaco62 Год назад

The Kawai is an excellent digital piano, but it has a big flaw: the ivory touch disappears after a few months and the keys become smooth and shiny.

@MerriamPianos Год назад

The Kawai definitely has a wonderful tone and touch, but that is interesting to hear. I have never personally experienced this issue with any of our store's floor models, which see a lot of play.

@abaco62 Год назад

@@MerriamPianos I am a big fan of Kawai digital pianos. I own ES8, ES920 and MP7SE, and I love them all. But on all I found that flaw. Depending how much you play it: after some time the ivory-touch disappears from the most used keys. I'm not the only one having this problem. Kawai should be informed.

@MERCEDES-BENZS600GUARD_V12 Год назад

@@abaco62 I have that also on my ES110 there's hardly any tecture left🎹🎶

@maggiealena Год назад

I have listened to hundreds of reviews this vs that and to be honest, if you find fault with any of the upper their brands it's more not picky. Today they meaning Yamaha, Casio, Roland, Korg, Arturia, Kawai and many others. Some many never heard of except those in the music industry. These are exception machines these days and I feel blessed just to finally get a hold of because 20 yrs ago would be out of my reach. I made a good living even back 20 yrs ago and still would have been hard pressed to afford anything like. Yamaha Roland. DGX or DX7 88 keys or whatever. You would have shelled out some serious money 20 yrs ago.

@MerriamPianos Год назад

There are a lot of exceptional top-tier digital instruments from a number of manufacturers. Most of them are very well-built and offer great quality and value. However, tone and touch preferences are very personal and subjective. The good thing about having options is that players can find a sound and feel that they truly connect with. :)

@JoeLinux2000 Год назад

I almost bought the es920 but ended up buying a Yamaha DGX-670 which is about 1/2 the price. Are the es920's even being produced? It seems like they only produced a very short production run.

@MerriamPianos Год назад

There was a suspension of manufacturing for the ES920 at one point in the height of the pandemic due to chip shortages. However, they are producing them again. :)

@daffyduck4195 Месяц назад

I like many things about the ES920, but I wish they would reprogram their B3 funky organ to sound like the organ in the Roland FP30X.

@MerriamPianos Месяц назад

The ES920 is an excellent instrument! Of course, not everyone will resonate with every single onboard sound it offers. The piano tones are really the showcase of the ES920 in my opinion.

@try2tri811 Год назад

Can anyone help..? I'm in the military and need a travel keyboard to play when I'm abroad. The biggest I can fit in my bag is 61keys. The problem is there isn't really any weighted keys on keyboards this size - and action is so important. I got the Roland Go61, but its not ideal. Anyone recommend a relatively lightweight, but weighted keys, 61 key keyboard?

@MerriamPianos Год назад

Hi there! Unfortunately, there are not a ton of non-88 key keyboards with a fully-weighted touch. With that said, the Alesis Recital 61 has a semi-weighted touch and is quite portable. It may be an option worth consideration based on your needs. Thanks and hope this helps! :)

@juergenbachmann8449 Год назад

Someone in another review mentioned that the keys on the Kawai make some noise when they stroke back to the released position and that it might be an issue when playing silent with headphones. Can you confirm that?

@MerriamPianos Год назад

There is inevitably some key noise with virtually any piano. With that said, the amount of key noise does vary from model to model. The ES920 certainly has some key noise, which will be a bit louder compared to a lighter action like the ones on Casio's PXS models.

@michellemonet4358 10 месяцев назад

@@MerriamPianosdoes this mean if you are recording with the kawaii it will make noises?

@DJpiya1 9 месяцев назад

May I know what is the difference between the Kawai E920 vs Kawai MP7se please. Because where I lived, both r price at the same level. Thanks.

@MerriamPianos 9 месяцев назад

They are very different instruments! The ES920 has onboard speakers and is designed to be an at-home piano, whereas the MP7SE is a stage piano that does not have onboard speakers. It is designed for professional stage and studio use.

@daniel82ad Год назад

@Merriam Music Whats your Experience with the ES920 Speakers, my 920 case is really bad responsing and vibrating when you use the internal speakers. The sound of the speakers are good but this is ruining the Experience.

@MerriamPianos Год назад

Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! While there were early batches of ES920s that seemed to have some issues with speaker vibration, we have not experienced any issues for quite some time with the ES920s that we have received.

@daniel82ad Год назад

@@MerriamPianos ok, thanks for your quick response!

@scarsstitches636 2 месяца назад

10 seconds into the first quick demos in the beginning of the video and i can already hear how tiny the Yamaha piano is compared to the ES-920. Big fan of those ES series... but my PHA-4 gets the nod first, so i'm sticking with Roland.

@MerriamPianos 2 месяца назад

That is certainly fair! The PHA4 action is a tough one to compete with - that is for sure. But, I do agree with your sentiments about the ES series. The ES920 is an absolute powerhouse with one of the finest piano sounds on the market in its price category in my opinion. :)

@dannymcneal Год назад

Based on your review, I plan to purchase the ES920 on Saturday (hopefully, there’s a 4th of July sale going on). While I will primarily use it as a MIDI controller, playing just for fun is also a high priority. Plus, I don’t want to grow out of a lower-level digital piano, and end up purchasing something else, so I’m choosing this one over the ES120 or ES520. Thank you for your incredible reviews (I’ve watched a ton of them) and the time you’ve spent putting them together. You’re just the best! (My mom thinks so too, as I showed her this one today-she agrees!).

@MerriamPianos Год назад

Thanks so much for tuning in! You certainly can't go wrong with the amazing Kawai ES920 model! It is a truly fantastic instrument and one of the best cost-to-value ratios on the market as far as I'm concerned. Also, I will be sure to pass on your kind words to Stu on your behalf. :)

@tibisuperlegoarms Год назад

Hi since you're using it as a midi controller,how does it feel in terms of velocity control to you? Can it cover the whole 1-127 velocity range? Thanks in advance

@dannymcneal Год назад

@@tibisuperlegoarms - Well, I made a slight change. After watching the review comparing the ES920 and Roland FP-90X, I ended up buying the Roland. OH MY! I am so happy with it. Feels and sounds like an authentic acoustic piano. Can’t praise it enough. Not only can I play and send WAV files right into my DAW in real time, but as a MIDI controller, I can also take advantage of Apple’s modeling library, which includes a Steinway Grand and others. Unreal!!

@micahtritscher951 8 месяцев назад

Hi, how would you compare the ES920 eoth the recently released Yamaha P525? Ive seen that most reviewers compare the ES920, FP-90X, and Yamaha P515. Im a little confused, because in New Zealand currently you can buy the ES920 for ~2.9k NZD, P515 for ~3.1k, but the 90X is far more at over 4.5k. i feel like that price leap is so stark, that really they cant be compared so directly. Cheers

@MerriamPianos 8 месяцев назад

Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! We have a few videos in the queue, but we are planning to tackle an ES920 and P525 comparison. The price point of each model does vary from region to region and, at the end of the day, it is not all about price. Despite the fact that the ES920 is more affordable in the majority of markets, it still holds up against these other instruments in terms of what it offers musically.

@micahtritscher951 8 месяцев назад

@@MerriamPianos Any idea as to when P525 info videos/comparisons may come out?

@lumpichu Год назад

I think (maybe I missed it) you omitted additional huge advantage of ES920 in my view, which is the ability to save registrations. It's nice to be able to make your own heavily customized grand on the P515 (I did that when I tried the P515 in a shop and loved the sound), but that sound might not be the best for everything... And having to always dial all those things, when you want the other sound, can be close to not having the ability at all. Can be mitigated by using the app, but to me that doesn't count. Even if I wanted to use it, who knows how long will Yamaha support the model in their app, you can lose the ability any day. A huge downside of the P515 which is often not mentioned. The UI on the ES920, together with the physical EQ sliders, is simply a different level.

@MerriamPianos Год назад

Thanks for writing in! That is certainly a very good point and differentiator. I guess the ES920 is such a powerhouse with so much capability that it is difficult to cover all of it in a single video. ;)

@michellemonet4358 10 месяцев назад

Lump So you prefer the kawaii for.this reason?

@lumpichu 10 месяцев назад

@@michellemonet4358 In the end, after trying them in the shop multiple times, I bought the P-515 :) And to be honest, it's annoying to not have the feature. But I much preferred the action of the P-515. I really really liked it. Maybe in the future I'll regret the heaviness, but for now it's a treat to just press some keys, even without turning it on :D And I like the wood which is seen, I like the texture of the black keys... And I disliked the action of the ES920, it wasn't bad, but like it was the exact opposite of the Yamaha. Super bouncy, plastic look and feel. It just seems a lot cheaper. I might not notice it when playing, but I'd know :)

@michellemonet4358 10 месяцев назад

@@lumpichu i hearya. I have.nerve ain issues so it jjst was too paimful for me to play the p515. I think the bottom line is which pianonare you more likely to play or look foreard to playing? For me..its the lighter action ones. I

@lumpichu 10 месяцев назад

@@michellemonet4358 The next flagship Yamaha could be perfect for you, because the CLP-7xx series has very light actions, especially CLP-725 and 735, lighter than the Kawai, presumably the P-515's successor will get one of them. Definitely one of the lightest if not the lightest in the shop and the feel was decent. I thought I prefer light action, but I found out that the weight is not what's most important to me, but the kind of touch I like. It's not that I like any heavy action, I dislike most of them, all the Roland actions for example. And I also disliked the lighter touch of the Kawai. And it's because you won't know the whole story from one number. There is a whole pressure curve that would need to be measured, from top position of the key to the bottom, to learn a bit more about the touch.

@seheyt 8 месяцев назад

Hah! That guilty look at 27:08 when he snuck in an accidental TheLick™

@MerriamPianos 8 месяцев назад

@jocar3754 Год назад

At about 34:00 you note that the Yamaha has a USB audio interface. Does that mean that the Kawai won't let me play vsts on my computer but the Yamaha will?

@MerriamPianos Год назад

Hi there! No, that is not the case. The Yamaha and Kawai will both allow you to play VSTs on your computer. Both pianos are equipped with MIDI output capabilities, which is what is required to control a VST. A USB audio interface is a little different as it allows you to actually transfer digital audio to your computer through the USB port. Thanks and hope this helps! :)

@jocar3754 Год назад

@@MerriamPianos I'm a new subscriber but I've now looked at several of your videos. There are other good piano reviews on RU-vid, but yours are the best I've seen. Have you ever thought about doing tutorials on how to use the different adjustments on plugins? I've never seen a good one, and if yours even approixmate the quality of your product reviews, it would be a great service to us and a big differentiator for Merriam Music. I know I'd watch them!

@BUJU2007 Год назад

I ordered a used Yamaha P-515. I sent it back. Didn't even come close to sounding like this. I even used my high quality Senheiser headphones and it still sounded horrible. I believe that particular unit was defective. I may try again someday or get something higher tier. Until then I'm using my Native Instruments - Noire VST.

@MerriamPianos Год назад

Hi there! I'm sorry to hear that you had some issues with the P515 you ordered. It is possible that it was a problematic unit. With that said, have you explored other options like the ES920 and FP90X? It may be a matter of having a different tonal preference. Thanks for tuning in! :)

@Instrumental-Covers Год назад

If it was used, and assuming that it was in good condition and not defective, I wonder if the previous owner had saved an EQ preset via the built-in 3-band that you didn't like it. I once played a Kawai ES920 in a store that sounded so bad right off the bat that I wonder if somebody had saved a preset I didn't like... maybe it is a good idea to do a factory reset on any used instrument.

@JoseVGavila Год назад

@@Instrumental-Covers When you buy a used digital instrument, ALWAYS do a FACTORY RESET. That has saved me hours of frustration!

@BUJU2007 Год назад

@@MerriamPianos I currently have the Roland FP90. It was a blind purchase. I'm not particularly pleased with the piano sound which is why i was looking for a switch. I love the PHA-50 keybed but the piano sound isn't very good in comparison to the price. I'm probably going to go with something like the MODX or Kurzweil PC4 eventually. My only concern is that I may not like the keybeds for those since I've become accustomed to the PHA-50.

@BUJU2007 Год назад

@@JoseVGavila I did a factory reset. I'm pretty sure the keyboard was faulty which is why it was for sale used. They probably didn't inspect it well before the resale. Even at full volume it sounded soft and muddy.

@germanshepherdlover2613 8 месяцев назад

Kawai all the way. SK5 and Upright are sweet

@MerriamPianos 8 месяцев назад

The Kawai ES920 is a really amazing instrument to say the least! :)

@michellemonet4358 4 месяца назад

Im liking the warm grand and jazz grand!

@guinhomusico9504 Год назад

The people who say they don't like the P-515 are those who don't know how to use the instrument's many functions to do it sound the way you want. The P-515 wins that competition: better sound and build quality.

@MerriamPianos Год назад

While sound is always a variable component of a digital piano, the action is invariable. From that perspective, it comes down to a matter of preference in terms of which touch a player resonates with between these two powerhouse digital pianos. Thanks for tuning in! :)

@michellemonet4358 10 месяцев назад

Can you elaborate?

@emaldonadog 8 месяцев назад

Hi all, I have a new and less ambicious question for you. Speaking only about Yamaha pianos, why to buy a CLP 725 and not a YDP 165, or viceversa, with only maybe 150 € btw they?

@MerriamPianos 8 месяцев назад

Hi! Brent here! It really comes down to a matter of personal preference and value perception. Some customers are on very tight budgets and may not have the ability to spend a bit more for an upgraded model. With that said, other customers may not see investing a couple hundred dollars more for a better piano to be a big deal.

@emaldonadog 8 месяцев назад

@@MerriamPianos Then, are you saying really there are not a true difference that worths attention?

@michellemonet4358 10 месяцев назад

I own the p515. Im finding the keys way too heavy. I have nerve pain Carpal Tunnel issues so this is actually hurting me! Id like to find a way to sell this. I am not enjoying playing it as much as my lighter keyboards.

@MerriamPianos 10 месяцев назад

I am sorry to hear that! Sometimes, heavier action is not the preference for certain players. I hope you can find a home for your P515 and recoup some of the money to reinvest in a piano more aligned with your playing preferences. I would recommend the Casio PXS models. They have a great piano sound, but a much lighter touch than the P515. :)

@michellemonet4358 10 месяцев назад

@@MerriamPianos thanks! Any thoughts on how or where to sell this?

@pianistjustforfun 9 месяцев назад

The actions of the CP88 & YC88 are also too heavy. Same thing 10 years ago with the CP4.

@walli33 6 месяцев назад

Kawai ES920 i prefer color , nuance piano , better for me

@MerriamPianos 6 месяцев назад

I am a massive fan of the ES920 too! It has a beautiful, authentic sound. :)

@DaraM73 Год назад

I’ve just had my Nord Grand Kawai sensors fail. A two YO keyboard 😢

@MerriamPianos Год назад

I am very sorry to hear! Generally speaking, sensor strip replacements are fairly easy repairs for experienced digital piano techs. I hope you can get your piano's issues resolved soon!

@DaraM73 Год назад

@@MerriamPianos thanks, your videos are the goto for players. Very much appreciate the effort. I hope manufacturers also appreciate it?

@Youtube_deleted_my_favourites Год назад

I have just bought the ES920, but boy the key noise is loud, I can hear it over my headphones

@MerriamPianos Год назад

I am sorry to hear that you are having issues with the key noise. Unfortunately, heavier actions with escapement simulation do tend to have more mechanical key noise than lighter actions without escapement. It is a bit of a trade-off for a more authentic touch.

@Youtube_deleted_my_favourites Год назад

@@MerriamPianos thanks for the reply. Certainly is a nice action, I was used to playing an old CVP-301 what sub woofer/speakers would you recommend to hook up to the ES 920?

@germanshepherdlover2613 7 месяцев назад

I prefer the Kawai due to the light weight and lighter action. But to have only 38 sounds for the price is inexcusable, it should have at least a hundred or more 🙄

@MerriamPianos 7 месяцев назад

The sacrifice of built-in sounds is ultimately in favour of a superior piano experience (action and piano tone). With that said, there are other models out there at this price point like the Casio CDPS360 and PXS3100 that come loaded with a large arsenal of built-in sounds.

@user-zg3uf2pz6b 4 месяца назад

ES 920 vs kawai cn 301?

@MerriamPianos 4 месяца назад

The ES920 and CN301 certainly have some parallels, but they are very different instrument types (i.e. portable versus console, etc.).

@abath07 Год назад

PIANO TONE 21:22 vs 24:29

@MerriamPianos Год назад

@leoscareer Год назад

Kawai SK EX sings here. The CFX sounds blurred or muddled. (I'm a P-515 owner)

@jonathanalfred9847 25 дней назад

I have watched a bunch of your videos. And even though your comparison videos are for the most part good. When i get to the end of them i never feel any closer to knowing which one i would rather have. And i think it is because you are a store that is representing both brands so you never really dig into any kind of strong opinion about either keyboard. Possitive or negative. After watching this long video i have no sense if which keyboard you would buy with your own money. And why.

@MerriamPianos 24 дня назад

Hi there! It is important to note that we do not always represent/carry both brands. For example, in this case, we do not carry Yamaha pianos. The reason why there is never a declaration as to which model is "better" is because that is totally a matter of subjectivity. It is up to the player to the make the final determination as to which model suits their needs and musical preferences more.

@mfurman Год назад

All I can say is that I tried ES920 and P-515. Got P-515 (replacing Roland FP-90X). I have been very happy with my P-515 and stopped checking other digital pianos. Ps. The action of ES920 was too noisy and “clicky” for me.

@MERCEDES-BENZS600GUARD_V12 Год назад

I would really like to try a P515, but the ones I come across are unplugd haha🎹🎶

@MerriamPianos Год назад

We're happy to hear that you found a playing experience and sound that you're satisfied with! Every player will have their own personal preferences. The most important thing is to find a tone and touch that you connect with! Thanks and happy playing! :)

@Biozene Год назад

Why did you want to replace the FP90X? I ask because it's one of my top contenders.

@mfurman Год назад

@@Biozene There we’re two reasons for. The first and the most important for me was the action. I initially did not like NWX action, thinking that it was too heavy for me. The static weight needed to move middle C key on P-515 is indeed high (85g) but the action is very good as far as it’s dynamics. I liked PHA50 but when playing various acoustic pianos for a couple of weeks I realized that PHA50 was not a very good approximation of an acoustic piano action. NWX of P-515 is better in this respect. I also became more experienced in playing classical music and in a sense grew up to Yamaha. The second reason was that I never liked the piano sounds of PF-90X and always use piano VSTs. The action of ES920 is very noisy and “clicky”.

@mfurman Год назад

I should add that I liked the new format of this review. It was also well balanced

@ChrisP3000x Год назад

Been playing acoustics 40+ yrs. The P515 feels like mud. The sounds are dated. The Bosendorfer isn't "warm" (as the shills claim).... it's muffled and phasey, and the CFX is thin, bright and probably best for pop/rock. The sustain didn't work properly on layering. Menu dive to adjust layer balance. Haven't tried the 920, but seems like it's better in a few areas, but EQ sliders should have doubled as layer volume, and not having an audio interface is foolish and a dealbreaker for most.

@MerriamPianos Год назад

Thanks for tuning in and sharing your insights! At the end of the day, everything related to tone and touch comes down to a matter of preference. Every player will connect with a different action and piano tone. With that said, for me, it is very difficult to compete with the ES920. It is an all-around home run in every regard: tone, touch, and speaker system. However, there are plenty of P515 fans in this community as well! It is a matter of choosing the instrument that you resonate with most. :)

@hyperseah Год назад

Has all these upper range DPs eaten into the sales of uprights in your store?

@MerriamPianos Год назад

Not necessarily. I would say there has been a very subtle shift in the last little bit towards digital pianos, but, with that said, the split between digital, acoustic upright and acoustic grand customers and sales are relatively consistent in our market. :)

@user-cj2ch6gd1k Год назад

PS500 vs PXS6000 ES920 vs PXS5000

@MerriamPianos Год назад

Thank you kindly for the suggestions! We will do our best to tackle these comparisons as soon as we can! :)

@davidkyle2073 9 месяцев назад

No comparison listening on high end headphones. Have owned a dozen Yamaha keyboards but it’s clear this Yamaha grand sample sounds fake as opposed to solid beauty of the Kawai. Own the CFX on two other platforms and like it but here the difference is all too obvious…

@MerriamPianos 9 месяцев назад

The P515's piano tones are quite good, which is kind of a testament to your commentary about how spectacularly authentic the SK-EX samples of the ES920 sound. With that said, it really comes down to subjectivity. :)

@Kontrabass66 7 месяцев назад

In comparision I find both 515 and also the new 525 sounding dead and colourless. Coming from a Steinway D from Hamburg I find the keys of the Yamaha a torture for my fingers.

@MerriamPianos 7 месяцев назад

It comes down to a matter of preference of course. With that said, I personally favour the ES920 sonically. I find the SK-EX piano samples to be a bit more nuanced and authentic sounding. :)

@robertmichalscheck3072 Год назад

I’ve owned both these keyboards,thought kawaii was somewhat better

@MerriamPianos Год назад

The ES920 is tough to compete with in terms of its combination of touch, tone, and speaker fidelity. :)

@robertmichalscheck3072 Год назад

@@MerriamPianos yeah,it was a fairly nice keyboard.

@michellemonet4358 10 месяцев назад

What did you like better about the kawaii?

@nosystem06 Год назад

That’s a very biaised review since Merriam Pianos does not sell Yamaha

@MerriamPianos Год назад

While we don't sell new Yamaha pianos, you can always find used Yamaha digital and acoustic pianos on our showroom floors. They are certainly solid pianos and offer a different flavour than Kawai. Thanks for tuning in! :)

@LaurensLeurs Год назад

I stopped watching after the same ad interrupted the review for the fourth time in about 10 minutes. RU-vid was never this pushy before. I wonder if it is something the publisher has any control ever.

@MerriamPianos Год назад

Hi! Brent here! I am not entirely sure to be honest. I know excessive ads can be frustrating and annoying. It seems to have become part of the RU-vid landscape these days.

@LaurensLeurs Год назад

I watched again and got far less ads served this time. Much better!

@gustavogo2915 Год назад

@@LaurensLeursTime to sue RU-vid

@robintyson591 Год назад

19:01 - oh my goodness the Yamaha just sounds terrible - as you say, a treble harshness, even at mid volume! Or at least, to my ear. Perhaps there are 'Yamaha' people and 'Kawai' people - I'm the latter! I had a Yamaha digital piano many years ago but wondered why I was constantly pressing the una corda (to take away that harshness) - it bcame a bad habit!

@MerriamPianos Год назад

Thanks for tuning in and sharing your thoughts! We appreciate it. :) I think there is some truth to the notion that there are "Yamaha people" and "Kawai people". Because there is so much tonal contrast between the two companies and their respective instruments, it does seem to be quite the contentious debate. With that said, it is a matter of personal preference and the most important thing is that every player finds the sound and touch that they connect with. Thanks again and happy playing!

@dougmarkham Год назад

@MerriamPianos It's certainly true that the ears (part of the brain that processes sound) gets used to the piano you own. You become attuned to the qualities in the tone over time and hear more of its depth. I used to own a Yamaha and initially found the Kawai sound so less bright that I felt the need to modify the EX grand. Over time, I got adjusted and now hear shrill over-bright harshness in the Yamaha sound. Whilst there is some truth that the P515 emulates the CFX less accurately than the ES920 replicates the SK-9 Grand, I think that has to do with the fact the P515 is quite a lot older, and therefore isn't quite at the same level. I think if it were not for Covid, there might already be a P520.

@actie-reactie Год назад

Hmmm....I own a es 520 and the p515... I think they both have samples that sound great.... kawai or yamaha groupies is a bit of BS to me.... it all depends on the price and the quality of the piano that goes with it.... love my es 520 , love my p515, but I like my mp11se more, because it has more quality.... and a higher price.... and lifting it gives you an excellent work out...😄

@Instrumental-Covers Год назад

That part you chose is a live recording via speakers, not the line out. Of course it will sound bad with lots of key noises. That is not representative of the sample at all. Use studio quality headphones or studio monitors to realize this fact.

@Oleg__ Год назад

How can you not realize that this is the only excerpt in the entire video where the sound was recorded through a microphone and not the line outputs. All digital pianos sound mediocre or just awful through a microphone.

@famousatmidnight15 Год назад

Can’t sell a kidney to get a E920 anywhere in the world. They are permanently “on order” at every store I’ve looked at.

@MerriamPianos Год назад

They are extremely popular! We have a hard time keeping them in stock as well. It seems that Kawai can't make them fast enough. The best bet is to get on a backorder list as quickly as possible. It is an amazing all-around portable digital that is well worth the wait! :)

@Instrumental-Covers Год назад

Kawai has always suffered from this problem across their models in my personal experience, even way back before the pandemic. I live in the US, and Yamaha, Roland, and Casio are much easier to find in stores than Kawai. I don't know if the problem is due to a lack of financial power to stock their products in a stable manner in music stores or due to a mentality of selling "by catalog" and promoting their products via social media (RU-vid videos made by Kawai dealers) and "word of mouth" (anecdotal report/testimonial, such as those found in this channel). By the way, the ES920 is available on Amazon and Kraft Music right now, but judging from the comments left by real customers, Kawai products don't seem to be very popular in the sense of quantities sold. For example, a Kawai ES110 has 107 comments on Amazon rated at 4.7/5 stars, but a Yamaha P125 has 1,614 comments rated at 4.8/5 starts. For every Kawai ES110 comment, you get 15 Yamaha P125 comments. It gives you an idea of how popular Kawai really is. I used the ES110 and P125 because those models have been out for a while, before the pandemic. This seems to be the case also among professional musicians using stage pianos, they almost always use Yamaha, Roland, or Korg.