You compared the button feel but not the action of the two? Why? What did you think the main reason people wated this comparison was? I mean, we already know they both sound great and are full of features. So you thought it came down to button pressing feel??
Last year I was looking at both the Roland FP-90 and the Yamaha P515. I could not find a place that had both of them in the same location so I never got to do a side by side comparison. I couldn't decide between them, so I bought nothing. When the Kawai Es920 was announced I decided to throw it into the mix, but nobody in the country seemed to have them, and I wasn't going to buy before I could try. About a month ago, the closest dealer to me finally got the Kawai in stock. I didn't get to do a side by side again, but I loved the Kawai so much that I didn't hesitate to buy it that day. I don't remember what the others felt like or sounded like, but I know they didn't give me the same sensation upon playing them. I am more than satisfied with my choice.
I’ve been playing the p515 for a year now. I have no desire to change and I do like the Yamaha sound better. Kawai is a great company. So it’s a matter of personal preference.
Sorry, guys, you spent so much time yakking and really did not provide valuable needed information. Like keyboard feel, how heavy the keys feel, etc. The drum sounds, rhythms, etc. And so on. I got an ES920 six weeks ago from Alamo but had to get the wood stand elsewhere. Anyhow, since I'm just getting back into piano after a 30 year gap, the keys felt so heavvvy at first but I've got used to them now. In fact I did a "dime test." I took a plastic dime saver container and put enough dimes in to drop the Middle C key down sharply enough to make a sound. The ES920 needed 92 grams to drop the key, whereas a Steinway upright, 30 years old, took 112 grams. I read somewhere that it takes 96 grams to drop a key on the P515. So it is strange that the ES920 keys feel heavier than the Steinway. Anyhow, the sounds are great, rhythms are very nice, and the sound system superb. No regrets on the purchase. I love how you can layer two sounds together, like piano and strings. When I got the ES920, I tried to run the Kawai Piano Remote software, and it said to me, dude, the firmware is not up to date. So I had to download the latest firmware on a thumb drive, stick it into the ES920, and it quickly updated. After that, Piano Remote ran just fine. If you own an ES920, make sure the firmware is up to date. Hold down the Piano 2, Organ, and Strings buttons, then turn it on. It will show you the firmware. It should be (US) V1.10 and not a lower number. Turn it off after that, and then turn it on again. I also had Bluetooth issues which the update fixed.
Those key weights are way too high. It should be around 50 grams for middle C. 60 grams would be heavy. If you have a piano that has 112 grams it just means the action needs regulating. It is definitely not normal.
Key weight is measuring how much weight it takes to *start* the key moving - not how much it takes to push the key all the way down (because escapement/let-off gets in the way). Also when measuring acoustic grand pianos - key weight is measured after engaging the sustain pedal to ensure you're not measuring damper weight. Steinway, Fazioli, Bösendorfer, C.Bechstein acoustic grands all measure between about 45 grams and 50 grams. 60 grams is considered very heavy (too heavy).
@@pianowhizz Wow, so informative! I just sat down with my 30 year old Steinway upright 42". It took 58 grams, with the pedal down, to move the Middle C key most of the way down. With the ES920, the key went down about a quarter of the way.
I purchased the Yamaha P-515 as the Kawai ES920 wasn’t out yet. The build quality of the Yamaha is superb and very sturdy and yes it is heavy although it’s pretty stationary where I’ve placed it. I also bought the stand and pedals. The NWX action is very nice to play and the CFX Grand is nicely sampled. The Kawai may be better sampled from what I heard. Maybe, one day I can afford an actual grand piano 😀
Also bought the P515 after trying the Es920, which felt like a toy. When I’m ready to upgrade, I would most likely go with a hybrid. I like technology and a traditional grand piano is just too outdated at this point, offering marginally better performance with massive upfront and maintenance costs.
@@maconmaple8900 My sister won't budge from her (out of tune) spinet acoustic. I say it's like buying a guitar and the salesman says, we have this one that you can play everyday but you can only tune it once every two years and it's expensive to tune. Or, this guitar that plays the same, sounds like a top of the line guitar, is cheaper and you NEVER have to tune it. It is always in tune. 😂
Definitely my preference is the ES920. I think it just sounds more "analog", less digital than the 515. Love to also see these against two other main competitors in this range: the Roland FP90x and both the C1 or G1 Korg Airs.
For me, a music therapist working with children, some of whom love to press buttons randomly while others love to turn up the volume as high as possible, having the on/off button and volume control on the left side is a HUGE advantage. I was also pleased to find out that the Yamaha has a two-button combination that lets you lock all the buttons (it would be even better if that were on the left as well, or if there were a cover for the whole front panel). I don't know if the Kawai has something similar. I miss that option very much on the keyboard I am using at work now.
I’m stuck between these 2 regarding the keybed action. I’ve gotten acclimated and like the heavy action from my Roland FP30. So I’m sure the Yamaha P515 will be similar. But with the ES920 being lighter action, is it too light or does it feel like a semi-weighted? No stores around me have the ES920 in stock for me to test. The key action for me is the deciding factor between these two.
I have a 920 on backorder and got to try both the ES-110 and FP30x previously. The 110 action was definitely lighter than the FP30x but it still feels like a fully weighted keyboard. From what I've seen in videos, the 920 has a little bit of a heavier action than the 110, so I can't imagine it feels like a semi-weighted.
Hi. My son recently had the opportunity to play the ES110, 520 and 920 side by side (no opportunity to play the Yamaha). He hadn't formed a good idea in his head by then how much he wanted to spend. The 110 is good, don't get me wrong. It's great value but when you play the 520 it's a different instrument, much more realistic. The 920 then was a revelation. It is lighter but it is not by any stretch of the imagination "semi weighted". It was best described by the guy in the shop (here in the UK) as the 520 feels like an upright piano; the 920 feels like a grand. I'm no pianist but I could tell the difference. I can feel the subleties you woudl be able to get out of the 920. Yes my son sprung the extra cash for the 920, he loved it.
The Kawai has I think the virtual technician and the Yamaha has piano room and virtual resonance modeling and there you can "voice" the piano sounds and put the lid up and down and so forth. The default sound can be altered quite a lot and how much reverb, string resonance, damper resonance, and other parameters can be fiddled with. I tend to turn up the resonance with Yamaha and down the resonance with Kawai. As for the demo, when the instruments played different voices they weren't marked so it would have been helpful to indicate which voice was used. Listening to the Kawai I wonder if it has some chorus in the sound. Not sure. The Yamaha has also a mellow sample version of the Bosendorfer Imperial grand. I think the CFX is a more plaintive sounding instrument, the SK-EX, a full-bodied fine wine. They have very different characteristics as acoustic pianos. The CFX writes with a very fine point and articulates infinitely. The Kawai has deep colors and washes the sound yet sparkles in the treble a great deal. It also has big timbre changes from soft to loud. The Yamaha goes for evenness throughout the ranges but the brightness level has less contrast at louder dynamics. The samples? I've heard the ES8 (ES920s predecessors) and P515 played by a number of jazz and Classical pianists in stores and elsewhere. They both are impressive. When I sampled them the ES8 felt solid, not sure the ES920 is as solid but I haven't played one. The P515 is well put together as well.
Coming from someone who has a Yamaha HX-3 digital organ, a Technics Pr105 digital piano,Yamaha CLP765GP concert digital piano, a Yamaha FX-20 digital organ, a Allen ADC 8000 digital pipe organ and a Lowrey Rhapsody SU400 digital organ i can safely say i am partial to the P-515 sound wise and feel, the acoustics are deeper yet smooth across the whole frequency range, where the Kawai ES920 is a bit sharp at points, plus the feel of those wooden keys on the Yamaha are far to good.
I have been playing for a little over two years diligently. I have this same piano and you sound amazing! Can you please tell me a piece I should learn that might sound a little blues again I’ve been playing a little over two years and I play consistently 3 to 5 hours per day any recommendations of a classic piece you could recommend I would love to know.
I was pretty surprised that the Yamaha sounded richer and deeper to me on this video. But would have to hear them in person. Was this with the line out or internal speakers? Need to get that big Roland in next... Great reviews, thanks!
I was waiting on someone comment on this. I also felt that the Yamaha had “just a little but noticeable” more acoustic and deeper sound. But just for the grand piano sound.
Before watching this video, I was expecting the Kawai to have better sound, but in the video, the Yamaha seemed to have better tone. Looking to possibly buy one these, but unfortunately, cannot actually find them both to try out. Still deciding.
@@jimredner2649 Musician Friend have them both. Kawai around$1,800.00 and Yamaha around $1699.00. They have open box promotion. I saw one (Yamaha P515 white)yesterday in excellent condition and they had it for $1,300. Great deal. Check it out. I have too many pianos and my wife will kill me if I buy another one. Still I have a Ju109 upright acoustic which I super love it.
I own the p515 , but have tried the es8, similar to es920, some days I wish I had the es920, somedays I like prefer p515, like in this comparison, I suppose you can't go wrong.
I have both and prefer the piano sound from the Kawai, it expresses more feelings and is a warmer more colorful tone. Wonderful detailing. The Yamaha with its scooped mid range (like on their real pianos) is less colorful, is brighter, and I don’t get the emotional response to its feeling. The action in the Kawai is nicer, there rigidness or stiffness in the Yamaha.
Yes, a number of years ago after much research and only a one minute product demo, I bought a Kawai MP6 Professional Stage Piano connected to two 50-watt each KRK - RP5G3 external speakers, and I understand about the emotional response to its feeling. I've played Roland, Yamaha and other keyboards, and find the Kawai hitting my soul. The sound is rich, especially in the lower keys - powerful, deep, and loud when needed like a Grand piano -- a sound you do not experience with on-board speakers. But it is heavy, high quality, and built like a tank. I live in the Philippines now, don't have my MP6 with me, and want to buy a less expensive, lighter, and "Ok" Kawai ES920, but it is difficult to find one out here. They only sell the most lowest level models of any brand at premium prices (ex. Kawai ES110) -- but nothing good. They want $2,650+ for I think may be the only ES920 in the Philippines, if not Asia, with a 3 foot pedal unit that I don't care about. My wonderful old (2014) MP6 with the great F10H foot pedal was only $1,300, and it would blow the stand out from under the ES920 and blow its little 20 Watt speakers off the unit. The larger wattage does increase the quality and richness of the sound -- it is amazing. Now the MP6 is replaced by the MP7SE and MP11SE. If it works, the MP7SE sounds amazing, but Kawai has had past quality problems with the unit (it would often be dead on arrival 2018-2021). Not sure if they fixed the quality issue yet, but I hope so. Those who received a working unit gave it 6 out of 5 stars and 4 thumbs up. I am sure the more expensive MP11SE is very heavy but sounding REAL good.
Yamaha C3 grand owner NYC bought a home in Florida went with Yamaha P515 for a heavy action like my grand - The P515 delivers on a heavy action nothing like my P45 and very close to my 6’1 Yamaha C3 - for me it’s all about the action and if you like heavy the P515 won’t disappoint
I've heard that the Yamaha has a heavy action. Is it sluggish? Is it mainly due to the wooden keys versus Kawai's plastic keys? I'm used to the feel of my KG2D grand, which has a moderately heavy action. Is the Yamaha a similar feeling?
Listening to this video I must admit the acoustic piano of the Yamaha sounds fuller compared to the Kawai, and I like the electric ones more too. Although I was a bit biased towards the kawai before listening, as friend of mine bought it (who's judgment I value very much). But the sound of the Yamaha in this video convinced me. I'm also afraid the Kawai will sound too thin in the highs, like many sampled piano's. But in the end I would like to hear them in a room playing through their internal amplification and feel their touch to be able to make a real decision.
In other video comparisons I thought the Kawai sounded richer. It sounded like a slight volume difference in the recordings between the two examples in this video.
They are ok-ish but not in the same league as the primary sounds (CFX and Bosendorfer). There are some good synth-pads for layering with the primary sounds.
Is anybody here having some issues with dynamics? I mean, if I set "normal touch" on the P515 I can't get to play pianissimo, whereas if I set "hard 1" it's close to impossible to hit volume 127. Anybody, please?
The P-515 is 3 years old, Yamaha will likely replace it in the next 3 to 15 months - hopefully they will include the GrandTouch-S action. The main feature missing from the ES920 is USB Audio which allows superior quality VST audio playback on the Yamahas - that missing feature will cost Kawai many sales.
@@ferdearmas8732 yes, I own the CLP-745 with GrandTouch-S. A0 is 62 grams down to 42 grams at C8 - with even gradation across the keys (unlike Roland pianos!). It feels very similar to the Casio GP-310/GP-510 key action. If they put that into their 515 replacement Yamaha will make a lot of sales. Where the ES920 wins is on price - I've seen it advertised for about USD $1,100 + tax, whereas the Yamaha will sell closer to USD $1,600 + tax, so these two models are in different price brackets.
@@pianowhizz Thanks for reply mate, very helpful review, and which key action did you prefer between CLP745 and P515?. Which other differences did you feel between both keybeds?. Is worth wait for a future P515 replacement with GT-S instead the NWX?.
None. I own real grand piano and just demoed P 515. The Sound is horrible, no offense Yamaha. The only thing is justifiable is use it as traveling keyboard. Because I really liked keyboard feel, beside it is adjustable which is by itself worth the purchase. You can make it lighter in the settings in case you have kids with weaker hands or you are a beginner. The samples sucked big time, because they are right in your “face” and I couldn’t find setting that would make it similar to grand piano feel. If you play more notes like a classical piece like etude or something then you pretty much can’t hear what you’re playing. It just a lot of noise. For slow pieces, maybe…but.
My impression relies on some store visits. A CP88 would not necessarily delight so much at home as it might delight on stage. No speakers of course, but more important the sound engine lacks of effects which alleviates the illusion of acoustic piano playing. As a solo instrument, the acoustic pianos sound naked or edgy to some extend. The P515 model would fit very well at home and on stage - if you play mainly its acoustic pianos and like its sound impression. Imho, the Kawai ES920 sounds more loveable, but unfortunately I am not so into its keybed. Therefore my personal favorite would be a Roland FP90X though it is pricey. This is where I find a great key action and mostly agreeable sounds out of the box. Maybe this is not so apparent if you know the FP90X only by clips on YT. The MP11SE is quite a different kettle of fish. No speakers, no instant organ sounds for occasional uses, a very impressive action for a digital piano but due to this also a very heavy weight that makes it hard to choose it for gigging if you would be the only one to carry it.
You mention about how you should play these side by side when trying them out; I'm super disappointed with my local store. There is only one store that sells Kawai here and they also sell Roland, Yamaha, Casio (and even Steinway acoustics). But they refuse to have the Yamaha on display, keep telling me they only display the most popular pianos... So they display the FP60, FP90, ES520 and ES920 and a few Casios (if you can believe it). But the p515 can only be bought from their storage. I don't understand how they think about this. The holy trinity should always be on display if possible (i.e. FP90, ES920 and P515)
The Kawai sounds more atmospheric, more natural to me. The piano sounds “breathe” and swing more for me. For me personally, there is no better digital piano manufacturer at the moment!
I am a beginner player (been taking lessons for a year). I currently own and play a Yamaha P115, which I like pretty well, and which, I'm told has been a very popular, very well-liked digital piano for years. But I'm thinking of upgrading to a better digital piano. Currently, front runners are the Yamaha P515 and the Kawai ES920. I'd like to try playing both in person before deciding whether to make the leap to buying one. From watching and listening to multiple youtube video test-drives, I'm thinking that maybe the ES920 might do a little better than the P515, but its hard to know for sure. Also, I don't know if this is just simply a case of gadget lust, or if the sound and action and other features of either of these more advanced keyboards (the 515 or 920), would sound noticeably better, and or be a better playing experience than what I've got now, the spiffy and well-liked in its own right, the P115. Any thoughts on this? maybe really the thing to do is just stick with what I've got, and assuming I remained disciplined and diligent after another year or two of study, I will have advanced enough to have a stronger sense of whether to upgrade... and to what. On the other hand, how short can life be? (very). Maybe getting the digiial piano version of a GTO is something to go for sooner rather than later. The questions seem to be these: upgrade from the P115 now or not? and if yes, then P515 or ES920? Not that anyone can know the answer...
@@skynet638 Hi @Skynet. Despite the supply chain issues, I had a chance to upgrade, and I did. I got the Kawai ES920 rather than the Yamaha P515. Factors included 1) many reviewers really, really liked the ES920, 2) it is 10 or 12 pounds lighter than the Yamaha P515 (I preferred a 37 pound portable piano over a 50 pound portable), and 3) Stu at Merriam Music in Canada noted that one has to exert more force than usual to get the Yamaha keys to move. Due to supply chain issues, I could not try both out side by side, in fact I could not try either before buying, so when suddenly a new one was available for purchase, I made a leap of faith that I'd like the Kawai. Now that I have it I do like it a lot. The action is really good, at least to my fingers, and the sound quality is awesomely good. I am enormously happy with the Kawai ES920 (I do not work for Kawai nor do I get any kind of reward or compensation for giving this positive review). The Alamo Music guys, Ted and Patrick, liked both the Yamaha and Kawai, and ultimately they did not choose one over the other. The Piano Forever guy gave the Kawai ES920 a somewhat negative review but I disagree with him. Also, if you find your way to digital piano player discussion boards, you can find players who complain about the finer points of setting up the keyboard using Kawai's Virtual Technician (like dealing with escapement (see Stu's ES920 review for Merriam Music for an explanation of "escapement")), but it hasn't bothered me. Also, classically trained pianist and youtube reviewer/teacher, Daria of DariaPiano (her youtube name) bought a Yamaha for herself and gave a positive review of the Yamaha P515. So, as the Alamo guys Ted and Patrick suggested, it's probably hard to go wrong with either the P515 or the ES920. And, even in the comments in this thread there is a lively debate going on as to which, Yamaha or Kawai, sounds better and which feels better. I should add that I had and was playing a Yamaha P115, which I liked a lot and still do like. Now that I have the Kawai, its predecessor has found a new home with a friend of mine who is eager to start learning to play. Taking all this in, the bottom line is, as between the Yamaha P515 and the Kawai ES920, I picked the ES920 over the P515 and I am very happy with my choice. Good luck in your search for the right piano for you.
@@allanpearlman6070 glad I’ve come across your feedback. James’ review set me back with my decision making with regards to es920. But slowly rebuilding my trust to the brand here, ‘cause as you mentioned, an overwhelming amount of reviews is positive. Keep my fingers crossed and can’t wait to unbox it
Would someone be so kind as to provide the names of the first two songs played in the comparison portion of this video? They aren’t provided in the description.
Pretty sure the weight difference is due to es920 having a plastic body. The action has not changed from es8, and that one has a similar weight to the p515.
I haven't been able to get my hands on a P-515 but I bought the ES920 only to return it after a couple of days due to the internal speakers. Very unbalanced sound, to me unusable. Sad I sold my ES110 which had a far better speaker system. Now the P-515, which is not available anywhere in Germany at the moment August 21 is getting praised for its internal speakers. BTW, I didn't like the FP90X speakers either.
You may have had a faulty unit. There are people who have said the same about the Yamaha, despite the fact is us widely accepted the speakers are generally excellent on that Piano. Other people have remarked the ES920 speakers sound amazing out of the box, so who knows.
@@theskyizblue2day431 No, I first got a got an ES7 and now have an ES8. Both sound fantastic if you set Wall EQ and Bass Boost (that may depend on your room).
Io ho il P515 già da un anno,e sono contentissimo.Tastiera stupenda,e suono eccezionale.E sinceramente dal vostro confronto,ad orecchio, si sente la superiorità dello Yamaha.Forse non sarete d'accordo,ma a mio giudizio il "vecchio' Kawai ES8,era migliore di questo 920,aveva un suono di piano reale,e più dolce.
@@simoneeandi3088 Simone, però mi sembra strano che hanno fatto un nuovo piano con gli stessi suoni del precedente.Ad esempio io prima avevo lo Yamaha P255,ottimo,ma con il P515 hanno fatto un bel salto qualitativo,speaker a parte.
Both have flawed piano sounds, but at least the Yamaha covers it a bit with some warmth/resonance. Too bad that neither allow for on-the-fly control of layers (something everyone wants). The P515 I played felt nothing like my yamaha grand. It felt like pushing through mud. Never tried the 920, but would never buy a Kawai simply based on the Kawai's history of nightmare issues in DP's.
