All Posts by Jaime Echagüe

Digital Piano Kawai ES110 Full Review. Is it a good choice?

Kawai Digital Piano ES110 Review Complete. Is It a Good Choice?

The Kawai es110 demonstrates that the Japanese brand not only has a talent for producing acoustic pianos, but is also capable of designing high-end digital pianos.

If you are looking for a high quality digital piano with 88 weighted keys, sensitivity similar to an acoustic piano, and at a very affordable price; the Kawai is110 is for you. The Kawai ES110 is a fairly complete option, as it is a “basic” digital piano that includes everything you need for any pianist.

This Japanese brand model has a sustain pedal included (damper pedal F-10H), and a lectern, in addition to having a fairly acceptable connectivity and other features that can make it the ideal digital piano. If you want a cheaper digital piano you will have to choose the Yamaha P45 or the Casio CDP 130. Although they are worth for the study of the piano, they contain more scarce benefits and sounds, comparing with this Kawai. Later, you have the comparison with other models that do shade the Kawai ES 110.

Let’s move forward with the functions and features of this digital piano. But first we’ll give you some comparative charts with the best places to buy it:

Where to Buy Kawai ES 110?

Our favorite place in America and Asia is Amazon, to buy in Europe Thomann:

Amazon

  • Free Shipping and possibility of shipping in one day with Amazon Premium
  • Full Guarantee but they are no experts in music equipment
  • Leader in fast shipments
  • Price that change a lot daily
  • The best option in USA and worldwide

Thomann

  • Free Shipping for the piano
  • Full warranty, if you have any problems, they take care of everything
  • 100% reliable payment
  • Leader in trouble-free shipping
  • Best price
  • Best Reputation: They are the leading online store in Europe and have the best catalog and information

Features

The Kawai ES110 features 88 pressure sensitive keys that work with a weighted keys system called “Responsive Hammer”, which simulates the weight of an acoustic piano key with great precision. Unlike other digital pianos, the Kawai ES110 focuses more on metronome functions, connectivity, recording and the included lesson method, making it a good choice for those looking to learn the piano. The features of the Kawai ES110 are:

I’m sure you’ll be interested in…

  • 88 weighted Keys with Responsive Hammer Technology and Sensitivity polyphony of 192 notes
  • 19 Voices (8 Piano Voices, 5 E. Piano Voices and 6 additional voices)
  • Piano: Concert Grand, Concert Grand 2, Studio Grand, Studio Grand 2, Mellow Grand, Mellow Grand 2, Modern Piano, Rock Piano.E. Piano : Classic E.Piano, 60’s E.Piano, Modern E.Piano, Jazz Organ, Church Organ. Others: Slow Strings, String Ensemble, Wood Bass, Electric Bass, Harpsichord, Vibraphone
  • Metronome
  • MIDI Input and Output
  • Line-In and Line-Out (basic for playing live on large stages)
  • 2 Inputs for headphones
  • Bluetooth connectivity and Bluetooth low energy MIDI
  • Input for F-10H Pedal or Triple Footswitch
  • Recording system with 4 memories (you can record up to three tracks)
  • Piano Lesson System Alfred’s Basic Piano 1A /1B, Burgmüller 25 (Opus 100) lesson songs
  • 2 Speakers 7 w/ Power consumption 9w
  • Dimensions 1312 (W) x 286 (D) x 148 (H) mm / 12 Kg Weight
  • Comes with higher quality sustain pedal

Sound

The sound of the Kawai is110 is really good. The difference between an acoustic piano and this digital piano is practically null, the nuances and cleanliness of the sound added to the sensitivity and counterweight that have the keys provide an experience very similar to that of a digital piano.

The sound is recorded from an acoustic piano Kawai EX Concert Grand and the sampling of the sound wave has pleasantly surprised us.

The piano also offers the ability to specify whether you are using a digital piano stand or putting it on a table. The piano itself will optimize the sound on that basis.

The following video shows the sound of the digital piano ES110:

At this point in the Review, it is not surprising that the Kawai ES110 is totally focused on pianists or future pianists, the sound and combination with the experience of sensitivity and weighted keys provides an experience virtually identical to that of a piano. Here’s a video where you can learn in detail the experience of a pianist using the Kawai es110, in addition to appreciate again the sound quality.

You can also customize the following aspects of the sound:

  • Reverberation: Mimics the effect of being in different types of rooms with different acoustics and you have three levels: Room, Small Hall and Concert Hall
  • Damper Resonance: Emulates the effect by which when a piano string resounds, the vibration is transmitted to strings that are in resonance with it; this acoustic piano effect is emulated in the Kawai ES110 so that the real piano experience is total
  • Temperament: It imitates pianos from different periods and we can choose between 6 temperaments
  • Voicing: If you want it to sound more mellow or less, it depends on how romantic you are
  • Brightness Adjustment: Up to 10 levels to give the sound a bright tone (good for rock)

Dual Mode and Split Mode

We love this functionality of digital pianos and each one brings it. Dual mode allows you to layer and have one sound, sound on top of another. This allows you to play a piece of piano and have a string accompaniment, while playing as if you were accompanied by violins.On the other hand, there’s the split mode that allows you to divide the keyboard into 2 different instruments. The piano is played on one side, and the bass on the other. We’ll give you an example in the next video:

Connectivity

When it comes to connectivity, the Kawai ES110 is well equipped with MIDI input and output, 2 inputs for headphones, Bluetooth, and an in-line input/output and the input for connecting the sustain pedal or the triple footswitch, however, you must be careful as it does not have a USB port.

Despite the simplicity shown by the Japanese brand, the connectivity in the Kawai ES110 is virtually complete because it really only lacks a USB port and flash memory, yet has all the connectivity to work as a digital piano.

One thing I like about the Kawai ES110 is that it comes with an F10 – H pedal. What is better than other sustain pedals like the ones that come by default with the Roland FP 30 or the Yamaha P115.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Kawai ES110

The advantages of the Kawai ES110 are:

  • 88 keys with sensitivity and ​weight, 19 Piano voices. That’s very good. It’s not intended for electronic music. The digital pianos of 88 weighted keys usually bring like 10 sounds and this 19 and of an extreme quality, so it’s very good
  • Responsive Hammer System (simulation of weight and response of a piano hammer)
  • Sound practically identical to that of a Piano
  • Integrated piano lesson system
  • Higher quality sustain pedal than they usually come by default
  • Connectivity Bluetooth, MIDI, Line, Pedals and 2 ports for headphones

The disadvantages of the Kawai ES110 are:

  • No USB or Flash Memory Port
  • The speakers could be a little more powerful
  • As you can see the Kawai ES110 is a digital piano focused almost entirely on pianists, so its strengths are focused on simulating an acoustic piano

It has a learning system, but the truth is that these systems integrated into pianos are merely for playing. If you want to learn in a self-taught way (which is not the most recommended) we recommend you take a look at apps such as Flowkey.

Kawai ES110 vs Roland FP30

A great competitor of the Kawai ES110 is the Roland FP30, both keyboards are very similar, they have functions suitable for a pianist, however, the main differences are:

  • The polyphony of the Kawai ES110 is 192 notes, while that of the Roland FP30 is 128. Kawai’s Responsive Hammer technology of the ES110 provides more sensitivity and better feel than the weighted keys and 5-level sensitivity of the Fp30
  • The Roland FP30 has a USB input, while the Kawai ES110 does not have a USB port
  • The Kawai ES110 has 2 headphones outputs while the Roland FP30 has only one
  • The Kawai ES110 weighs 12 kg and the Roland FP30 weighs 14kg
  • The fault of the Kawai ES110 is that it has 7 W speakers, compared to the 11 W of the Roland FP30; although with 7 W is already valid for small restaurants
  • The Kawai ES110 is a clear winner over the Roland FP30 mainly in terms of touch, as the sound quality and user experience is much better, the ES110 simulates a piano in a better way because it has better sound, sensitivity and key system, making it a clear winner

Now if you want power without extra amplification the Roland FP30 is a more interesting option.

Kawai ES110 vs Kawai ES100

It is not surprising that the ES110 is better than the Kawai ES100, as it is the new model. However, both models share virtually all functions and features, so they are great competitors.

The main differences that present these two models of Kawai are: The Kawai ES110 has the new Responsive Hammer technology and the ES100 maintains the old.

  • Advanced Hammer Action technology
  • The Kawai ES110 has 19 Voices while the ES100 has 18 Voices

Despite having only two differences between the two models of Kawai, it is necessary to point out that the technology of the sensitivity and weight of keys is an important difference since.

Kawai got closer to the sensitivity of a piano through the Responsive hammer, as the response speed and sensitivity increase over the previous system. On the other hand, the ES110 gains 1 voice, which can be irrelevant especially if you plan to use it as a keyboard.

Kawai ES110 vs Yamaha P115 vs Yamaha P125

The Yamaha P115 also enters the competition against the Kawai ES110, as both keyboards are very similar and have common functions. The new version of the Yamaha P115 is the Yamaha P125, the only difference is that it brings more piano sounds, which is a welcomed improvement. The main differences between the Kawai and the Yamaha P125 and 115 are:

  • The Kawai ES110 features Responsive Hammer, while the Yamaha P115 has a 4-level sensitivity system
  • The Kawai ES110 can store up to 3 songs while the Yamaha P115 can only record 2
  • The Kawai ES110 has 19 voices, now the Yamaha P125 surpasses us with 24 voices
  • The Yamaha P115 has USB and MIDI port while the Kawai ES110 only has MIDI
  • The Yamaha P115 comes with a three-month Flowkey app subscription gift, but if you go to class it doesn’t have anything special and it’s usually cheaper

The Kawai ES110 I like, especially in the touch they are similar range, but we do not expect much difference between the two. The truth is that the Yamaha P125 and the Kawai ES110 are tough competitors and sometimes you have to decide depending on the price each one is at.

Comparative Video of Kawai ES110 vs Roland FP30 vs Yamaha P115

Below is a video where you can compare the sound quality of Kawai, Yamaha and Roland on their digital pianos:

Conclusions

If you’re looking for a digital piano with great sound quality and user experience for less than 1000 €, the Kawai ES110 is for you. Despite the fact that the Japanese brand’s initial level offer is not totally perfect, its quality is far above that of its competitors.

The Kawai ES110 is totally recommendable for a pianist since it has all the necessary characteristics for it; the responsive hammer system imitates practically to the perfection the experience of playing a piano, in the same way the quality of sound that shows with its 192 notes of polyphony does that the sound resembles in great way.

For those who want to learn to play piano or acquire a digital piano to transport, or use at home and want to have the sensitivity and sound of an acoustic piano, the Kawai ES110 is the best alternative… especially if we talk about options for less than 1000 €.

Before buying any instrument, it’s necessary to consider the best option for your budget; if you want to know other options that are very competitive in relation price benefit we recommend you to take a look at our ranking of digital pianos. If you’re looking for an option that ranges from 200 € to $ you may be interested in reading our guide to the best inexpensive keyboards.

Where to buy Kawai ES110

It is best to buy from an online store that can guarantee you a correct transport. Besides, buying online can save you a lot of money. You can search for the product at any Kawai dealer in your area. As we said bellow, in Europe always check Thomann. If you live in Asia or America, always check Amazon. Here the direct links to the product.

For a similar price you have the following pianos and keyboards:

Vote this post>>>>

Digital Piano Yamaha DGX 660 Full Review – Is it a good choice?

Opinion and review of Yamaha DGX 660

Yahama DGX 660 is a lightweight digital piano that comes with a stand. It weighs about 28 Kg. with the Yamaha Stand and about 21 Kg. without at the stand. The Yamaha DGX is more of a digital piano than a piano keyboard because of its weight. It has 88 keys weighted with Yamaha’s GHS system of 4 sensitivities. It is a high-quality Hammer Action that mimics the feel of Yamaha grand pianos. It is a keyboard that stands out for a Hammer Action of good quality and many functions that make this digital piano a machine to increase your musical productivity. The Yamaha DGX 660 costs around €749/$800/£685.

Grand Piano Sound

The sound of the Yamaha DGX 660 has been recorded from a Yamaha Grand Piano with the Pure CF Sound Engine sound system that is superior to the AWM of other Yamaha models.

Where to Buy Yamaha DGX 660?

Amazon

  • Free Shipping and the possibility of shipping in one day with Amazon Premium.
  • Full Guarantee but they are no experts in music equipment
  • A leader in fast shipments.
  • The price change a lot daily.
  • The best option in the USA and worldwide

Thomann

  • Free Shipping
  • Full warranty. If you have any problems, they take care of everything.
  • 100% reliable payment.
  • A leader in trouble-free shipping.
  • Best Price.
  • Best Reputation: They are the leading online store in Europe and have the best catalog and information.

He has a polyphonic memory of 192 voices. The polyphony is a very important factor that together with the type of sampling with which the sound was recorded defines how good the sound of a digital piano is. It has a very acceptable sound and perhaps it could be a little better for the price it has, which usually hovers around 800 euros. Below we will make comparisons with several similar keyboards. Take a look at this video, so you can hear what it sounds like.

I’m sure you’ll be interested in…

Hammer Action

Use Yamaha’s GHS system of 4 sensitivities. The velocity sensitivity of a piano is basic as an expressive resource to be able to regulate the volume and intensity with which note sounds depending on how hard the key is pressed. Yamaha’s Hammer Action is very successful and gives good results emulating a digital piano.

Highlights the Yamaha DGX 660

Both the Hammer Action and its sound is more than adequate, but the best fact about this keyboard is the usability it gives you to be very productive at playing. It has a USB port and you can record up to 7 tracks. It also has a microphone input, so you can quickly record a track and then pass it on to other musicians. Very productive and has a screen with a very comfortable interface. It has different piano sounds and very powerful reverb effects. In this particular, it beats other digital pianos of the same rank. It has USB MIDI for you to use as a MIDI controller as well. All pianos of these prices usually carry it.

The bad thing about Yamaha DGX 660

It has a footswitch sustain pedal, but for the price it has, it would be good if it had a triple pedal. It is not very portable as it is designed to study. Also, it’s heavy enough. It has a good polyphony but in sound, it is comparable to the Yamaha P115, which has the same polyphony for much less price, besides, it weighs much less. Below there are some comparisons with other keyboards that compete with this model.

Yamaha DGX 660 vs Roland FP 30

The Yamaha DGX 660 costs around €749/$800/£685 and the Roland FP30 costs around €625/£566. The Yamaha DGX 660 wins in polyphony with 192 voices against 128 in Roland FP 30. As for the quality of Hammer Action, the Yamaha DGX 660 has the 4 sensitivity GHS system which is configurable but the Roland FP 30 has a very advanced 5 sensitivity system, which we totally approve.

Both have MIDI, dual-mode, various reverb tones and the basics to be good digital pianos. Although if you want some portability, the Roland only weighs 14 Kg. The Yamaha DGX 660 can record more tracks than the Roland FP 30. Both support microphones and have a USB port for a USB flash drive.

Concluding, the Yamaha DGX 660 wins in sound and extras that make it more comfortable to work with whilst the Roland FP 30 wins in price (notable difference), portability, and Hammer Action system and velocity sensitivity. Do not hesitate to check out our review of the Roland FP 30 to find out more.

Yamaha DGX 660 vs Yamaha P125

The Yamaha DGX 660 costs around €749/$800/£685 and the Yamaha P125 costs around €566/£515. In this case, 2 digital pianos of the same brand compete, mainly in price and weight. In performance, the Yamaha DGX 660 wins, but you have to think about whether it is worth it for the price difference.

The difference can be up to 150 €. The Yamaha DGX 660 far outperforms the Yamaha P125 in types of sound and vocals and has a microphone input.

But both have the same Hammer Action GHS system, same Pure CF sound with 192-voice polyphony, USB MIDI, and all the basic and serious functions you need on a piano or digital piano keyboard. If the Yamaha DGX 660 would bring you the triple pedal for the price it has, we would tell you to buy it without hesitation, but both bring sustain pedal and the Yamaha P125 also supports the triple pedal. If you want portability, do not think about it.

The Yamaha P125 is the best option with a weight of 12 Kg. and 7W loudspeakers is good for you to rehearse in acoustics and even play live in small restaurants with good acoustics. If you want to study alone and more variety of sounds, the Yamaha DGX 660 is a good choice. Here’s our in-depth review of the Yamaha P125.

Where to Buy Yamaha DGX 660

Buying it online you can surely get the best price for this keyboard. To buy it in America and Asia the best option is Amazon, but in Europe the best option is Thomann:

Of course, we recommend that you visit our ranking with the best digital pianos of the moment. In which there is shared several of those that we have mentioned before, and on the other hand, visit the section where we inform of offers that can be found in different stores. Also, if you want to know more about digital pianos and piano keyboards in general, do not hesitate to take a look at our guide with everything you need to know about piano keyboards.

For a similar price you have the following pianos and keyboards:

 

Vote if you liked this article 🙂

Digital Piano Yamaha PSR E353 Full Review. Is it worth it?

Yamaha Digital Piano PSR E353 Review Complete. Good Choice?

Today we bring you a very requested review. The Yamaha PSR E353 is the most searched electronic keyboard on the Internet under 200 €. So here we go with it:

​Note: There is a version of the Yamaha PSR E353, which is already out of print. It also improves the polyphony from 32 to 48 notes for the same price. You can see our review of the Yamaha PSR E363.

It is a keyboard for beginners and musicians who want a cheap keyboard to compose and develop harmonic lines. A great keyboard to accompany in the home studio.

If you want to study piano at the conservatory level it is not the right keyboard. For although it has a touch-sensitive keyboard it does not have a Hammer Action system as such. So its general purpose is not to mimic the keyboard of an acoustic piano.

The Yamaha PSR E353 has 573 types of instruments that are good to have fun, but in the end for our compositions and live performances, we will only use a few because many of them are kind of a toy. But it’s piano and organ sound is acceptable to us. Even though his polyphonic memory is only 32 notes.

It is necessary to consider that its price is very reduced and for what it is worth it gives many benefits.

Keyboard Sensitivity

I’m sure you’ll be interested in…

The Yamaha PSR E353 has a 61-key keypad. More than enough to practice and compose. You can use it to practice the piano as long as it’s a secondary instrument. So it is impossible to develop the study that requires for example the conservatory in a keyboard of this range.

It has velocity sensitivity, so you can regulate the force with the sound of the note based on how strong you press the key. It is a detail that is appreciated because it does not allow us to give expressiveness to what we touch. Please note that this is not a GHS system with 4 levels of pulsation. But still, having a basic sensitivity in your range is a gift.

The keyboard has duet mode to divide the keyboard into two pianos so that two people can play at the same time. It is mainly useful for teaching but only for one-handed exercises. To play complete pieces you can be a little tight while sharing the piano in duo and playing it with two hands.

Connectivity to computer and pedal

This is the strength of the keyboard. Many keyboards in its range do not have a MIDI interface, which limits them a lot and turns them into toy instruments. For a keyboard to be a little serious it needs a MIDI connector (it is called USB to Host).

Thanks to the MIDI connection of the Yamaha PSR E353 we can play and generate a score at the same time that we play with programs like Sibelius. Not only that, but with any recording or production program such as Ableton, Garage Band, or Cubase, we can record MIDI tracks that can then be exported to score.

How you see the MIDI connection is very important. In addition, it admits pedal although it does not have it included. The sustain pedal is vital for playing the piano because it allows the sound of the note to be maintained over time even if the note key is released. Another wonderful connection which is included, despite how cheap it is and is not common.

The connectivity and the pedal are what really make it possible to consider an option to keep in mind if you have a budget lower than 180 €.

Portability and power

Here is a good feature. It only weighs 4  Kg. which makes that many people who have a superior keyboard buy this model to take it to rehearsal places or even live. Thanks to the fact that it has an acceptable piano sound along with other sounds that are not toy sounds. A lot of people take it everywhere just because it weighs so little.

The loudspeakers are not very strong, they are 2 speakers of 2,5 W. To rehearse in a house with friends in acoustics can be worth it. But to play in open spaces you will need a small amplifier.

This is a brawler keypad which runs on 6 AA batteries and comes with main power suppliers included.

Interesting extras

The keyboard itself has the ability to record what you are playing and then replay it live. In fact, you can record up to two tracks.

It has an input for headphones (not included) to be able to study in silence and also a metronome. It has an integrated learning mode, but the truth is that then these methods are not used much because they are a bit orthopedic.

If you want to learn piano in a self-taught way there are more serious and cheaper options than a private teacher like the interactive app Flowkey.

Advantages

It has the basics to be what can option would be and not being considered a “toy”, as it is keyboard sensitive, has acceptable piano sound and MIDI, and sustain pedal possibility. In fact, the weight of 4 Kg. makes it super portable.

Disadvantages

Like all these keyboards, has a lot of toy-like extras that only serve for that; playing (as what we do with a toy). Of all its sounds you will only use a few and its synthesizer option is quite basic.

Here is a video for you to see what the most popular 61-key electronic keyboard sounds like:

If you like Yamaha in general do not hesitate to buy it, because it brings the subscription to Flowkey, but you should have a look at our review on the Casio CTK 3200 in which you will see that for the same price the CASIO CTK 3200 wins, especially because it has a polyphonic memory of 48 voices against 32 of the Yamaha. And this is important for sound quality. Although many people prefer the Yamaha sound for the nuances of its timbre against Casio.

We hope you liked this analysis and that you have been able to decide. If you see that this keyboard is a bit limited and you prefer something more close to a piano with an acceptable Hammer Action, we advise you to take a look at our review of the Yamaha P-45.

Where to buy Yamaha PSR 353?

I keep on the date the links to the new Yamaha PSR E363. The best place to buy in America and Asia is Amazon. In Europe the best option is to have a look at Amazon. Here the direct links to this digital piano:

yamaha-363-pack-review

For a similar price you have the following pianos and keyboards:

 

Vote if you liked this article 🙂

1 … 158 159 160 161 162 … 180