Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Digital Pianos - Electronic Pianos - Synths & Keyboards Help me choose a digital piano!! Yamaha vs Kawai vs Roland

I've been researching for a good $1000-1500 digital piano, and I've narrowed it down to ones from these 3 brands.

More specifically, the following:

Yamaha p-120 or p-155 (p-120 is discontinued so I'm not sure if it's worth buying used over the p-155, but from what I've read the p-120 is superior)

Kawai ES6

The Yamahas don't have much choice in terms of sounds compared to the Kawai, and overall the Kawai sounds the most realistic (referring to grand piano mainly). I haven't had a chance to test out feel/weighting yet, but I don't have the experience as a pianist to make a good decision on the subject either.

Anyone have some experience with these that would help me choose?

Appreciate any and all help!!

Roland FP-4 has an action that is some way behind the others you mention...quite light and a bit cheap feeling in my opinion. FP-7 is way better and overall is a nice piano.

Yamaha P155 is a very decent piano...can't comment on the Kawais but they seem very well reported. MP8II could be replaced soon with another similar product with superior sampling and the new improved Kawai all wood action...which in theory should make it a very nice thing when it appears...but there are others on here with much more knowledge of the Kawai product than me!

Good luck,

Steve

I just bought a MP8II and I love it. I tried the MP5, Roland 700GX, yamaha cp300, cp33, CP5 and Korg SV1.

To me the MP8II has the best action but that's my opinion on how it feels to me. You need to try all of them out and see which one you like. They're all excellent instruments.

I haven't heard of a new Kawai MP coming out, it is inevitable but if you're always waiting for something better you will always be waiting.

Just my opinion.

For $1500 you might consider the CP50 if you can catch it on sale. A better piano sound than other Yamaha offerings.

Also, do consider the CP-33 if you don't need internal speakers.

Does anyone know if you can record to the computer on the Kawai ES6? I read about the recorder in the manual, but I'm still not sure if you can transfer already recorded songs to the computer by usb, or if you have to somehow record it with audacity or another program while the piano and computer are connected, or if either of these is even possible.

I like the Roland "Superior Grand" on the FP4 & 7. I used to prefer the 7s action but after recently playing the 4, even though it is lighter in touch, I think I could make it work for me.

I've always liked the Yamahas, older models and the CPs. Just a totally different color then the Rolands you are looking at. My advice would be to play as many as possible with either good headphones, or hopefully you can find a quiet store with halfway decent studio monitors. Whatever you do, don't make a decision based on hearing any DP through a "keyboard amp" at places like the Guitar Center or Sam Ash.

I don't have experience with the Kawais so I can't comment there.

Basically it comes down to which DP color/sound and touch you prefer.
They all make fine models.

I've cut out the Roland FP-4 from my decision, so it's between Yamaha p-120 or p-155 and Kawai ES6. I'm having trouble finding the ES6 at a Kawai dealer though.

If I were in your position, I'd consider adding the Yamaha CP33 to your short list.

Hmm, possibly. Internal speakers is fairly important though which the CP33 doesn't have.

Sean1218, the ES6 features a 'USB to Host' (also referred to as 'USB MIDI' and the standard MIDI IN/OUT connectors. Using either type of connector will allow you to record music into your preferred MIDI sequencing software. However, it is not possible to transfer the songs recorded onto the ES6 itself, either as a MIDI song file or MP3/WAV audio file. Therefore, if you wish to record the sound of the ES6 onto your computer you will need to connect the audio from the instrument to your PC or Mac's line-in.

I hope this answers your question.

Cheers,
James
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