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I would think so, yes.
What Kawai model is best positioned to compete with the FP-4F, in your opinion?

Well, there isn't a like-for-like Kawai instrument to compete with the FP-4F, however the ES6 is arguably the closest comparison model due to the built-in speakers. This model is obviously a few years older than the FP-4F, though, and does not feature the latest keyboard action/sound technology.

Cheers,
James
x

Yes, the ES6 is getting a bit long in the teeth. I would have thought that the ES6 which is just as heavy as the MP6 but with older keybed and older sound was more of a home piano rather than a solo gigging piano. Anyone here use an ES6 for gigging?

You can't fault potential customers for wanting to give Kawai a chance (by looking at the latest and greatest MP6), even if there isn't anything comparable and competitive in the line up. It speaks volumes about the respect that Kawai commands from many keyboardists and pianists.

Manufacturers can do all the segmenting they want, but the only segments that count are the ones in the consumer's head.

Roland seems to have a line of products that attempt to bridge the gap between he home segment and the professional segment that don't seem to be on the radar screen of Kawai.

Remind me, how do you say "damning with faint praise" in Dutch again?

James
x

I have no idea. As far as I know there is no direct translation.

Sayings and idioms are generally tightly tied to culture.
This expression is clearly as English as one can be, coming as it does from a centuries-old literature reference from one of England's fine poets Alexander Pope.

The issue here is not one of boosterism-like cheerleading vs. damning. Hopefully we are bringing more intelligence to the discussions here than the mindless brawling of football hooligans.

Instead the issue is one of examining very concrete and relevant product features that make instruments appropriate or inappropriate for the specific tasks and workflows of potential users. E.g. a slab either has speakers or it doesn't, it is either light enough to check free of charge as luggage or it isn't, it either has a sufficiently expressive keybed that one judges for himself is a pleasure to play or it doesn't, etc.

Can you share with us anything we might be missing in the Kawai ES6's edge in competing with the Roland FP-4F to try to bring this thread a little bit back on track?

How comes that you're always kicking someone's ass...

I think theJourney just likes to debate. Like many others on the forum. I don't think I'd call it "kicking someone's ass" though.

I know, and I'm fine with debating, I also like it, but what I don't like are those side kicks.

Attempting to get us back to the subject of FP-4F and comparables, I was wondering if the built-in speakers on the FP-4F (which aren't really very useful in my opinion other than monitors) might be replicated by a decent television sound bar mounted under one's music stand in front of the keyboard facing the pianist. If that would work, then many options for the keyboard might be available.

Well I suppose you could connect the 1/4" output jacks to anything you want.
Do you experience listening to a digital piano sound on a television sound bar?

I'm afraid it's rather difficult for me to make comparisons between these two instruments as I have yet to play the FP-4F. What I would say, however, is that the ES6 has a very good keyboard action and surprisingly good speaker system (for a portable instrument). It's also very well built, with a stylish design. True, it's a few years old now, however the ES6 is still a very capable instrument.

Cheers,
James
x

Very interesting idea, and something I hadn't considered. Speaker bars are L & R, plus often a center channel (not sure what you would do with that).

Not necessarily hi-fi though, and the high bass roll-off point would almost certainly demand the use of a subwoofer. Also, the horizontal alignment of the woofer / tweeter pair isn't ideal for phase alignment at the ears (and particularly so for ears sitting so close).

theJourney, I have no personal experience with TV sound bars, although I saw a short thread about it a few months back. If no one else has tried it, perhaps I will buy one and try it out for the sake of others here. My local electronics store has a good return policy, so no big investment.

Dewster, I was thinking of this as a monitor and not as sound reinforcement. My FP-4 has speakers that are inadequate for an audience but great for monitors if the venue doesn't get too noisy. They are also not great on the low-end, so lack of bass in a sound bar isn't troubling. Maybe the separation can by tweaked, too. I'm always into portability, which is why a combination music stand / monitor appealed to me.

Is what you're looking at self powered or do you have an amp to power it?

What I've seen is self-powered. Plug it in, hook up 2 RCA plugs.

The keys are slow on the new model FP-4F

This is also my impression. Sluggish.

Speak of the devil.


Cue from stage left: boosterism personified, running noisily into the field of spectators in a loud Kawai jersey, swearing and with fists a'waving but with absolutely no contribution to the discussion.

Hurrah!

Hmmm. Don't shortchange yourself, James. After all, you were very quick to correct us that in your opinion, or that of Kawai, it made more sense to compare the MP6 with the RD300xX and the FP-4F with the ES6. Given your earlier reference to specific product characteristics, surely you must have based this correction on more than just your personal auditioning or a wild guess...

Feel free to tell us what your really think...if your contract with Kawai corporate actually permits you to do this...