Would we be be crazy to get a Kawai CN 33 (console) instead of a Kawai MP 6 (stage piano), or vice versa?
Yesterday and today, my 14 year old daughter (who's played piano for 5 years) and I went out shopping for a digital piano for her birthday and Christmas present. After trying different brands and models within our price range (which has creeped up to double what I was originally intending on spending, LOL!), we narrowed down the "short list" to either the Kawai CN 33, which she tried out extensively in the store, or the less expensive, but more feature-laden MP 6, which she hasn't actually played, but it has the same action and sound generating system as the CN 33, (and has even better polyphony- but only one pedal (though you can purchase the other 2 as an option.)The sister branch of the Kawai store we were in today has a few MP 6 's in stock, so we could make the long, 2 hr. drive out there tomorrow to get it(or have it sent to the closer branch after Christmas.) Even after I would buy a stand, bench and speakers, the MP 6 set up would end up being about $300-400 less than the Kawai CN 33, even though that was on sale, too!

Would we be crazy not to get the MP 6, just because my daughter likes the console piano look of the CN 33 vs the stage piano look of the MP 6? (I would definitely have to get a nicer looking wood type stand for it.) She would like the extra features of the MP 6, but isn't sure how much more she would use them compared to the ones already on the CN 33(which has 36 sounds) or if it would be worth giving up the pretty cabinet for them. (Heh- she's only 14, so isn't always the wisest on these kinds of choices--and known to change her mind a lot, so that is why I anm asking you veterans!LOL)

The dp is going in her bedroom--we already have an acoustic in the living room. The whole reason for getting a dp is for all the extra features and effects that she wants to play around with and get creative with.

Opinions? What do you all think? Is it crazy to pay more for less features, but a prettier cabinet, when we already have a "pretty" acoustic ? The salesman in the store was pushing the CN 33, which he didn't even have in stock--so it is not like he merely wanted to sell us something that day. He seemed to think that we would be making a mistake going with a more complicated set up like the MP 6.

He did say that you can buy an inexpensive box that generates different sounds, and attach it to the CN 33 piano,if we should ever feel like she needed more sounds. IS anyone familiar with that?

Thanks in advance.

(By the way- she also tried out a yamaha arius 181, and the Yamaha clp 430, and didn't like them as much as the kawai. She also tried a Roland stage piano, the RP 7f, but didn't like the action (or looks--it was on a rickety x stand), but was having fun with all the features. In our humble opinions,we both thought that at that price range, the new Kawai sound and action definitelybeat both Roland and yamaha.)

Today that "box" is a computer. I assume she must have one, or can get one. A tone generator is "so 1980s" Assuming you have a computer you get far better sound at lower cost and also the ability to edit and over dub and muti-track and on and on. Almost ALL recorded music today is recorded and mixed on computers. Any of the extra non-piano features are arguably better done on a computer.

Stage pianos are typically set up so that features can be accessed fast. You don't want to be "head down" in a muti-level menu system on stage. So they have a physical button for what you need. Stage piano user interfaces are typically much better than home piano.

As for feature, software far and away can have more and I think the user interface can be even better. A console piano with a Macbook on top is a powerful setup.
There is lots of software to choose from but if you have an Apple Mac, it is already installed and ready to use. The link below explains what can be done. With effort and some $$ the same can be done with a PC
http://www.apple.com/ilife/garageband/what-is.html#make


Funny how people see cosmetics different. I see a console type digital piano and it says "fake piano" or "ikea-like quality" the MP6 does not look fake or cheap. it says loudly "I'm a digital keyboard".

But it don't matter what I think or you. Buy here the one she LIKES. She will practice more if she just happens to like the piano. That is what matters.

I think I'm arguing for the console even if I'd prefer the MP6.

"...which she actually hasn't played".

Are you kidding? Make sure she plays it first, then decide between the two.

No internal speakers on the MP6, so you will have to buy a keyboard amp or studio speakers. If you buy a keyboard amp you'll have mono sound with only one.

A friend bought an MP6 and he was not happy with the sound. He used some high quality studio monitors but to him it did not sound as good as the ES6. He is selling the MP6 now. To each his own I guess.

Wow-- very interesting about Ken's friend not liking the sound of the MP6 with some powerful speakers compared to the ES6, with presumably smaller built-in speakers. They both use the same sound generating "Harmonic imaging" system, right? Maybe there is an advantage to built-in speakers. (I know my daughter would prefer them built-in looks-wise.) The Es6 uses the older action, right? Is the difference in actions really noticable? I noticed that the Es6 has rythyms, which the MP 6 doesn't. Maybe that would be useful to the average player.
I would assume that since the CN33 has the same sound and action as the MP6 that they would feel and sound the same? Maybe that is a misconception? Thanks.

Thanks, Chris A for explaining what the salesman meant by the "box" and about using the computer to get those extra sounds. The salesman was probably in his 60's (a retired music teacher)-- so that probably explains why he was talking about 80's technology!

The MP6 default piano sound is newer than the ES6's, and uses a (presumably) more advanced version of HI (PHI), as well as 88-note sampling and new samples. It does sound quite different, and is a matter of taste as to which you might prefer - I initially did not care much for the newer samples. However, the MP6 also contains the older HI sounds as well. The action on the MP6 is newer and, IMO, better.

Yes, that's a misconception.