🎹 Kawai KDP120 Review: Does It Live Up to the Hype? 🎹
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- Опубліковано 15 гру 2023
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🛒 Shop Yamaha P-225 ▸ geni.us/Yamaha-P225
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🛒 Yamaha YPG-535 ▸geni.us/Yamaha-YPG535
Hey everyone, thanks for joining us and welcome back to the channel. Today, we’re taking a fresh look at the Kawai KDP120.
The first thing that stands out on the Kawai KDP120 is the power and quality of the speaker and amplification system. It’s a two speaker system, (40 W - 20 W × 2) with both of the speakers facing downward, but the cabinet design allows some sound to come out of the front tone ports along the front of the instrument.
The piano sound is very impressive for this price point. As we play through this instrument, we're getting a lot of presence in the lows, the mids are full without being harsh at all, and the highs are giving you exactly what you want, which is lots of detail without any harsh piercing.
The second reason I think the KDP120 really stands out is the quality of the action. The action on this instrument is called the Responsive Hammer Compact II action. It has 88 keys, grade-weighted hammers, matte key surfaces and a triple senor. It has improved the hinges ans key cushioning making it the quietest action on the market in this price category.
The third reason the KDP stands out is that it is loaded up with an unfiltered stereo sample of the SK EX Shigeru Kawai concert grand piano. In this category, I happen to think that from a core sample standpoint, it is probably the most rich, complex, and best recorded samples the industry has to offer.
Kawai also gives you a tonne of editability to the piano sound via its Virtual Technician that you can access through the Kawai app via Bluetooth. It has 13 different parameters to play with, giving you ultimate control of the piano sound.
Another feature that stands out on the KDP120 is the quality of the pedal system. It features Kawai’s Grand Feel Pedal system which includes the damper (with half-pedal support), soft pedal, and the sostenuto pedal. It’s weighted just like a real acoustic piano, giving you a realistic playing experience.
If the only reason why you're looking for a digital piano is to provide a great piano tone, a really good feel experience, something that's easy to operate, and you're going to be using it with both speakers on as well as headphones, then the KDP120 is a great match.
After playing the KDP120 the fidelity of the high end treble is exceptionally high. The sampling is very impressive and gives us a rich, full piano tone. It’s got 192 notes of polyphony and the bass tone is extremely clear with a high quality signal output. There’s not a lot of breakup or distortion of the bass sound, and the mid-range is a nice round tone that is very dynamic.
So thank you so much everybody for joining us for this fresh look at the Kawai KDP 120. If you've enjoyed the video, please consider subscribing and hitting that notification bell as we are always coming out with new piano related videos.
Stu, you're amazing. I've watched your videos for at least 3 years. I'll bet I'll be here another 3 years from now and still enjoying your knowledge and passion about pianos!
Hi! Brent here! Thanks so much for tuning in and supporting the channel! We appreciate it. :)
This video was so good for me in terms of starting piano education, I thank you very much, you are wonderful.
We're so happy to hear that! Thanks so much for the kind words and for tuning in! Best of luck on your piano journey. :)
I've owned the KDP120 for a year. Extremely satisfied with the keyboard action and tone. My previous keyboard was a Roland RD-800. Arguably that's a different animal, but I enjoy playing the Kawai much more. Highly recommended. Amazing value at the price point.
That's awesome! We're very glad to hear it! The KDP120 is a fantastic all-around digital piano. Happy playing! :)
Very nice Stu, loved Dolphin Dance at 8:22!
Thanks for tuning in! I'll be sure to pass along the kind words to Stu on your behalf. :)
It's always a pleasure to listen to Stu playing the piano! I adore your videos, and they've been instrumental in helping me decide on my first digital piano.
I'm a huge fan of Kawai and love their tone, but unfortunately, Kawai has ended their partnership with the largest and only dealer of their pianos in Denmark 🇩🇰, who was eager to sell Kawai. As a result, it's no longer possible to go to a store and try them out, and one is forced to purchase online from a German retailer, such as Thomann for instance. While Denmark boasts numerous small music stores, they exclusively carry Yamaha and Roland.
As a customer, this can be quite frustrating, but I remain hopeful that Kawai Europe will consider expanding their presence to smaller shops! Particularly for the KDP and CN series :) Kawai can undoubtedly credit you, for so many customers worldwide are choosing their pianos, thanks to Stu's exceptional ability to convey his observations.
You guys produce the finest piano tests on UA-cam!! :D
Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! Thank you so much for the kind words! We're really glad that you have found Stu's review and comparison videos helpful. However, we're sorry to hear that you no longer have a shop to test out Kawai pianos for yourself in person. With that said, there are many markets and regions that don't have access to certain lines of pianos. That is one of the reasons why we try to thoroughly review as many models as possible and capture/describe as much about the musical experience they offer as possible. :)
@@MerriamPianos Hi Brent, that’s exactly what we need! It’s so heartwarming how your team is performing, getting online what Stu’s competences mean to the world’s musicians. Me located in Mexico City won’t get sufficient information here about the market’s offerings at all. In this big city there are only two (!) major shops selling grand pianos and those shops aren’t huge. That’s it. Mexico isn’t a culture where you can simply go and try at all in general (instruments, headphones, cars, bikes, etc and surprisingly the more expensive stuff you have to buy unseen). It’s quite a big difference to other countries - like Germany for example where I’m from. I’m enjoying your channel so much and keep looking forward to what’s coming next 😊
Merry Christmas to you and your family 🎄
Thank you for nice talking again, would be interesting compare this model sound with es920.
Thanks for tuning in! We generally do comparison videos for models that are in the same category. The KDP120 and ES920 are quite different offerings (entry-level console versus top-of-the-line portable). The ES920 has a far superior piano sound thanks to its more advanced tone engine.
Hello ! Thank you for all these very informative tests! I would also have liked a test of the Korg G1 if possible 🙂
Thank you! We're glad you enjoyed the demonstration! Thanks for the suggestion. We will do our best to tackle the G1, but, given that we are not Korg dealers, it is a bit trickier to cover their models in reviews/comparisons.
I understand. Thanks for your feedback
I like this KAWAI Dejital piano.
Want to get it ❤🎉
The KDP120 is a wonderful instrument and one of the top-selling digital console pianos in North America for a very good reason. :)
I’d like to see stew do another VST piano plug in comparison. Max Richter has a piano out now as well as fracture. Sound spotlight, piano. I’d love to get stews take on some of these new VST’s. Thanks.
Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! Thanks for the suggestions! I will pass them along to our production team. Hopefully, we will tackle more VST piano plugins on the channel soon. :)
Stu always does a great job. Thanks for passing it along.
Beautiful piano and great video. Does this digital piano keys have the same touch af a real piano? Or they are little "soft touch"?
The KDP120 has an excellent, fully-weighted touch with a triple sensor system, but it will play a touch lighter than most acoustic pianos. With that said, at this price point, it is one of the very best performing instruments both in terms of touch and tone.
Thank you so much
I've just discovered your channel and appreciate the in-depth looks at the various instruments. My one complaint is that you only play meandering cocktail piano - how do these instruments sound doing, say, Beethoven, Brahms, Rachmaninoff?
We appreciate you tuning into the channel. Stu is a very versatile pianist, but his passion is jazz. With that said, I will pass on the feedback to Stu and our production team for you.
Please review studiologic numa x piano gt and nord stage 4 and compare them. Love your reviews.
Thanks for the suggestions! Unfortunately, it may be difficult to tackle those reviews as we are not Studiologic or Nord dealers at this time. However, sometimes, we do get digital pianos come in on trade, so we will do our best to tackle those if the opportunity presents. :)
@@MerriamPianos Hopefully you can put your hands on both. Btw, the stage 4 has a triple sensor finally and numa x piano gt has the latest and greatest piano keybed from fatar which some say is better than pha50.
Maybe you go into a shop and compare it yourself? @@amirprog
@@Kontrabass66 They don't have the studio logic one in display
This might sound like a strange comparison, but would you consider some day contrasting Roland’s GP-6 with their LX706? If one didn’t really care about how they look or how much floor space they consume, what would be the difference in touch responsiveness, sound and features (voices, ability to connect to a computer for recording or to play VSTi instruments using the keyboard and speakers of the unit)? Also, does the unified design of the sound engine, amplifier and speakers in this type of digital piano yield a better result than using a slab-type keyboard with a separate amplifier and speakers in situations where an unreinforced acoustic piano would be loud enough?
Hi! Brent here! We generally focus on comparisons that feature two instruments from the same category, but, every now and then, it is fun to explore some more interesting comparisons. I will add it to the list for our production team for consideration.
In terms of the GP6 and LX706, the GP6 has a superior sensor system given that it features more recent technology. From that perspective, it would have a slight edge over the LX706 as a MIDI controller for VSTs in my opinion. But, with that said, the LX706 is an incredible instrument with a great action that would make it a strong performer as a MIDI controller as well. Beyond that, the pivot length of the LX706's action is slightly longer than the GP6. It is more akin to the GP9's action in that regard. At the end of the day, we always recommend to test out both models in person whenever possible to see which you connect with more as tone and touch preferences are very subjective and personal. :)
Do you think it's best in it's price? Which of the Yamaha and Roland models would be the best to compare in this price range? The brand is not the most important thing for me, but before I buy a piano I want to compare top models in this price range of well-known brands. It is important to me that the piano has a cabinet. It will be used at home, hobbystic beginner/intermediate, sometimes using headphones.
Hi! Brent here! The comparable Roland model is the RP107 and the comparable Yamaha model is the YDP145. While it comes down to a matter of personal musical preferences. For me, the KDP120 is the most authentic sounding piano at this price point and the RP107 has the most authentic feeling action.
It has a beautiful sound . But for some reason, only yamaha passes my ear test when it comes to "not being able to tell its digital when closing my eyes"
It is a very personal/subjective thing of course. At the end of the day, the most important thing is to find a piano sound that you inspires you. :)
🤡
Wich one should I get for my 9 year old? This one or the Yamaha YDP-165? The yamaha is about 250 dollars more. We want something that my dayghter can use many years to Come and also that looks good, because its gonna be placed in our living room. Thank you for a great review!
@@georgeshammam Kawai all day. Or get a real Kawai grand if you want it to look nice like I did.
I owned FP30X for a year, recently sold it. Didn't like the sound. When I pressed keys with more pressure and velocity, the sound would change to a cheap keyboard or harpsicord(specially mid register). But the key action was really nice and heavy. Go for Kawai. My next would be Kawai or Yamaha.
6:28 says he on a UA-cam video that uses 126kbps lossy compression (worse than MP3 - MP3 allows up to 320kbps)!
You should post your reviews on Qobuz in 24-bit audio!
It would be quite handy for demonstration purposes if UA-cam allowed for higher quality audio. Perhaps, that capability is around the corner in the near future. :)
Hi! Loved your video! I’m to buy a digital piano but always played in acoustic ones. I’m from Uruguay and apart from having a really small market and pricey options, most of the digital pianos can’t be tested because they are not for display, only a few models of the very few that they already have are. Considering what I need and my budget, I’m between buying a Roland FP-E50 (that with accessories will cost me around 2 thousand US dollars) or a Kawai KDP120 (for 1780 dollars). I’ve seen a lot of reviews of both of them, but can’t really try them, so what option do you believe it’s best if I am to play at a professional level and want what is going to feel most similar to an acoustic piano? Is Roland a better option because the keys are heavier? I tried the Casio option they had for that price range and I really disliked it because of the plastic sound the keys made, does this happen with Kawai too? Can anyone help me? Many thanks in advance!
An important thing is that I don’t need the piano to be portable, just chose the Roland option because I believe it’s better than the Casio or Yamaha options we have for that price range
Hi! Brent here! Thanks for tuning in and reaching out with your question! It all comes down to subjectivity and personal preference of course. But, for me, the FP-E50 has a more authentic touch than virtually any other instrument in that price category. The Roland PHA4 option is quite rewarding to play and does an excellent job at simulating the touch of a real acoustic piano. :)
@@MerriamPianosMany thanks, I’ll keep that in mind! I’ve seen that people are really passionate about both options, and it’s very subjective, so it’s quite hard yo make the purchase without trying the pianos myself. Thank you Brent for your answer 💜
Ciao Stu, a parte la tastiera migliore e l'amplificazione, mi sembra che suoni in maniera diversa rispetto a Kawai es120. Peccato per Kawai es110 non più in produzione, una pietra miliare fra i migliori pianoforti da palco in termini di campionamento sonoro del pianoforte e la presenza del pedale f-10h. Un saluto dall' Italia❤
Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! Thanks for writing in! While every manufacturer is striving to improve upon a design with every next generation model, sometimes, players have a preference for an earlier generation unit. Ultimately, this is simply the result of tone and touch preferences being highly-subjective. Every player will have their own preference between the ES110 and ES120. In any case, they are both quite impressive instruments for the money. :)
If you had to choose between this or an es120 for a first digital piano which one would you choose over the other?
Not too interested in the speaker quality as will mainly be used with headphones, mainly which one would have the best/ most realistic action?
Thanks
Hi! Thanks for the question! It really comes down to context of use given that the KDP120 and ES120 are in completely different forms (console versus portable). If you are going to be travelling with the instrument at all, the ES120 is the obvious choice. If the piano is going to live in one spot in the home, the KDP120 does have a superior action and speaker system, which does allow it to provide a more authentic playing experience.
@@MerriamPianos thanks, I wanted to know this too
I was playing previously acoustic piano as a hobby and I want to switch to an epiano. I'm beginner-intermediate from my skill and currently choosing between kdp 120 and CN 201. I'm looking for sound and feeling close to an acoustic piano, but not really interested in multiple additional features or voices. In my country the price difference is around 400 euros. Which one would you recommend? Is cn-201 in your opinion worth 400 euros price difference? Thanks in advance!
Hi! Brent here! Thanks for the question! For me, the CN201 is a meaningful step up in terms of authenticity. But, at the end of the day, whether it is worth the additional money comes down to the subjectivity of the player.
@@MerriamPianos thank you for your comment, was very helpful 😊
I own a kdp 120 and the app doesnt allow me to listen to my music while playing. Do you have any advice on how to listen to my own playlist on the piano speakers ? The piano is great btw.
Congrats on your KDP120! It is a fantastic instrument on all fronts! You shouldn't have to access an app to play music via Bluetooth Audio. You should be able to find the KDP120 as any other Bluetooth speaker/device and connect to it directly. Once it is connected, it should play any audio being transmitted via your phone.
@@MerriamPianos actually Ive made some research and apparently the kawai kdp 120 dont support bluetooth AUDIO, its just bluetooth MIDI ,wich means that I cant play my playlist through the speakers of the piano. Pretty disappointed...
How does the key action compare to Roland's PHA-4 action?
The RHCII action of the KDP120 plays a little lighter than the PHA4. Furthermore, the PHA4 has escapement simulation, whereas the RHCII action does not. :)
@@MerriamPianos Excellent! Thanks for answering. :)
The touch responce is a lot beter on the Kawai though🎹🎶
I wonder if it'd be a good piano for me. I used to play piano as a kid, i played for 4 years on an acoustic piano. I've started playing again a few months ago, but on a digital piano this time (i don't have the possibility for an acoustic right now). I play on my sisters yamaha CLP-130, but i honestly hate to play on it. The keys are too linear and the sound is very digital. I recently went to a piano store and they recommended me the kawai KDP120 (they didn't have any other digital piano's really).
Would it be a good option, considering i'm not a beginner anymore? Or would it maybe be worth it to invest more for a used CA series, such as the CA-65?
Most important things for me are the feel and tone of the piano.
Hi! Brent here! The KDP120 is a wonderful instrument to begin your piano journey on! It has an impressively authentic touch and tone for its price point. With that said, if you are looking to make a slightly bigger investment, models like the CA49 and CA59 are excellent too. They have all wooden key sticks and even higher end tone engines and speaker systems. :)
@@MerriamPianos considering the 4 years of experience i have and the skill level i'm at, i'm not a beginner anymore. Would the KDP-120 still be a good choice? Or would it fall short? What are the most important differences between the KDP120 (around 1k) and the CA49 and CA59 (2k - 2.5k here)? Is it important for being able to further develop my skill?
When will you Review YAMAHA P 525 Digital Piano.
It is on our list of models to eventually tackle, but we don't have an exact shoot or release date for that model. :)
@@MerriamPianos Wow, in B&H store it in stock already (at least) full month, in white & black for $ 1599
@@alexgoriatchenkovthey are ripping you off. I got my P525 a month ago for $1,400 here in Chicago brand new
@@gustavogo2915 I guess is great price. I never trying 525, I'm not Yamaha fan and using Kawai ES920 some while.
@@alexgoriatchenkovI guess something to think about for next year, but guitar center had 15% off on the p525 during their Black Friday sale (you had to do their online chat thing. Who knows they may still be there offering discounts if you call/chat)
What do you recomend me to buy? portable Roland Fp-30x or this one Kawai Kdp120? In my case Kawai is $242 more expensive, but I like that kdp120 looks more elegant. But talking about sound and action, which one is better?
Hi! Brent here! Thanks for the question! It all comes down to the subjectivity of course! Personally, I prefer the touch of the FP30X, but the sound of the KDP120. However, if push came to shove, I would lean slightly towards the KDP120 (pending I wouldn't be travelling with the FP30X) because it has a great aesthetic and one of the most authentic, warm piano sounds you will find at this price point. :)
If you connect your digital piano to the Pianoteq software via the midi interface and play the Steinway piano, be sure that you will not want to use the internal sound of your digital piano again. Therefore, it would be better to make a decision based on key action rather than sound quality. It is said that the FP30x action is better in this regard, but it does not seem possible to compare it without trying both.
please review the p525
Thanks for the suggestion! We will do our best to tackle that as soon as we can. :)
okay, thanks a lot
could you do a p525 vs fp 90x
video ?@@MerriamPianos
From what I read of other reviewers the FP90x is the better choise. Not many peopl like the p525. Literally haven't seen a positive review yet
Merriam Music is not a Yamaha dealer so they may not review one right away🎹🎶
I got the p525 during the Black Friday sales. Overall I think I made a good purchase (this is my first 88key). I haven't played around with the other features yet, but overall I like the sound, feel, and build quality. Especially given the price I paid
Dear Stu. Please what headphones do you use in this video? Thank you.
Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! They are Sony headphones, but I am not entirely sure as to what model they are unfortunately. Perhaps, one of our community members here can identify them from the video!
@@MerriamPianosIt looks like the Sony MDR-7506. A real classic in studios, been around for ages and known for its neutral and analytical sound. A good choice for reviewing but perhaps not for pure listening pleasure (but as always it's a matter of taste).
Would you have any recommendation what headphones would suit those E-pianos best when playing?
I have a Kawai KDP-110, and I use a AKG K52 (around 30 euros) with the piano. I am very happy with them. They are monitors (they try to replicate all frequencies faithfully... no bass enhancement)
For me, the Kawai SH-9 headphones are an excellent option to be paired with Kawai's digital piano samples. They are also relatively affordable. :)
I think that you should go out and test a few pairs. Comfort is key here as you'll wear them a lot. It's just like with your shoes. If they don't fit then walking will be a pain even if they look fancy. The difference in sound quality is negligible once you leave the very cheap no-name stuff behind.
@@MerriamPianos Thanks so much for answering my question! Actually there’s a Roland FP30X coming for Christmas 🤶 Is there any difference between this one and a Kawai regarding headphones? 🤔
I just use my (totally not made for pianos) sony mdr-100abn. Seems to work well enough (needs 6.3 adapter tho)
Hi, I've been playing piano for 1 year on a lightweighted keyboard (pretty bad) and I'd like to buy a "real" digital piano. I've watched a lot of your videos, and I'm hesitating between the RP107 which seems to have a very realistic action (although a bit noisy according to some pianists) and the KDP 120 which seems to have an excellent sound. So I'm hesitating between these two pianos if anyone can help me!
Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! Thanks for tuning in! It all comes down to personal preference of course. For me, I favour the RP107's touch, but the KDP120's tone. However, every player is different. I would recommend testing both pianos out in person at a showroom if possible. That is the best way to get a clear picture of which one's musical experience you connect more with. :)
Ok! Thank you so much@@MerriamPianos
Are there any digital pianos that allow for reassignment of the pedals? I cannot pedal with my right foot. I’d love to reassign the sustain function to the left pedal.
Hi there! Yup - there are a number of pianos that offer assignable pedals. There are quite a few Roland models that have assignable pedals for instance. With that said, you will have to double check as to whether sustain/damper control is something that can be assigned to those other pedals.
@@MerriamPianosOne more question, please: Speaker sound quality is especially important to me. If I chose the ES920 instead of the KPD120, so that I had a more flexible left-foot pedaling experience, would you consider that to be a significant compromise in speaker sound quality? (I plan to test this in person, of course, but it will be a while before I can, so I’d appreciate your subjective opinion in the meantime.) Thanks.
What is the difference b/w this and kdp 110?
The KDP120 has an improved RHCII action, which plays a little heavier. There were also a few aesthetic changes (the front portion of the sliding lid is now finished opposed to just a metal piece). There were also some updates to the Bluetooth connectivity.
KDP120 vs RP701 vs YDP165 vs AP470?
The RP701, YDP165, and AP470 are more direct comparisons to the CN201 model. We have tackled reviews of all of the pianos you've listed aside from the YDP165, but we will do our best to tackle that one as well. Thanks for the suggestion! :)
I've been learning keyboard for a year now. I want to buy a piano now. Is this model one of th best in the price point? I'm really confused which model to buy. This model fits my budget but there are other models also like yamaha casio so much confusion is there. Please help me.
Hi! Brent here! The KDP120 is an excellent choice given where you are at in your piano journey. It is a top-selling console digital piano for a very good reason. In my opinion, it has the most authentic piano tone in its price category. That, coupled with an excellent, responsive touch and powerful speaker system, makes the KDP120 a home-run for me. :)
@@MerriamPianos thanks for such a detailed answer. I've seen that in your other answers you've said that Roland touch is best while kawai tone is best. I'm really confused. And what country kdp 120 made I'm and what material?
@@MerriamPianos also I'm confused that should I go for CN 201 ? I'm also thinking to upgrade to a better and maybe acoustic model after 2 to 3 years. So should buy kdp 120 or CN201 . KDP 120 is 1740 CAD and CN210 is 2180 CAD
But KDP 120 Fits my budget well
Kawai kdp 120 or yamaha ydp 165 ?
It really comes down to a matter of personal preference as they both offer a very different touch and tone. With that said, my personal preference is for the KDP120. I feel that it has a more authentic tone. :)
Didn't you already cover this when it first came out?🎹🎶
He says they're re-visiting the instrument
@@MrClitheroe don't know why though. I mean it's pritymutch the same instrument as it was before🎹🎶
@@LFD-zb8to triggered?🎹🎶
Even less intelligent than your first post....
We have received quite a few questions along the lines of "is this piano still a good option in 2023", hence these updated review videos. :)
WTF do they make these with the speakers pointing down!!!!!
Many digital pianos utilize a downward facing speaker design. With that said, there are other models out there with top facing speakers or more elaborate speaker configurations with multiple placements.