The ES920 is 11.5 lbs lighter than either the P515 or the Kawai ES8. I don't think Kawai was just trying to cut corners. I for one appreciate the lighter weight as I do a lot of moving around with my portable.
If you are looking for something to move around often, these are probably the wrong instruments to start with. This is more a home piano for people with little space and as a second instrument for playing with headphones. The build quality from Kawai was never very good. Had some issues with my es8. At least is had a metal build.
Great video again, thank you for providing such quick quality comparisons! I love the fullness of sound in the P515, while the ES920 has an open magical quality to the tone.
Great review James.I haven't played the ES920 so i can't say anything about it, but i have the P515 and i love it,love the heavy action and wooden keys.I also like the Sound of the CFX and Bosendorfer and the good built quality and that is heavy so its stays put where you put it.
What do you think about the RD2000 compared to these 2? I could get a used one for the same price, but I heard that the stock profiles don't sound that great unless you mod the v-piano sound to your liking. I'd mostly use it at home for practicing and live loops in combination with Ableton live
well James all i can say is thanks for your reviews, I thought the keys on the ES920 were much better than ES-8 yet still a little clunky left wanting, I'm happy i waited for the P-515 to come back in stock..
I have an ES8, enjoy it. Not a fan of Yamaha's. Don't know if I would buy a ES 920, as the ES8 definitely has a more sound structure. However, it weighs close to 50 lbs as does the p515. The ES920 only weighs around 38 lbs. That is the goal of the plastic structure it would seem to make the weight more useful for a gigging musician. Something to be considered in deciding between the two.
Another stellar review, James ! PLEASE do a review of the Kawai MP7se. I am seriously considering buying the MP7se. I have watched every review on UA-cam about it, but I would really like to watch one done by you. You are very honest and really tell it like it is.
I’m stuck between these 2 regarding the keybed action. I’ve gotten acclimated and like the heavy action from my Roland FP30. So I’m sure the Yamaha P515 will be similar. But with the ES920 being lighter action, is it too light or does it feel like a semi-weighted? No stores around me have the ES920 in stock for me to test. The key action for me is the deciding factor between these two.
I went into Yamaha London to try it on Sunday. They had two left in stock. On Monday, I rang to order - they've all sold out, and now it is a wait until the end of July! I really liked it though. I've read so much about the "heavy action", but it was absolutely fine (I usually play a Yamaha U1 acoustic). Yamaha have a lot of pianos and keyboards there in their flagship store. Broadly speaking, it felt the same as some nearby Clavinovas, but it was a little heavier than a baby grand. It should be emphasised that "heavy" doesn't mean leaden, unresponsive or slow (as can be heard from JPS's playing!). It is just the initial pressure. My friend has a Roland digital upright, and I thought that it felt a bit light compared to what I was used to! As usual - you have to try these things for yourself.
@@ThePianoforever I had a moment when I was playing it when I thought “This is meant to be heavy. I read it on the internet. But, umm, it is not, and it copes easily with fast runs, at least for me.” Anyway - thanks for the great reviews!
I haven't watched it yet, but it's only been a few days since your first ES 920 video and i was waiting on this one with quite some anticipation. So i just want to say thanks beforehand for putting in work to deliver it so quickly!
Are you sure that they weren't just trying to make it lighter? You know, for portability. I guess you could make it out of space-age composites if you needed strength with less weight, but that would bump the cost way up.
Hi James, Thank you so much for this review. As you probably know I have waited a long time for you to do this comparison. The ES920 has been out in the UK for a couple of months now, similar price to the p515. I think you have done both pianos good reviews and I think it really is a matter of personal choice. I can only say to all who are interested in buying either one, go and try them, if possible side by side because it really is a matter of preference. My personal favourite is the Yamaha p515, but that's my choice. Thanks again for a brilliant review, by a most talented pianist. Just keep them coming.
The big one! Thanks for this video. Hope to have one of these boards in the next twelve months. Don’t forget to review the Korg D1, low price and feels great, sounds awesome with headphones.
Hi James, thank you very much for a detailed review on both electric Piano's. I agree with you on the built quality of the Yamaha, there's much more metal, and the plastics used are more sturdy. I know the P515 has been around for a couple of years but still is able to keep up with the new releases. James, because of your review, I think Yamaha is my preferred purchase. It would be very interesting to see when Yamaha will start releasing their new digital Piano's. Possibly another jump in sound and built quality. Once again, thank you James, and I wish you much success.
Keep up the great work dude! Your videos are honestly really interesting to watch, and I could definitely say that I've taken a lot of points from your videos. I'd definitely consider one of these two for the next time I buy a new keyboard! Right now I've got a Yamaha DGX-650, and it works great, but your videos really give me insight on what to consider next, so thanks, and keep it up!
Hey I’ve been watching a lot of your videos recently to help me pick my first piano and I really respect your opinion. Could you try to review the FP-30x?
FWIW, I believe Kawai was trying to reduce the weight of the ES920 and this is probably part of the reason for the feeling of a lesser build quality. ES920 is about 17 kg, whereas P515 is 22 kg.
Interesting that some of the samples in the p515 like the church organ and harpsichord are still the same ones from the old p series such as the p45, p120 and p140
Thank you, was on the fence which of these 2 to buy, and I've watched almost all videos comparing these 2 and you made my decision for me to go with Yamaha 515, because of the action of the keys. Your comparison on the action is so far the best i've seen, mentioning the heavier wooden keys, no bounce.. Thank you very much.
Thank you James for this review. Both instruments are at comparable level. I think that the Kawai has better stage qualities. It is 5 kg lighter than the Yamaha, which is better for your back when traveling around. And the Kawai has a special line out for the stage sound engineer. I wish that all stage piano's had that feature. I use my digital as a side piano for my grand piano. My piano friend and I play a lot of repertoire with two piano's. Then tuning is very important. The tuning on the Kawai is in 0.5 hertz steps. The tuning of the Yamaha is in 0.2 hertz steps. For me, the winning argument for the Yamaha P-515.
Great review! There really a match to each other. But I am also happy that I still can hold the p515 on top of my list. The sounds of the Kawai are good, really good. But some of the sounds, like the bösendorfer. There is just no match for that. That one is so good. And strange enough the guitar. I love that sound. But other than that there pretty much alike. You already mentioned that the sounds, and effects, can be altered in both of them but the standard autopan of the Kawai is just to strong in my tast. So, the p515 still stands. Thank you for sharing and playing.
Hey James! I have a question for you...hypothetically, let's say you were hired (by me) to add piano to an original song ...what piano/digital piano would you use and why? What is your go-to recording piano? Awesome demo. I am not in the market for a new keyboard, but I always learn a lot from these videos. Anytime I can hear someone passionately talk about their instrument, I take the time to listen. Have a great weekend, dude. 🐰❤️🎸🎵✨🤝✌️
This is as I thought it would be with James giving a fair and very comprehensive review of these two instruments. I agree, it's all about preference regardless as to whoever comments one is better than the other. They've very comparable. To my ears, Kawai has tweaked the SK-EX sound engine and it seems to have a lighter bodied sound than the ES8. Maybe the aim was for more brightness and clarity? I'm not sure. Or maybe they changed the defaults. I'm OK with the piano feeling less substantial because the weight is down significantly. The P515 sounds stronger than ever here it's just that Yamaha has come out with the CLP700 series and this model is a slab version of the CLP645. The CLP745 has enhancements, sound engine and sound modeling enhancements over the already nice ones in the CLP645. Therefore I'm not sure if I'd want to get the P515 or wait for its successor. And if you do wait for the P515's successor, how long will that be?
Hi James. I would really value your opinion on a few overlooked 88 note keyboards. These are the Kurzweil PC4, Kurzweil SP 6 and the Yamaha MX88. I have heard the sounds, but have not received any good indication of the action of these. Would really be interested in how they compare to a Yamaha P-515.
James what you really need to do is compare the real acoustic instruments to their equivalent samplings on these digital pianos (and multiple digitals with the same samplings not just the P515 and ES920)
James, Overall the Kawai has a lighter(thinner?) more flexible sound which lends itself to Pop, Jazz funk etc. The Yamaha is more stolid, not stuffy, the sound is just more there for you in most cases. It can carry you more realistically through classical compositions. I think Debussy's, "the Maid With the Flaxen Hair" would sound better on the Kawai whereas, a more complex piece like Claire de Lune needs the heavier(thicker?) sound of the Yamaha. What do you think? Cheers, Rik Spector
I am planning to buy Kawai MP7SE. Same keybed and Engine like ES920, but more sounds and features, also 200€ cheaper, which I could use for buying a good headphone or budget monitor. speakers.
I am hoping to do the same. I think the mp7se is by far the best buy out there for digital pianos. I wish James would review it. He is not afraid to talk about the negatives , as well as the positives of the instruments he is reviewing.
Be careful in your decision to buy the MP7SE if you plan to keep it for a while. There have been numerous problems with this model. It's not the same quality as the MP11.
The bottom one sounds way better. The top one sounds centered, while the bottom one I feel the sound coming from both of my ears. Not sure how to explain it, but the bottom one sounds wider.
Extraordinary review! 👍🏻 Extremely complete! 👍🏻 Only for the build quality and lack of bouncing sound on the action of the P-515, it's worthy the Yamaha, in my opinion. Thank you!
As a P515 owner myself, I think I prefer the Kawai sound. Action, otherwise, seems better on the P515 although I've never played on a Kawai's RH3. But the Yamaha sample is still amazing, I have no complains at all, I just prefer the tenderness of the Kawai since the P515's Bösendorfer is quite digital next to CFX.
Bought before the ES920's release. Besides, Kawai is ridiculously expensive in my country. From the P515 price I could get a... Kawai ES110! I love the CFX sound, not sure if I prefer the Kawai since I didnt play both of them, but Im very satisfied with the overall quality of the Yamaha. Plus, Im pretty sure the P515 got better action.
Beautiful review that makes me re-evaluate the P515. In other face to face comparisons the kawai (ES8) looks much nicer than the Yamaha. Can you predict when the new P515 model might come out?
@@ActuallyJamesS Yamaha doesn't have a competitor for the ES520. However, the DGX 670 is getting rave reviews. But that's a piano arranger. It does have the CFX patch compared to the P125's CF patch.
The ES920 key bounce sounds just like the Arturia Keylab 88 MK II. Mine hasn't held up well with some of the keys developing rattles and the sound of the hammers swinging and thumping away is horrible.
Marty said.... _"Mine hasn't held up well"_ The Arturia? or the Kawai? I'm a beginner looking for a reliable digital that is _'close-to-acoustic-feel'_ but the Kawai build quality is the only thing holding me back. So, your comment is making me wonder : )
Will you be doing a review of the new Yamaha YC88? I'm very torn about what to buy atm because I want it to be portable for live performances but also good for recording studio purposes...I also want it to have that weighted acoustic feel to the keys. Would you consider the Kawai MP11SE to still be your favorite digital piano or has that changed?
You can't regulate the weight, just the touch sensitivity. This won't change the actual weight of the action, but can create the illusion that the action is lighter.
@@ThePianoforever well that’s why I didn’t notice much of a difference! But anyways I don’t think it’s that heavy, although my Yamaha upright is definitely lighter
Kawai digital pianos are amazing; my friend's got an ES8; I play it all the time when I'm over his house. I am eventually thinking about getting one of these things in the near future. I would have thought of the DG30, perhaps.
Please, please, make a comparison between ES8 and ES920! I bought the ES8 last April and I can play ES920 this year, and I think the speakers are a little better at ES920, it has Bluetooth and the keyboard is a little better to play... But ES8 has the same sound quality, it feels more massive, and it's not plastic! I didn't hear a really better sound at ES920. Overall, I think the ES8 is the more successful instrument! I'm very excited about what you think! Thank you for your excellent, super professional and interesting work! Stay well! Roland
I don't have ES8... ES920 may be a minor updated to ES8. But simply, I think the pros of ES920 over ES8 is (1) Less Weight (2) Four Virtual Technician addition ( cabinet Resonance, undamped string, etc). (3) Real time Equalizer four band EQ. (4) Better external sound system, more powerful, onko. Although the only cons I think of ES920 over ES8 yeah it is more plastic. But, since ES920 is my frst DP & only cost $1000 here (Indonesia, same island with the kawai manufacture factory) For me, I think this is more worth than P515 or ES8. I ever tried Yamaha DP it is too heavy, since I am generally not a professional pianist (self learned). Kawai action is easier to be controlled & expressive for me, to do some trill example... But I also like Yamaha grand piano sound from my old keyboard psr e313, I like Yamaha sound for pop /rock song, meanwhile kawai for classic/jazz/blues. Warm piano sound on ES920 is the closest sound tone to Yamaha grand piano from my old PSR E313 keyboard I think...
Yet another great video, James. Dare I say your dual piano playing is improving. Dunno where it'll get ya but fun to watch! 😄 With regards to the audio, any thoughts(value/worth it) of adding a Yamaha KS-SW100 keyboard subwoofer to help bring out the bass without the distortion? Would you add a subwoofer before monitors? Would love your thoughts on the Yamaha Smart Pianist app to better relieve "menu diving". Of what I saw, it was pretty impressive. Have you ever considered reviewing the Kawai VPC1 with a good virtual piano sample set like Ravenscroft 275? So, which is better? Maybe too close to call but I'm eagerly awaiting my P515. Keep up the great work and best success to you!
Secondo me il P515 è superiore,in primis la tastiera in legno,ed in seconda il suono.Personalmente penso che il "vecchio",Kawai ES8,aveva un suono veramente eccezionale da vero pianoforte e più dolce.Con il 920 hanno creato un " ibrido"fra il suono Kawai e lo Yamaha, morale....non e ne zuppa ne pan bagnato.
The more expensive digital pianos with wooden keys usualy make less noise and are more (close to) natural to play. As you can see and hear in this video, Kawai Es plastic keys makes more noise and is disturbing your play when you want to play quiet clasical pieces, vs the Yamaha's P515 wooden keys wich are way more quieter and more plesant play/feel. But i would still not reccomend Yamaha, they put too much EQ (boosted mid freq) on the piano samples wich makes them un-natural soundig on upper octaves. Other good digital pianos with wooden keys is Roland FP 90 and the Kawai MP 11. (Kawai MP 7 has plastic keys) Still before buying one, is best to go to a store and test to see wich one has acceptable noise-action for you.
It’s a big shame. I used to have an ES8 and was really satisfied. These instruments are made to be stationary most of the time and should be perfectly built. The build quality is a big issue for me. I would never buy a piece of plastic for that price. I think if you spend that much money and sit in front of your instrument, you want to be happy and satisfied also with looks. Good build quality is also important for reselling. It’s just more durable. I do love the Kawai sound more than the Yamaha. I think it will be a choice between the MP7se and the P515.
As a long time Kawai MP7 owner, if I had to choose between those two, I would choose Yamaha P-515 without a doubt. But I'm waiting to see what MP11SE's successor will offer.
The change in build from the ES8 to the ES920 is a little frustrating. If it hadn't been for that change the ES920 was going to be an easy choice for me. Now it's more difficult. I would also love to see James do as detailed a look at the P515 action (key weight etc, his perspective on the other discussions out there) as he did in the Casio drama recently.
The ES920 is 11.5 lbs lighter than either the P515 or the Kawai ES8. I don't think Kawai was just trying to cut corners. I for one appreciate the lighter weight as I do a lot of moving around with my portable.
If you are looking for something to move around often, these are probably the wrong instruments to start with. This is more a home piano for people with little space and as a second instrument for playing with headphones. The build quality from Kawai was never very good. Had some issues with my es8. At least is had a metal build.
Great video again, thank you for providing such quick quality comparisons! I love the fullness of sound in the P515, while the ES920 has an open magical quality to the tone.
Great review James.I haven't played the ES920 so i can't say anything about it, but i have the P515 and i love it,love the heavy action and wooden keys.I also like the Sound of the CFX and Bosendorfer and the good built quality and that is heavy so its stays put where you put it.
I would love if you divided you review by sections. Thanks!
This!
I lucked out and got a new P 515 in Rochester, Mn. waited months before I saw one in any store. Love it.
i own a Roland RD 2000, but i often have the chance to play the es920 and the p515. all the things you say i can confirm. really good review.
What do you think about the RD2000 compared to these 2? I could get a used one for the same price, but I heard that the stock profiles don't sound that great unless you mod the v-piano sound to your liking. I'd mostly use it at home for practicing and live loops in combination with Ableton live
Been waiting for this :)
I love your attitude man!
well James all i can say is thanks for your reviews, I thought the keys on the ES920 were much better than ES-8 yet still a little clunky left wanting, I'm happy i waited for the P-515 to come back in stock..
Did you ever get one? I see that they're still out of stock everywhere
I have an ES8, enjoy it. Not a fan of Yamaha's. Don't know if I would buy a ES 920, as the ES8 definitely has a more sound structure. However, it weighs close to 50 lbs as does the p515. The ES920 only weighs around 38 lbs. That is the goal of the plastic structure it would seem to make the weight more useful for a gigging musician. Something to be considered in deciding between the two.
Another stellar review, James ! PLEASE do a review of the Kawai MP7se. I am seriously considering buying the MP7se. I have watched every review on UA-cam about it, but I would really like to watch one done by you. You are very honest and really tell it like it is.
I am also eagerly waiting for this review.
I’m stuck between these 2 regarding the keybed action. I’ve gotten acclimated and like the heavy action from my Roland FP30. So I’m sure the Yamaha P515 will be similar. But with the ES920 being lighter action, is it too light or does it feel like a semi-weighted? No stores around me have the ES920 in stock for me to test. The key action for me is the deciding factor between these two.
I went into Yamaha London to try it on Sunday. They had two left in stock. On Monday, I rang to order - they've all sold out, and now it is a wait until the end of July! I really liked it though. I've read so much about the "heavy action", but it was absolutely fine (I usually play a Yamaha U1 acoustic). Yamaha have a lot of pianos and keyboards there in their flagship store. Broadly speaking, it felt the same as some nearby Clavinovas, but it was a little heavier than a baby grand. It should be emphasised that "heavy" doesn't mean leaden, unresponsive or slow (as can be heard from JPS's playing!). It is just the initial pressure. My friend has a Roland digital upright, and I thought that it felt a bit light compared to what I was used to! As usual - you have to try these things for yourself.
Precisely! The action of the P515 is incredibly quick and responsive which makes it so wonderful to play.
@@ThePianoforever I had a moment when I was playing it when I thought “This is meant to be heavy. I read it on the internet. But, umm, it is not, and it copes easily with fast runs, at least for me.” Anyway - thanks for the great reviews!
Oh James. The bottom of P-515 is fibreboard (MDF) with black coating.
I haven't watched it yet, but it's only been a few days since your first ES 920 video and i was waiting on this one with quite some anticipation. So i just want to say thanks beforehand for putting in work to deliver it so quickly!
Are you sure that they weren't just trying to make it lighter? You know, for portability. I guess you could make it out of space-age composites if you needed strength with less weight, but that would bump the cost way up.
A review of the ES520 would be great. Looks very interesting as a mid range digital
Ive been waiting for that too 🙂. Excellent review. Thank you so much James. I think ill choose the Yamaha eventually.
The moment we all hv been waiting for!!... Thank you so much James
Hi James, Thank you so much for this review. As you probably know I have waited a long time for you to do this comparison. The ES920 has been out in the UK for a couple of months now, similar price to the p515. I think you have done both pianos good reviews and I think it really is a matter of personal choice. I can only say to all who are interested in buying either one, go and try them, if possible side by side because it really is a matter of preference. My personal favourite is the Yamaha p515, but that's my choice. Thanks again for a brilliant review, by a most talented pianist. Just keep them coming.
The big one! Thanks for this video. Hope to have one of these boards in the next twelve months. Don’t forget to review the Korg D1, low price and feels great, sounds awesome with headphones.
I paid 2g from my ES8 when it launch. Now the newer version is $1600. Yes the plastic reduced the price
Basically,
Kawai ES920 = SNES sound chip
Yamaha P515 = Sega Genesis sound chip
Thank you James. Please do compare dgx 670 vs p515 just in terms of CFX sample
The P515 sound powerfully perfect. However, I like the magical sound of the ES920 mid and higher tones more.
25:22 what's the song please
Excellent comparison review. Brilliant presentation. Lots to think about. Time for a new portable piano. Think it’s going to be one of these!
Have you considered reviewing the es520?
Hi James, thank you very much for a detailed review on both electric Piano's. I agree with you on the built quality of the Yamaha, there's much more metal, and the plastics used are more sturdy. I know the P515 has been around for a couple of years but still is able to keep up with the new releases. James, because of your review, I think Yamaha is my preferred purchase. It would be very interesting to see when Yamaha will start releasing their new digital Piano's. Possibly another jump in sound and built quality. Once again, thank you James, and I wish you much success.
Keep up the great work dude! Your videos are honestly really interesting to watch, and I could definitely say that I've taken a lot of points from your videos. I'd definitely consider one of these two for the next time I buy a new keyboard! Right now I've got a Yamaha DGX-650, and it works great, but your videos really give me insight on what to consider next, so thanks, and keep it up!
Could you possibly try and review the Valente Electric Piano? It is, I believe, a brasilian manufacturer of new electromechanical pianos.
James, if offered a free Yamaha P515 or a Kawai ES920, which would you choose?
Hey I’ve been watching a lot of your videos recently to help me pick my first piano and I really respect your opinion. Could you try to review the FP-30x?
James, it's interesting that the Yamaha has a better build feel than the Kawai does. Very nice review of these two competitors.
FWIW, I believe Kawai was trying to reduce the weight of the ES920 and this is probably part of the reason for the feeling of a lesser build quality. ES920 is about 17 kg, whereas P515 is 22 kg.
Yamaha digital piano's in general are much more reliable. I owned a CLP635 and a Kawai CN37
@@jortepap which do you like better of the two, sk ex concert grand or cfx on 635, from the speakers?
I really just want to see you jam out on these two models 👑
Excellent , love the mid flow switching from a player thank you 👍👍
I like P515 better, Thanks James, good review
Interesting that some of the samples in the p515 like the church organ and harpsichord are still the same ones from the old p series such as the p45, p120 and p140
Whats the name of the piece at 11:25 ?
Thank you, was on the fence which of these 2 to buy, and I've watched almost all videos comparing these 2 and you made my decision for me to go with Yamaha 515, because of the action of the keys. Your comparison on the action is so far the best i've seen, mentioning the heavier wooden keys, no bounce.. Thank you very much.
Are you still happy with the purchase?
LOVE YOUR HONESTY JAMES...LOL ONCE AGAIN A BRILLIANT REVIEW...
Please check the G6 key on the p515 for me. Another reviewer says the sampling is off on that key
Thank you James for this review. Both instruments are at comparable level. I think that the Kawai has better stage qualities. It is 5 kg lighter than the Yamaha, which is better for your back when traveling around. And the Kawai has a special line out for the stage sound engineer. I wish that all stage piano's had that feature. I use my digital as a side piano for my grand piano. My piano friend and I play a lot of repertoire with two piano's. Then tuning is very important. The tuning on the Kawai is in 0.5 hertz steps. The tuning of the Yamaha is in 0.2 hertz steps. For me, the winning argument for the Yamaha P-515.
The Yamaha Cp88 really is Yamaha's stage piano and I think it has a similar weight to the ES920. Yamaha did up the weight from the P225 however.
The MP7se and MP11se are Kawai's stage pianos no speakers steel cases..
Great review! There really a match to each other. But I am also happy that I still can hold the p515 on top of my list. The sounds of the Kawai are good, really good. But some of the sounds, like the bösendorfer. There is just no match for that. That one is so good. And strange enough the guitar. I love that sound. But other than that there pretty much alike. You already mentioned that the sounds, and effects, can be altered in both of them but the standard autopan of the Kawai is just to strong in my tast. So, the p515 still stands. Thank you for sharing and playing.
Bosendorfer at 14:39
Hey James! I have a question for you...hypothetically, let's say you were hired (by me) to add piano to an original song ...what piano/digital piano would you use and why? What is your go-to recording piano?
Awesome demo. I am not in the market for a new keyboard, but I always learn a lot from these videos.
Anytime I can hear someone passionately talk about their instrument, I take the time to listen.
Have a great weekend, dude. 🐰❤️🎸🎵✨🤝✌️
On build quality, the Yamaha keys are wood, not so the Kawai.
Two beautiful tools. However I would like your opinion related exclusively to the sounds of Rhodes. Thank you.
This is as I thought it would be with James giving a fair and very comprehensive review of these two instruments. I agree, it's all about preference regardless as to whoever comments one is better than the other. They've very comparable. To my ears, Kawai has tweaked the SK-EX sound engine and it seems to have a lighter bodied sound than the ES8. Maybe the aim was for more brightness and clarity? I'm not sure. Or maybe they changed the defaults. I'm OK with the piano feeling less substantial because the weight is down significantly. The P515 sounds stronger than ever here it's just that Yamaha has come out with the CLP700 series and this model is a slab version of the CLP645. The CLP745 has enhancements, sound engine and sound modeling enhancements over the already nice ones in the CLP645. Therefore I'm not sure if I'd want to get the P515 or wait for its successor. And if you do wait for the P515's successor, how long will that be?
Soon i hope...
If course, if the two could be judiciously combined...
Does that mean I need to buy both?
Hi James. I would really value your opinion on a few overlooked 88 note keyboards. These are the Kurzweil PC4, Kurzweil SP 6 and the Yamaha MX88. I have heard the sounds, but have not received any good indication of the action of these. Would really be interested in how they compare to a Yamaha P-515.
James what you really need to do is compare the real acoustic instruments to their equivalent samplings on these digital pianos (and multiple digitals with the same samplings not just the P515 and ES920)
Would you consider doing a review on the newest Kawai CA series digital pianos?
James,
Overall the Kawai has a lighter(thinner?)
more flexible sound which lends itself to Pop, Jazz funk etc.
The Yamaha is more stolid, not stuffy, the sound is just more there for you in most cases.
It can carry you more realistically through classical compositions.
I think Debussy's, "the Maid With the Flaxen Hair" would sound better on the Kawai whereas,
a more complex piece like Claire de Lune needs the heavier(thicker?) sound of the Yamaha.
What do you think?
Cheers,
Rik Spector
I wouldn't describe the Kawai sound as thinner. I think the Yamaha has the lighter-bodied sound.
The bottom of the keyboard has a great sounding plastic ... it`s absolutely critical to have good sounding plastic on an electronic kbd
I am planning to buy Kawai MP7SE. Same keybed and Engine like ES920, but more sounds and features, also 200€ cheaper, which I could use for buying a good headphone or budget monitor. speakers.
I am hoping to do the same. I think the mp7se is by far the best buy out there for digital pianos. I wish James would review it. He is not afraid to talk about the negatives , as well as the positives of the instruments he is reviewing.
It doesn't have built-in speakers though. That's important for some.
Be careful in your decision to buy the MP7SE if you plan to keep it for a while. There have been numerous problems with this model. It's not the same quality as the MP11.
Mr, I think you deserve a subscribe from every Keyboard player on this planet, or even from aliens who play keyboards too.
hi!!!!11!!!!!
The bottom one sounds way better. The top one sounds centered, while the bottom one I feel the sound coming from both of my ears. Not sure how to explain it, but the bottom one sounds wider.
11:25 lmaoooo 😂 I was not expecting to hear the Minecraft theme song 💀
Extraordinary review! 👍🏻
Extremely complete! 👍🏻
Only for the build quality and lack of bouncing sound on the action of the P-515, it's worthy the Yamaha, in my opinion.
Thank you!
I just purchased my p515 because of your videos but I think I’m on a long list of back orders :/
Mine should be arriving tomorrow. Gotta be patient. Was a 2 month wait for me. You might have gotten it by now but good luck
I like the piece you composed, do you have the sheets of that piece? Or where can I buy it?
The Kawai has a fuller and nicer piano sound than the Yamaha .
100% disagree. Listen with headphones or a good sound system. The Yamaha sounds way better
In general, Kawai's tend to have a fuller sound. "nicer" is a matter of opinion. But makes have their camps that prefer their particular sound.
Build quality? Who cares? Other than this guy. He clearly cares.
It's an important aspect of digital pianos that is commonly overlooked.
As a P515 owner myself, I think I prefer the Kawai sound. Action, otherwise, seems better on the P515 although I've never played on a Kawai's RH3. But the Yamaha sample is still amazing, I have no complains at all, I just prefer the tenderness of the Kawai since the P515's Bösendorfer is quite digital next to CFX.
Just curious, why did you buy the yamaha is you prefered the kawai?
Bought before the ES920's release. Besides, Kawai is ridiculously expensive in my country. From the P515 price I could get a... Kawai ES110! I love the CFX sound, not sure if I prefer the Kawai since I didnt play both of them, but Im very satisfied with the overall quality of the Yamaha. Plus, Im pretty sure the P515 got better action.
Beautiful review that makes me re-evaluate the P515. In other face to face comparisons the kawai (ES8) looks much nicer than the Yamaha. Can you predict when the new P515 model might come out?
Do you know when Yamaha plans to release the next version of the P-515 since it's a few years old now?
They're releasing a new version every 4 years. So I would expect it in the beginning or in the middle of 2022.
@@ActuallyJamesS Yamaha doesn't have a competitor for the ES520. However, the DGX 670 is getting rave reviews. But that's a piano arranger. It does have the CFX patch compared to the P125's CF patch.
When will the Roland FP90X be evaluated?
At present I have no plans to review that keyboard.
The ES920 key bounce sounds just like the Arturia Keylab 88 MK II. Mine hasn't held up well with some of the keys developing rattles and the sound of the hammers swinging and thumping away is horrible.
Marty said.... _"Mine hasn't held up well"_
The Arturia? or the Kawai? I'm a beginner looking for a reliable digital that is _'close-to-acoustic-feel'_ but the Kawai build quality is the only thing holding me back. So, your comment is making me wonder : )
Do you have any input on the Casio PX-560 and how it compares to the Yamaha and Kawai?
Will you be doing a review of the new Yamaha YC88? I'm very torn about what to buy atm because I want it to be portable for live performances but also good for recording studio purposes...I also want it to have that weighted acoustic feel to the keys. Would you consider the Kawai MP11SE to still be your favorite digital piano or has that changed?
Yes, the Kawai MP11se is still my favorite, but you might want to consider the purchase now as Kawai is changing the build quality on the new models.
You recomend to me p515? The poeple says the accion is very very heavy in p515
I own one and you can regulate the weight and i have it on max lightness and it’s perfectly fine
You can't regulate the weight, just the touch sensitivity. This won't change the actual weight of the action, but can create the illusion that the action is lighter.
@@ThePianoforever well that’s why I didn’t notice much of a difference! But anyways I don’t think it’s that heavy, although my Yamaha upright is definitely lighter
Could you please review Yamaha Clavinova series such as CVP809 and CLP745?
Thank you for the very informative review. Out of interest, what is the name of the song being played at 15:00 ?
found it - Erik Satie - Gnossienne No.1
Yamaha never disappoints
Please do video on nux wk310 digital piano 👍👍
Kawai digital pianos are amazing; my friend's got an ES8; I play it all the time when I'm over his house. I am eventually thinking about getting one of these things in the near future. I would have thought of the DG30, perhaps.
Please, please, make a comparison between ES8 and ES920! I bought the ES8 last April and I can play ES920 this year, and I think the speakers are a little better at ES920, it has Bluetooth and the keyboard is a little better to play... But ES8 has the same sound quality, it feels more massive, and it's not plastic! I didn't hear a really better sound at ES920. Overall, I think the ES8 is the more successful instrument! I'm very excited about what you think! Thank you for your excellent, super professional and interesting work! Stay well! Roland
The ES8 vs the ES920 review is on the way.
I don't have ES8... ES920 may be a minor updated to ES8.
But simply, I think the pros of ES920 over ES8 is
(1) Less Weight (2) Four Virtual Technician addition ( cabinet Resonance, undamped string, etc). (3) Real time Equalizer four band EQ.
(4) Better external sound system, more powerful, onko.
Although the only cons I think of ES920 over ES8 yeah it is more plastic.
But, since ES920 is my frst DP & only cost $1000 here (Indonesia, same island with the kawai manufacture factory)
For me, I think this is more worth than P515 or ES8.
I ever tried Yamaha DP it is too heavy, since I am generally not a professional pianist (self learned). Kawai action is easier to be controlled & expressive for me, to do some trill example...
But I also like Yamaha grand piano sound from my old keyboard psr e313, I like Yamaha sound for pop /rock song, meanwhile kawai for classic/jazz/blues.
Warm piano sound on ES920 is the closest sound tone to Yamaha grand piano from my old PSR E313 keyboard I think...
have you considered making a video on the korg b2?
Will the 515 successor be out in the Fall?
no
Yet another great video, James. Dare I say your dual piano playing is improving. Dunno where it'll get ya but fun to watch! 😄
With regards to the audio, any thoughts(value/worth it) of adding a Yamaha KS-SW100 keyboard subwoofer to help bring out the bass without the distortion? Would you add a subwoofer before monitors?
Would love your thoughts on the Yamaha Smart Pianist app to better relieve "menu diving". Of what I saw, it was pretty impressive.
Have you ever considered reviewing the Kawai VPC1 with a good virtual piano sample set like Ravenscroft 275?
So, which is better? Maybe too close to call but I'm eagerly awaiting my P515.
Keep up the great work and best success to you!
I’ve had both keyboards,kawai is much better, imho.
In what way
Tonewise i like the kawai better
Awesome review! Hoping that you do a review of the new yamaha yc 73 and 88 👍🏻
Secondo me il P515 è superiore,in primis la tastiera in legno,ed in seconda il suono.Personalmente penso che il "vecchio",Kawai ES8,aveva un suono veramente eccezionale da vero pianoforte e più dolce.Con il 920 hanno creato un " ibrido"fra il suono Kawai e lo Yamaha, morale....non e ne zuppa ne pan bagnato.
25:20 I am jamming out right now 😁🎶
You are fantastic!Finally, there is no stage piano or clavinova whithout having at all this damn bounce noise.....????
The more expensive digital pianos with wooden keys usualy make less noise and are more (close to) natural to play. As you can see and hear in this video, Kawai Es plastic keys makes more noise and is disturbing your play when you want to play quiet clasical pieces, vs the Yamaha's P515 wooden keys wich are way more quieter and more plesant play/feel. But i would still not reccomend Yamaha, they put too much EQ (boosted mid freq) on the piano samples wich makes them un-natural soundig on upper octaves.
Other good digital pianos with wooden keys is Roland FP 90 and the Kawai MP 11. (Kawai MP 7 has plastic keys)
Still before buying one, is best to go to a store and test to see wich one has acceptable noise-action for you.
It’s a big shame. I used to have an ES8 and was really satisfied. These instruments are made to be stationary most of the time and should be perfectly built. The build quality is a big issue for me. I would never buy a piece of plastic for that price. I think if you spend that much money and sit in front of your instrument, you want to be happy and satisfied also with looks. Good build quality is also important for reselling. It’s just more durable.
I do love the Kawai sound more than the Yamaha.
I think it will be a choice between the MP7se and the P515.
Hi James, amazing video. Do you think you’ll ever review the Yamaha YDP-144?
The Kawai is the best.
As a long time Kawai MP7 owner, if I had to choose between those two, I would choose Yamaha P-515 without a doubt. But I'm waiting to see what MP11SE's successor will offer.
Just admit it overall YAMAHA IS BOSS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Underside of P515 is wood
Yamaha has more booty and much warmer ! More presence
Like the sound of Kawai more.
Kawai ES 920 won 🤸🏼
Korg D1 plleaassee
They sound very similar.
The change in build from the ES8 to the ES920 is a little frustrating. If it hadn't been for that change the ES920 was going to be an easy choice for me. Now it's more difficult.
I would also love to see James do as detailed a look at the P515 action (key weight etc, his perspective on the other discussions out there) as he did in the Casio drama recently.
take a look at the mp7se if you want Kawai's steel cased version I think they did it on purpose to save weight a little easier on your back.
Kaway for classical music, is better!
:)
Wow, I’m early for once!