So I played on a Roland FP 60X for 2 weeks and loved it. I was not able to afford one so I was looking at the FP30X as my #1 option. Then there was a big buzz going around KZread regarding the Kawai Es120 where people were comparing it to other keyboards like the Roland FP30X just like Alamo Music has done here. I was told that Kawai has made considerable improvements from the ES110 to the brand new ES120. Especially with regards to key action, more cushioning at the bottom of the key-bed and quieter action as well. I was told by another channel, that the key action of the ES120 is now on par with the FP30X and is equally enjoyable to play on. So after searching online for an ES120 and finding them sold out the entire week before Christmas, I found a music store by me that had 2 in stock, so I grabbed it and had it shipped 2 day delivery. Playing on the ES120 was a huge disappointment for me. First off the key action was so light that it barely felt weighted at all to me. Second the keys were very loud, noticeably louder than the Roland FP 60X I had played on and louder and less weighted then my family Donner DEP-20. The keys on the Kawai felt like they had no cushioning under the keys as they thudded to the key bed. Also there was an unpleasant noise as the keys sprang back up to position. The sounds or voices themselves sounded great on the KZread videos I had watched, but much less impressive to me in person. I disliked the loud, too light, key action and returned it to the store 3days later. I exchanged the Kawai for the Roland FP30X and I couldn’t be any happier. I am enjoying it just as much as I did with the FP60X. The key action and sounds are perfect for me, and the piano feels very natural and comfortable to play on and sounds incredible to me.

@TrollMeister_

Жыл бұрын

Everything you said about the 120 applies to the 110 too. 4 years ago I test drove the 110 and was disappointed with their key action. Keys felt flimsy and came to a hard stop ( poor cushioning), which was a shame because the piano sound was really nice. Ended up getting the FP 30. Four years later I upgraded to the 30x which is even better than the 30.

@YORKTJY

Жыл бұрын

Agree

@herobrine1847

Жыл бұрын

Also, the fp30x has triple sensors (allows for quiet, fast trills and repeated notes) while the es110 only has dual sensors.

@catarinatang980

Жыл бұрын

@@TrollMeister_ totally agree!!! I have the ES110 that's super noisy, but because I bought it during covid there was no way of exchanging or returning it. And when I sent it back to the supplier saying that's broken but they said that's just how it was nothing much they could have done with this model; their keys were just made lose and wiggly he said. A few months ago, I bought the Roland RP102 on special and that was just awesome, but had to sell it because of relocation. Last week I went to the supplier I tried the ES120, RP107 and the FP30X; it was a real hard choice between the FP30X and the RP107. I ended up getting the FP30X because I'm struggling for space and want something on a lower budget. In my opinion Kawai's piano sound is always better especially when you listen to it with headphones, their key action has improved slightly comparing with ES110 but still a bit noisy and not come close when compared to the ever so silent and sophisticated action on PHA4 from Roland. It's ashamed how the piano sound is not as rich but I'm going to try adjusting it on the app so hopefully I can get it to sound better!

@eigenfield

Жыл бұрын

Wow, these reviewers have to be more transparent and honest in these kinds of things. I personally owned an FP-30X for three months now and every time I pass by a music store and see an ES110, I checked its key action and felt ES110's key action to be lighter and with lesser hammer feel action than the FP-30X.

i'm more of a guitar player and got interested in piano lately. Got a Roland FP30x after trying a yamaha p45 and the roland feels like a magnet to me. i love it

For Kawai it is also possible to hold Piano button and choose via key. Both scenario allowed - circle while clicking Piano or hold Piano and pick direct voice

@Alamo music: thanks for your reviews. May I suggest however you can sometimes maybe go into some more technical detail? Sometimes your reviews are a bit vague IMHO. For example here you mention that both actions are good, but what is the dynamic range, their responsiveness, do they have double or triple sensor, etc.? Also one important difference between the Kawai ES110 and ES120, which you did not mention, is that they added more cushioning to the later, so that they keys are now more silent (before the noisy key action of the ES110 could be a bit of an issue, apparently). In other reviews like the new Kawai CN201 you praise it but at the end of the review you said it is good for beginners, which left me wondering, why beginners only? ... and on a completely different point: one reason we buy digital rather than acoustic (for those of us that live in an apartment in a big city) is to avoid problems with neighbours due to noise. It would be interesting if you could do a video explaining soundproofing options for apartments so we can use an acoustic withouth disturbing neighbours (I mean using something like a small upright, 114 cm or so, not a grand piano which would be probably still too noisy). If those soundproofing options exists at a reasonable price which I don't know. This is a topic no one seems to cover but could be very useful... Anyway thanks again for your interesting reviews.

The thing that I like about these minimalists form factor is that there is less part that wears over time. The LCD is that part that wears over time. A workstation/arranger features only distracts you from learning piano.

Nice review. I went into a store and played with acoustic pianos and the ES120 & FP30X (& others). The FP30X has a great action. Main gripe was the ease of use. The ES120 has a great action too. The piano sound was amazing for the price point & better sympathetic resonance. Chose the ES120 with cabinet and triple pedals. ES120 at home: the 3 pedals work well and also at partial press. Very useful. Great action & sound of course. Having the cabinet is nicer and stable when playing hard. You can hear the hammer sound especially at higher notes which makes it sound very authentic. Speakers are good enough. Very happy. Kawai’s app works well. It’s difficult making a choice as both are very good for the price. The actions on both are very close. There are other great products around the same price or slightly more. We are spoilt for choice. In my view if you need an acoustic piano and digital, I’d go for one of these digitals & you have more money to spend on an acoustic one (unless you go all the way with an acoustic so money isn’t an issue). Go to a store. Play with these and make your choice. Cheers from Australia. 👍

@Classical416

Жыл бұрын

How stable is the stand? Is the keyboard shaking when playing hard?

@josephj6521

Жыл бұрын

@@Classical416 nope. It’s stable and looks good. The main advantage are the triple pedals. They feel great, are very stable and work very well. Based on all reviewers I’ve seen, they aren’t happy with the basic single pedal. All the wires are nicely tucked away too.

@Zoco101

Жыл бұрын

Joseph, that's a good comment, but remember that viewers have assorted applications. If I bought one of these it would be strictly for travelling, since I already have a better, heavier digital piano. The P-121 interests me, mainly because it is so small and light. I only need 73 keys. The GHS action is not my favourite, but it seems to be better than on the P-45.

@poerava

10 ай бұрын

Kawai sounds muddy.

@user-ss5du6nh6h

3 ай бұрын

А что насчёт звука самих клавиш? Они сильно шумят при игре? И когда выбирали между этими двумя пиано , была ли существенная разница между звуком нажатия клавиш?😊 Помогите , пожалуйста

I think an important point that isn't mentioned enough in reviews is the volume of the onboard speakers and headphones out. On the ES120 the volume is much lower when compared to similarly priced Yamahas and Rolands.

what is the difference in the sound of these pianos if you listen through the built-in speakers. I can't choose between them for my daughter

what external speakers did you use on these pianos?

Someone have some problem with line out with this piano? Mine is extremely quiet

Hi, I'm a beginner but looking for a great piano to start practice with! Now I'm stuck between the rp107 and fp30x. I'm confused which one should I get. I'm looking for a better sound, touch, and actions. I don't really mind the price difference and the portability. Could you please tell me which one is better and I should buy :) thanks

@ronj9448

9 ай бұрын

As a beginner, you are splitting hairs. Get a chance to play acoustic pianos and that will teach you what you should look for next. But you don't know how to play yet so you cannot tell. Give the 30x 5 years and then you'll know - maybe the 30x is all you need.

I bought the FP30X over a year ago. It works fine: action is good (feels good, not noisy, no clicking sounds...), piano tones are good, etc. Overall quality is also good: no issues after over a year. The user interface could be improved. If I want to change anything I always use the app, although a lot can be accessed through the function key if needed (although not the backing rythms). But the app works fine so it is not really an issue for me. However I'm a beginner. For more advanced pianist you might want to reconsider: from other piano reviewers (actually from one only) I hear that when playing fast the action does not respond fast enough, ie it is good when pressing the key downwards, but the key does not spring back fast enough,... useful when playing trills for example. As a beginner-learner pianist this is currently totally a non-issue for me, but for more advanced pianist it may be. For this reason I would be inclined to recommend the Kawai (which I have not tried however) over the Roland, but both are good. Or alternatively, for a more advanced pianist, go with Roland, but with the PHA50 action if possible (available from FP90X). For a beginner or early intermediate pianist either of these 2 pianos should be fine I think.

@user-xy8ec9nw3u

Жыл бұрын

Tone of Yamaha p-125 better

@MarkEWallace

11 ай бұрын

@@user-xy8ec9nw3u In your view.

@Zoco101

7 ай бұрын

The FP30X has Roland´s PHA4 action (its best plastic action) with a triple tone sensor, and escapement. It also has many more extras, including more sounds. The ES120 has the compact action with only two sensors. I haven't tried it, but it can't be Kawai's best plastic action. But the ES120 controls are friendlier and its main piano sounds are arguably more natural sounding. I heard that Roland had some trouble with key clicking due to shifting grease in the keyboard - a lot of instruments got stored badly (upright) during the pandemic, and the key lubrication could not stay still for long periods. Supposedly, this has been rectified by using a different grease on the latest production of the FP30X.

9:15 actually no top-of-the-line Roland piano has ever had the PHA-IV action, e.g. my FP-80 had the PHA-III action. That’s why the ES120’s RHC action is superior. The weight grading across the RHC key actions is closer to an acoustic - whereas the PHA-IV key action has too steep a weight gradient, resulting in way too much weight in the bass 2.5 octaves. (I’ve previously owned both the FP-30 and the ES110)

@Tommy-and-Ray

11 ай бұрын

hey mate, between ES120, fpe50 or fpe30x what has better : - tone ? - action ?

@Persun_McPersonson

8 ай бұрын

@@Tommy-and-Ray What did you end up getting?

@floridasfinestproductions4651

7 ай бұрын

Would you recommend the es120?

@maxmeier532

6 ай бұрын

Kawai's entry action is better than Roland's entry action because Roland isnt using their entry action in their top end models? That is your logic? It's pure nonsense.

starts 3:49

I like the Kawai piano sounds better. My question is. What can a little bit more money get you. Would the piano sound even more realistic or would it just be a feature i might love to have. Can you please give me some examples.

@Steve-lc4bf

Жыл бұрын

I’m not an expert but I think the gains over their SK-EX piano sound would be minimal. Adding external speakers improves the sound a lot, I added two affordable M-Audio BX3 to my es220 and it sounds so much better than the built in. Or get higher end speakers like Yamaha HS5.

I bought a FP60x as it had a mic input and some other features. I have acclimated to the sounds, but if I were to purchase again, I would buck up a little more for the Yamaha P515

@asterios4888

Жыл бұрын

The keys are way too heavy

Yes I own the 520, bought it two weeks ago, like it so far, but wondering how it compares to the 120....

@shaolin95

Жыл бұрын

I tested several including the px90, es120, es520 and es920. The 520 felt better and sounds better than the 120 but if you can, go for the 920. The sound is clearly superior to the 520 and the action is improved as well.

@pianowhizz

Жыл бұрын

The ES520 has 3 sensors per key to measure velocity, which is more accurate than the 2 sensors per key in the ES120. Other than that the actions are quite similar - the ES920’s RH-III is the big step up (longer keys).

@actie-reactie

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for the respons! I bought the 520 as a bit "cheaper" practice instrument....I also own the kawai mp 11se, and as you probably know this is a great instrument, but had sticky keys, so I want to make less hours on it.... I also own the yamaha p515, but due to its heavier action, I can get some problems with my thumbs when I play it for many hours.

Hello. I bought the FP-30X because it was the first one I came across and I found more reviews for it than for Kawai. I’m just learning to play, but the feeling from the instrument is something fantastic. My brother studied at a music school and for a long time he could not believe that the keys on the piano were made of plastic and not wood and bone.

Hi how does px 160 casio compare to es 120? We have the cn29 at home but we need another one that will be portable to play at school. Till now the cassio px 160 was ok for playing in the class but since we had the cn29 at home my son don't like to play the cassio at school at all. We wonder if the es120 can be more satisfying to play in school than the old cassio px 160

21:03 Kawai A L U C I N A N T E

12:56

Kawai es120 better on the piano side. On all other aspect the Roland is better. Mainly becouse of the audio interface built in.

@user-xy8ec9nw3u

Жыл бұрын

Not really

There is a tendency in the community to second guess what buyers need instead of asking them. Whether the prospective buyer is a beginner or even a professional seeking a backup instrument, isn't for us all to presume. And just because armies of students are working their way through classical exams pieces doesn't mean that many players will not be embracing unexpected genres/styles and applications, supposing of course that the piano model allows them to, due to having a bit of flexibility in its design. Whether a good pedal is more important than a simple screen is not for any of us to say, except in our own use. Onboard recording devices are often sniffed at, but these make a huge difference to some students, and also to professionals who need to try an effect in a hurry. I even hear reviewers saying, well as a student you must have 88 keys (there is no application for fewer keys?) but you don't need a line-out socket. Absolute rubbish! My congratulations to those manufacturers which build a wide variety of models and include some flexibility in how those models can be used. The FP30X and the ES120 are fairly good in these respects. It's just a shame that no 73-key models have been introduced, using all the same characteristics as we see here.

Personally, I think the Roland sounds better.

From what I can see, the ES120 looks like it has a better action closer to a grand piano than the FP-30X ...

@Persun_McPersonson

9 ай бұрын

The FP-30-X's PHA-4 action physically feels closer to an acoustic piano but doesn't respond to your touch like one; conversely, the ES-120's RH-C action physically feels less like an acoustic but responds more like one.

@maxmeier532

6 ай бұрын

how can you see something that can only be felt.

11:10 "......your not hearing the speakers...." So are we hearing the kits own speakers or not?

@Persun_McPersonson

9 ай бұрын

He never said you're hearing the speakers and even said that you're not, so you're not.

@davidfarmer2049

9 ай бұрын

@@Persun_McPersonson Peace, persun. Chill. 🧊

@davidfarmer2049

9 ай бұрын

What is the point of a review if you're not hearing the appliances own speakers. Most people cant afford £ zillion external speakers.

@Persun_McPersonson

9 ай бұрын

@@davidfarmer2049 Ideally, they should show how it sounds both ways so you can both judge the quality of the sound output and the quality of the lone samples. It is really annoying how hard it is to find a video that will showcase the speakers.

@Persun_McPersonson

9 ай бұрын

@@davidfarmer2049 I just thought it was funny that you were still confused after he told you they were through the line-outs and not the speakers. I do get your plight though, I think it's just as annoying that most reviews neglect to show the actual quality of the speakers.

Man that was a long intro

So loud bro we haven't noticed any difference

The Kawai ES120 has a better piano tone to me. Kawai: 16:50 Roland: 11:45

@Steve-lc4bf

Жыл бұрын

I agree. I like it better on several comparison videos and have one on order now.

@WTG194

Жыл бұрын

roland sounds better to me on my speakers

@bermonbasilan

Жыл бұрын

I played some roland digital piano already, but i can say, Sound does not really as real as the ones from yamaha or Kawai which are recorded sample from their high end top Grand Pianos.

@eigenfield

Жыл бұрын

Never can you truly compare sound quality by hearing them on youtube alone. In these reviews, we need to pick-up subtle cues and hints from their reviews. On this particular review, is dishonest

@gentlemancroc3767

Жыл бұрын

@@Steve-lc4bf did you get it and how is it??

So unimpressive - why does everyone demonstrating these digital pianos sit and thump the hell out of the keys as if they're in a bad temper and trying make the most discordant noise they can? Surely the piano players should stop being self conscious about playing tuneful familiar music such as we would hear on a normal grand piano. Classical or Jazz or pop even a comparison playing Stevie Wonder type chords would be better than this racket. It makes the piano sound nothing like a sampled real piano - it sounds more like a cross between a badly tuned harpsichord and someone throwing scrap metal onto a corrugated iron roof. I want to buy either a Roland FP 30X or one of these but if they sound like this - don't want to know. What about touch weight and how it compares across various pianos. Is it as light as a Challen upright piano or as heavy as a Daewoo Grand or is it lighter weight than a Yamaha DGX ? Not a hint. Sorry I don't get much useful help from this review at all desite the reviewers well-meaning efforts and work..

@tedbarsalou833

Жыл бұрын

But you did watch it, listen, comment and pass on great vibes to all!! Thank you!!

@APPLE2557XD

Жыл бұрын

Calm down old head, stick to bingo

@moodindigo445

Жыл бұрын

The thumping is great, that's where most Digital Pianos sound ugly, and it's something you want to be able to do to be an expressive player.

@theprior46

Жыл бұрын

@@moodindigo445 Sorry can't agree with that. Piano thumpers have no sensitivity and you can't assess the realism of a digital piano unless you play it in a wide variety from pp to ff. Anyone can thump the hell out of a keyboard but the information it conveys is zilch. Remember the Pianoforte was invented and called that because of it's dynamic range SOFT/LOUD is what the word means. You'd never hear the late Bill Evans thump a piano - nor in the Classial field Murray Perahia - both top grade pianists

@trebleclefjones4899

9 ай бұрын

I really enjoy the free informative content as well as the playing. If these grown men demonstrated these keyboards to you in person, there’s not a chance you would be so rude and insulting.