Kawai ES Series: ES-920, ES520, ES-120, ES-60 – Portable Pianos

Kawai’s ES Series portable pianos are popular with both beginners and advanced players, offering high-quality features in the €500-€1,600 price range. Key improvements over previous ES models include a significantly lighter weight, bass reflex speakers, and a sleek, modern design.

Combining the features of home and stage pianos, Kawai’s compact ES Series digital pianos strike the perfect balance between sound quality and playability. While plastic cases are the main factor in the lightweight design of the ES models, the build quality remains high.

These pianos may be primarily intended for home use (with an optional stand), yet they are durable enough for travel. From the entry-level ES-60 to the flagship ES-920, you can trust that the case will withstand significant damage.

Good Sound Systems

Portable pianos often come with built-in speaker systems, and the larger ES-520 and ES-920 models are no exception. These models feature a pair of 40-watt, bass-reflex speakers that deliver a clear and surprisingly robust sound for the price range. Whether you’re playing piano or streaming audio via Bluetooth or the stereo line input, the sound quality is impressive.

The smaller models ES-60 and ES-120 are equipped with more modest 2 x 10-watt speaker systems. Despite their smaller size, the sound is clear and powerful. However, the larger counterparts excel at delivering a more pronounced bass.

Trademark of the Kawai ES Series: High-Quality Keyboards

All models in the Kawai ES series feature high-quality graded hammer action keyboards. The RH-III keyboard in the ES-920 boasts a triple sensor system, an ivory touch surface, and a let-off simulation. This results in a highly responsive and realistic playing experience. The ES-520, on the other hand, comes with the RH-Compact keyboard, which is simpler and lacks let-off simulation but still provides a satisfying feel.

Even the entry-level ES-120 benefits from this advanced keyboard technology. Although the RH-Compact on the ES-120 lacks authentic ivory feel keytops, its matte key surfaces ensure a comfortable and secure playing feel.

Exceptional Piano Sounds

The Kawai ES series offers impressive sound quality that draws parallels to Kawai’s current entry-level CN Series. For instance, the ES-920 features 256-note polyphony and Harmonic Imaging XL technology, which is very similar to the high-end CN39 model. In comparison, the ES-520 comes with 192-note polyphony and uses the Progressive Harmonic Imaging sound generation.

While the ES-920 excels in sound quality, both the ES-920 and ES-520 deliver rich, detailed piano sounds with nuances such as sympathetic resonance, key-off effect, and damper resonance. They also offer a variety of additional sounds, including strings and choir. Although the entry-level models ES-120 and ES-60 offer fewer sounds, they still rival the sound quality of the mid-range ES-520.

Digital Piano Features

The Kawai ES series offers a range of practical features. All models include essential functions such as split, layer, transpose, a metronome, and a recorder for practice. However, the ES-920 stands out with additional features such as auto accompaniment and a 4-band EQ, along with an OLED display for intuitive control. All of this makes the ES-920 particularly well-suited for live performances.

The ES-520, ES-120 and ES-60 are slightly less advanced but still come with valuable features. Both models support Bluetooth MIDI and Bluetooth audio for wireless connectivity to computers and mobile devices. They also have two USB ports (USB to Host and USB to Device). In addition, Kawai offers a free piano control app for Android and iOS that enhances the usability of these digital pianos.

Stylish Design

The Kawai ES series combines modern elegance with simplicity: The pianos feature a clean design, accentuated by thoughtful details such as a transparent plexiglass music stand. The cabinets are made entirely of plastic, which significantly reduces the weight compared to the older ES8 model. Weighing only 17 kilograms, the ES-920 is highly portable – ideal for jam sessions, choir practice, or music lessons.

Plus, with the right stand, these portable pianos seamlessly blend into a stylish home décor. Each model comes with a sustain pedal: The ES-920 includes a half-pedal compatible version, while the ES-120 and the ES-60 must do with a standard footswitch, typical for that price range. For advanced pedal options, Kawai offers the F-10H single pedal and the GFP-3 triple pedal.

The HM-5 stand for the larger models ES-520 and ES-920 is more sophisticated than the HML-2 stand for the smaller ES-120/60. Triple pedal units are sold separately and vary by model: The F-351 pedal unit is designed for the HML-2 stand (for the ES-120), whereas the F-302 pedal unit is compatible with the HM-5 stands (for the ES-520 and ES-920). Both the stands and pedal units are available in black and white to match the instrument’s color.

Kawai ES Series: Excellent Pianos for Home and Travel

Kawai did a great job with the ES-920, ES-520, and ES-120: While the larger ES-920 is a strong contender in the €1,500 price range, the ES-520, priced at just under €1,000, will appeal to ambitious beginners in particular. The ES-120 is the most affordable model and offers the best value for money. Despite its more limited feature set, it still does not compromise on a comfortable playing feel and impressive piano sounds.

Kawai ES-920 – Review

Kawai ES-520 – Review

Kawai ES-120 – Review

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