Pros and Cons
If you’re looking to get started on a budget, the price limit often hovers around €500. The Kawai ES-60 positions itself in this competitive price segment with numerous options, which even include lower-priced models from competitors. However, the Kawai name stands for high standards in piano sound, action, and craftsmanship—qualities that often come at a price. So, what does Kawai’s smallest digital piano have to offer?
Of course, getting started shouldn’t be too expensive. For one thing, you might not yet be certain if you’ll stick with your new hobby. For another, buying your first digital piano often comes with additional costs: A beginner’s setup isn’t complete without a stand, piano bench, and headphones. The range of accessories available is well worth a look.
The Home Bundle is an attractive option, as it includes the manufacturer’s HML-3 B stand, a Thomann KB-47B piano bench, and t.bone HD 200 headphones at a bundled price. However, it’s worth considering an additional investment in a quality sustain pedal that supports the ES-60’s half-pedal functionality (see image above).
With the stand, the Kawai ES-60 takes on the appearance of a compact home piano in a stylish, sleek look. Overall, the design and craftsmanship of the case are impressive. While it is made entirely of plastic, this is a standard choice at this price point.
As a result, the Kawai ES-60 is pleasantly portable and easy to set up and take down, making it an excellent option for those with limited space who still want to create a dedicated place for a musical instrument in their home.
No matter how affordable your first digital piano is, there is one feature you should never compromise on. A graded hammer action is essential to replicate the feel of an acoustic piano.
The Responsive Hammer Light (RH-L) keyboard excels in this regard, with a textured key surface that provides a comfortable and secure grip. While it doesn’t have the genuine ivory keytops of the higher-end ES-920, the manufacturer’s “plastic matte” finish feels far from plastic-like.
The Kawai ES-60 benefits from the high-quality sound engine found in larger Kawai digital pianos. Its piano sound with details like string resonance and subtle articulation options enhances both the playing and practicing experience.
The sampled sound of the Shigeru Kawai SK-EX concert grand is brilliant and expressive—at least when played through headphones. While the compact 2 x 10-watt speaker system isn’t designed to perform miracles, its transparent and clean sound from the player’s position is more than adequate for practice sessions.
With a total of 17 sounds, the selection is versatile. It includes additional piano variants, electric pianos, organs, strings, clavinet, vibraphone and harpsichord. The DUAL and SPLIT functions allow you to layer or split sounds across the keyboard, which explains the inclusion of various bass sounds.
In addition to its layer and split capabilities, the Kawai ES-60 offers a wide range of features. While it doesn’t support Bluetooth connectivity, you can connect the free PianoRemote app (Android/iOS) via USB to better control the piano’s many functions. Although you can control key functions directly on the instrument, using a smartphone results in a more convenient and intuitive experience.
Also worth mentioning is the PiaBook Player app, which Kawai provides free of charge for Android and iOS devices. This app transforms classical piano literature into an engaging e-learning experience with animated sheet music and synchronized play-alongs. With around 500 practice pieces available, there are plenty of opportunities to explore and enjoy.
The Kawai ES-60 also includes MIDI, tuning and transpose functions, as well as an EQ for fine-tuning the speaker sound. This is especially useful for portable pianos, as it allows you to adjust the sound to suit your playing environment.
In addition, the compact digital piano features a metronome with a selection of stored drum rhythms. You can choose from different time signatures and 30 different rhythms, adding an extra level of fun to your practice sessions.
If you’re looking to buy a digital piano for under €500, there’s a wide range of options, including popular models like the Roland FP-10, Yamaha P-145, Thomann DP-28 Plus, and Casio CDP-S110. Even the luxury brand Kurzweil has entered the market with a strong competitor (the KaE1-LB). But the ES-60 also faces competition from within Kawai’s own product portfolio.
Kawai ES-120 vs. ES-60: The Kawai ES-120 and ES-60 share many similarities, with hardly any difference in sound quality, which is certainly a point in favor of the ES-60. Both models offer the same high-quality piano sounds. The speaker systems are identical on paper, yet the larger ES model delivers a slightly more voluminous sound, likely due to the differences in enclosure design.
The most notable difference is the keyboard. While both feature a Responsive Hammer action, the RH-L on the ES-60 offers a smoother playing experience compared to the “Responsive Hammer Compact” on the ES-120. Beginners who prefer a lighter playing feel will likely appreciate the RH-L on the ES-60. However, for an additional €100, the ES-120 offers more features, including Bluetooth connectivity and a wider selection of sounds.
Kawai ES-60 vs. Yamaha P-145: With the Yamaha P-145, you save a substantial €100, and it even offers a few additional features. While both instruments offer similar quality piano sounds and keyboard actions, the keys on the P-145 don’t provide the same level of feel and grip as those on the Kawai ES-60.
Casio CDP-S110 vs. ES-60: The compact Casio CDP-S110 comes in at a significantly lower price point than the ES-60. Nevertheless, its keyboard is very similar to the ES-60’s and even includes Ivory Feel keytops—one of the few models in this price range to offer this feature. Unlike the ES-60, however, the CDP-S110’s piano sound is more geared toward beginners.
Kurzweil KaE1-LB vs. ES-60: The “smaller” Kurzweil offers features typically found in higher-priced portable pianos, allowing it to outperform the Kawai ES-60 in certain areas. However, the Kawai ES-60 shows its strengths when it comes to playing feel and piano sound.
Roland FP-10 vs. ES-60: The Roland FP-10 is arguably the strongest contender, not just against the ES-60, but also against all the other competitors mentioned. For under €400, it offers a keyboard with let-off simulation and Ivory Feel, which is truly impressive. The piano sound is equally expressive, with all the detail you’d expect from a modern portable piano. The only drawback of the Roland FP-10 is its small speaker system.
The ES-60 is Kawai’s entry into the sub-€500 portable piano category and emphasizes the core strengths Kawai is known for: keyboard, piano sound, playability, and craftsmanship. If this is what you are looking for in your first digital piano, then the Kawai ES-60 is a reliable choice.
That said, it’s worth considering the slightly larger ES-120, which offers additional features. However, the ES-60 remains an excellent option for players who prefer a lighter touch.
Thanks to its impressive sound and playability, the Kawai ES-60 is also appealing to advanced and professional musicians looking for an affordable, lightweight second instrument for rehearsals or practice. Weighing only 11 kg, it’s exceptionally portable and strikes the perfect balance between performance, quality, and mobility.
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Pros and Cons
Jörg Sunderkötter
The ES-60 is Kawai's entry into the sub-€500 portable piano category and emphasizes the core strengths Kawai is known for: keyboard, piano sound, playability, and craftsmanship.
ES-60 : 489,00 €
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