Product Review: Kawai KDP-120 – Digital Piano for Beginners

The Kawai KDP-120 is at the lower end of the CN entry-level home piano series. It may be small, compact, and affordable, but it is still a complete digital piano with all the bells and whistles.

You may already know this from other models of the popular CN series: Kawai’s entry-level pianos tend to be a bit more expensive than their direct competitors. However, this is due to the keyboard, sound engine, and other features—Kawai offers a touch of higher quality. With the KDP-120, Kawai now brings these premium features to a price point just below the €1,000 mark.

RH Compact II Hammer Action Keyboard

While the Kawai KDP-120 doesn’t feature an ivory-feel keyboard, the matte surface of both the black and white keys provides a comfortable feel—neither too slippery nor as dull as the high-gloss keys often found on entry-level models. Of course, there’s a noticeable difference compared to larger digital pianos, but even Kawai’s most compact home piano allows for a high-quality playing experience.

We’ve already experienced this improved second-generation keyboard on Kawai’s ES-520 portable piano, and it’s definitely a plus! Although the Responsive Hammer Compact II keyboard lacks a let-off mechanism, the improved RH-C II is now built with a triple sensor system, resulting in a more precise velocity response compared to the earlier RH-C I.

Piano Sounds & Virtual Technician

Those familiar with Kawai digital pianos will immediately recognize the KDP-120’s signature piano sounds. The Concert Grand, Studio, Mellow Grand, and Modern Piano sounds are modeled after Kawai’s own Shigeru Kawai and Kawai EX concert grand pianos. While the sounds on the KDP-120 are simplified compared to higher-end models, they still capture the expressive range needed for both playing and learning the piano. Features such as nuanced dynamic control, half-pedal and post-pedal functionality are all supported.

The Kawai KDP-120 offers a selection of 15 sounds, covering digital piano essentials such as acoustic pianos, electric pianos, strings, vibraphone, and choir. Kawai’s Virtual Technician is also included, though it comes with a streamlined set of features. This includes ten presets to adjust the character of the acoustic piano sounds. All in all, Virtual Technician is an outstanding feature of Kawai’s digital pianos that enriches each piano sound with a wide range of expressive possibilities.

Kawai KDP-120: Bluetooth & Piano App Integration

Wireless connectivity to mobile devices or computers is a rare feature in home pianos in this price range. The Kawai KDP-120 offers Bluetooth MIDI for convenient connection to music apps and recording software. This makes it easy to use Kawai’s free Virtual Technician and PianoRemote apps, which not only simplify access to the piano’s functions but also provide a clear overview of the KDP-120’s full range of features.

Digital Piano Features

The KDP-120 includes all the essential features you would expect from a modern digital piano: dual and four-hand modes, transpose, metronome, recorder, reverb effects, and even a lesson function with selections from classical piano literature (Burgmüller, Czerny, Beyer, Alfred’s Basic Piano Library). While you can control all functions using key combinations—a typical approach in this price range—the absence of a display can make navigation slightly confusing. However, remote control via mobile devices (iOS & Android) is available for added convenience.

Conclusion: Small Price, Strong Features

The Kawai KDP-120 is a pleasant surprise, delivering a sound that feels larger than its compact design would suggest. Its built-in speaker system, well-suited for this price range, produces a full, balanced sound. The playability, sound quality, and range of features are all impressive—plus, the affordable price makes this a top choice for beginners and newcomers to digital pianos.

Kawai KDP-120 – Overview

Release date: 05.2021
Keyboard: Responsive Hammer Compact II, plastic keys with matte surface, triple sensor system, graded hammer action
Polyphony: 192 voices
Piano app: PianoRemote (iOS/Android, free of charge)
Manufacturer/Distributor: Kawai