Roland’s RP102 has been a staple of the home digital piano market since its release in late 2017. The least expensive home digital piano with 88 weighted key touch from Roland, the RP102 has been a popular alternative to other best-sellers like the Yamaha YDP-144 and Kawai KDP75.
With the recent announcement of an update to the RP102 in the form of the new Roland RP107 SKU, we knew we needed to do a video and write a quick blog post about it, sharing everything we know at this point.
RP107 have not shipped to North America at this point, but we expect them to start hitting store shelves soon.
Why was the Roland RP102 Popular?
As we mentioned in the intro, the RP102 has been Roland's most basic 88-key weighted action digital piano. By the home piano, we mean that the RP102 has an integrated stand and built-in triple pedal system with damper, soft and sostenuto pedals.
Roland PHA-4 Action
The RP102 has a fairly basic 12-watt speaker system to keep the cost down, but otherwise, it has some really strong points going for it, making it an especially attractive option for the price. For one, it has the PHA-4 Standard Keyboard action, which in our opinion, is the top action available in this price range.
Bluetooth MIDI & Roland Apps for iOS & Android
Despite a fairly bare-bones on-board feature set, when used in conjunction with Roland's apps, the full General MIDI II sound bank was unlocked, giving the user access to hundreds of sounds including synthesizers, electric pianos, guitars and a host of drum rhythms.
And as an early adopter of Bluetooth MIDI, connecting to a smart device to access the apps was easy.
Roland SuperNATURAL Piano Engine
The RP102 also boasts a very nice sound generator with Roland’s SuperNATURAL Piano Sound. While the speaker system isn’t robust enough to maximize the sound engine when playing acoustically, it sounds fantastic when playing with headphones with a lush grand piano sound, due in part to the built-in Headphones 3D Ambience effect.
What’s Improved on the Roland RP107?
New BMC Sound Chip
The first key improvement featured on the new RP107 is the inclusion of Roland’s BMC sound chip. This advanced new chip is also being featured throughout the new FP series instruments, as well as the upcoming Roland F107.
Not only does this chip offer increased complexity on acoustic piano tones and all sounds frankly, but it also doubles the polyphony from 128 notes to 256. So, we can safely expect the RP107 to sound better than the RP102.
Bluetooth Audio
While the connector jacks have remained the same with the RP107, Bluetooth Audio has been added which is a very exciting addition given the price point that the RP107 will be available at.
Bluetooth Audio allows you to stream music directly from a device and playback the music through the RP107’s built-in speaker system, whether for playing along with or simply listening to.
16-Watt Speakers
Roland has given the speaker system on the RP107 a modest bump in power output, from 12 watts to 16 watts in total coming from the amp.
Combined with the BMC, this extra bit of power is sure to have a larger-than-normal effect on the overall quality of the sound.
Roland Piano App
Roland’s Piano Every Day app had many great features, but the user interface was clunky and met with many complaints. Fortunately, Roland took the criticism to heart and addressed the issues thoroughly, resulting in the new Roland Piano App.
When using the RP107 in conjunction with the Roland Piano App, you can remote control all of the features of the RP107 from the convenience of your smart device thanks to Bluetooth connectivity with a beautiful new interface. Everything from the metronome, touch sensitivity, twin piano, master tuning, and everything else, while also greatly expanding the functionality by adding additional sounds, sheet music via the Roland Cloud and rhythms.
Closing Thoughts
While the RP102 was a highly relevant instrument during its run, there’s no question that the RP107 is a welcome arrival, and serves as a meaningful advancement with some very notable improvements, particularly with regard to sound. Roland’s warranty coverage is always great so that’s a confidence booster as well.
If you’re looking for a very capable yet affordable home digital piano with slick cabinet styling that also happens to come with everything you need in the box, including a piano bench, music rest and power supply, the Roland RP107 is set to be a compelling option that should be on your wishlist waiting for checkout, picking up where the RP102 left off.
Continuing our “12 FAQs” series, today we’ll be setting our sights on another immensely successful and well-regarded 88-key weighted action portable digital piano - the Kawai ES110.
The ES110 has been one of Kawai’s best-selling musical instruments since its release in early 2017 and considering everything it has to offer for the price point, most notably its rich piano tone and stereo speaker system, it’s not hard to see why.
We’ve checked Google to find out the 12 most common questions people have about the Kawai ES110, and we’ll be answering them all here. While the answers to these questions are available in different places around the internet, such as specs sheers and digital piano reviews, this article and companion video will save you by putting it all in one place.
FAQ #1: How Good is the Kawai ES110?
Kawai ES110 88-Key Digital Piano[/caption]
While this is obviously a very general question, it’s also a very important one, especially for folks that aren’t interested in burying themselves in months of research. Rather, they’d simply like to know; is the ES110 a good instrument, and if so, how good?
Simply, the ES110 is very good, especially when you consider the price range and what else is available in the class. The quality of the piano sound and the way it’s paired with the built-in speakers and amplifier is very impressive. In fact, we think the piano tone is without question one of the contenders for the top spot in the class, especially due to its full 88-key piano sampling and synthesis of things like damper resonance, damper noise and fall-back noise.
The ES110 also has a 1/4” line out, which when it came out, was a rarity for the class, though competing models have since added this feature, such as the Yamaha P-125 and RolandFP30-X.
The ES110 was also one of the first pianos in the class to include Bluetooth MIDI at the price point, and its light weight makes it truly portable. Kawai’s great warranty coverage caps everything off.
FAQ #2: Is the ES110 Good for Beginners?
The answer here is a resounding “Yes.” There are other pianos that cost that will also work for piano lessons, but the ES110 is going to provide a wonderful piano experience for a beginner that they’ll be able to grow with for several years.
Of course, you can spend as little as $100 on a keyboard, but that’s not going to serve a beginner for long if piano lessons are part of the picture.
The ES110 is going to set a beginner on a great path, especially if eventually learning classical piano is the goal, and the free damper pedal Kawai includes is actually very solid (with some Casio Privia and Korg products, for example, an upgrade over the included pedal is almost essential.)
One other consideration when shopping for a beginner is the potential trade-in and resale value; given the ES110’s success and high praise, it’s certainly an instrument that is going to retain strong resale value on the secondary market, and great trade-in value at a piano dealer.
FAQ #3: Does the ES110 Have Weighted Keys?
The to this question is another “Yes.” Kawai uses the Responsive Hammer Compact Action in the ES110, which is a well-regarded key action featuring a dual sensor and textured keytops. The weighting is similar to the average 48” upright piano, or even smaller baby grand piano.
The RHC action also boasts solid repetition speed and response. While Kawai is more known for their actions in their more expensive, super high-quality instruments, the RHC is very solid.
FAQ #4: When was the Kawai ES110 Released?
The ES110 was first announced by Kawai at NAMM 2017 in January of that year and first started appearing in North American showrooms by the Springtime.
In the summer of 2022, Kawai announced the replacement to the ES110 in the form of the new ES120, capping off what ended up being more than a 5-year production run for the ES110.
Given that there are still plenty of ES10s sitting in warehouses, expect some great clearance pricing on remaining stock at various dealers until the ES120 has shipped.
FAQ #5: How do you Connect an ES110 to a Computer?
It’s actually quite easy to connect the ES110 to a computer. Start by getting your hands on a standard USB cable, and from there, it’s as simple as plugging one end into the ES110 and the other into the computer.
Connecting via Bluetooth connectivity is also a possibility, but since it’s an older version of Bluetooth technology present here we’d recommend going with a cable to avoid latency issues- fortunately, there are no latency issues with the connection between the ES110 and Smart Devices like phones or tablets.
FAQ #6: How do you Connect the ES110 to Bluetooth MIDI?
The last question dovetails with this next one; how do you connect an ES110 to Bluetooth MIDI? The first step is to press the function button and the B-flat 5 key, which is three B-flats from the top of the keyboard.
This turns the Bluetooth function on, and from there, you can open up the Bluetooth setting on your device, whether that’s an iOS or Android device, and select the ES110.
Kawai’s Sound Museum app is a great app to check out as it allows you to control the ES110 remotely, navigating between sounds like the concert grand piano and other grand piano sounds, to the synthesizers and electric piano tones.
You can also navigate through the drum rhythms, Virtual Technician feature, song recorder, keyboard modes and metronome this way too.
FAQ #7: How Much Does the ES110 Weigh?
This is going to be an important consideration for folks seeking maximum portability. The ES110 weighs in at a mere 26.5lbs, making it one of the lightest and most portable 88-key weighted action digital pianos around.
Some of Casio’s PX-S series digital pianos are slightly lighter and slimmer, but we’re talking about less than a 2lb difference here.
FAQ #8: How do you connect the Kawai ES110 to an iPad?
The steps are essentially the same here as they were in FAQ # 6 as Apple’s iOS systems are the same on iPhones and iPads.
Please see the answer to FAQ #6 for the step-by-step guide.
FAQ #9: What is the difference between the Kawai ES110 and Kawai ES120?
We have a video over on our YouTube channel that breaks this answer down with what we know so far, and we’ll certainly be doing a full product review of the ES120 once it ships.
Head over to that video for a fuller breakdown, but in summary, the ES120 is going to feature an updated user interface, inclusion of the SKEX sample set into the Harmonic Imaging Sound Technology, upgrade from a 14-watt amplifier to a 20-watt amp, improved key cushioning and the addition of Bluetooth Audio.
These are some very nice upgrades sure to make the ES120 appeal to a wide range of customers - beginners, semi-professionals and even professionals.
FAQ #10: How does the Kawai ES110 compare to Yamaha?
Kawai and Yamaha are always pitted against one another, so of course, people will want to know how the ES110 compares to the equivalent Yamaha models.
Most industry observers will have a preference between Kawai and Yamaha, and there are very loyal camps on both sides. That said, from a quality standpoint, we’re talking about two companies that are very much neck in neck.
The best Yamaha comparable to the ES110 would be the Yamaha P125. Both pianos have good acoustic piano sound engines with equal 192-note polyphony, and solid actions, though the Yamaha GHS action in the P125 is considered a little bit dated by some measures. That said, the GHS action still has many ardent supporters.
In terms of features and connectivity, their offerings are fairly similar and both notably have line-out jacks. The ES110 has Bluetooth which the P125 does not, but the P125 features a built-in USB audio interface which the ES110 does not.
FAQ #11: Can you fit the Kawai ES110 in a car?
Given that the ES110 is billed as a portable piano, it’s pretty important to know whether or not it will fit in an average-sized car. Fortunately, even in the original box, the ES110 will fit in an even small-sized sedan, unlike some stage pianos.
The best wait to go about getting the ES110 into a small sedan in the box is to fold down the front passenger seat and feed the ES110 in the car from the rear, positing it on top of the reclined front passenger seat.
In a more compact carrying case when going to and from gigs or rehearsals, you won’t have a problem at all, assuming you haven’t affixed it to the HML1 stand or triple pedal/pedalboard/pedal unit. The ES110 truly is a very portable instrument.
FAQ #12: How do you transpose on the Kawai ES110?
Kawai ES110 Transposition[/caption]
The transpose feature is quite easy to use on the ES110. There’s a nice visual demonstration in the owner’s manual, but simply, you press and hold the ‘Piano’ button and press the F-Sharp and G-Sharp just to the right of the ‘Piano’ button to either raise or lower the key.
Final Thoughts
Whether you’re a beginner, intermediate or experienced pianist, we hope you’ve found this article covering the 12 most common FAQs about the Kawai ES110 helpful.
The ES110 was hugely successful during its production run, and will undoubtedly continue to serve musicians of all stripes even after the release of the new ES120.
Hi, everybody, and welcome to another digital piano review video and article here at Merriam Pianos. In today’s review, we’ll be taking a look at Casio PX-870. This is a wonderful instrument in the mid-range home digital piano category with 88 fully weighted keys, great sound, and a nice cabinet.
The PX-870 has been a very popular instrument for us at Merriam Pianos, especially during the lockdowns of 2020 and 2021. The combination of price and class-leading features such as a robust speaker system capable of great sound projection and always reliable Tri-Sensor II action has made the Privia PX-870 a logical choice for many shoppers.
Let’s get into it by starting with a quick overview.
The Newer Casio PX-870 Model | A More Advanced Digital Piano
The PX-870bk sits right at the top of the Casio Privia PX lineup. As such, there are several models below the 870 like the PX-770, the PX-780, and portable units like the PX-S1100 and PX-S3100, but Privia and PX lines have been a staple lineup of Casio’s for quite some time, with newer more advanced models coming out every few years to replace models from the previous generation. It’s been wonderful seeing the line evolve over the years in terms of the fit and finish of the product, as well as the overall musical performance that the various models are capable of.
We had high hope for the PX-870 when it was announced after one quick look at the specs sheet - it’s clear that Casio has equipped the PX-870 with a great tone engine, solid action, and strong internal amplifiers.
In practice and especially for the price point, we’re happy to report that the PX-870 is delivering very nicely. So let's run down what that means.
Casio PX-870 Piano Sounds and Tone Engine Generators
Multi-Dimensional Morphing AiR Sound Source
Casio has equipped the PX-870 with their Multi-Dimensional Morphing AiR Sound Source tone generator which is delivering an impressive 256-note polyphony count. Polyphony is a less relevant spec these days, especially with home-based digital pianos meant to be a substitute for an acoustic piano because most digital pianos have a sufficient digital piano for solo piano playing.
Up-to-date Polyphony Count
Polyphony used to be a really important spec when computing technology was more expensive as it was a lot more difficult for manufacturers to deliver a decent polyphony count without the cost being through the roof.
These days, it's almost a given that the polyphony is going to be something pretty decent if it's an up-to-date product. All of that being said, a count of 256 is very impressive, and that definitely puts the PX-870 among the top of the class in this category. Check out our YouTube channel and our video on polyphony for a detailed breakdown of what it means, but essentially, the spec simply refers to how many notes a tone engine can generate and sustain at one time.
Sound Projection and Speaker System
Moving onto the speakers, we’re looking at a 4-speaker system with a pair of 20-watt amps for 40 watts of power. The speakers are down-facing, however, Casio has incorporated small vents or tone ports on the back of the cabinet to help create a more detailed sound, essentially like a tweeter.
There are 19 onboard sounds in total, and the quality of the sounds that Casio is putting overall has really gotten quite impressive. There are aspects of the tone on the PX-870 here that we think is coming across as successfully as some similar tones that you would get out of comparable Kawai’s, Roland’s, and Yamaha’s. In our showroom, the PX-870 competes primarily against the Kawai KDP-110.
Where would we say the KDP-110 has an edge in terms of sound quality? In our opinion, the acoustic piano tone that the Kawai KDP-110, or similarly priced Roland with their SuperNATURAL engine, is generating is still processing some of the finer details of the piano tone with a little bit more definition and accuracy.
Acoustic Piano Sound with Modeling Technology
That said, this is splitting hairs to some extent here since the PX-870 really is delivering a very impressive acoustic piano sound, and in addition to the sample, they’re using some modeling technology to fill in things like string resonance, damper resonance, lid simulator, and hammer response. Here are some specific observations regarding the default grand piano tone;
There’s Lots of character and warmth which is immediately apparent.
There are a few other grand pianos all with different characters, though we do think the default tone is the best of the bunch.
Adjustable reverb, hall simulator, and brilliance also give you an extra layer of control over the piano tones.
After moving through the acoustic piano patches we come to a couple of very nice e-piano sounds, along with harpsichord, organs, and strings. There are a few misses among the selection sounds, but overall, it's a pretty impressive lineup.
Wrap Up
To sum up the highlights of the piano sound of the PX-870, we’re looking at a piano with the most powerful speaker system in the class, with the exception of the Kawai KDP-110 which also has a 40-watt speaker system.
Polyphony also happens to be among the class leaders with a strong 256 notes here, and while the sound engine may not be our favorite in the class, it’s nonetheless a very good sound engine overall. Let’s move on to the action.
Casio PX-870 Digital Piano Keyboard System
Casio has done a few interesting things with its actions over the last few years. Certain things have been very successful, while others we would classify a little bit odd. For the most part, however, their actions have come a very long way and compete very well in the marketplace.
Tri-Sensor Scaled Hammer Action Keyboard II
The PX-870 is using Casio’s Tri-Sensor Scaled Hammer Action Keyboard II. This action is using a triple sensor, so it's very accurate in terms of its dynamic output and touch sensitivity. This is a potentially important consideration if you plan on using the PX-870 as a MIDI controller at any point.
It doesn't have escapement, which is not unusual for this price range. For example, the Kawai and Yamaha options in the price don’t feature escapement either, with Roland being the only exception courtesy of their PHA-4 action.
Key Texture
An area where Casio is ahead of the curve is with regards to a fairly dramatic simulated ebony and ivory texture on the keytops to imitate the feel of an acoustic piano action. This approach has become common with all the manufacturers, but Casio was a real trailblazer in this regard.
The black keys feel a little bit too slippery right out of the box, but this goes away after playing for a little while as the finger’s natural oils gradually work their way into the keys.
Another thing we like about this current generation of the action is that it feels a lot more solid, and there’s much less unwanted motion in the key action parts than there was with past Casio actions.
Wrap Up
Overall we would suspect that this action will age fairly well, very much in line with Kawai’s RHC action or Yamaha’s GHS action, though we think this action easily outplays Yamaha’s GHS action which is feeling fairly dated at this point.
So, to sum this category up, what we have here with Casio’s Tri-Sensor Scaled Hammer Action Keyboard II is a well-built, enjoyable action to play on, and courtesy of its triple sensor will be accommodating to advanced playing styles.
Features and Connectivity
Music Library
The PX-870 has a fairly standard, but no less impressive set of features available when you consider the price point. For starters, there’s a solid music library of built-in songs that are good for playing along with, or simply sitting back and listening.
Connect with Chordana Play App
You can isolate specific piano parts for practice purposes, and it’s all easily controllable from the Chordana Play App, which is compatible with both iOS and Android. For a demo of the Chordana app, definitely check out the video review version of this article as Stu Harrison walks us through a nice sample of the app.
From there we have a cool Concert Play feature wherein the player gets to play along with symphony recordings of classic compositions.
Built-in Audio Recorder
There’s also a MIDI recorder as well as built-in Audio Recording and playback capability.
Cabinetry and Pedal System
The Casio PX-870 features a nice built-in cabinet and triple pedal system with damper, sostenuto, and soft pedals, though Casio isn’t including a piano bench in the package at this point. Comparable Kawai’s and Yamaha’s do include a bench at no charge, so that’s an area where the PX-870 is a little bit behind.
Dual Headphone Jacks
In terms of connectors, we’ve got two headphone jacks and a designated headphone mode that enhances the sonic experience when playing with headphones. There are no discreet line outputs, so you will need to use the headphone ports and an adapter if you need more power.
The Casio PX-870 also lacks any Bluetooth connectivity which is a little bit disappointing since it is quite common these days at the price point, so you will need to use a cable when connecting to a Smartphone or Tablet.
Of course, the basics are covered such as Layer, Duet mode, a metronome, transpose, and octave shift.
Closing Thoughts
In summary, what do we have? Well, we have an instrument in a sweet spot price-wise that also happens to exist in a very competitive part of the market. Compared to some of the other instruments out on the market, we have an above-average piano tone and action, and an impressive sound projection system courtesy of the 40-watt speaker system.
If you’re looking for an instrument in this price range and you hadn't yet considered Casio, it's definitely worthwhile to give the PX-870 a look by getting into a showroom to compare it against a Yamaha YDP-144 for example.
We’ve already mentioned the KDP-110 as Kawai’s comparable model, while the RP-102 on the Roland side of things would be a good match.
It’s definitely fair to say that the PX-870 is a compelling option to consider against anything else in the price point, with Casio’s growth and improvement over the past few years really being something to behold.
One of the most requested videos we’ve ever done was our comparison of the Roland FP-30 digital piano (since replaced by the Roland FP-30X) and Kawai ES110 (soon to be replaced by the Kawai ES120). These are two of the best-selling portable digital pianos in the world, and both are often touted as the two best options in the price range.
In this companion article to the video comparison, we’ll be taking a close look at both pianos, detailing their similarities and differences, while trying to paint a picture as to which one might be the best fit for you based on your personal needs.
Let’s get right into it.
Roland FP-30 vs Kawai ES110 - General Impressions
Let's start with some general impressions first. The ES110 is a great instrument for a wide number of reasons. For one, it weighs 26lbs meaning it’s one of the most portable 88-key weighted action digital pianos available. The FP-30 alternatively weighs a little bit over 31lbs.
The trade-off here is that due to the lower weight, the ES110 has less amplifier power with 14 watts in total compared to the FP-30, which has 22 watts of total power, and as a result, has a fuller sound overall, even though the ES110 actually has a warmer bass register.
Both pianos have very good actions, sound engines and overall functionality which is why both are so popular, with both beginners and more experienced musicians. Let’s compare how they sound.
Digital Piano Sound Comparison
Kawai’s Harmonic Imaging Sound Technology vs Roland’s SuperNATURAL Piano Sound
The ES110 is using Kawai’s Harmonic Imaging engine, with a handful of different concert grand piano samples. The core sample is from their EX concert grand piano, and this is recorded with 88-key piano sampling for a very high degree of authenticity. 192-note polyphony means you’re not going to have any concerns in this regard, and there’s a nice variety of reverb settings including Concert Hall and Small Hall.
On the FP-30, we’ve got the SuperNATURAL sound engine, with 128 notes of polyphony. More or less, the difference in piano tone between these two really just comes down to personal preference. Both sounds have tons of detail and complexity to the tone with additional elements like damper resonance, damper noise and fallback noise, and they offer the user the ability to edit a decent number of parameters within those tones.
At this point, pop over to the video to hear some playing examples of both of these pianos as you’ll really get a clearer idea of the tonal differences that way.
Importance of High-Quality Sound
Something we tell everybody who's shopping for a piano, whether it's an acoustic or a digital, and whether you’re browsing Amazon or actually setting foot in a showroom, is to never compromise on the acoustic piano sound because at the end of the day, it's really nice to be able to just sit down, turn your piano on, and immediately piano sound that you love and inspires you to play.
If you're starting with a foundation where the primary objective is to start building piano playing experience, especially for beginners, the odds increase of successful endeavour increase if the player really enjoys the piano sound.
Non-Acoustic Piano Sounds
While the ES110 has 8 total acoustic piano patches compared to 6 on the FP-30, there are 19 total sounds on the ES110 which is nearly doubled up on the FP-30 with 35.
Both pianos have a nice selection of harpsichord tones that are going to work quite well if you’re practicing some Baroque music.
Electric pianos and synths are probably the highlights aside from the acoustic piano patches on both instruments as the ES110 and FP-30 have a nice selection of highly useable e-piano and even some synthesizer tones.
Overall, quality is pretty much a draw, but the FP-30 of course wins from a quantity perspective
Stereo Speaker Systems
As we briefly noted above, both pianos have a solid set of speakers. The ES110 is somewhat limited from a power output perspective with only 14 watts of power, but the quality of the speaker system is very high and the result is an especially warm bass register.
The FP-30 has more punch with 22 watts of power though the difference is not as pronounced as one may think when comparing the specs sheets.
Sound Wrap-Up
To sum up, what you're getting with both pianos regarding sound as a whole when it comes to the acoustic piano sounds, there’s no question that both instruments have excellent default piano patches.
The ES110 has a wider dynamic range and a more authentic tonal palette with the differences between loud and soft playing. This dynamic range tends to be a little bit compressed on the FP-30, which for a classical musician may be a consideration. For contemporary styles, it probably won’t matter.
The ES110 also has a greater polyphony count, though, at 128 notes, the FP-30 is no slouch in this category with many fine stage pianos sitting at 128 notes.
On the other hand, the FP-30 has almost double the total sounds and a more powerful speaker system.
Digital Piano Action Comparison
The key actions on both of these instruments considering the price point they’re both available at, are simply outstanding. You can’t go wrong selecting either one of these, whether from a performance or durability perspective.
Kawai’s Responsive Hammer Compact Action
The ES110 is using Kawai’s first-generation version of their Responsive Hammer Compact action (RHC). There’s a second-generation version of this action now featured in their newest KDP series home digital pianos with a triple sensor, but this first generation is still using a dual sensor.
The dual sensor means this action will not be quite as accurate from a MIDI output perspective as a triple sensor keyboard action, so that’s something to keep in mind.
There’s a slight texture on both the white and black keys, and the edges are nicely rounded. This makes it really easy and smooth for playing anything with a lot of thick chords where your fingers have to straddle multiple keys.
In terms of the sense of weighting, this action is a little bit lighter than we have over on the FP-30, but it’s not as light as what you would get over on the Yamaha P125 for example.
Roland’s PHA4 Standard Hammer Action
Over on the FP-30, we have Roland’s PHA-4 Standard action, and you’ll find this action throughout Roland’s lineup on models up to twice the price of the FP-30.
This is a very well-liked and popular action and is generally regarded as the top action available at this price point. In fact, some people even prefer this action to the more expensive PHA50 action featured throughout the upper portion of Roland’s lineup.
The PHA4 is equipped with a triple sensor, meaning the touch sensitivity is very good and capable of highly accurate MIDI output. The texture on the keytops here is more dramatic than the texture on the RHC action, and Roland refers to this as the Ivory Feel.
Another thing that's important to note is that the PHA4 also has escapement on the action, whereas the Kawai does not have any escapement. Escapement simulates the sensation one gets when playing a grand piano and can help with increasing repetition speed.
Digital Piano Action Wrap Up
There’s an interesting quandary in terms of making a clear recommendation between the Roland FP-30 vs Kawai ES110. On the action front, we would say that the FP-30 is going to accommodate a wider range of pianists since it’s slightly heavier and has a triple sensor along with escapement - classical players will certainly appreciate all of these things.
On the other hand, we really appreciate the dynamic nature and the richness of the Kawai piano sound, and the action is still good enough even for piano lessons so if you prefer the sound of the ES110, you’re not really sacrificing with the RHC action.
Hardware Accessories
Both pianos come with all of the basics in the box, but there are also some additional accessories you may wish to consider as well.
To start with what’s included at no extra charge, both pianos come with sustain pedals, otherwise known as damper pedals (DP2 on the FP-30, F-10H Damper Pedal on the ES110) as well as music rests.
Of course, they both also include a power supply and owner’s manual so you have everything you need to plug your keyboard in and start playing without the need for additional purchases.
In terms of optional upgrades, you may wish to purchase, both pianos are available with matching designer keyboard stands and triple pedal units.
If you’re looking at one of these pianos primarily for portability, these accessories probably aren’t necessary. If however, you envision both pianos being fairly stationary in your home, you may want to consider these additions.
In the case of the Roland FP30, the stand is referred to as the KSC-70, while the pedal unit is called the KPD-70. Over on the ES110, the stand is the HML1 stand, while the pedals are called the F350.
Bluetooth and MIDI Connectivity
In terms of connectors, both pianos have a pretty solid selection built right in. For starters, both pianos are equipped with Bluetooth MIDI, and while this is quite common now when both of these pianos came out, this was a pretty big deal for the time.
Bluetooth Wireless MIDI connectivity is very convenient as it allows you to connect to iOS and Android devices and access music apps like Garageband without cables. You can also view sheet music from a tablet which is great.
Both companies also have their own apps that allow you to control the features and functions of the keyboards from a smart device like an iPad, meaning you use things like the metronome, transpose, drum rhythms, twin piano mode and even reverb setting without having to menu dive on the instrument itself.
Both pianos also have dual headphone jacks, but from here, this is where the connectivity options start to diverge.
The FP-30 has both USB Type A and Type B meaning there’s a flash drive that you can use the song recorder to record WAV files directly onto. The ES110 does not have any physical USB ports.
The ES110 however has traditional 5-pin MIDI ports both in and out, and more significantly, it also has dual 1/4” line out jacks (L/MONO, R) meaning you can connect it to an amplifier or PA system if you need more power.
The FP-30 does not have discreet line outputs, and this is probably the single biggest drawback of the instrument as it makes it that much more challenging to gig with since you need to fiddle around with adapters if you need to connect to an amp.
Final Thoughts
This pretty much wraps up our digital piano review and comparison of the Roland FP30 vs Kawai ES110. These are two highly capable instruments that absolutely dominate the class. Warranty claims are rare for both instances, but fortunately, coverage is great should a need arise.
The FP-30 costs about $100 more and that extra spend gets you a slightly more powerful amplifier, arguably better action and more built-in sounds.
On the Kawai side, the ES110 is about 5lbs lighter than the FP-30 at 26lbs and is an extremely portable instrument as a result. If the acoustic piano sound is really your main focus, the ES110 has arguably the top acoustic piano sound in the class (though some would argue Casio’s Privia grand piano sounds have a case here too).
Kawai has also included quite a few music books such as the Alfred method books built right in as part of a lesson function which is a nice bonus.
Thanks as always for reading, and make sure to check out the companion video on these great musical instruments!
In a way, we’re kind of in a new golden era in the piano industry these days, especially with regard to how realistic digital pianos have become. The amount of high-quality, convincing options with great piano sound available for under $1,500 is truly remarkable.
Today, we’re going to go through our essential list of the best digital pianos available for under $1,500.
Best Digital Pianos: Brands & Models
For people who are already familiar with our site and YouTube channel, you're likely to recognize most of these models on our list. On the other hand, for people who are completely new to the whole piano universe and have perhaps just browsed Amazon so far, this should be a helpful lay of the land in this popular price range.
Roland
Roland easily makes the list of manufacturers that have a strong presence in this part of the market, and really, the entire market as a whole.
Our resident piano reviewer and company President Stu Harrison is of course a huge Roland fan and even gigs on an RD-2000. In this price range, there are two big reasons why Roland’s models - the RP102, FP-10 and FP-30X - stand out.
Roland's PHA4 Action
The first is definitely with regard to the key actions. All three of the above-mentioned models use probably the best digital keyboard piano action available in this price range - Roland’s PHA-4 hammer action.
The PHA4 features things like a triple sensor for accuracy, escapement, and a nicely textured keytop - all hallmarks of actions found on models twice the price of the models we’re looking at here.
Bluetooth Connectivity
The second reason Roland really stands out for this price point is their solid integration with apps via Bluetooth connectivity. Bluetooth connectivity gives the user fast and seamless connection to a smart device where many free and highly useable apps are present.
Roland’s own apps also greatly expand the functionality of both the FP-30X and RP102. Now a little more on the specific models.
Roland FP-10
With the FP line in general, you're looking at a set of well-built, portable, and versatile digital pianos. The FP-10, in particular, is one of the lowest cost, highest value instruments on the market as you're essentially getting a PHA-4 action wrapped around a very compact case.
It’s lightweight, easy to transport, easy to use, and still includes Bluetooth MIDI.
The SuperNATURAL sound engine is very solid, and there’s 96-note polyphony to work with, which is just plenty for solo piano playing.
The speaker system itself is a bit underpowered, but some sacrifices have to be made given the price that an FP-10 can be had for.
Roland FP-30X
Moving up to the FP-30X (recently replaced the Roland FP-30), which basically takes everything already great about the FP-10 and simply adds more.
A huge upgrade is the addition of discrete quarter-inch output jacks, which makes the FP-30X a truly viable option for gigging musicians.
Bluetooth Audio gets added to the mix in addition to Bluetooth MIDI, the speakers are much more powerful, and Roland adds their BMC chip which takes the sound quality to a whole new level, expands the polyphony to a staggering 256 notes and delivers a wonderful grand piano tone, electric piano sounds and stable of other tones as well.
Roland RP102
The RP102 is a perennial favorite that Roland has had around for several years now, but it’s still delivering a lot of value to the marketplace. The PHA4 is again present, but in this case, you’re also given a nice cabinet with an integrated triple pedal unit.
On-board features are limited, but via Roland’s apps, the features greatly expand with tons of sounds and rhythms suddenly made available.
For many folks, the RP102 checked enough boxes that upgrading to the Roland F-140R just didn’t make sense.
Yamaha
No list of the best digital pianos in the sub $1,500 category is going to be complete without at least a couple of entries from Yamaha.
Yamaha is an industry juggernaut, and there are some super popular options on this list that are definitely worth considering.
There are two models that we’ve chosen to highlight today - the P125 which has been with us for a few years and has been one of the world’s best-selling portable digital pianos since its release, as well as the DGX-670, which is a new update to the DGX660.
Yamaha P125
The P125, the little sibling to the Yamaha P515, delivers a combination of features that were first to market and have since been adopted by other manufacturers.
For starters, the P125 is equipped with a built-in USB audio interface which allows you to send audio information directly to a DAW without additional gear.
Secondly, the P125 raised the bar with its excellent speaker system that really brings crisp, clear audio. Add in the great CFX sound engine, and the P125 is definitely one of the best-sounding portable options in the class.
Now, the FP-30X has probably objectively exceeded what the Yamaha P125 is offering since it’s a newer model, but the FP30X also costs more.
The GHS from Yamaha has been out for a long time and as such, is probably the most basic key action on our list, but it is still a serviceable graded hammer action and won’t be a detriment to a beginner.
Yamaha DGX-670
The DGX-670 is a very different beast from the P125. Both pianos use the same GHS action, but the DGX-670 is more of an arranger keyboard as opposed to a musical instrument geared towards solo piano playing like the P125.
Being essentially an arranger keyboard, the Yamaha DGX-670 comes with numerous recording capabilities, onboard auto-accompaniment and hundreds of sounds. It’s a completely different experience than the P125 overall.
The DGX-670, while being hypothetically portable, is likely to be found more in stationary situations since it’s quite heavy.
Other notable Yamaha options also worth exploring include the Arius series Yamaha YDP-144 and Yamaha YDP-164. The Clavinova series of digital instruments, while hugely popular, exceed the $1,500 price point.
Kawai
If Kawai is known for one thing at this price point, it's going to be the quality of its acoustic piano tone. While their high-end digitals are known for their industry-leading keyboard actions, there’s no doubt that the biggest selling feature and point of value in this category is their sound engines.
There are four Kawai models we’re going to explore here - the KDP75 and KDP120 home digital pianos, along with the portable ES110 and ES520.
Kawai KDP75
The KDP75 is a home console digital piano, meaning it comes with a built-in stand, triple pedal, and Kawai also includes a free bench in the box. The KDP75 is a new update to the KDP70 and with that, they have improved the key action’s cushioning which enhances the playing experience.
They've also updated the core acoustic piano sample and improved on the polyphony. You can think of the KDP75 as a great alternative to the RP102 - a preference will come down to which combination of tone and touch speaks to you.
Kawai KDP120
The KDP120 replaced the critically acclaimed Kawai KDP110, and it maintains the killer 40-watt-rated amplifiers, which makes it one of the most powerful instruments on our list in terms of the sound system.
Like the KDP75, the KDP120 also received an upgraded action with improved cushioning with the new RHCII action. This is another triple sensor action with nicely textured keytops that is only bested by Roland’s PHA4 on our list.
The well-regarded PHI sound engine offers a stunning rendition of the Shigeru Kawai SK-EX real acoustic piano. While both the KDPs are a little light on other features, the focus here is on the home piano experience, especially with regard to sound.
Kawai ES110
Kawai’s ES line matches up against the Roland FP line and Yamaha P series. The ES110 has been around since 2017, but it still delivers Bluetooth MIDI, really strong speaker performance, and 88-note individual samples on the EX Concert Grand with a quarter-inch line out.
All in all, the ES110 is functional, lightweight, easy to play, and provides killer acoustic piano tone in a small package with a respectable, dual sensor action.
Kawai ES520
The ES520 is a newer release from Kawai that represents a step up from the ES110 but still costs quite a bit less than the professional level ES920.
For people who are looking for a much beefier speaker performance, a more substantial tone chip with a wider variety of different sounds, and an improved triple sensor action experience, you'll want to check out this ES520.
You can think of it as a deluxe version of the ES110 with virtually every aspect upgraded.
Casio
Casio has the most entries on our list with a total of 5. This isn’t to say that we like Casio any better than the other manufacturers, but it speaks to the fact that this category is Casio’s bread and butter, even if they’ve expanded all the way to the high-end market, especially with their Celviano grand hybrids, in recent years.
Casio Privia PX770 and PX870
The Casio Privia PX line is an absolute mainstay for the home digital piano category.
The PX770 and PX870 are very similar but serve up slightly different offerings. The PX770 is probably most comparable with the Kawai KDP75, while the Casio PX870 matches up against the KDP120.
The big difference from the 770 to the 870 is that the 870 has a nicer cabinet, and features a 4-speaker system with a killer 40 watts of power. The power output is the same as the KDP110, but the addition of the two extra speakers provides better upper partial harmonics.
Compared to the Kawai models overall, the Casio options don’t have quite the same level of tonal complexity. On the other hand, the Casio’s do cost less than their Kawai counterparts and feature tri sensor actions, so the value that Casio brings is undeniable.
Casio PX-S1100 & PX-S3100
Casio’s portable PX-S1100 and PX-S3100 are also very popular in this price range. Both have really sleek-looking cabinets and are slim and very lightweight.
The 1100 emphasizes piano tone while the 3100 is almost a full-fledged stage piano with easily assignable knobs, a couple of modulation wheels and an enormous number of onboard sounds, all of which are remarkably high quality (especially the synthesizers).
Both pianos have a very solid set of speakers, as well as Bluetooth MIDI and Audio connectivity. Even though the actions use a dual sensor, the touch sensitivity is still very good due to some new smart technology from Casio.
Casio CDP-S350
The final model on the Casio end is the CDP-S350. This is a very interesting little beast as they've essentially taken the content of the PX-S3100 and put it in a more simple frame, with less complex processing power.
The sound is lower fidelity than the S-3100, as is the polyphony and the action is simplified, but otherwise, this is a feature-heavy instrument with 700 sounds for a very affordable price.
For people who are looking for a low-cost, super high-value, all-around performer, the CDP-S350 deserves a very long look.
Korg
Our final mention is going to be a bit of a general rundown on Korg. Now here on the channel, we haven't done many Korg digital keyboard piano reviews, but we nonetheless have great respect for the company
The lines to take a look at in this category are the SP and LP lines. The SP series tends to be on the portable side, while the LP series has quite a bit of resemblance to Roland's old F-140r or even to Casio PX-770 or 870.
Final Thoughts
We really hope that this has been a helpful roundup and some top-level broad strokes about some of the best digital pianos to keep an eye on in the under $1,500 class.
Some of the models we’ve discussed are more entry-level, while others would be considered more mid-range options.
It’s an exciting time to be a piano shopper with more quality options available now than ever before.
