Narrative: Choosing between Kawai MP11 and ES8 digital pianos

[@floniesr]

Great job. We appreciate your effort and expertise. You have many silent fans...

[@puzirew]

Oh, that's true. Although the channel does not have too much subscribers, I personally repeatedly happen to see references to PianoManChuck on keyboardists forums, etc.

[@PianoManChuck]

Thanks, John!

[@bananabattlebean4858]

You're videos are interesting, informative, and even soothing. Thank you for your work.

[@arcticfoxstudios2018]

I've had a Korg Triton for over 15 years. It's still a great board but I am wishing for something to upgrade to.

[@Dognacity]

Hi Chuck, your videos have been a great help to me. I even got used to your slow delivery.Very calming! I live in Istanbul and there is only one Kawai dealer in Turkey and only one MP11, which is a floor model! The se is not even available. Well, after two months of Byzantine complications I bought it yesterday....when you hear "no problem" in Turkey, RUN! So now, while I wait for delivery (Tuesday, no problem!) I am rewatching all your MP videos. They are keeping me patient and excited. So thanks! My piano in the US is a 1915 Steinway B. First I thought I would get a VPC1, because it is so minimalistically beautiful, you felt strongly about it and I produce music solely on iOS. But when I finally pla

[@burcukilinc8365]

Michael Levy zuhalmuzik is killing me too

[@miguelrejas5034]

I do respect every single video you made Chuck! I thank you for sharing all of your expertise to explain in so detail each model, really very useful videos. I'm always glad to share your vids and opinions, from Lima, Perú. big hug man! TXS!

[@PianoManChuck]

Thanks Miguel, much appreciated :)

[@NoferTrunions]

I hate forcing a classical pianist to buy all that electronic clap-trap on the MP11 just to get the best action - _every single one of those electronic features subtracts from the accurate concert grand experience._

[@marvinkmooneyoz]

i mean, sort of, butalso the opposite. Technician lets you sort of have access to a wide range of concert grand experiences. But classical pianists should really embrace Rhodes Wurlies and Clavs.

[@Leles_]

For me the same samples of pianos on the two keyboards sound different, the mp11 seems to have more nuances, more quality. But Es8 balances the frequencies. What do you think?

[@gunpei]

tried both at piano world. the gf on mp11 is sublime. big upgrade from rh3 on es8. however, es8 is much more portable.

[@vileguile4]

Your logic at 4:00 ...

[@WarrenPostma]

I find it bizarre that they don't include an Organ sound.

[@RichardMedhurst]

Great video, cheers!

[@Musecrafter]

Chuck, this video has been very helpful! Thank you!

[@Dognacity]

Sorry, pushed something... when I played the VPC1 I really found it heavy and sluggish, especially compared to the 11. Does the Ravensworks redo change that at all? I was sort of surprised and disappointed... but it pushed me to the 11 and that comes a lot closer to my Steinway. I look forward to tweaking the piano to see how close I can get to the real thing, but there's always the RC vet and the RC275 app is pretty damn good. Thanks again and you really spread the love!

[@NeilAvon]

I've listened to your helpful A/B comparisons of the three concert piano sounds on the ES8 and to my less experienced ears listening via gear that is certainly below true audiophile quality, I hear so little difference between the three that I wonder if the MP11 EX samples couldn't be parameter-tweaked to emulate the two additional choices on the ES8. Nudge the EQ, fiddle with stereo width, string resonance, lid position and such then save the setups and perhaps you could achieve near duplicates of all 3 concert sounds on the MP11. Maybe with the MP7, as well. In fact, does anyone know for sure that there actually are separate sample files onboard the ES8 for each of those Kawai pianos?

[@PianoManChuck]

Yes, all 3 pianos were separately sampled and included in the ES8 as separate entities. For more on the audible differences, check out these two videos: kzbin.info/www/bejne/d2GxZ2uClNKDr5Y kzbin.info/www/bejne/p5CWdpWmabuHZqM

[@andreidinu7316]

Hi Chuck, thanks for the review, still valuable months later. I have to choose between mp7 and es8 (very close in price) , I know it's comparing apples and oranges, but I'd still love your input. I need it for our worship band, so it needs to fit multiple people: I'm a classical player, but others play more with sounds, which seems to make mp7 a better choice, but I'm afraid we'd be sacrificing the hm3 action and the new samples. What do you think?

[@ajahdavid6290]

Please how do I split kawai fs 2000 super lab

[@maulcs]

Do you have a video on grand feel vs grand feel 2? Any differences worth noting?

[@WarrenPostma]

There's some opinions over on ThePianoforever.

[@eamonnmcloughlin129]

Great review. I'm really sold on the ES8 as my virtual grand. I played a Steinway B the other day and it was sublime. If the ES8's action is anywhere near as good as that I'll be very happy.

[@eamonnmcloughlin129]

Got the ES8 just before Christmas and I'm addicted to it. The action is sublime. I prefer the EX over the Shigeru strangely enough, but there you go. Thanks for the review.

[@Thiago-px9ev]

Eamonn McLoughlin Wich piano grade are you? Or are you not a classical pianist? The ES8 is great?

[@eamonnmcloughlin129]

Thiago Garcia Dont know what grade, but I can play Light My Fire and Bohemian Rhapsody from beginning to end as well as a good few other tunes. Yes the ES8 is great. For the first time in my life Ive been playing 3 to 5 hours and it's all because of this keyboard. For the price, €1,500+ there is nothing like it on the market except for the Roland FP series, but this action has that extra authenticity about it.

[@Thiago-px9ev]

Eamonn McLoughlin You think the ES8 Keyboard is better than Roland FP-90?

[@eamonnmcloughlin129]

Haven't tried the FP 90. Heard it's good though.

[@jihadhamwi]

So the MP11 does not have build in speakers??

[@SeaDrive300]

That's correct. Also true for its successor, the MP11SE. These are considered stage pianos, which typically do not have built-in speakers. The assumption is that you're going to connect to a PA system.

[@tamirorkoby]

Imore suitable comparison is the Kawai Mp7se or mp11se vs es8. Same SK sound bank. The mp11 and mp7 doesnt have the SK bank sound.

[@PianoManChuck]

Look at the date of this video - it was done before any of the SE models existed.

[@MrAgmoore]

@@PianoManChuck Your review is very detailed. It would be nice to see a review / comparison on the new Kawai ES 920.

[@alexkarabuto1857]

Many thanks for your nice job, Chuck! But why don't you compare ES8 vs MP7??? It seems to me, that ES8 is just 'castrated' MP7 with the same action, much less samples, under $200 speakers, plastics in the sides and the triple pedal... Am I right?

[@PianoManChuck]

Far from right. Two different keyboards for two very different purposes.

[@alexkarabuto1857]

Thanks for your quick response, Chuck! And, on your POV, what are the advantages of ES8 vs MP7, except SK pianos and RH3 vs RH2 action? (Please don't tell me that speakers, drum accomp and demo songs with the player are them for $2k pro keys :))

[@PianoManChuck]

Again, different boards for different purposes. What's the advantage of an apple over an orange, or vice versa? You pick the board that most closely serves your needs.

[@alexkarabuto1857]

Nevertheless, you seriously compare here MP11 (kiwi?:)) vs ES8 (apple?). Compare to choose between them!... And I just see that ES8 is slightly modified MP7 board, so why not compare between them? )))

[@anthonyodonnell8724]

This is exactly the same question I had. It's an obvious one. Both the ES8 and MP7 are more giggable, in that they're both lighter than the MP11. So between these lighter examples, might the MP7 have some of the MP qualities that make the 11 so great, in addition to being cheaper?

[@michael42]

Hi Chuck. Thanks very much for your excellent reviews. I am still torn between the MP11SE or the ES8. I can afford either model but I am only a beginner in learning to play. I am concerned about the weight of the MP11 and the fact I would have to use speakers or headphones. But the MP11 has the grand feel action and three Optical pedals so would probably feel more like my teachers baby grand and would be good in the future for more advanced level of playing. Maybe I should start with the ES8 and purchase the next generation of MP11SE in the future. What do you think?

[@PianoManChuck]

Here's your answer: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eYe2pKCPeMyAn5Y

[@michael42]

Thanks very much..

[@lanecollins8080]

does the ES8 offer the same editing features as the MP series? Like amp simulations, effects, etc? Are the clavs and EPs on the ES8 like the ones on the MP series?

[@anthonyodonnell8724]

Chuck, what's your opinion between the MP7 and the ES8, since the MP7 is the more giggable "version" of the MP11, like the ES8 a lighter instrument?

[@eduardoneves2670]

Hi Chuck! Do you think the acrylic music sheet rest that comes with the Kawai HM-4 stand (deluxe furniture stand for the ES8) fits the Kawai MP11/ MP11SE music rest slots? From videos and photos it seems like so..! It would be great if so.

[@PianoManChuck]

That's something you'll need to contact Kawai about (I have no experience with their stands or acrylic sheet rests).

[@alexkarabuto1857]

Chuck, do you know, is it possible to update frimware of MP11 and/or MP7 to get the SK pianos into it? If you're familiar with Kawai representatives, maybe you ask them about it? For wishes of many users who bought MP11 and MP7 keys dou to your recommendations? :)

[@PianoManChuck]

Only sampling keyboards can update the sound samples within (ie: Korg Kronos, Nord Stage 2, etc).... but those start at around $4k. Firmware updates only update the OS and the effects you can apply to the built-in sounds.

[@ronaldtamburrini7819]

which studio monitors Chuck

[@palstoddard569]

Like your video but that background noise is quite annoying.

[@StevenCalwas]

Thanks for the comparison. Would be interested in how the ES8 compares to the Casio PX-360.

[@Oleg__]

ES8 - better action, better sound, better speakers, better possibilities to record audio (not only WAV, but also MP3 + possibility to adjust Gain Level).

[@carricksecorski6878]

Chuck, I love your reviews! I'm new to playing piano, but I've been playing keyboards and synths for years. I sat down and played the MP11 at Sweetwater, and for some reason, it just didn't feel authentic to me. Did I get a dud? In addition, the stock sound wasn't that great...any advice? I was also able to sit down and play the Yamaha Montage 8, and I love the samples and sounds, and I even liked the action. Any thoughts on the keyboard action on the Montage 8?

[@PianoManChuck]

That makes sense since you're "new to playing piano". The MP11 action is designed for professional pianists (not keyboardists or synth players as that's a completely different action alltogether). Its the closest action to a concert grand piano (furthest thing from synths and your typical keyboards). As for the sound, that can be customized to your liking.

[@carricksecorski6878]

Thanks for the fast reply chuck! Have you played on the Yamaha montage? What are your thoughts on that in terms of action as a synth, but also as a piano? Can the two even be compared?

[@BarronSnyder]

How does the action on the MP11 compare to the Kawai VPC1?

[@PianoManChuck]

I have videos on that too: kzbin.info/www/bejne/d6K0ZaKXhKiGjrM kzbin.info/www/bejne/povLqYKjqc2Xb7c

[@daveborchard2019]

I searched for the Kawai MP11, and it is no longer available, at least at the place that came up on the search. The price was close to $3,000. Has Kawai replaced the MP11 with a different model? If so, what’s you’re opinion of that model or an equivalent replacement for the MP11 model?

[@PianoManChuck]

MP11-SE is the successor to the MP11. Its identical except that it has the new Kawai Shigeru Grand piano samples, and an updated pedal. Pricing is also the same.

[@ODWALLA123]

Excellent video, Chuck.

[@melodychest9020]

So the choice is: Can you forfeit one McDonald's burger meal per month for 10 years!! LOL

[@Leles_]

You didn't have to play both of us to feel the difference in sound.

[@johnhanek167]

I love your informative vids Chuck. However, I never, ever eat fast food. (It'll kill ya as fast as sugar will).