Kawai have won great praise for their high standards in piano manufacturing since 1926 and more recently their digital pianos have been recognised as leaders in the digital piano market, comparing favourably to other brands such as Yamaha and Roland. This is why The Piano Shop Bath is proud be one of the biggest Kawai dealers in the south west, for digital pianos especially we are pleased to have an in shop focus on the excellent range of Kawai digital pianos. Recently at the Piano Shop Bath we have noticed an increase in customers who are looking for a really good digital piano that is also highly portable. A portable digital piano offers flexibility and a very practical solution for those who need to be able to move their piano with ease. For those who are concerned that the more lightweight digital pianos may mean a compromise on quality Kawai offers the reassurance that their portable offerings are designed according to the highest of standards. Here we take a closer look at two models that have been created to offer portability alongside a fantastic playing experience, the Kawai ES100 and the ES8.
The Kawai ES100
The ES100 is Kawais entry level digital piano, it comes in at just under £500 which means it is an affordable option for many and at 15kg, it is also a lightweight and easily transported digital piano. The ES100 has a weighted keyboard, 19 different instrument sounds, including 8 acoustic piano sounds, 100 drum rhythms, metronome and built in stereo speakers, there is also a recording and built in lesson function. The functions list most certainly adds value but what is impressive is that at its heart the ES100 has been designed to offer simplicity and an authentic piano experience. The action on this digital piano is as good as any you will find on a digital piano in this price range, with 88 weighted, graded keys providing satisfying and realistic touch. The piano sound is recorded from the Kawai EX concert grand piano and reproduced using standard harmonic imaging and the result is a digital piano that is among the best (arguably the best) on the market at this price point. A very good all rounder; an ideal starter piano for beginners, great for students starting university in September, or even a nice addition to the holiday home.
The Kawai ES8
There is a bit of an increase in price between the ES100 and the ES8 and customers are sometimes confused as to what the higher price tag on the ES8 represents. Launched less than a year ago the ES8 showcases many features that were previously only to be found on Kawai’s high end digital pianos. In built in the ES8 is the virtual technician, which gives players the chance to alter the sounds of the acoustic pianos at the touch of a button, with options to adjust string and damper resonance, in addition to subtle hammer, damper and key release noises. This allows users to create a highly personalised playing experience, as close to an acoustic experience as possible. The ES8 is much more than just an authentic playing experience however, it offers a wide range of connectivity options as well as USB to device functionality alongside WAV/mp3 recording and playback. The real strength of this digital piano comes again from the lavishly rich piano sounds, reproduced using progressive harmonic imaging and featuring the sounds of three Kawai grand pianos. This is another upgrade on the ES100, while the ES100 sounds very good, when played alongside the ES8 you can hear the difference the upgraded technology makes. Finally the ES8 offers the responsive hammer two action which recreates the feel of an acoustic grand using 3 sensor technology and weighted keys that are graded across the keyboard. The ivory touch surfaces also gently absorb moisture and provide a very comfortable playing experience. Available in snow white or satin black the ES8 is a great new addition to Kawai’s already impressive range of digitals and offers no compromise whatsoever on quality or features, whilst still being highly portable. So whatever your budget and whatever you hope to get from your digital piano there is plenty to choose from at The Piano Shop Bath. For more information about our digital piano range call 01225 427961.