Kawai ES110From real comments

Name: Kawai ES110
Rating: 2.8 (49 reviews)

Verdict distilled from 49 mentions across 13 aspects in comments under product review videos.

Positive sentiment71%

PROS 71%

CONS 29%

Rank based on 49 mentions across 13 aspects

View the verdict as

Buy this if...

You want a satisfying weighted key action at a sub-$700 price point
You prioritize versatile acoustic piano tones with adjustable voicing/resonance
You mainly practice with headphones or through Bluetooth apps like Pianoteq or Synthesia

What users love

Strong piano tone for the priceKey factor0 mentions

Strongly positive

Realistic weighted key actionKey factor0 mentions

Strongly positive

Great value versus competitorsKey factor0 mentions

Strongly positive

Sturdy included damper pedal0 mentions

Strongly positive

Bluetooth/MIDI connectivity for apps0 mentions

Widely praised

Simple, uncluttered interface0 mentions

Widely praised

Skip this if...

You need Android app compatibility for companion apps
You're sensitive to audible key-rebound noise during quiet practice
You want the richest, most authentic Kawai EX sample (consider ES120/CA series instead)

What users complain about

Speaker EQ bleeds into line/headphone out0 mentions

Frequently criticized

Metallic/bright tone on some voices0 mentions

Generally negative

Flimsy music desk and build quality concerns0 mentions

Generally negative

Complicated feature/button combinations0 mentions

Generally negative

Noisy key rebound0 mentions

Generally negative

No Android app support0 mentions

Frequently criticized

Piano sample criticized by experienced player0 mentions

Generally negative

Compare in seconds

Based on user comments

Best choice

1Mid

Mad Professor Fire Red Fuzz

Articulate soundGreat with extended-range guitarsStrong overall tone qualityPrice concerns

Mad Professor Fire Red Fuzz

Articulate sound

Great with extended-range guitars

Strong overall tone quality

Price concerns

2Premium

Mad Professor Deep Blue Delay

Musical analog toneLong-term reliability and board loyaltySimple, intuitive controlsHigh price pointCheaper alternatives seen as comparableDistortion at high settings

Mad Professor Deep Blue Delay

Musical analog tone

Long-term reliability and board loyalty

Simple, intuitive controls

High price point

Cheaper alternatives seen as comparable

Distortion at high settings

3Premium

Mad Professor Sweet Honey Overdrive

Touch-sensitive dynamicsLong-term favorite / durability of appealSweet, low-gain tone qualityHigh price versus clonesDeluxe loses some original characterLimited mid control

Mad Professor Sweet Honey Overdrive

Touch-sensitive dynamics

Long-term favorite / durability of appeal

Sweet, low-gain tone quality

High price versus clones

Deluxe loses some original character

Limited mid control

Best value

4Mid

MXR Super Badass Distortion

Exceptional versatilityNatural, amp-like tonePowerful 3-band EQDemo videos undersell the pedalNoticeable noise floorVolume drop when engaged

MXR Super Badass Distortion

Exceptional versatility

Natural, amp-like tone

Powerful 3-band EQ

Demo videos undersell the pedal

Noticeable noise floor

Volume drop when engaged

5Premium

Eventide Orville

Exceptional reverb qualityHigh-quality warm pitch shiftingStrong aspirational appealHigh priceCheaper alternatives may sufficeEffect can feel like it plays for you

Eventide Orville

Exceptional reverb quality

High-quality warm pitch shifting

Strong aspirational appeal

High price

Cheaper alternatives may suffice

Effect can feel like it plays for you

6Premium

Origin Effects Deluxe61

Authentic amp-like toneExcellent low-to-mid gain driveUnderrated favorite among ownersHigh price pointLimited gain-staging flexibilityNo built-in reverb

Origin Effects Deluxe61

Authentic amp-like tone

Excellent low-to-mid gain drive

Underrated favorite among owners

High price point

Limited gain-staging flexibility

No built-in reverb

7Premium

Roland TR-808

Iconic, powerful kick drumWarmer, more alive analog characterCultural and historical influenceExtremely high collector priceAnalog noise and static requiring EQReliability concerns of aging hardware

Roland TR-808

Iconic, powerful kick drum

Warmer, more alive analog character

Cultural and historical influence

Extremely high collector price

Analog noise and static requiring EQ

Reliability concerns of aging hardware

8Premium

Moog Subsequent 37

Inspiring and addictive to playWarm, fat analog toneStrong DAW/VST editor integrationHigh price for what it offersLimited versatility outside bass rangeNeeds effects/partner gear to shine

Moog Subsequent 37

Inspiring and addictive to play

Warm, fat analog tone

Strong DAW/VST editor integration

High price for what it offers

Limited versatility outside bass range

Needs effects/partner gear to shine

Wampler Tumnus V2

Klon Centaur-style toneConvincing demo influenced purchaseExcellent clean boostNot suited for metal tones

Wampler Tumnus V2

Klon Centaur-style tone

Convincing demo influenced purchase

Excellent clean boost

Not suited for metal tones

10Mid

Wampler Paisley Drive

Transparent toneVersatile across genresWorks well across many guitar typesTwo-channel routing complexityDry signal bleed-throughInconsistent demo impressions

Wampler Paisley Drive

Transparent tone

Versatile across genres

Works well across many guitar types

Two-channel routing complexity

Dry signal bleed-through

Inconsistent demo impressions

You are here

31Mid

Kawai ES110

Strong piano tone for the priceRealistic weighted key actionGreat value versus competitorsComplicated feature/button combinationsFlimsy music desk and build quality concernsMetallic/bright tone on some voices

Kawai ES110

Strong piano tone for the price

Realistic weighted key action

Great value versus competitors

Complicated feature/button combinations

Flimsy music desk and build quality concerns

Metallic/bright tone on some voices

Versatile
1. MXR Super Badass Distortionarrow_upward15
2. Wampler Paisley Drivearrow_upward6
3. Mad Professor Sweet Honey Overdrivearrow_upward4
Expensive
1. Moog Subsequent 37arrow_downward3
2. Origin Effects Deluxe61arrow_downward3
3. Eventide Orvillearrow_downward4
Dynamic response
1. Mad Professor Sweet Honey Overdrivearrow_upward8
2. Wampler Paisley Drivearrow_upward2
Build quality
1. Moog Subsequent 37arrow_upward3
2. Origin Effects Deluxe61arrow_upward1
3. Kawai ES110arrow_downward3

Overall Impression

Buyers overwhelmingly rate the key action and piano feel as a standout strength. Multiple owners describe the RHC weighted action as realistic, satisfying, and better than the step-up models or competitors like Yamaha and Casio. Guitarists new to keyboards found the bounce under fingers pleasing, and store testers were 'flabbergasted' by how close it felt to an acoustic piano, cementing purchase decisions on the spot.

The piano tone wins over most listeners but divides expert ears. Casual buyers and beginners consistently praise the sound as bright, crystal clear, and superior to Yamaha P125 in dynamic range, especially with damper resonance and dynamic voicing enabled. However, one long-time Kawai/Roland/Yamaha comparer called the 'Kawai EX' sample thin and mediocre next to true SK-EX engines, and others noted a metallic, overly bright edge except in the mellow piano setting.

A hidden EQ routing issue and build quirks temper an otherwise strong package. Several commenters flagged that speaker EQ bleeds into the line and headphone outputs unless manually disabled, making external recordings or monitors sound worse than the piano truly performs. Others cite a flimsy music desk, key-rebound clack noise, a scratch-prone plastic shell, and no Android app support, despite an otherwise sturdy damper pedal.

Outdated / Not-accurate data?

music_noteStrong piano tone for the priceKey factor

10 mentions

Strongly positive

Many buyers say the sound quality beat competitors like Yamaha P125, Roland FP-30, and Casio in side-by-side comparisons, with dynamic range and adjustable voicing adding expressiveness.

@rdxz7yt

Hello, so just a while ago I visited a local music store in a mall and the ES110 was just sitting there near the entrance. I tried it, and I was flabbergasted. This digital piano was the most awesome thing I've ever tried in my life, and it made my day just giving it a try! The sound quality is my type! It sounds as bright as the sun! I currently I have a 61 key piano keyboard which is less than 100$, the sound quality is fine, but not anything special. Plus, it isn't weighted. I plan on buying this as an upgrade to mine right now. The key-action just feels amazing, It will take long for me to adapt but I think it's better. Usually, when I play my keyboard I always feel like when I play the keys are too soft or light to press and playing some songs doesn't feel comfortable to me due to the action. \n\nI'm currently interested in this model, and I never tried a KAWAI keyboard in my life. The price is quite a lot, but due to my satisfaction earlier today, I feel like it's worth it! It felt like I was playing a real piano due to the action and the sound quality, and I even think the sound is better than it! Although my negatives about it is that it's quite complicated to use the features. I tried to get the rhythm, the demo and the tones to work and I got confused. I was able to do the dual-function or layer tones feature, but for the others I felt like it was quite complicated. It's very different, as my keyboard has all the features right there in the buttons. The features are more easier to use. Although, I could just watch a video on how to use it. Besides, I'm more of a classical-type pianist so these other features won't really matter to me. \n\nAny recommendations? I recently watched your P125 video and I can't decide between that and the ES110 for my next upgrade. I personally never tried a P125 yet, hoping to find it in a store, but watching your review video the sound quality was also amazing like the ES110. I feel like both models are equally the same, but I have yet to decide when I try the other. For now I think the ES110 is my next keyboard/digital piano. \n\n*Forgot to mention, I am in love with the bass notes of the ES110. It sounds incredibly awesome!

Kawai ES110chat_bubble_outlineFrom real comments

thumb_up_off_altBuy this if...

What users lovefavorite_border

thumb_down_off_altSkip this if...

What users complain aboutheart_broken

Compare in seconds

Who wins on what

Versatile

Expensive

Dynamic response

Build quality

auto_awesomeOverall Impression

Kawai ES110From real comments

Buy this if...

What users love

Skip this if...

What users complain about

Overall Impression