🎹Kawai MP7SE Stage Piano Review & Demo - Versatile All-In-One Stage Piano🎹
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 14 окт 2021
- 🛒 Get the Kawai MP7SE▸geni.us/Kawai-MP7SE
🛒 See More Kawai Digital Pianos▸ geni.us/Kawai-Digital-Pianos
💕 Subscribe to Merriam Pianos HERE ▸ bit.ly/SubscribeMerriam
🔔 Click the 🔔 bell to be notified of all videos! ▸ bit.ly/SubscribeMerriam
Comparable Alternatives:
🛒 Kawai MP11SE▸geni.us/Kawai-MP11SE
🛒 Kawai ES920▸geni.us/Kawai-ES920
🛒 Roland RD-2000▸geni.us/Roland-RD2000
🛒 Nord Stage 3▸geni.us/Nord-Stage-3
🛒 Casio PX-560▸geni.us/Casio-PX-560
#MP7SE #Kawai #DigitalPiano
Hello and thanks for checking out the Merriam Pianos RUclips channel. We’ve got another piano review here as we dive into the Kawai MP7SE Stage Piano.
To be frank, we should have reviewed this one much sooner, so after a request by a fan of the channel, we’ve finally gotten to a review here.
If this is your first time to the channel please like, subscribe and hit that notification bell!
Sound Engine
The MP7SE is loaded up with some very high quality sample sets courtesy of Kawai’s Harmonic Imaging XL (HI-XL) sound engine with 256 note polyphony. The main acoustic piano patches are the SK-EX, SK-5 and EX grand pianos. Since the MP7SE is a stage piano without any built-in speakers, everything you’ll be hearing in the video is via a direct line out.
There’s a wide range of tonal colour and character available with the various grand piano patches, and there’s some nice upright patches as well.
Kawai’s E pianos are always strong, and that’s most certainly the case here - the Wurlitzer is especially nice.
There’s also a very solid drawbar simulator, with 4 sliders to work with. For an all around instrument, the organs here are among the best we’ve tried.
The strings are functional if unremarkable, as are the brass and woodwinds. The synths pads and synth leads are very nice.
With 256 sounds in total, it’s clear that the grand pianos, e pianos, organs and synth lines are the real highlights.
There’s a great effects engine, as well as various pre-loaded Layer configurations referred to as Sound Setups (which can be edited), and you can give very deep with the Virtual Technician editing software.
Action
The MP7SE is using Kawai’s top plastic action - the Responsive Hammer III (RHIII) action. There are certain situations where we actually like it over even Roland’s wooden PHA50 action, and generally prefer it to Roland’s PHA4 action, and Korg’s action which also happens to be titled RH3.
This action is weighted well, is highly responsive, and is quite durable. Nord is now even using this action in their Nord Grand.
The RHIII uses a triple sensor, a nice micro texture on both the black and white keys, as well as escapement. It’s also very well padded, so it’s quite quiet as well, and the bottom of the keybed is nicely cushioned.
Overall, a great action many consider to be the top plastic digital piano action available.
Features
There’s no Bluetooth connectivity here, so all connections in and out of the MP7SE will be wired.
There’s USB MIDI in and out with no built-in digital audio interface (which are becoming increasingly popular), but it does have ¼” stereo inputs. There’s a fader to manage the line in sound, which will be very useful for some folks depending on their rig.
There’s of course stereo ¼” outputs, as well as multiple footswitch inputs. Kawai also makes a triple pedal , the GFP3, which is compatible.
Next is an on-board recorder, and it’s actually quite robust for an on-board recorder. There’s 4 knobs which manage the parameters on the LCD screen at any time, and while the screen is efficient, it’s a bit small.
Pitch bend and modulation are present as well.
Conclusion
For the price, this is still an incredibly relevant stage piano. It competes well against Yamaha’s CP series.
From an action and sound engine standpoint, the value here is very hard to deny.
Connect with Merriam Music:
● Website ▸ www.merriammusic.com/
● Contact Us ▸ www.merriammusic.com/contact/
● Instagram ▸ / merriammusic
● Facebook ▸ / merriammusic
● Twitter ▸ / merriammusicinc 
Видеоклипы
I bought the MP11 SE based on your recommendations. I absolutely love it! Thanks for all of your reviews and information. Very helpful
Sounds amazing... when you were about to play I had an expectation of what to expect and in this case it was exceeded! So natural sounding and dynamic!
I have one MP7SE since 2 years, and its the most amazing piano I ever had. It competes with pianos that cost twice the MP7SE, and in my opinion wins them in general. The sounds are from Kawai best acoustic pianos, the key action its amazing, and invites you to play fluid with great expression, that's probably why Nord Grand Piano has chosen this key action. I bought just before a Yamaha CP4, and after I could try the MP7SE I exchanged it automatically and one of the main points was because of the key action of the Kawai. The key action on the CP4 is heavier and in the MP7SE is more fluid and the RHIII scape response helps a lot to play with great expression and speed. I can only compare it with the Roland RD series which are very good too, even though I still like more the Kawai one.
The simplicity to use the piano + the virtual piano function make it very easy configurable, and the 4 faders its a great tool to mix 4 sounds. In the setup area you can save 256 registrations, that are very good for gigging, so you have all combinations memorized. It has a section with rithms that is good to have. The only think I don't like about the MP7SE is the weight for transportation since its 22 Kgs. I think the maximum for all these pianos should be 17 kgs. which still is very stable and not that heavy, like Roland RD300NX weights.
I really think Kawai should charge much more for this piano for the high built quality in all terms, it should be around 2.000€. So Kawai seems to be a very fair company in price positioning vs other brands that charge too much for the value of their products.
I have had the mp7se since it came out and I absolutely love it.
Great review! I got the MP7SE earlier this year and it's fabulous. If only I could play it as well as you do!
I have the old MP7 and it's a fabulous instrument, build quality, touch, sound, feel, style and all. The sounds are nice, sophisticated and realistic. Great piano indeed!
BTW I enjoyed your playing very much Stu, you are doing justice to that instrument.
All your videos are top quality, the channel is well worth subscribing to. Very informative.
I’ve had the MP7SE since January 2018 and ordered the GFP-3 triple piano. Outstanding instrument. I particularly love the warmth and ambience of the SK-5.
The MP7SE is fantastic and Kawai's pedals are some of the very best and most authentic to play on! I certainly agree with your assessment of the SK5 samples. Wonderful piano tones! Happy playing and enjoy your MP7SE! :)
Great presentation, fantastic playing, thanks for putting it together. By looking at the length of your takes, one can tell you're excellent at presenting it!
Thank you so much for the kind words and for checking out the video! We really appreciate it. :)
I've been waiting for this one...picked up the MP7SE a few months ago. Can't believe how good it sounds, built like a tank, phenomenal action, intuitive controls...At current retail price i think it's a steal, really.
Do you have any specific set up. Mine to my ears does not sound that great. The SK sounds muddy whooly sounding, lacking in clarity. The EX is brighter but still lacking in something. I'm used to playing VST's more, so maybe my ear has just got used to how good they are.
@@jonos138 No, not really. Out of the box there is some tweaking to do, but not a lot imho and its a breeze to change parameters. But ofc, when talking VST's, you will be disappointed going back to tweaking sounds by yourself.
I would love to see a VPC-1 Review from you guys. Thanks for the great content. Love it!
A VPC-1 has no sound engine and no midi controllers, so let's look at the action. The RM3 is immediate predecessor to the first of three generations of Kawai Grand Feel actions. If you prefer a pianistic feeling, you'll may find it best simulated in the Grand Feel III. Much of the advance is related to the considerably longer key sticks over production cycles plus smaller adjustments.
Great work. Stu never disappoints. Please make a video about the Casiotone Ct-s1!
Thanks so much for all your brilliant reviews, which are by far the best out there. It's really helping me work my way through the confusion of piano purchasing!
Thank you kindly! We're so happy to hear that the videos are helpful and making things a little less daunting for you. :)
Excellent playing Stu, love your videos, always with such class and amazing feel at the piano.
Hi! Brent here! Thank you for tuning in! I will be happy to pass on your kind words to Stu! :)
Wow you play beautifully
Excelent Review !!
Curious how Stu would rate the MP7SE to comparable quality VST pianos he has reviewed. I've played most of them as well as the MP7SE and there's just something about the hardware piano package and the robust build quality that makes the Kawai so satisfying to play. Plus, as he noted in this review, the Kawai MP series still holds up after years on the market. With NAMM approaching, I'm also curious of possible next MP series iterations.
This is a fantastic piano. I bought mine earlier this year and I love it.
That is awesome! Congrats on your MP7SE! It is a powerhouse of a stage piano. :)
Спасибо за Ваш труд, было интересно!!!
Great review! I am waiting for a MP12 it’s too too late I don’t know what reason but I am ready to wait. Goor healthy competition in the market so the new MP12 will be a very interesting in terms of overall performance. ❤️
Maybe you have to wait 5 more years for it.
thanks so much for your great reviews.
I am having trouble zoning in on a piano/keyboard to buy. I actually loved the bass keys in the Casio Px 1000 &3000 grand piano samples but am reticent about this lines connectivity to DAWs...this Kawai sounds lovely too (though have not played it). My main wants are: Weighted 88 keys with great acoustic piano patches, BUT, I am a DAW user (Logic 10 w Mac OS 11.6) and really want the piano with some controller capability. I would love to be able to use Logic's instruments played on the keyboard and I also have a beloved Prophet 8 module that I would like to midi into the keyboard now and again. Is the Kawai with its 5pin midi in and out the answer?
I don't care that I have to wire everything...blue tooth is not a priority by any means. Nor is the fact this model has been out for a while. thanks so much for your thoughts.!
Quick question...is the keybed of the MP7se and the ES920 "exactly" the same in terms of noise level? This one seemed very quiet upon release...the ES920 sounded noisier in videos. can you confirm that they are both equally quiet? Thanks
How many sounds can you layer at once on the MP7SE? any polyphony issues when doing this (note stealing) also… that keyboard stand in the video? What make and model is it? Is that an MP11SE sat on top? Must be a very strong stand..
My friend, you are great pianist...👍
Good video, and your hair looks good too lol
Hi! i am planning to get one of this when it gets available on the market. I'm a beginner too! :) just wanted to know on mp7se is RH3, is it also a scaled hammer action? i mean if the left side is heavier and the right side start to get lighter. Sorry a lot of actions and different terms the piano world use kinda confusing sometimes. Research tells me that i need a scaled hammer action if you are a beginner. i have a very old Yamaha PSR-180 and not weighted at all. Wanted an upgrade that will last for a long time. Thank you for this amazing review and demo!!
Hi, what kind of amp you woul suggest for this stage piano for use at home or to make gigs in pub restaurant etc....
Thank you and compliments.
This instrument seems to be very beautiful and musical but… this demo made with your hands give us a perfect idea of what is a great musician.
I’ll pay serious attention to this Kawai.
Thanks for your great music ❤
Thank you kindly for tuning in! I'll be sure to pass along your kind words to Stu! :)
You can use the nobs and the +- as your last 5 drawbars! So youve got all 9 simultaneously
Excellent review, thank you! Very in-depth in terms of explaining the instrument and the playing is beautiful and helpful in showing the MP7SE's expression and depth of timbre, which surprised me. I find that many video demonstrations out there focus too much in attack and fast passages (issues with anxiety, maybe?), and that may be a huge trap - can't say how many times demos like those made me think that an instrument was great sounding, only to find out, when I had the chance to test them, that the timbre was actually thin. Play and hold a chord and - ouch - the "body" of the piano sound is just not there. Stu made some great choices in terms of playing to demonstrate each sound and the overall quality of the MP7SE. Seems like a pretty interesting stage piano! Will check it out when I have the chance.
Thank you so much for the incredibly kind words and for tuning in! We're very happy to hear that you enjoyed the video. I would definitely suggest testing out the MP7SE if you get the chance. Kawai's MP series is quite impressive to say the least! :)
What stand are you using? Is that an MP11 above it and are they on the same stand? Thanks!!🙂
fantastic review thank you. i have a question? what are the best amplifiers with great sound for it...ciao form down under
Thank you kindly! We appreciate that immensely. That is an excellent question and one that requires a proper answer. I will add that to the list of potential review/comparison videos for the near future! Thank you for the suggestion and idea! :)
would love to see a review for the dgx 670
I ordered one today!! It will be here in two days from Sweetwater!! It took me two years to decide. Yes, I move SLOW.
Congrats! That is very exciting! I think you will be very happy with the MP7SE! It is one heckuva stage piano! :)
Standard grand is the most old sample of kawai. Its the second piano sample of the es110 or the second grand of the old mp7.
Same that's what I thought also🎹🎶
Thank you,
You're very welcome! :)
FANTASTIC PLAYING GREGG !!!
Do you mean Stu? ;)
@@MerriamPianos OH ...WOW...YES I MEANT STU....WHAT THE HECK WAS I THINKING....haaha !!!
@@MerriamPianosBTW, DO YOU THINK THERE SOON BE A SUCCESSOR TO THE ES 920 ???? WHAT OTHER HOME / PORTABLE KAWAI OR OTHER BRAND WOULD YOU CONSIDER BETTER THAN THE ES 920 IN TERMS OF ACTION, TONE SOUND ???
**** I HAVE READ COMPLAINTS ON BOUNCING KEYS IN THE ES 920 ???
Hey, Stu was just wondering if garritan cfx would be worth trying with this keyboard (just love the sound of it) with the gh3 action being nice? Just looking into this keyboard off a good deal Thx!
Hi! Brent here! The MP7SE could certainly be utilized as a MIDI controller to be used in conjunction with any sound library or VST. With that said, you may find better value in the ES920 if that is how you plan on using the piano, as the ES920 has the same RHIII action.
Could you suggest, if there are such, some smaller monitor speakers for home use that would sound with the MP7SE, especially for the piano sounds, similarly good as the speakers on the ES920?
It is difficult to suggest an exact like-for-like comparison to the ES920's speakers, but the Mackie CR4X and Yamaha HS8 studio monitors sound great with digital pianos in my experiences!
Griegs piano concerto....as Eric Morcombe would say....'Im playing all the right notes....but not necessarily in the right order I'll give you that sunbeam (face slap)'
I can never get that out of my head everytime I hear that played 😂
Great review as always Stu.
If you want an in depth review of any piano, this is always the place to come. 👍
Hi! Brent here! Haha that is a wonderful quote - thanks for sharing! I will be sure to pass on your kind words to Stu. :)
Compliments for this complete and enthusiastic review ! The sound is incredible. Could you please tell me what audio interface did you use to record the line output of your MP7SE ?
Thanks so much for tuning in! We appreciate it! I would have to check with Stu and our production team as to what audio interface was used. I believe it may have been a Focusrite Scarlett interface.
Thank you for your quick answer @@MerriamPianos
I have to say that I own myself a MP7SE, very pleased with it !! But when trying to record sound with a MOTU M4 audio interface, I can not reach the same audio quality like in your video, the sound is there but not as full, rich and detailed as what I listen directly from my headphone :(
Do you record audio directly from the MP7SE Line output with Focusrite Scarlett, without any DI box ? Thank you for your help
Just as a matter of interest. The ES520 also has the SK Concert grand. So does it sound better through the M7? Or is there no difference? Just wondering how same stock piano sounds compare through different models but same brand piano keyboards?
While all of Kawai's digital pianos use samples of the SKEX 9' concert grand, there are multiple tiers of tone engines within the Kawai line. Naturally, the more sophisticated tone engines provide a much richer and more nuanced presentation of the SKEX along with a higher degree of detail and adjustment of parameters. To that point, the MP7SE features the more advanced Harmonic Imaging XL engine versus the ES520's Progressive Harmonic engine. Hope this helps! :)
@@MerriamPianos Thanks, that was very informative. 👍
How about MP7SE key clicks? I've seen videos of users complaining about the keyboard clicking on the MP7SE. Also - I have an ES120 to test and I wonder if the keyboard quality will be much better in MP7SE. Is it heavier? I mean the keys on the ES100 I had and sold, or in ES120 are quite light, almost synth-like.
Hi! Brent here! I have not experienced many instances of clicking keys with the MP7SE. The ES120's action will certainly play lighter than the MP7SE's, but they have added more cushioning to that version of the RHC action, which reduces the mechanical key noise quite significantly.
Show off! but seriously nice playing here. Very lyrical and i can realy hear wha this sounds like, unlike so many other demos. So far, this sounds the best as far as a digital. and I've been auditioning for a long time. thanks.
You're very welcome! I'll be sure to pass on your kind words and compliments to Stu. The MP7SE is definitely one heckuva stage piano and definitely worth consideration if you are looking for a stage piano with an amazing piano experience! :)
@@MerriamPianos I am on the fence. i have several weighted digitals now, including an old Korg RH II action (SP-500) with what to me has been the most realistic in terms of simulating a grand piano action, which is what I favor. My ears cannot get past the brittle attack I'm hearing on every other-including even the Nord grand. and i am using an old Yamaha P50m which astoundingly-measure up to just about every new digital piano I've played. I will study some more of your lyric playing-anything can sound fairly realistic through fast passages, but to get that true lyrical quality of a grand, I like to hear the resonance present immediately-from the attack and onto the sustain. too many digitals seem to be missing that mark completely. Except so far-this one and a few of the more costly escapement action consoles. So still debating in my own mind's ear. Keep the fires burning.
Stu, did you have, or can you offer advice on how to get the best tone from the mp7se? My SK grand sounds muddy, whooly sounding to my ears. Sounds great on your video. The EX on mine is brighter but still lacks the detail of a good VST imo. Any advice much appreciated.
Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! There are a number of different SK piano samples available. It might be worth experimenting with some of those other patches.
Standar From the SK Reminds me of the Roland Piano sound, wich i don´t particurlaly like :) As always great Review.
Thank you for tuning in! We're glad you enjoyed the review! Tonal preference is a very personal and subjective matter of course. The most important thing is to find a sound that you personally connect with. :)
The upright is the k6. Later called k600.
Just have a quick question, I just bout an mp7se and I love it but would are the best speakers to get for it? I have nice headphones for it bust I was just curious what the best speaker for the mp7se would be for gigging, rehearsal, jamming etc
Congrats on your MP7SE! It is a fantastic stage piano that I know will serve you well. If you're going to be looking for an all purpose solution, a keyboard amp would be the best and most convenient option in my opinion. In my opinion, the Roland KC amps are excellent and really help to present the wonderful samples on these pianos in a rewarding way. :)
If you're going to record the MP7SE, or any of Kawai's pianos that uses HIXL, be aware that if you crank up the damper resonance too high, you can get a nasty "crackling" sound defect when disengaging the damper pedal. The effect is noticeable with high fidelity headphones. I do think that damper resonance any higher than the default 5 sounds quite fake anyway, so this problem shouldn't matter unless you really want max resonance.
What is that keyboard stand?
Just got my mp7se. However, How do you adjust keyboard velocity for midi? I thought i would simply adjust the touch curve, but that only effects the onboard sounds and doesnt effect the velocity of a midi piano like a Kontakt piano.
I believe the info that you're looking for should be on page 48 of the MP7SE's user manual, which you can check out here:
www.kawai-global.com/data/manuals/MP7SE_EN_R100.pdf
Great review. I’m choosing among the MP7se, Korg Grandstage, and the Roland RD2000. I’m looking for something that suits classical piano and jazz especially in executing trills, delicate, fast passages, and fast repeated notes. Which of these would be the best for my use case? Thank you
The Kawai sounds great in classical music🎹🎶
The realest piano sound out of these models comes out of the grand stage. People in such communities love certain brands and most of them fail to reason properly. The Rd 2000 is way too complicated if you're looking for a home instrument. Nord, (that you don't mention here), is too unaffordable while the MP 7 SE doesn't sound like a piano.
If I were in your position I'd get a Roland FP-60 X. The metallic taste of the supernatural piano engine does well with classical pieces. A CP 88 from yamaha, especially with the new updated sounds would do very well too.
Then, if you're good with computers and comfortable with VSTs, get a reasonably priced digital piano and install keyscape on your computer. I assure you nothing does better in terms of providing a realistic piano sound than keyscape.
Wish you luck!
@@stenaldomehilli8809 Doesn't sound like a piano, LOL. If it does one thing better than all of the boards you mention, it's the piano sounds.
@@dk2428 I agree🎹🎶
@Konstantin Ridaya True, the 11 is in a class of its own. Still the best option for piano aficionado's out there.
I used to own the Kawai MP6 at the same time I had the Yamaha MX61. Different instruments: the MP6 is a stage piano and the MX61 is a synth. But there was one thing that bothered me about the MP6 pianos: unnaturally short decay. In a real piano, the note doesn't decay immediately. This made the MP6 sound somehow artificial, despite having the 88 keys sampled. One the other hand, the Yamaha MX61 was a 61-key synth with no dedicated piano engine, but it had a piano sound with long decay and sounded more authentic for that reason. I ended up using the Kawai MP6 as a MIDI controller for the Yamaha MX61. I have found this "short decay" problem to be fairly present in digital pianos. The MP7SE has "Harmonic Imaging XL" while the MP6 had "Progressive Harmonic Imaging". The XL means "extra long", which extends the critical attack portion of the sound... but it is NOT a full sample note. Still the short decay problem.
All sample-based digital piano manufacturers currently sample all 88 keys (for example, Yamaha samples all 88 keys at different velocities). But nothing is mentioned about the LENGTH of the sample. I can only think of Dexibell and their Vivo H10/H10MG explicitly mentioning up to 15 seconds of sample on the lowest notes (still very short compared to a real piano). This is one detail where a vst may hold an advantage over digital pianos. That said, having a full length of sample per key does not guarantee great sound, as the engine must be able to stitch the notes together organically and dynamically.
Maybe for most of the jazz pieces that Stu plays here, which consist of passages with lots of short notes in rapid succession with little dynamic expression, the short decay problem does not become evident. In fact, it is masked by this style of composition, for which the MP7SE sounds great. But when he plays more demanding pieces, like classical pieces that require longer decay and more expressiveness with higher dynamic range, you can see how the MP7SE falls short of expressiveness and authenticity. It reminds me of a similar problem I find in Halion 6 (vst) with their basic 8-velocity layer piano sample: it sounds very pretty, as long as you don't expose its decay/choppy integration between keys problem. So, maybe the MP7SE is great for jazz... not so much for classical.
Brilliant summary. I would add that this rapid decay, also makes it sound a bit brighter - Japaneesy. Like all things - subjective, may not be to everyone's taste, or fit into all music genres.
I agree with this. I have had a
Roland RD-88 which I hated a lot because the short decay and exchanged it for a Yamaha P-125. Nothing beter in the market that the decay time of Yamaha.
I am considering buying the Kawai Mp7se or, Yamaha p515 but, I have heard there are problems with the kawai MP 7se keybed, keys sticking or, not sounding,/working at all. I would rather have the Kawai because, I prefer the piano sounds, warmer than the Yamaha but, i don't want to spend lots of money to be disappointed. Has anyone experienced these kind of problems with the keys/keybed on the Mp7se ??
Hi Tim! Brent from Merriam Music here! The MP7SE is a wonderful, fully-loaded stage piano! The onboard piano sounds are fantastic and amongst the most authentic that you will find on the market. In terms of the reliability of the RHIII action, while I have read about some of the issues you mentioned on forums. From what I have observed with our customers, the MP7SE and its action are quite reliable. I can only recall a single isolated incident where an MP7SE came in with action-related issues and that was from a professional performer that was gigging heavily with the instrument and relying on a gig bag for transportation. In any case, Kawai has some of the very best post-sale support in the entire industry. :)
Thanks Merriam. I'm still not sure but, my other choice the studiologic numa x gt is looking favourite as it has the latest Fatar keybed and their reliability is very high. It also has wonderful piano sounds, which is great for a player like myself, interested in pianos mainly. I currently own a Boston steinway upright and need a practice keyboard with a great touch and sound.
I was under the missunderstanding until i read elswhere, that the mp7se had usb audio out as well as midi. However, that is not the case.
Do you think its a cost thing why its not added? Or is it not classed as being that important? I can see a benefit to having usb audio out, and some lesser quality keyboards have it. I wonder why Kawai do not?
The MP7SE does not have onboard speakers, so having a USB audio interface isn't particularly useful in this case. Typically, it is included in order for people to play audio back via a VST plug in on the piano's onboard speakers.
So… the MP7SE, I know it has a few more sounds on it and that the MP11SE has the superior Keybed, but are the actual piano sounds identical on the MP7SE as the MP11SE? or are there more piano sounds and are they higher quality??
Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! The MP7SE has 256 built-in sounds versus the MP11SE's 40. With that said, the core tone engine is the same (Harmonic Imaging XL) and the primary piano sounds are the same samples. Thanks and hope this helps! :)
@@MerriamPianos Hi Brent! Thanks so much for responding quickly, nobody else does when you asks questions on RUclips normally 🙄 anyway, i Just sold my Kawai MP11 (older model) after 7 and half years to a local guy here in the UK 🇬🇧 i even made a £200 profit 😀 I have just found out I now have to wait until July before Kawai get any stock of the MP11SE, so apart from the MP11SE Keybed being superior, I’m thinking about getting the MP7SE instead.. as long as the sounds are identical (piano wise) ?? Maybe I won’t miss the real wooden keys action of the MP11SE? What are your thoughts my friend?
Great review ! I'm torn between the MP7se and the Yamaha CP88. Any thoughts?
i bought the cp88 and returned it. bought the mp7-se instead the touch and sound are so much better
Okay, Stu, you've done them all, except... the Kawai VPC1! It would have been the perfect complement to all of your VST reviews, but, well, a stand-alone review (maybe with using the C. Bechstein DG 282 that's part of Pianoteq 7?) will have to do! :-)
I agree, but would also appreciate Stu's opinion on the Yamaha CP88. I'm currently in the market for a stage piano and it's between this MP7SE and the CP88. I've owned the MP11SE, absolutely wonderful stage piano but way too heavy for my taste. I also have a CA58 home piano so this MP7SE might be a good 'portable' little brother, but on the other hand, it might be fun to get a piano from that other acoustic piano builder ;-)
Mp11 vs es920 just piano sound which one better? Thank you
That'll depend on who's listening, although most ppl will agree that the MP11 is in a class of it's own.
MP11SE or MP11? SE uses the same samples as the ES920.
Nice review. But what I enjoyed most was the tasteful playing. Nice job...
Thank you so much! We appreciate you taking the time to tune in. :)
Does this have internal speakers? How does it compare to es920, Stu? Any feedback here, Stu, would be highly appreciated.
Hi! Brent here! The MP7SE is a stage piano, which does not have built-in speakers. The core piano experience (tone engine and action) is essentially the same between these two models. With that said, the MP7SE is more feature rich and designed for live application, while the ES920 is intended for at home use.
Are there any major differences between this and the Kawai VPC1? Definetly looking to get one of them but I really can't decide which one to get as both seem really good.
Yes! They are very different offerings. The VPC1 is a MIDI controller, which means it has no built-in sounds or features. It also has a very different all wooden key action, whereas the MP7SE is a stage piano that has a tone engine and a plastic key action.
@@MerriamPianos Thank you! May I ask, which one would you recommend solely for a piano-focused playing experience?
Could you please do a comparison between the kawai MP7SE and the kawai ES920? Which one is best suited for which person? Thanks!!!
Yes I am too looking for that...
Me 3
The nobs are assigneable!
Other than this weird thing with the pedal it really is such a nice keyboard nicest one I’ve ever owned
For sure! The MP7SE is an absolute powerhouse with an impressive tone, action, and feature offering. :)
Question: I just got mine and when I press down on the sustain pedal it has this weird fuzzy static sound, pretty distracting. I don’t have an amp and just play through headphones so maybe it’s just the headphones? But it only happens when I have the damper down, I’m able to mix it out okay but if I turn up the main slider too much it’s pretty audabile
Hmmm I am not exactly sure why that would be happening. It could have something to do with the headphones or the headphone connection. It is difficult to say without being able to troubleshoot and triage the instrument in person. With that said, testing out different headphones or running the MP7SE through speakers might be a good way to narrow down what the problem is.
Probably the pedal noise, like on a real acoustic piano?
Hi Stu, can you make at least one more video with the MP7SE and compare it to some other piano in a similar price range? Thanks.
Thanks for the suggestion! We will do our best to feature the MP7SE in a comparison video soon. :)
Hi, does the MP7SE have the older RH3 action as on the ES8, or the improved RH3 as on the ES920?
Hi! The MP7SE and ES920 use the same RHIII action. It is the new CN models (201 and 301) that use the newer, extra-cushioned version of the action. WIth that said, there was a shift in the sensor boards that are being used with the RHIII action. To my knowledge, all new batches of MP7SE and ES920 pianos use these new sensor boards as well.
Thanks for the info 🙂
Incredible instrument. Is there a better stage piano out there for the money? I don’t think so.
I certainly couldn't find a better one, love my MP7SE!
Wow
:)
Have you olater the Kawai VPC1,if so how do You feel about the action and with Virtual instruments?Your playing is incredible,thanks for the video on Kawai MP7SE!!!!!!
Have you playoff the Kawai VPC1,if so how do You feel about the action and with Virtual instruments?Your playing is incredible,thanks for the video on Kawai MP7SE!!!!!!
I'm not sure why you work in a Piano shop selling pianos , you should be in some awesome band earning envious amounts of dosh ! great review as usual Stu
Stu is not a salesman, take time to investigate...
Also have a listen to his albums. Enjoy!
@philippebertrand3820 hi. What is Stu's full name and album name please?
Standard Grand might be the sound of an es-920 as it is "standard" sounding. Some of the other piano voices also seem a bit thin. Overall though, this is an excellent sounding instrument. I know most people that play it, speak highly of it.
To me it sounds more like the second default piano sound you get on the ES 110 only a bit more refined not an ES 920. The ES 920 sounds way different than that🎹🎶
I play it and there's nothing thin about the main piano sounds. The other ones might be somewhat off, but you can always edit them. just like the organs sounds, do they sound exactly like the real thing? No, of course not, non of these dp's can achieve that. But with some editing, you can get really close, while still having the great piano sounds on tap.
Standard grand is the most old sample of kawai. Its the second piano sample of the es110 or the second grand of the old mp7.
The “thin” pianos are excellent when you play in a band 😊
It this MP7SE model still a good buy for 2022?
I am a massive fan of the Kawai MP line! The MP7SE is a fantastic stage piano that offers great value given its calibre of action and sound and plethora of onboard features. :)
mp7se 후속상품이 곧 나올 가능성은 없나요? 출시된지 오래된것같아서요
what type of speakers are you using they said great
Hi James! I believe a Roland keyboard amp was used for this demo video. :)
Tengo un K4 que compré hace 25 años de segunda mano. Desde entonces he comprado varios teclados de otras marcas para complementar sus sonidos y añadir ritmos y secuencias nuevas, Yamaha, Roland, Korg, y la verdad es que la calidad del sonido de Kawai y su refinado procesamiento de la señal no la cambio por ningún otro, aparte de la calidad de sus teclas es impresionante, tantos años y no amarillean, tan blancas como al principio. Mi comentario no tiene nada que ver con esta maravilla que nos enseña este video, pero he de reconocer que la calidad y el esmero de Kawai hasta en sus modelos menores me ha sorprendido muy gratamente. Un saludo desde Madrid, y sigan disfrutando de la música 🎵.
Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! Thanks for reaching out and sharing your insights! I certainly agree about Kawai's incredible quality and consistency throughout their entire line at all price points. Thanks again and happy playing! :)
I found my reply 😂👍🏻...even if the one on Nord Grand is not strictly the same because customized by Nord.
I am happy to hear that you found the info you were looking for! :)
man .... what is the composer again ... at minute 07:09 ? Anyone?
Greig: Piano Concerto in A minor, Op. 16
Anyone know the main differences betwren this and the es920?
The MP7SE is a stage piano that does not have any built-in speakers, whereas the ES920 has built-in speakers. There are other differences, but that is the biggest different between the two. :)
@@MerriamPianos thanks much
Do you guys think that this is still a piano worth buying in 2024 considering the lower price (1560 dollars)?
Absolutely! The MP7SE is an absolute powerhouse! I think it still holds up as an excellent stage piano option in 2024. :)
Am I correct in concluding that this is a way better option than the Kawai ES920, since it has more sounds and features, the same action, a better build quality, and it's cheaper ???
Definitely! Go for it, you won't regret it.
Although it's the same action, I think it feels firmer (and better) as rendered on the MP-7SE. The ES920 has the advantage of some good speakers and a lighter carry weight, but I'm sure the MP-7SE is better for anyone doing many gigs or requiring a home studio piano, and that it will last longer. Do buy a case/bag with castors for transporting this one.
@@Zoco101do you own one?
It would be hard not to respect the Kawai MP7-SE, and this is because of its tremendous versatility, build quality and general value for money. Indeed, it tries to be all things to all men/women. Does it succeed?
Well it definitely has more kudos in classical circles than say a Roland RD or a Nord Stage, but I suspect it doesn't blend as well in a modern band. Its appearance is very old school too (something I quite like actually) but it might lose points there for some musicians.
For me it's like that girl I respected but never dated because I thought we would probably be wasting each other's time. Another girl always came along. It's intriguing! Shall I always wonder about her, I mean it? Lol. Looking at it another way - if you can't decide which mid-priced digital piano to buy, you probably need an MP7-SE.
PS Does anybody know if it's easy to blend the zone volumes on stage with an MP7-SE? I'm guessing that those 4 knobs do that.
Well Mike, i decided to date that girl, and she turned out 'being 'the one'. Hahaha. Anyway, build to last, best action, wonderful -- fully customizable- piano, organ , roads, leads,...at a very attractive price. And yes, the 4 sliders are meant to do that.
@@dk2428 how does it work i the mix of a band with the piano sound?
@@svensvensson6705 I use it in a home recording setting. Do you mean blending zone volumes?
@@dk2428 I have heard that it maybe has a hard time sticking out in the mix of other instruments in a band
@@svensvensson6705 Yeah there's ppl saying so...I just don't believe it. There's so much tweaking you can do to the sounds these days...why should't it be possible to cut through the mix!? Also, its so intuitive you don't have to do a lot of menu diving to do so, absolutely love the layout of this board.
👍
:)
arius 163: released at namm 2016
arius 164: released at namm 2019
arius 165:will it be released namm 2022?
namm 2022 is delayed to june
I used to play all the Brands from Roland, Kurzweil, Yamaha. Now since over 20 Year i played from the Mp8, Mp7 and now the Mp7 SE. In my opinion, there is simply nothing better.
The Kawai MP series stage pianos are phenomenal! Amazing touch and tone and built like tanks! :)
@@MerriamPianos try these settings in virtual tech stu, light+
Dynamic, damper resonance on 7, string resonance on 6, using the sk ex. I don’t know why people think the ex concert grand is brighter , i feel the sk ex concert is the brigher one and even more resonant on highs than other sounds. To me the ex concert grand is too bassy on the lows
If you tweak virtual tech right youll get an amazing sound on all sounds
It is the sk ex that has WAY WAY MORE resonance than any other sound, and i like playing with the LA piano under Settings/ epiano.
@merriam music, i found a hack that kawai wasnt aware of, it wasnt in their manual but i can in fact use all 4 sliders now to make a layer of 4 sounds. Ill have to email and show you but its possible. Wish someone would make a video of how to access the hidden sound bank!
I have the Kawai ES8 and I'd like to get other sounds, specially hammond organ. Do you think the MP7 SE is good at that or it would be better to ger other keyboard to add to my ES8. p.s. I don't want to depend on computers. Thanks
I loved this piano but buying this in India is pain. Sweetwater has it for $1800 approx but where as at two different outlets of same dealer it is @$4300 and $2900 approx.
Lol
Ready to buy, but feel like a MP8SE can't be too far away
Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! Kawai's MP series is fantastic, so I think you will be thrilled with what it offers. I have not heard any word from our Kawai reps as to an update to either the MP7SE or MP11SE as of this time.
@@MerriamPianos Good to know...thanks for the reply.
mp7se vs es920?
Thanks for the suggestion! Those two models are in slightly different categories (stage piano versus all-in portable digital), but we do our best to tackle as many comparison suggestions as possible and will add your suggestion to the list. :)
Really waiting for the comparison! Because someone said that ES920 action is slightly better than the one that in ES8 (since they are the same RH3). Is the action on MP7SE the same as the one in ES920?
I have the Kawai Es8 and I use 6 out of 9 acoustic piano sounds. There are only two that I don't like. I bought it, intead of the MP7SE because it's got speakers but, since I usually use headphones, now I would have chosen the MP7SE because it's got more tones.
The ES8 and MP7SE are both wonderful portable digital pianos. Of course, the frequency of use of the onboard speakers would be one of the biggest deciding factors. However, in either case, you are getting a piano that provides a truly satisfying musical experience. :)
Lovely content as always, it's a joy to hear you play!
The piano though is so unreal... not in the "amazing sense". It's just not real. There's something there that makes it digital, From the very moment the hammers hit.
Listen to it live, the piano sounds are the best in the business.
@@dk2428 Hahah, the sound we're getting here comes streight out of the line-outs. Can't be more live than this. For the ones who know how to listen and don't judge based on preferences and whatever this should make a very unreal piano sound. It might be useful in certain ocasions, even preferable, but deeply unreal.
Live, like in a room, instead of listening on whatever device you are. And you're the reference when it comes to critical listening, right? I guess all Kawai engineers got it wrong, they should hire you, to make their products sound real. Rediculous.
@@dk2428 also if you're listening to these piano reviews it's realy advisable to use good ear phones 🎹🎶
@@MERCEDES-BENZS600GUARD_V12 True, i always listen on my DT770s.
The piano tone let’s it down, so I bought the Nord Grand, which has the same action. But…I’d say that the mp7 is more than worth the cash whereas the Nord is not. (Yes I’m an idiot)
The nord is 3x the price and believe me, the sounds are, if all, definitely not 3x better 😅 Like i said in my first comment, phenomenal value.
The Nord Grand has access to incredible samples, particularly the White Grand. However, even still I can't justify spending what they're asking for it. But, I'm still quite jealous of those who have it.
@@Kyuuketsuki02 don’t be jealous, I have one and it makes more sense buying the mp7 or 11
Sounds a bit bright to me. Not sure if the sound would fit, for singer songwriter use case. In a solo scenario or accompanying a vocalist, it does sound a bit thin/anemic. - all these are comments about the acoustic piano sound. The electric piano sounds, I guess we are spoiled by so many excellent options in the sampled piano examples that the bar has been raised. In 2021, sadly one may need to pass on this keyboard, cos there are other options.
In general, the lower priced stage pianos, which are not the top of the line in their range, tend to be a bit of a let down. Probably better to pony up some more cash and get the top of line stage piano. I think the current/recent alternatives from Nord, Yamaha or Roland, in that order may represent better long term value. I'm judging by the sound of the samples, which is my priority - it's all about the sound.