Thank you so much for your style of review. So many standard keyboard reviews don't convey what the keyboard actually feels like, and I think your did a perfect job! :)
Excellent vid Angelo. It is really great to see you're enjoying the P-525. Thoroughly enjoying the musical examples you're playing as well. The only P-525 vids I seen online had been from Yamaha. This is the first vid I have seen not affiliated with Yamaha. Thumbs up!
In case folks were wondering about that pocket next to the left speaker with the USB port - that's for Flash Memory. You can save and of course load songs, both MIDI and Audio, to the flash drive, or keep a library of rhythm and backing tracks of needed.
The strange thing is that you had two of the keyboards/pianos I’m considering. I’m also considering the montage m8x. Just waiting to get to try the keybeds, when I finally will get to try them. One question. I didn’t like the ph4 action. Is the ph50 much better/different?
Great review! Interesting that you mention the Kawaii Es290, and that you're impressed it. I tried the Es290 yesterday in a store as it happens. I loved the feel/action of it, and I was impressed by the sounds, too. The conventional wisdom online seems to be that the piano sounds are very good, the Electric Pianos solid but less impressive, and the organs pretty average. Naturally I had fairly low-to-middling expectations for the non-piano sounds but I was highly impressed by the electric piano sounds with and without effects, and as for the organ goes, I think you can get some really good sounds particularly with the amp and cabinet turned on. The only thing I was really disappointed by was the rotary - I noticed you could change the speed of it using the "effects", but when I tried speeding the rotary up, with the intention of switching back and forth from rotary to no rotary, I noticed that every time I switched the rotary on I lost a lot of body (and possibly volume, too). So, that was a bit underwhelming. I'm just wondering if that's just my experience from a trial in a shop - maybe there is a way around that with the right settings - or is that your experience too? FWIW, I like the action and piano sound of the Yamaha P525 but I prefer the non-piano sounds of the Kawaii ES920, and I think the piano sounds and action stand up to the P525.
Hi Daniel, it was really interesting reading you comment. Thanks for posting. I totally agree with you! Sadly not as the Kawai is rather limited on what you can do to edit and enhance the sounds. Weirdly… I have now gone back to gigging with my Roland fantom 8 as I love the action and since they released their new update the added German concert is second to none 😁. STILL annoying no in built speakers through!! I think Kawai and Yamaha were the best for real piano sounds at that price range but no since the Roland had the new update. I also think the Roland has the best organ sounds about now 😄
I am a male adult who refuses to carry 22kg digital piano 😄 We do not have P-525 in Canada yet but I am considering P-525 (not for gigging of course). I returned both Roland FP-90X and P-515 (after 9-10 months each) - all because of their actions. NWX is unacceptably heavy. I should add that PHA50 action is not wooden but white keys just have wooden side inserts. Here are the downweight values for GrandTouch-S action Middle C (C4) - ~60g C7 - 50g C6 - ~55g C2 - ~70g C3 - 60g C4# - ~50g - 60g (middle of black key) NWX 84g to move middle C (C4) C7 - 70g C6 - more than 75g C2 - more than 90g C3 - 90g Yamaha C7 Middle C (C4) - ~50g C7 - 45g C2 - 54g C3 - 52g C4# - ~52g - ~56g (middle of black key)
It is noticeably more realistic for pushing down for anyone who regularly uses an acoustic piano. The only thing is on this new p525 the black keys feel very plastic so even though the action is better I personally feel the key material of the p 515 is more like my own Yamaha grand. I’ve been playing the p525 all day now and the huge difference in great feeling white keys and plastic light black keys is starting to annoy me a bit now. My Roland fantom 8 studio arranger keyboard does feel more like an acoustic grand… but the Yamaha p525 feels more like a well weighted upright. The Yamaha is less fatiguing whilst being very realistic too. I would opt to gig mostly on the Yamaha as I can play for more extended periods.
@@AngeloProMusician you mean that playing on the PHA-50 action is more tiring than the GrandTouch-S ? And thus you can play the yamaha for extended periods and you can't on the roland? DId I understand corect? But the pha-50 feels more like a grand piano and the p525 more like an upright? am I getting what you are saying? From the reviews and what i've read so far I think I might get the roland fp90x(pha-50 action) over the p525. I'm going to be using it as a VST controller with pianoteq most of the time so I think the roland might be better than the yamaha for that particular scenario idk what do you think?
@@radoslavdragnev8797Yes that’s exactly correct. I would also agree with you and recommend you use the Roland action as a controller as it’s superior. Personal view of course but I think the majority would share it too.
@@AngeloProMusicianin your opinion this mechanic isn’t it too light compared to the previous p515 ? For me is more realistic the heavier mechanic on p515
Cheers, great video, thanks! I’m a classical piano teacher with a Steinway at home and just need a portable piano for visiting family and friends etc. Currently I have a Casio PX S3000 for this - bought for its compactness and pretty good bang for buck at the time. If cost is no object, is this the best piano to replace it with - including Kawai and Roland in your opinion? Tia.
Thank you for watching. I find the Roland FP-90x and fantom 8 have an action closer to the Steinway I play and I find the Kawai ES920 has one most similar to the brighter Yamaha acoustics and all the Kawai range (not surprising. Suppose you wanted to get one as close as possible to a Steinway I would have to say Roland FP-90X for the action. Overall the Kawai ES920 gives a more accurate acoustic piano feel tough if you want to sit and feel like you are playing an acoustic. This is because the Kawai sound system and tones are FAR superior to the Roland ones. Via an audio interface I find it will be up to one’s preference. Live I think most, if not all, would say Kawai gives a closer feel of playing on an acoustic. However, I find the Roland better for playing the very highest level pieces as I can play faster on its keybed… that might just be me of course!
No, the Kawai Es 920 has very annoying key bounce. I thought i might change mine if an improved model came along but that yamaha keybed sounds as noisy. The kawai speakers are not that good too, sounds a lot better with krk7 speakers attached. The noisy key bounce does annoy the hell out of me though
Ooo that’s interesting. I often use my Kawai ES920 for recording and there is no audable key bounce. Interestingly the speakers of the Kawai I have (I’ve never used another one so not sure) are so good I often get comments from people thinking I’m using an acoustic grand. Maybe if yours is from a different batch that is why our same models are so different?
excellent review - I might just replace my trusty 23 year old Yamaha P-80 with one of these! However, I still want to know how you do the pigeon-neck-strut thingy! I agree that an XLR output would be great on this pricey an instrument - cheers from Toronto
I’d love to hear your recommendation for a good quality digital piano for a new player that they can grow into over the years. I’m considering the Casio PX-S7000.
stick with Yamaha - the CASIO pianos have a very hollow-sounding mid-range...if you're on a tight budget and need a decent GHA (graded hammer action) keyboard - find yourself a Yamaha P-80 in good condition
@@MimicoBungalowThe P80 is incredibly old. I still have one, but the action is suffering. I also have a P-255, which is a lot newer and better in so many ways - sound and output and connectivity in particular. Admittedly, I found the action too light at first, but I'm so glad I bought it. The P80 action now feels very clunky, apart from having sticking key issues. A secondhand P-255 is a good option.
I already had this piano (a previous model) and used it for a long time and learned a lot. It really replaces a grand piano very well, for the price it costs. However, nowadays I prefer models with more features. I recently acquired the DGX670, I'm loving making my arrangements on it and playing songs with full playback. I'm now eyeing the top lines of the Clavinova CVP. I also recommend Casio's GP pianos, which are wonderful.
Brilliant. I have 2 videos on my channel all about the DGX670 if you wanted to take a look. ruclips.net/video/GA4c8wXlhvc/видео.htmlsi=Yg12efqxAxTYIZSR
Yes I also own the 670 and I love it. More than the P-525 by miles. I also have a CVP and can really highly recommend them. Brilliant and exciting tools to work with. If you get one I’m sure you will really enjoy it.
@@AngeloProMusician Hello, why do you "love" the DGX-670 "much more than the P-525"? Certainly the DGX is more versatile, but obviously anything but more valuable than the P-525, which has a much higher quality keyboard (which should be important for a pianist) and is therefore significantly more expensive. PS: Does the P-525 also work with the "Smart Pianist" app?
How heavy is the action on this? I don't like excessively heavy action, and the p515 was famous for having almost double the weight of a normal acoustic piano (which would be 50-55 grams of actuation force). the p515 was 80-85! is this any better? Because that would kinda be a disqualifying factor for me.
I found it less heavy than the 515 for sure BUT… I’ve stopped going by what the manufacturers say anymore because I’ve had multiple occasions where my pianos that are exactly the same feel very different. I did a whole review on how bad the Roland FP- 90 action was and then I played someone else’s and it was amazing. Then I went to a shop and it was bad again 😂. In this case I REALLY liked the action on the p525 and had no complaints and I didn’t notice a huge difference compared to my hand piano. It was heavier than Kawai es920 and lighter than Roland FP-90 and also Yamaha 515
Thank you for doing the test of action noise. Unfortunately I disagree that the action of ES920 is silent - it is very bouncy and noisy when the keys are coming up. The quietest action, I have recently tested is GHC (Yamaha P-225). Roland PHA-4 is also very noisy (especially when the keys are coming to resting position). PHA50 is not bad but louder than GHC Michael
Interestingly, the action in my Roland fantom 8 and Roland FP 90 are meant to be the same. But… the fantom is almost noiseless and is quieter than everything else I own. I’ve had 3 Kawai ES8s and one was really quiet and the others SO noisy. From my own experiences it comes down to the individual piano batches produced too. Bit weird! 😅
@@AngeloProMusician Thank you. Very interesting. I also noticed that each of my three digital pianos with PHA-4 action had different level of action noise.
Hi, question: at 9.00: is it possible to WEIGHT THEBLACK KEYS? Since you've said that the TOUCH is a bit light in comparison to the one behind you! Oh and with regard to the BRACE: CAN YOU DECIDE WHAT HEIGHT YOU WANT?
It depends on what I’m needing the piano for. Roland for use as a midi controller or needing a piano with Bluetooth 5 tech so I can use a second pedal for page turns. Kawai for realistic piano sound and solo acoustic piano replica sounds or jazz gigs. The Yamaha I wouldn’t use above either.
@@AngeloProMusician thanks for the answer. I just have a hard time finding a digital piano or keyboard with good keys, good amplifier-speaker system and a good sound engine 😞
Maybe because external microphones but piano sounds...I don't like, it sound as a "electronics"... So what about keys, feeling more lighted (returned my P 515 , way to heavy keys feeling to my taste)? Using Kawai ES920 several month now and really happy... Like design , similar to Kawai too. Thank you so much for introducing.
Unfortunately I don’t think it’s the mic. I also dislike the sounds. Compared to the Kawai ES920 there is no comparison. Kawai easily wins. Actually I have now returned this Yamaha and bought the ES920 instead. It’s SO much better!
I have a P515. I went into a music shop to try out the P525 because I thought I might be missing out. I took an immediate dislike to it! The piano feel and sound wasn't as good IMO. Maybe its because the speakers were up against a wall I'm not sure about that. The sound boost feature is a must and makes a fantastic difference to the sound of the piano. You can change the key action . . I always use soft 2 which helps reduce the apparent key weight. The only downside is the weight nearly 50 lbs so really its not that portable. I love my P515!
Thank you for this. I've been waiting for the P525 instead of buying the fairly old P515, however I'm now doubting the new model and think the P515 may be the better purchase. I'm mainly interested in a good action and warm tone for classical music, so likely to use Bösendorfer sound primarily. Would you agree?
Yes I agree not to get the P525. I’ve already sent mine back. I chose to get a Kawai ES 920 instead of either of the Yamahas you mentioned and am REALLY pleased with it. It’s such an immersive experience to play it! My favourite stage piano with speakers I’ve ever played actually. I would recommend the ES920 for sure. Plus it’s much easier to access everything you need over the Yamaha system.
@@AngeloProMusicianThe ES920 keys are very light IMO. It's kind of a copy of the P-255, which also has light keys, plus the three band graphic EQ and a modest weight, compared to the ES8, for example. I did get used to the light keys on my P-255, but I'd prefer heavier ones if they weren't heavier to carry as well. So the key action was virtually the only thing I did like on the P-515. In most other senses I felt it was a very disappointing replacement to the P-255. And it was too heavy to carry about anyway. Kawai piano sounds and Yamaha piano sounds are completely different. Normally, if you enjoy one brand, you don't enjoy the other. So far, I can't get used to Kawai, and I have bought 5 Yamaha digital pianos. Sadly, Yamaha seems to be losing its way now on portable pianos. The two best models IMO (now deleted) were the P-255 and the P-121. I bought them both, and for different applications. If I suddenly need a portable piano in the near future I'll get an RD-88, or an FP-60X. I slightly prefer Yamaha sounds, but these two instruments have better actions and designs than today's portable Yamahas.
Angelo please tell me the name of that boogie woogie like song you played near the end of the review. I would like to learn that. Would freatly enhance my playing skills
Great vid! Great music examples. Anyone here know how the key action compares to the Montage M8x? Is this one heavier or lighter in the key action?Best Regards
They are a little heavier than the Kawai ES8 and the Yamaha p 525 does feel more realistic than it. I would say the Yamaha feels more similar to a Kawai upright than Kawai’s own ES8 and ES920 do.
I own Two digitals with PHA 4 and 50 actions .. I have heard that the 525 it's very heavy action Try to place a mobile on your Phantom keys and the same in the 525
@@mfurman do you know the exact numbers of the PHA50? Also wondering if the action of the PHA50 can modified to have less resistance say -10 grams of weight on each key. That would make mine much more playable. Currently trills are way too hard especially long trills to make them clean is very very hard
@@radoslavdragnev8797 Hi Radoslav, these are not very detailed measurements but here you are: Middle C (C4) - 60g C2 - 70g C3 - 60g C6 - >~60g PHA50 is lighter than PHA-4, has less pronounced escapement, softer “bottom” and is quieter. Action down weight is measured usually without any sound triggering (to trigger sound you need higher pressure) and cannot be regulated in digital pianos (and it takes a bit of work in acoustic pianos). Different sensitivity that you can adjust in digital piano is simply adjustment of dynamic response (pp, p, f, ff) of the sound engine to the movement of keys). Michael Ps. Kawai and Yamaha (plastic actions) are lighter than Roland’s actions
@@mfurman So on paper the Grand Touch S on the yamaha p525 is the same as the fp90x. But people (and angelo) review it as a lot lighter than the ES920 which is a lot lighter than the fp90x. So if I have the fp90x shold I switch to p525 if all I care about is action?
Great video Angelo and I have to say I'm GUTTED about the key action on this as it is supposed to be better than the P515. I absolutely LOVE my P515 (apart for the unrealistically heavy action) and was crying out for an 'upgrade' having a superior key action. I demoed the Roland FP90x last year with a view to replacing the P515. The Roland has a FAR superior key action but the modelled sounds were WAY inferior to the Yamaha for my liking so I stuck with the Yamaha. How can a company such as Yamaha get the key action on this new model so drastically wrong 😭
I agree with everything you said. I’ve already returned my Yamaha P-525. I bought it with the view to keep and enjoy it even more than the P-515 but no!! Yamaha got this one WAY off. Action is fast but not realistic, sounds are worse, the plastic bows when you lift it and you can’t put a right angled Jack lead in the new model because Yamaha put a bit of plastic in the way… massive accidental error there not allowing musicians to use a right angle Jack lead. Oops! I love using the Roland fantom with Native instruments and also the Kawai ES-920 for gigging with a realistic piano sound. I was hoping the P-525 would have a superior action to both but sadly not.
@@AngeloProMusicianHello, I'm a little confused with this comment since it has a very different enthusiasm for the product compared to what I took from the video... With the sound and action being sub par, would you say the 525 isn't even an upgrade from the 515? (Ie, at approx $700 NZD cheaper I would be better off to get the 515??). Cheers, Micah
I had Roland FP-90X and returned it because PHA50 did not feel realistic comparing with acoustic pianos. I also had P-515 that I also returned after ~9 months. NWX heavy action started to impact my fingers and I had to stop playing on it. I now practice on Yamaha C7 (rent time) that has very light action. I liked GrantTouch-S action that I tested (Clavinova CLP745)
Roland FP-90 or 90x would be what you are looking for. I’ve owned one for many years and they are a direct competitor to the Yamaha p-525. I think the Roland is better to be honest.
What do you think the Yamahaa vs the Kawai ES920? I am having a hard time deciding between the two. I'm buying one of them on the 29th. Price is not the point I'm considering in determining which I buy. They are both under $2000. Thanks, Jenn p.s. Classical is my forte. Don't know if that makes a difference.
If you don't have to carry it much, the P-525 is probably a better buy for a classical musician, due to the heavier (wood) action. The speakers should be better too. I haven't actually tried it yet, but I have tried the P-515 and the ES920, and I've followed the reviews on all three. The ES920 action (RH3) is a bit light for me, and I'm not even a classical musician. Most pianists have strong opinions about SK-EX sound vs CFX sound. I mean how they sound/respond to the player. It's highly subjective, and this is why you should try for yourself. I prefer CFX, but you might prefer SK-EX.
minute 13:04 ruclips.net/video/UgUTktczFuw/видео.html explains W&B keys have different fulcrum points in Grand Touch-S keyboards. Could that be the reason of the lighter action of B over W keys?
Thank you so much for this great video! On question. What piano do you prefer? Yamaha P525 or Roland FP-90?? I have to buy one but I'm not sure what to do 😅
I think you mean the FP-90X. Both are very heavy, so I wouldn't carry them. Accordingly, I prefer home pianos to them, such as the YDP-165 and the Casio AP-750
@@mazica_art2630 I can only say that GH3 is a great action. And the Yamaha sounds emanate very well on the YDP series. The YDP-165 and YDP-145 were a bit over priced at first, but now they are worth getting, especially the YDP-165 with GH3.
I personally don't call it an upgrade. I love the P-515 just as much as the P-525. I have two P-515 and one P-525. The P-525 does have a significantly ligher 'touch-weight' than the P-515. And I like both 'actions' (ie. key mechanisms).
Hi, Yes I've played the PX-S7000 and it, for me (just a personal opinion), is not quite on par with the other brands. Keys are quite far removed from a usual 'electronic' piano action. The spec on Casio website is so good but when you sit down and play one it is just so far removed from what Kawai, Yamaha and Roland have to offer, and even further from an acoustic action. I would agree with @southpark4151 and also would not call the 525 and upgrade over the 515, accept for the bluetooth capabilities. I think the MP-11 is best for a concert pianist level but the Yamaha 525, 515, Roland FP-90 and Kawai ES-920 would all be good enough to play REALLY hard music on if you got used to the action with enough practice.
@@AngeloProMusician Many others say the 7000 wooden spruce keys feel absolutely excellent and the overall quality of the keyboard is superb throughout. I have seen one but didn't get a chance to play it. Kawaii seems quite cheaply built now and has buzzing rattling issues I have heard and some of the cheaper Yamaha actions aren't so great compared to the original NWX of the P515. I guess it just boils down to preference and opinion, so thanks all the same for the reply.
Congratulation, demonstration OK, please Ritmos of. P-525 have bossa nova and other ritmos important for me beguine, samba, valsa, etc... Fernando René-brasil
I find the GrandTouch S faster to play on than the older NX but I find the keys on the P525 to be so less realistic it means I prefer the NX quite significantly. I would agree with you when weighing up all the elements. Thank you for watching
Can anyone comment on the sound quality through the headphones out? I've heard some people complaining that the headphone sounds is really soft or muddy? I have yet to try a P525 myself. Thanks. :)
I own a P515 ... honestly having seen a few reviews and looked at the specs, is this seriously 5 years development from Yamaha on their top of the line portable digital piano? It looks almost identical to the P515, still no physical equalization sliders like their good old P255, still you have to go into the menu system to transpose (by far probably the most commonly used function and they don't include a button for it on the piano). The "new" action apparently seems to be somewhat subjective - a lot of people don't like it. And a couple more voices and very slightly more power on the speakers. As far as I can see that's all you get for 5 years development. Pretty disappointing honestly. Yamaha's upgrades of their P45 and P125 are noticeably improved, and visually different. I love my P515 for the wooden action and the Bosendorfer sampling (my preference over Yamaha's own CFX grand), but can't see any reason to "upgrade" to the P525. Seriously thinking about the Kawai ES920.
@@AngeloProMusician I have a Korg Liano for busking and casual jamming (probably THE best value keyboard on the market imo, 88 keys and great sound for around $400 CAD and weights only 6kg) - but for proper gigs and more serious endeavours ideally I was looking for something with a nice warm piano sound (hence why I use the Bosendorfer on the P515), more gig-friendly onboard features like physical equalizers and dedicated transpose, but also a key action which still feels realistic and responsive and yet not as heavy as the P515, and ideally something a bit lighter than the 50lb weight of the P515 which is just a bit too heavy for comfortable regular transportation. So yeah, I think the Kawai ES920 might tick all the right boxes. The only bad thing I've heard about it is build quality feels a bit plasticky, but frankly when it's unimportant stuff like the outside casing I'd prefer to have something a bit lighter and at 32 lbs the ES920 is almost 20lbs lighter than the P515 or P525. My main challenge at the moment is finding somewhere close to me that actually stocks the ES920 so I can try it. Most music stores where I live in lower mainland British Columbia stock exclusively Yamaha or Roland. Are you going to be doing a review of the ES920 now that you have one? Cheers.
@@AngeloProMusician I got a Kawai ES920 but I am taking it back to the store for possible swap out. I have an issue where some of the white keys are so loose they are striking the white key to the left of it causing a clicking sound. Happens all the time particularly on the C and the F to the left of middle C. Did you experience anything like this? I am hoping it's just a bit of a manufacturing/assembly issue with my specific unit rather than a design flaw, because I otherwise love the ES920 and much prefer it over my Yamaha P515.
@@AngeloProMusicianthe problems with the Kawai ES920 are (I’ve owned two of them): 1. The keys bounce like a trampoline - seriously they bounce multiple times on the release! That’s super annoying at times whilst playing. 2. The Kawai ES920 doesn’t have USB Audio so when you connect a synthesiser or VST the P-525 sounds better through the onboard speakers than the Kawai ES920.
I really wonder why Yahama won’t take lessons and learn from Kawai! Kawai puts so much more effort in their pianos. It has a great sound but the action is trash just like on the ck88. That’s why i won’t get a Yahama yet. Your playing is amazing sir! Too many Yahama keyboards are flawed and you wonder why Yahama hasn’t made a great action yet! Ck88??? No way . I watch the whole video just because i enjoy the playing😀😀 I own a kawai mp7Se and i feel it’s one of the best out there
Actions vary from model to model, even when they are ostensibly the same action. The CK-88 has the GHS action, which is not Yamaha's best action, but does seem to be improving. I think the MP7SE has RH3, but if feels better to me than the RH3 on the ES920. The whole point about the CK-88 is that it isn't a stage piano, it's a stage keyboard. It's built for keyboardists who only play piano sounds occasionally. Yamaha's two stage pianos are the CP-88 and the CP-73. Both have good actions IMO, though the 73 key model doesn't have a graded action.
The video is over 3 parts. I talk about it extensively in the next one where I also compare the action to 4 other stage pianos and relate it to most other manufacturers. Thank you so much for watching.
The Yamaha does but I have to disagree about all stage pianos... The Kawai ES8 and ES920 using their EX voice and with loudspeaker engaged both sound phenomenal through their own speakers. They are the only piano line I’ve used that people say to me they thought there was a real acoustic grand in the room. 😁
@@AngeloProMusician Ehm, software has plateaud since the Grandeur, and you can't get away with tiny speakers. When I tried the NOVUS NV10S, it was the same old plasticky cold sound. But maybe if you have these speakers it will sound better: ruclips.net/video/XRrgJ-_npls/видео.html
*** IMPORTANT FOR ANYONE CONSIDERING P525 *** - In a comment below this reviewer goes back on almost everything he says here and adds that he returned the instrument. The video as it currently stands is therefore a fairly misleading representation of what he eventually thought.
Huh? I still think exactly the same as I said in the video. I think you have got a little confused. If there are better things on the market for my needs it doesn’t suddenly mean that what this piano has to offer is suddenly obsolete. That’s like going to KFC and not having your favourite because you fancy a change that day. It doesn’t make all the other food bad 😂
Every piano under USD $6,000 has flaws - so you’re making a value vs cost tradeoff for every piano under that price point. The P-525 represents extremely good value for money - today I purchased one for USD $1,186 + tax where I live (Australia) compared to about USD $1,000 + tax for the Kawai ES920, and about USD $1,600 for the Roland FP-90X (overpriced here).
Sunlight74 is correct. In the comment below, Angelo says Yamaha got the action “WAY off!” Complains about the sounds and the build quality, and says he returned it and prefers the ES920. It’s pretty much exactly the opposite of what Angelo says in the video review. Bizarre.
Thank you so much for your style of review. So many standard keyboard reviews don't convey what the keyboard actually feels like, and I think your did a perfect job! :)
Excellent vid Angelo. It is really great to see you're enjoying the P-525. Thoroughly enjoying the musical examples you're playing as well. The only P-525 vids I seen online had been from Yamaha. This is the first vid I have seen not affiliated with Yamaha. Thumbs up!
Many thanks! I'm pleased to say I have two more videos out that are through an audio interface and show the true sound quality of it.
In case folks were wondering about that pocket next to the left speaker with the USB port - that's for Flash Memory. You can save and of course load songs, both MIDI and Audio, to the flash drive, or keep a library of rhythm and backing tracks of needed.
Thank you for this. I think we all have been waiting some time for this to be presented.
You're very welcome! Thank you for watching
The strange thing is that you had two of the keyboards/pianos I’m considering. I’m also considering the montage m8x. Just waiting to get to try the keybeds, when I finally will get to try them. One question. I didn’t like the ph4 action. Is the ph50 much better/different?
Really great review, you know what you're talking about - thank you!
Thank you that’s really kind of you to say.
great review!!
Great review! Interesting that you mention the Kawaii Es290, and that you're impressed it. I tried the Es290 yesterday in a store as it happens. I loved the feel/action of it, and I was impressed by the sounds, too. The conventional wisdom online seems to be that the piano sounds are very good, the Electric Pianos solid but less impressive, and the organs pretty average. Naturally I had fairly low-to-middling expectations for the non-piano sounds but I was highly impressed by the electric piano sounds with and without effects, and as for the organ goes, I think you can get some really good sounds particularly with the amp and cabinet turned on. The only thing I was really disappointed by was the rotary - I noticed you could change the speed of it using the "effects", but when I tried speeding the rotary up, with the intention of switching back and forth from rotary to no rotary, I noticed that every time I switched the rotary on I lost a lot of body (and possibly volume, too). So, that was a bit underwhelming. I'm just wondering if that's just my experience from a trial in a shop - maybe there is a way around that with the right settings - or is that your experience too? FWIW, I like the action and piano sound of the Yamaha P525 but I prefer the non-piano sounds of the Kawaii ES920, and I think the piano sounds and action stand up to the P525.
Hi Daniel, it was really interesting reading you comment. Thanks for posting. I totally agree with you! Sadly not as the Kawai is rather limited on what you can do to edit and enhance the sounds. Weirdly… I have now gone back to gigging with my Roland fantom 8 as I love the action and since they released their new update the added German concert is second to none 😁. STILL annoying no in built speakers through!! I think Kawai and Yamaha were the best for real piano sounds at that price range but no since the Roland had the new update. I also think the Roland has the best organ sounds about now 😄
I am a male adult who refuses to carry 22kg digital piano 😄 We do not have P-525 in Canada yet but I am considering P-525 (not for gigging of course). I returned both Roland FP-90X and P-515 (after 9-10 months each) - all because of their actions. NWX is unacceptably heavy.
I should add that PHA50 action is not wooden but white keys just have wooden side inserts.
Here are the downweight values for GrandTouch-S action
Middle C (C4) - ~60g
C7 - 50g
C6 - ~55g
C2 - ~70g
C3 - 60g
C4# - ~50g - 60g (middle of black key)
NWX
84g to move middle C (C4)
C7 - 70g
C6 - more than 75g
C2 - more than 90g
C3 - 90g
Yamaha C7
Middle C (C4) - ~50g
C7 - 45g
C2 - 54g
C3 - 52g
C4# - ~52g - ~56g (middle of black key)
Phenomenal information. Wonderful and thank you for taking the time to share it 😊
Very interesting and helpful. Was very fun! From South Korea^^
Great video. Thank you!
Sounds awesome 👍👏👏
Thanks for listening
How does the key action and features compared to the previous p515?!?
It is noticeably more realistic for pushing down for anyone who regularly uses an acoustic piano. The only thing is on this new p525 the black keys feel very plastic so even though the action is better I personally feel the key material of the p 515 is more like my own Yamaha grand. I’ve been playing the p525 all day now and the huge difference in great feeling white keys and plastic light black keys is starting to annoy me a bit now. My Roland fantom 8 studio arranger keyboard does feel more like an acoustic grand… but the Yamaha p525 feels more like a well weighted upright. The Yamaha is less fatiguing whilst being very realistic too. I would opt to gig mostly on the Yamaha as I can play for more extended periods.
@@AngeloProMusician you mean that playing on the PHA-50 action is more tiring than the GrandTouch-S ? And thus you can play the yamaha for extended periods and you can't on the roland? DId I understand corect? But the pha-50 feels more like a grand piano and the p525 more like an upright? am I getting what you are saying? From the reviews and what i've read so far I think I might get the roland fp90x(pha-50 action) over the p525. I'm going to be using it as a VST controller with pianoteq most of the time so I think the roland might be better than the yamaha for that particular scenario idk what do you think?
@@radoslavdragnev8797Yes that’s exactly correct. I would also agree with you and recommend you use the Roland action as a controller as it’s superior. Personal view of course but I think the majority would share it too.
I just traded in an RD-2000 for a Montage m8x. I agree with all the observations about the two keybeds. I still miss the RD-2000 as a result.
@@AngeloProMusicianin your opinion this mechanic isn’t it too light compared to the previous p515 ? For me is more realistic the heavier mechanic on p515
Brilliant review, cheers!
Cheers, great video, thanks! I’m a classical piano teacher with a Steinway at home and just need a portable piano for visiting family and friends etc. Currently I have a Casio PX S3000 for this - bought for its compactness and pretty good bang for buck at the time. If cost is no object, is this the best piano to replace it with - including Kawai and Roland in your opinion? Tia.
Thank you for watching. I find the Roland FP-90x and fantom 8 have an action closer to the Steinway I play and I find the Kawai ES920 has one most similar to the brighter Yamaha acoustics and all the Kawai range (not surprising. Suppose you wanted to get one as close as possible to a Steinway I would have to say Roland FP-90X for the action. Overall the Kawai ES920 gives a more accurate acoustic piano feel tough if you want to sit and feel like you are playing an acoustic. This is because the Kawai sound system and tones are FAR superior to the Roland ones. Via an audio interface I find it will be up to one’s preference. Live I think most, if not all, would say Kawai gives a closer feel of playing on an acoustic. However, I find the Roland better for playing the very highest level pieces as I can play faster on its keybed… that might just be me of course!
Yamaha #1........🎹
No, the Kawai Es 920 has very annoying key bounce. I thought i might change mine if an improved model came along but that yamaha keybed sounds as noisy. The kawai speakers are not that good too, sounds a lot better with krk7 speakers attached. The noisy key bounce does annoy the hell out of me though
Exactly. The keys are also very clicky on the way up. Completely unacceptable for me!
Ooo that’s interesting. I often use my Kawai ES920 for recording and there is no audable key bounce. Interestingly the speakers of the Kawai I have (I’ve never used another one so not sure) are so good I often get comments from people thinking I’m using an acoustic grand. Maybe if yours is from a different batch that is why our same models are so different?
The keys on a real grand also bounce when they spring back to the top - so it’s realistic.
Do you prefer this p525 or es920?
excellent review - I might just replace my trusty 23 year old Yamaha P-80 with one of these! However, I still want to know how you do the pigeon-neck-strut thingy! I agree that an XLR output would be great on this pricey an instrument - cheers from Toronto
Haha, brilliant! 🤣 Thank you very much for watching :)
I’d love to hear your recommendation for a good quality digital piano for a new player that they can grow into over the years. I’m considering the Casio PX-S7000.
Oh yes easily the S7000. To be honest for a new player the Casio PX S1100 would be great too!
stick with Yamaha - the CASIO pianos have a very hollow-sounding mid-range...if you're on a tight budget and need a decent GHA (graded hammer action) keyboard - find yourself a Yamaha P-80 in good condition
My Casio px s1100 isn't hollow sounding. A great choice for the price. @@MimicoBungalow
@@MimicoBungalowThe P80 is incredibly old. I still have one, but the action is suffering. I also have a P-255, which is a lot newer and better in so many ways - sound and output and connectivity in particular. Admittedly, I found the action too light at first, but I'm so glad I bought it. The P80 action now feels very clunky, apart from having sticking key issues. A secondhand P-255 is a good option.
How wide are the white keys? I haven't been able to find that information anywhere.
Hi, what is the stand in the background?
Great vid, does the Fantom use the PHA50 action ?
Yes fantom 8 does
Hi! does it play midi playback from USB like Clavinovas? Curious if it does Start-sync playback. A video demo would be great. thanks.
I already had this piano (a previous model) and used it for a long time and learned a lot. It really replaces a grand piano very well, for the price it costs. However, nowadays I prefer models with more features. I recently acquired the DGX670, I'm loving making my arrangements on it and playing songs with full playback. I'm now eyeing the top lines of the Clavinova CVP. I also recommend Casio's GP pianos, which are wonderful.
How are the piano sounds on the DGX 670
Brilliant. I have 2 videos on my channel all about the DGX670 if you wanted to take a look.
ruclips.net/video/GA4c8wXlhvc/видео.htmlsi=Yg12efqxAxTYIZSR
Yes I also own the 670 and I love it. More than the P-525 by miles. I also have a CVP and can really highly recommend them. Brilliant and exciting tools to work with. If you get one I’m sure you will really enjoy it.
@@AngeloProMusician Hello, why do you "love" the DGX-670 "much more than the P-525"? Certainly the DGX is more versatile, but obviously anything but more valuable than the P-525, which has a much higher quality keyboard (which should be important for a pianist) and is therefore significantly more expensive. PS: Does the P-525 also work with the "Smart Pianist" app?
How heavy is the action on this? I don't like excessively heavy action, and the p515 was famous for having almost double the weight of a normal acoustic piano (which would be 50-55 grams of actuation force). the p515 was 80-85! is this any better? Because that would kinda be a disqualifying factor for me.
I found it less heavy than the 515 for sure BUT… I’ve stopped going by what the manufacturers say anymore because I’ve had multiple occasions where my pianos that are exactly the same feel very different. I did a whole review on how bad the Roland FP- 90 action was and then I played someone else’s and it was amazing. Then I went to a shop and it was bad again 😂. In this case I REALLY liked the action on the p525 and had no complaints and I didn’t notice a huge difference compared to my hand piano. It was heavier than Kawai es920 and lighter than Roland FP-90 and also Yamaha 515
Thank you for doing the test of action noise.
Unfortunately I disagree that the action of ES920 is silent - it is very bouncy and noisy when the keys are coming up.
The quietest action, I have recently tested is GHC (Yamaha P-225).
Roland PHA-4 is also very noisy (especially when the keys are coming to resting position).
PHA50 is not bad but louder than GHC
Michael
Interestingly, the action in my Roland fantom 8 and Roland FP 90 are meant to be the same. But… the fantom is almost noiseless and is quieter than everything else I own. I’ve had 3 Kawai ES8s and one was really quiet and the others SO noisy. From my own experiences it comes down to the individual piano batches produced too. Bit weird! 😅
@@AngeloProMusician Thank you. Very interesting. I also noticed that each of my three digital pianos with PHA-4 action had different level of action noise.
Hi, question: at 9.00: is it possible to WEIGHT THEBLACK KEYS? Since you've said that the TOUCH is a bit light in comparison to the one behind you! Oh and with regard to the BRACE: CAN YOU DECIDE WHAT HEIGHT YOU WANT?
Good luck with it😊
What would you prefer of Yamaha P525, Kawai ES920 and Roland FP90X without arguing?
It depends on what I’m needing the piano for. Roland for use as a midi controller or needing a piano with Bluetooth 5 tech so I can use a second pedal for page turns. Kawai for realistic piano sound and solo acoustic piano replica sounds or jazz gigs. The Yamaha I wouldn’t use above either.
@@AngeloProMusician thanks for the answer. I just have a hard time finding a digital piano or keyboard with good keys, good amplifier-speaker system and a good sound engine 😞
Maybe because external microphones but piano sounds...I don't like, it sound as a "electronics"... So what about keys, feeling more lighted (returned my P 515 , way to heavy keys feeling to my taste)? Using Kawai ES920 several month now and really happy... Like design , similar to Kawai too.
Thank you so much for introducing.
Unfortunately I don’t think it’s the mic. I also dislike the sounds. Compared to the Kawai ES920 there is no comparison. Kawai easily wins. Actually I have now returned this Yamaha and bought the ES920 instead. It’s SO much better!
I have a P515. I went into a music shop to try out the P525 because I thought I might be missing out.
I took an immediate dislike to it!
The piano feel and sound wasn't as good IMO.
Maybe its because the speakers were up against a wall I'm not sure about that.
The sound boost feature is a must and makes a fantastic difference to the sound of the piano.
You can change the key action . . I always use soft 2 which helps reduce the apparent key weight.
The only downside is the weight nearly 50 lbs so really its not that portable.
I love my P515!
Ciaooo e complimenti per il video!!! Quale preferisci tra questo il Roland fp90x e il dexibell s8 m? Saluti dalla Sicilia
What model is the piano behind you ?and do you recommend me to get the one you play on the video….?
Thank you for this. I've been waiting for the P525 instead of buying the fairly old P515, however I'm now doubting the new model and think the P515 may be the better purchase. I'm mainly interested in a good action and warm tone for classical music, so likely to use Bösendorfer sound primarily. Would you agree?
Yes I agree not to get the P525. I’ve already sent mine back. I chose to get a Kawai ES 920 instead of either of the Yamahas you mentioned and am REALLY pleased with it. It’s such an immersive experience to play it! My favourite stage piano with speakers I’ve ever played actually. I would recommend the ES920 for sure. Plus it’s much easier to access everything you need over the Yamaha system.
@@AngeloProMusicianThe ES920 keys are very light IMO. It's kind of a copy of the P-255, which also has light keys, plus the three band graphic EQ and a modest weight, compared to the ES8, for example. I did get used to the light keys on my P-255, but I'd prefer heavier ones if they weren't heavier to carry as well.
So the key action was virtually the only thing I did like on the P-515. In most other senses I felt it was a very disappointing replacement to the P-255. And it was too heavy to carry about anyway.
Kawai piano sounds and Yamaha piano sounds are completely different. Normally, if you enjoy one brand, you don't enjoy the other. So far, I can't get used to Kawai, and I have bought 5 Yamaha digital pianos. Sadly, Yamaha seems to be losing its way now on portable pianos. The two best models IMO (now deleted) were the P-255 and the P-121. I bought them both, and for different applications.
If I suddenly need a portable piano in the near future I'll get an RD-88, or an FP-60X. I slightly prefer Yamaha sounds, but these two instruments have better actions and designs than today's portable Yamahas.
Angelo please tell me the name of that boogie woogie like song you played near the end of the review. I would like to learn that. Would freatly enhance my playing skills
Great vid! Great music examples. Anyone here know how the key action compares to the Montage M8x? Is this one heavier or lighter in the key action?Best Regards
I also have a M8 and the p525 is heavier for sure. Well on my 2 at least😅
whats the name of your arranger keyboard?
Thanks! What do you think about the weight of the keys? Do they feel light or heavy? Compared to the Kawai ES 8 ?
They are a little heavier than the Kawai ES8 and the Yamaha p 525 does feel more realistic than it. I would say the Yamaha feels more similar to a Kawai upright than Kawai’s own ES8 and ES920 do.
@@AngeloProMusician Perfect. Thank you!
I own Two digitals with PHA 4 and 50 actions .. I have heard that the 525 it's very heavy action
Try to place a mobile on your Phantom keys and the same in the 525
GrandTouch-S of P-525 is not heavier than PHA-4
Action (GrandTouch - S):
Middle C (C4) - ~60g
C7 - 50g
C6 - ~55g
C2 - ~70g
C3 - 60g
C4# - ~50g - 60g (middle of black key)
PHA-4
Middle C (C4) - ~62g
C7 - ~55g
C6 - ~59g
C2 - ~67g
C3 - 62g
C4# - ~55g - ~68g (middle of black key)
Michael
Phantom is MUCH heavier than the P525. The Phantom is much more realistic to the grand pianos I own and other that I play often.
@@mfurman do you know the exact numbers of the PHA50? Also wondering if the action of the PHA50 can modified to have less resistance say -10 grams of weight on each key. That would make mine much more playable. Currently trills are way too hard especially long trills to make them clean is very very hard
@@radoslavdragnev8797 Hi Radoslav, these are not very detailed measurements but here you are:
Middle C (C4) - 60g
C2 - 70g
C3 - 60g
C6 - >~60g
PHA50 is lighter than PHA-4, has less pronounced escapement, softer “bottom” and is quieter.
Action down weight is measured usually without any sound triggering (to trigger sound you need higher pressure) and cannot be regulated in digital pianos (and it takes a bit of work in acoustic pianos).
Different sensitivity that you can adjust in digital piano is simply adjustment of dynamic response (pp, p, f, ff) of the sound engine to the movement of keys).
Michael
Ps. Kawai and Yamaha (plastic actions) are lighter than Roland’s actions
@@mfurman So on paper the Grand Touch S on the yamaha p525 is the same as the fp90x. But people (and angelo) review it as a lot lighter than the ES920 which is a lot lighter than the fp90x. So if I have the fp90x shold I switch to p525 if all I care about is action?
Great video Angelo and I have to say I'm GUTTED about the key action on this as it is supposed to be better than the P515. I absolutely LOVE my P515 (apart for the unrealistically heavy action) and was crying out for an 'upgrade' having a superior key action. I demoed the Roland FP90x last year with a view to replacing the P515. The Roland has a FAR superior key action but the modelled sounds were WAY inferior to the Yamaha for my liking so I stuck with the Yamaha. How can a company such as Yamaha get the key action on this new model so drastically wrong 😭
I agree with everything you said. I’ve already returned my Yamaha P-525. I bought it with the view to keep and enjoy it even more than the P-515 but no!! Yamaha got this one WAY off. Action is fast but not realistic, sounds are worse, the plastic bows when you lift it and you can’t put a right angled Jack lead in the new model because Yamaha put a bit of plastic in the way… massive accidental error there not allowing musicians to use a right angle Jack lead. Oops! I love using the Roland fantom with Native instruments and also the Kawai ES-920 for gigging with a realistic piano sound. I was hoping the P-525 would have a superior action to both but sadly not.
@@AngeloProMusicianLol that was a drastic turn from the enthusiasm you had in the video 😂
@@AngeloProMusicianHello, I'm a little confused with this comment since it has a very different enthusiasm for the product compared to what I took from the video... With the sound and action being sub par, would you say the 525 isn't even an upgrade from the 515? (Ie, at approx $700 NZD cheaper I would be better off to get the 515??).
Cheers, Micah
I had Roland FP-90X and returned it because PHA50 did not feel realistic comparing with acoustic pianos. I also had P-515 that I also returned after ~9 months. NWX heavy action started to impact my fingers and I had to stop playing on it. I now practice on Yamaha C7 (rent time) that has very light action. I liked GrantTouch-S action that I tested (Clavinova CLP745)
@@micahtritscher951 Because he lived with it for a week and realized it sucked. Not complicated.
which Roland is comparable to this in terms of price and sounds and feel
Roland FP-90 or 90x would be what you are looking for. I’ve owned one for many years and they are a direct competitor to the Yamaha p-525. I think the Roland is better to be honest.
What do you think the Yamahaa vs the Kawai ES920? I am having a hard time deciding between the two. I'm buying one of them on the 29th. Price is not the point I'm considering in determining which I buy. They are both under $2000.
Thanks, Jenn
p.s. Classical is my forte. Don't know if that makes a difference.
If you don't have to carry it much, the P-525 is probably a better buy for a classical musician, due to the heavier (wood) action. The speakers should be better too. I haven't actually tried it yet, but I have tried the P-515 and the ES920, and I've followed the reviews on all three. The ES920 action (RH3) is a bit light for me, and I'm not even a classical musician.
Most pianists have strong opinions about SK-EX sound vs CFX sound. I mean how they sound/respond to the player. It's highly subjective, and this is why you should try for yourself. I prefer CFX, but you might prefer SK-EX.
minute 13:04
ruclips.net/video/UgUTktczFuw/видео.html
explains W&B keys have different fulcrum points in Grand Touch-S keyboards. Could that be the reason of the lighter action of B over W keys?
Thank you!
Thank you for watching 😊
Speakers of the P?
Thank you so much for this great video! On question. What piano do you prefer? Yamaha P525 or Roland FP-90??
I have to buy one but I'm not sure what to do 😅
P515
I think you mean the FP-90X. Both are very heavy, so I wouldn't carry them. Accordingly, I prefer home pianos to them, such as the YDP-165 and the Casio AP-750
@@Zoco101 in the last period . I like the ydp165 and GH3 very much. More than touch at Clavinova. I do not know why
@@mazica_art2630 I can only say that GH3 is a great action. And the Yamaha sounds emanate very well on the YDP series. The YDP-165 and YDP-145 were a bit over priced at first, but now they are worth getting, especially the YDP-165 with GH3.
@@Zoco101 If you think about a home piano. What do you think of clp775? Or is it not worth the price
Nice!
Thank you!
I was hoping for a drastic upgrade to the original P-515. I might just get myself the Casio PX-S7000 eventually. Have you ever played that?
I personally don't call it an upgrade. I love the P-515 just as much as the P-525. I have two P-515 and one P-525. The P-525 does have a significantly ligher 'touch-weight' than the P-515. And I like both 'actions' (ie. key mechanisms).
Hi, Yes I've played the PX-S7000 and it, for me (just a personal opinion), is not quite on par with the other brands. Keys are quite far removed from a usual 'electronic' piano action. The spec on Casio website is so good but when you sit down and play one it is just so far removed from what Kawai, Yamaha and Roland have to offer, and even further from an acoustic action. I would agree with @southpark4151 and also would not call the 525 and upgrade over the 515, accept for the bluetooth capabilities. I think the MP-11 is best for a concert pianist level but the Yamaha 525, 515, Roland FP-90 and Kawai ES-920 would all be good enough to play REALLY hard music on if you got used to the action with enough practice.
@@AngeloProMusician Many others say the 7000 wooden spruce keys feel absolutely excellent and the overall quality of the keyboard is superb throughout. I have seen one but didn't get a chance to play it. Kawaii seems quite cheaply built now and has buzzing rattling issues I have heard and some of the cheaper Yamaha actions aren't so great compared to the original NWX of the P515. I guess it just boils down to preference and opinion, so thanks all the same for the reply.
DGX670 is excellent.
I'm seriously considering this one. Can you explain why you like it?
Congratulation, demonstration OK, please Ritmos of. P-525 have bossa nova and other ritmos important for me beguine, samba, valsa, etc... Fernando René-brasil
Sorry to way but the keyboard as quality in this new 525 is lower than in the previous 515. This has Nx keyboard. What's happened???🤔🤔
I find the GrandTouch S faster to play on than the older NX but I find the keys on the P525 to be so less realistic it means I prefer the NX quite significantly. I would agree with you when weighing up all the elements. Thank you for watching
Can anyone comment on the sound quality through the headphones out? I've heard some people complaining that the headphone sounds is really soft or muddy? I have yet to try a P525 myself. Thanks. :)
I own a P515 ... honestly having seen a few reviews and looked at the specs, is this seriously 5 years development from Yamaha on their top of the line portable digital piano? It looks almost identical to the P515, still no physical equalization sliders like their good old P255, still you have to go into the menu system to transpose (by far probably the most commonly used function and they don't include a button for it on the piano). The "new" action apparently seems to be somewhat subjective - a lot of people don't like it. And a couple more voices and very slightly more power on the speakers. As far as I can see that's all you get for 5 years development. Pretty disappointing honestly. Yamaha's upgrades of their P45 and P125 are noticeably improved, and visually different. I love my P515 for the wooden action and the Bosendorfer sampling (my preference over Yamaha's own CFX grand), but can't see any reason to "upgrade" to the P525. Seriously thinking about the Kawai ES920.
You are SO correct! I gave the Yamaha P-525 and bought the ES920 instead. I LOVE the Kawai and it’s my new main gigging piano. It’s brilliant!
@@AngeloProMusician I have a Korg Liano for busking and casual jamming (probably THE best value keyboard on the market imo, 88 keys and great sound for around $400 CAD and weights only 6kg) - but for proper gigs and more serious endeavours ideally I was looking for something with a nice warm piano sound (hence why I use the Bosendorfer on the P515), more gig-friendly onboard features like physical equalizers and dedicated transpose, but also a key action which still feels realistic and responsive and yet not as heavy as the P515, and ideally something a bit lighter than the 50lb weight of the P515 which is just a bit too heavy for comfortable regular transportation. So yeah, I think the Kawai ES920 might tick all the right boxes. The only bad thing I've heard about it is build quality feels a bit plasticky, but frankly when it's unimportant stuff like the outside casing I'd prefer to have something a bit lighter and at 32 lbs the ES920 is almost 20lbs lighter than the P515 or P525. My main challenge at the moment is finding somewhere close to me that actually stocks the ES920 so I can try it. Most music stores where I live in lower mainland British Columbia stock exclusively Yamaha or Roland. Are you going to be doing a review of the ES920 now that you have one? Cheers.
@@AngeloProMusician I got a Kawai ES920 but I am taking it back to the store for possible swap out. I have an issue where some of the white keys are so loose they are striking the white key to the left of it causing a clicking sound. Happens all the time particularly on the C and the F to the left of middle C. Did you experience anything like this? I am hoping it's just a bit of a manufacturing/assembly issue with my specific unit rather than a design flaw, because I otherwise love the ES920 and much prefer it over my Yamaha P515.
@@AngeloProMusicianthe problems with the Kawai ES920 are (I’ve owned two of them):
1. The keys bounce like a trampoline - seriously they bounce multiple times on the release! That’s super annoying at times whilst playing.
2. The Kawai ES920 doesn’t have USB Audio so when you connect a synthesiser or VST the P-525 sounds better through the onboard speakers than the Kawai ES920.
I really wonder why Yahama won’t take lessons and learn from Kawai! Kawai puts so much more effort in their pianos. It has a great sound but the action is trash just like on the ck88. That’s why i won’t get a Yahama yet. Your playing is amazing sir! Too many Yahama keyboards are flawed and you wonder why Yahama hasn’t made a great action yet! Ck88??? No way .
I watch the whole video just because i enjoy the playing😀😀
I own a kawai mp7Se and i feel it’s one of the best out there
Actions vary from model to model, even when they are ostensibly the same action. The CK-88 has the GHS action, which is not Yamaha's best action, but does seem to be improving. I think the MP7SE has RH3, but if feels better to me than the RH3 on the ES920.
The whole point about the CK-88 is that it isn't a stage piano, it's a stage keyboard. It's built for keyboardists who only play piano sounds occasionally. Yamaha's two stage pianos are the CP-88 and the CP-73. Both have good actions IMO, though the 73 key model doesn't have a graded action.
Good demo..thanks…. hearing your finger nails a lot though….direct record with headphones next time?
Sorry but I have to say that for an in-depth review you said very little about your impressions on the action of the P-525!
The video is over 3 parts. I talk about it extensively in the next one where I also compare the action to 4 other stage pianos and relate it to most other manufacturers. Thank you so much for watching.
@@AngeloProMusician Got it, thanks. Excellent videos!
P525 higher ampli than 515...?
Do you mean does it have a larger speaker wattage?
Sounds horrible through speakers (like any other piano), but through headphones it sounds decent.
The Yamaha does but I have to disagree about all stage pianos... The Kawai ES8 and ES920 using their EX voice and with loudspeaker engaged both sound phenomenal through their own speakers. They are the only piano line I’ve used that people say to me they thought there was a real acoustic grand in the room. 😁
@@AngeloProMusician Ehm, software has plateaud since the Grandeur, and you can't get away with tiny speakers. When I tried the NOVUS NV10S, it was the same old plasticky cold sound. But maybe if you have these speakers it will sound better: ruclips.net/video/XRrgJ-_npls/видео.html
*** IMPORTANT FOR ANYONE CONSIDERING P525 *** - In a comment below this reviewer goes back on almost everything he says here and adds that he returned the instrument. The video as it currently stands is therefore a fairly misleading representation of what he eventually thought.
Huh? I still think exactly the same as I said in the video. I think you have got a little confused. If there are better things on the market for my needs it doesn’t suddenly mean that what this piano has to offer is suddenly obsolete. That’s like going to KFC and not having your favourite because you fancy a change that day. It doesn’t make all the other food bad 😂
@mipmipmipmipmiphuh? If anything it’s more fair to consumers because otherwise there would always be better products and nothing would ever be enough.
Every piano under USD $6,000 has flaws - so you’re making a value vs cost tradeoff for every piano under that price point.
The P-525 represents extremely good value for money - today I purchased one for USD $1,186 + tax where I live (Australia) compared to about USD $1,000 + tax for the Kawai ES920, and about USD $1,600 for the Roland FP-90X (overpriced here).
Sunlight74 is correct. In the comment below, Angelo says Yamaha got the action “WAY off!” Complains about the sounds and the build quality, and says he returned it and prefers the ES920. It’s pretty much exactly the opposite of what Angelo says in the video review. Bizarre.
Look into the lens for gods sake