🎹Kawai DG30 Digital Grand Piano Review & Demo - RHIII Action, Bluetooth MIDI, Onkyo Audio System🎹
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- Опубликовано: 7 сен 2024
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#DG30 #Kawai #DigitalPiano
Hi everyone, and welcome to the Merriam Pianos RUclips channel! In this video, we’ll be taking our first look at the brand new Kawai DG30 digital baby grand piano.
This instrument could not have come sooner! The demand for digital pianos in the cabinet of a baby grand has never been stronger, and past offerings from Kawai were often cost prohibitive. Kawai has never offered a digital baby grand at this price point, so we expect it to be a big hit for them.
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Piano Background
As mentioned above, Kawai has never had a digital baby grand in the $6,000 USD price category. Despite a stellar lineup from top to bottom, this category was always strangely absent among their digital piano offerings. Kawai has finally filled this hole with the DG30.
The DG30 is essentially a CN39 in the cabinet of a small baby grand - same sound engine, action and speakers.
Piano Sound
Like usual, we’ll start with the sound on this instrument. The tone engine here is Kawai’s Progessive Harmonic Imaging (PHI) with 256 note polyphony.
There are two 20 watt amps driving two tweeters and two main speakers. The entire audio and speaker system was developed in collaboration with Japanese audio company Onkyo, which has done a lot to improve the overall tonal quality over past generation releases.
There are 355 total on-board sounds, the vast majority of which are very high quality. The three main grand samples - SKEX, EX and SK5 - are especially nice.
The user interface is also the same as the CN39, which is welcome since it’s very user friendly and easy to navigate.
The DG30 also has Bluetooth MIDI and Bluetooth Audio, which means you can actually use it as a giant Bluetooth speaker.
Another cool worth highlighting is the soundboard. While there aren’t any transducers, and the soundboard is seemingly only there for aesthetics, I can definitely hear it passively resonating, which makes the overall sound superior to the CN39.
Piano Action
While Kawai is calling this action the Responsive Hammer III Action (RHIII), interestingly, this is not the same RHIII that has been on the market for a few years now.
Kawai has redesigned the sensor strip, and the key movement from side-to-side has been reduced. This action has a triple sensor, counterweights, let-off simulation and ivory touch key tops.
This is a fast, responsive action, and arguably the top plastic action currently on the market.
Piano Features/Connectivity/Cabinetry
Just like the CN39, the DG30 has both a stereo ¼” line in and out. There’s also two headphone jacks, MIDI in and out, USB to host and USB to device, along with the Bluetooth MIDI and Audio we already mentioned.
In terms of other features, the DG30 has pretty much everything you’d expect; there’s an internal recorder with up to 16 tracks, transpose, metronome, tons of built in rhythms and built in lesson function.
The cabinet is finished in a real black polyester, which is a huge plus. Lots of digital piano manufacurer’s use a black foil with a clear coat over the top due to the cost savings, but the quality and durability isn’t anywhere near as good. It’s fairly heavy, but still possible for two people to pick up and move.
There’s a built in key cover and music desk, and the lid is also adjustable. The Grand Feel Pedal System is also present, which replicates the feel of an acoustic grand piano.
Thanks so much for watching! Long live the piano!
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Stu is the man. I respect his opinion and skills greatly. He knows his stuff!
Best piano reviews on RUclips.
Wow! Thank you very much for the compliment - it means a lot to us :) -LP
@@MerriamPianos not only hands down one of the best piano reviews, but you also play really nice music. Would it be possible to share the name of the pieces you play? Cheers and thanks for the work.
I think the fact that the speaker sound bounces off the open lid, give this piano a more acoustic presence. The case or body of any musical instrument is always a factor. The DG-30 is obviously a wonderful sounding instrument.
I played one the other day, and it's one of my favorites. You won't go wrong with this one. The Roland LX-708 plays and sounds a bit better, but the DG-30 does not disappoint. For a restaurant or club, with a small space for a stage, this is an absolutely perfect instrument. It has a great look and the sound is wonderful.
Nowadays with tuning and room calibration, any set of good set of speakers can sound like a grand piano.
I've watched about 15-20 of your reviews. Your reviews are BY FAR the best on YT. Straightforward. Complete. Right now, I'm trying to decide between this new Kawai and Roland's 607 and Yamaha's 765GP. Again, your reviews are super.
Similar situation here - so which one did you get and why?
@@speckyferns6780 Haven't bought anything yet. Would really like to hear (and see) them in person first which I haven't been able to do. Seems as if very few stores have any of these 3 assembled and on the floor,----just smaller stuff in the under $1,000 range. But, no hurry. If I'm going to spend around 6k (after including sales taxes) I want to hear them in person. Listening thru computer speakers gives me an idea of how they sound relative to each other but not the way they sound in person. Often there's a surprise which results in buying one that you had not picked as your first choice based only on youtube viewings.
I’m in the very same spot - CLP-765, DG 30 or Roland 607. Which one did you go with and did you test them all? Would very much appreciate your insight! Cheers
@@hansklostermann117 No purchase yet. Sort of lost my strong urge (many months back) to get one after no luck finding a store with them (or some of them) set up. But,.....if I had to choose blind, I would choose the Yamaha. Seems pretty hard to find a Roland set up anywhere. Obviously, boils down to personal preference and what features are most important to the individual. For me, it's sound/tone first (isn't that what the basic purpose of a piano is? Like the picture quality if someone were buying a TV)) then touch (the action). I can't imagine anything coming from Yamaha, Kawai, or Roland in the digital piano arena being bad; again, boils down to personal preference. Obviously, hearing them in person would be most helpful, but that seems hard to find. Also, Yamaha has both the 765 and 795..................How much difference in sound? Would it be worth the extra $$$? In the mid to late 70's I bought a brand new Yamaha 6 foot grand for 8K. You can imagine what a 6 foot Yamaha or Kawai acoustic would cost today. If I could turn the clock back with everything I know today that's relevant, I'm sure that the 765 or 795 would be a great deal at about 1/4 or 1/5 the cost of a 6 foot acoustic.
@@kantib.anondewar8769 Oh man I feel you. It’s a shame that these pianos are so tough to test. I guess I’ll keep looking for a store where I can put my hands on one. If it feels and sounds nice and the other ones aren’t available for testing then I guess that’s supposed to be the one.
Thanks for your input and wish you the best 👍🏼
Terrific review! Thank you. And thank you for sharing your marvelous playing talent! Wow! I could have listened to you play for hours!
Hi! Brent here! Thanks so much for taking the time to tune in! We appreciate it. I'll be sure to pass on your kind words and compliments to Stu about his playing! :)
Rare pianistic ability for what you do. You make the instruments sound musical.
Already bought a lovely piano (S54 - small, lovely, great for an acoustic alternative for a small flat with moaning neighbours). Just watching here to hear Stu talk. Excellent overview as always. Should be on TV!
this piano is a great concept from KAWAI.They made something that is cheap and looks classy enough for places where an upright just wont look the part.There are thousands of bars ,restaurants ,cruise ships,hotels etc where they want a classsy looking little piano that wont go out of tune,they dont have to bother with it will deliver a decent enough sound and will look like a baby grand to most people who cant tell the difference anyway.
Absolutely! I definitely agree that it is quite an innovative instrument from Kawai. It checks off a lot of boxes for people in terms of its aesthetic and reduced footprint without sacrificing the musical experience. Thanks for tuning in! :)
That SK-EX demo is the nicest performance I've heard on a Kawai digital piano online. Dunno whether it's Stu or the piece, the acoustics, or the tweaking with effects, but it's sublime. Normally I'm underwhelmed by the Shigeru sound, but maybe I'll become a fan after all.
It's funny that in essence it's a CN39, because that's the exact model I've been researching for a student, having satisfied myself that it's one of the best purchases to make in the Kawai range.
Stu is such a pleasure to listen to. A great pianist who really let's the instruments he reviews sing.
Thank you, Stu, for yet another great review. I was really curious about your opinion on this one I can see the appeal of this piano, especially for cafes, small restaurants, small businesses where they can depreciate the cost in their books over the economic life of the piano, so the initial asking price is not much relevant. But for personal use, imho, an asking price more than a CA99's is hard to justify. Personally, I would go for a CA59 (which is a much better piano spec-wise) and a Roland FP30 - to take it to my summer house and back - with cash to spare.
I would write this after viewing this video: another great resume by Merriam Music of a great Kawai instrument that I discovered just too late (in intellectual terms) - the Kawai DG30. I also have some remarks that may not be obvious for everyone, starting with the fact of writing from the perspective of the Kawai ES920 presence on the market which uses the same action as the DG30 (that is way more expensive) and that alone convinces me of the quality of the RH III action. The second important thing for me is the reality of the ES920 using even better sound engine (the Harmonic Imaging XL) vs the Progressive Harmonic Imaging in this case (!) and again, this contributes to the quality of the ES920 for a lot less bucks. Of course, I am considering just very few specs but this comparison just blew up in my mind at the same time with this thought: "Wow, Kawai makes such high quality digital pianos at any price!".
Thanks for tuning in and sharing your thoughts! As you've pointed out, the ES920 is an incredible offering given its price point. Kawai could probably increase the price substantially and still have tons of people lined up to purchase the piano. As for the DG30, one thing to consider with the price gap is the grand piano cabinetry and polished ebony finish. Both of these elements are quite expensive to produce. It actually makes up for a large portion of the costs as the DG30 is ultimately a CN39 in a grand piano case.
That piece you played at 7:40 was gorgeous. Was that an existing piece you improv'd over, or did all that sadness come out of you in the moment :/
The song @7:40 is magnificent
Hi Stu….I am glad to have found your reviews on RUclips and the knowledge that you share, so thank you! Can I ask for your opinion on a comparison between the DG30 and the Novus NV10? Our church is considering obtaining a digital piano to replace a Perzina grand that we have as we are selling our building and downsizing, but also need an instrument that delivers additional instruments and voices for worship support. Insights are most appreciated.
Great review thank you
You're very welcome! We're glad that you enjoyed it! :)
Great review and playing
I have CN39 and I love it even more after watching this.
Why?
@@HansWurst-iq9xe Kawai DG30 is exact same as Kawai CN39.
@@someguyfromarcticfreezer6854 the Technical features, but it looks & sounds better - did you see & hear the Video?
@@HansWurst-iq9xe I've seen all of it, looks better but that's it. CN39 have virtual technician that you can change the sound, and my CN39 sounds exactly as DG30, But people rather want this lovely design for higher price.
@@someguyfromarcticfreezer6854 I can imagine with Headphones the same, but the DG 30 has more size and room for the sound, That’s what the guy says in the Vid...
Great review, great playing.
Thanks so much! We appreciate you tuning in. :)
Hey Stu, new to your reviews. Have you thought about just recording some videos of you playing songs on their own, no commentary? I could definitely see myself sitting a day after work listening to your playing with a glass of bourbon and a good book. Just a thought.....Also, love the complete and nonsensical completeness of your reviews; keep it up! I recently had to get rid of my piano, and I already miss it. I look forward to when I can get a new one.
Disappointed that Kawai didn’t include the GF3 or at least the GFC action. RH3 seems weak on a digital “baby grand” at this price point. Is my impression of the RH3 too harsh or is it not nearly up to the level of the GF3/GFC?
Depends is it more expensive than CA79/99?🎹🎶
Porque no ha salido un dg30 con las especificaciones de un ca99. No lo entiendo. 1000 euros más? Pero sería el piano perfecto y bonito
I think this is simply CN39 on steroids. I am waiting for their ultimate NV10 on steroids. Thanks for the thorough review as usual, Stu...
Can you please compare the dg30 vs ca99? Similar price point, so wondering best one for serious playing. Also, you hook up an xlr mic into these and have the sound output through the speakers? Thank you
An apple and an orange. The CA99 is by far the better product, unless you're hung up on the esthetic of the DG30.
Stu do you feel that this DP actually sounds and plays like those actual very high end acoustic pianos? Also thanks for miking the way you did, it's very much appreciated.
If you are used to playing a good digital, a true quality acoustic will seem very noisy and less clean, with more inharmonicity.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inharmonicity
Peccato che il suono registrato non proviene dagli speakers ma dalla linea interna
the key action is not as good as CA701 or even CA59? hm...
While it comes down to subjectivity and personal preference, the CA59 and CA701 do technically have "higher-end" actions than the DG-30.
Theyll probably change it in the next iteration.
Exciting! Can't wait for the DG30 & Roland 607 comparison...but this Kawai model is not yet available in the Philippines. ;)
Just get the CA series from Lyric. The action is a lot better.
@@ralphrestubog5519 how much is it🎹🎶
None of the new Kawai models are available at all.
18:40 500 miles high Chick Corea... Auto respect
Hmm quiet good sound actually but not perfect like real acoustic grand, I hope someday i can buy this instrument,only for filling my living room and playing something I like for fun of course I'm just amateurs 😇
Hey Stu, I'm a fan of your channel and appreciate the vids. Would love your opinion on the new Kawai ES920 since I have a chance to test drive one of these in a couple of days. Cheers :)
I could be wrong, but I don't think that the ES920 has arrived yet in North America. All the reviews I've seen have been from shops and owners in Europe. The piano guy at Sweetwater told me last week that they don't expect to see any of these models for quite some time.
@@SeaDrive300, I've pre-ordered one directly from Kawai:
kawaius.com/product/es920/
store.kawaius.com/p/es920-black?pp=8
For what I want, I believe it's will be good choice. I wanted a transportable digital piano with onboard speakers and a good action. Most reviews are quite positive. I think the innards are very similar to the piano Stu is playing now. Of course the case is very different. The negatives are it's rather expensive and a bit heavy. Also if you choose to buy Kawai's designer stand and pedal unit it's an additional $500.00. I hope the wait is not too long. The danger is it will be eclipsed by some instrument that's even better at a lower price.
Here's Kawai's DG-30 Page:
kawaius.com/product/dg30/
@@SeaDrive300 i live in Michigan and have one on my family room.... it is AWESOME!
@@geoffa9271 That's great to hear! Where did you buy it from, if you don't mind my asking? Sweetwater hasn't yet even added the ES920 to their website, as though it didn't even exist!
@@SeaDrive300 It was from a store in IN called pianosolutions.net - I was super lucky since no one can get their shipments from the ports in CA because of COVID. I just got off the phone with them because I am trying to order the 3 pedal stand alone system that the ES-920 can use. (the unit only comes with 1 pedal - sustain)... Good luck in your hunt. I can say from all my research and testing, the ES-920 is the best digital stage piano out there right now.
Hey Stu, Have you done a comparison of features and comparatively quality between the (3) different series of the Kawai digital pianos? Specifically: CA, DGN & CN series. Thanks.
Hi! Brent here! We have done a thorough review of Kawai's actions as well as comparisons between different models in different lines. If you scroll through the videos posted on our channel, hopefully, you will find some pertinent reviews and comparisons that you're interested in. :)
Could you please review the kawai ES920? How similar is it to the Kawai DG30? Thanks in advance!
I do not think there is a difference other than the speakers and cabinet. I have an ES-920. it has RH3, 256 note poly and accepts the 3 pedal system if you bought one. (THe es-920 only comes with 1 pedal)
@@geoffa9271 Thanks!
does anyone know when you hit these keys on this type of piano,is it like playing a regular piano or the soft keys on the keyboard. I can play faster on the keyboard because the touch is easy. I get confused because I know nothing about a piano or keyboard. I have been playing by ear for 60years. I have a gift. Can anyone answer the question about the feel of this. Would it be just like playing a regular piano and not a keyboard.
But this DG-30 is double the price of the CN-39 is the DG-30 worth a couple extra thousand?
So what is the market for this?
And how far below the Novus NV10 is it sound, action, and price-wise.
What about a comparison between DG30, Roland GP3 and Yamaha CLP795GP?
That is a fantastic idea! Thanks for the suggestion! We just received our first shipment of GP3s from Roland, so you can certainly expect some review/comparison videos coming your way soon! :)
Hola. Quisiera saber que piano es mejor para comprar. Dg30 o ca99
Muchas gracias
Hi, I am unable to decide between KDP 110 and Rp 501r/ 302, (and may be Yamaha ydp 164) . Frankly the Roland sound is not at all pleasing to me. I love the kawai timbre. But Roland has escapement in its action and few other features. Should I be choosing Action over sound?? Need your valuable suggestions on this. My usage is mainly for contemporary, classical, jazz pieces and most importantly for songwriting and vocal accompaniment. Hoping to receive a reply.
Sound is paramount, but action is important too. For sound, you could always use Pianioteq Pro which has many stellar voices. Roland has basically two actions and primarily one that is used in most models. Only the RD 2000 and some other very top end models use their premium action. On the other hand Kawai has many different actions which are similar but have different weighting and key length. I believe timbre is the correct spelling of the word that means tone. It's a french word, and even Stu mispronounces it. If the piano you are buying sounds like the one Stu is playing now, you have a good one.
If you read above, I decided to spring for the Kawai es920 based on various reviews on RUclips. I was looking for good piano tone, portability, and quality action.
7:41
Would i be able to record a piece of music and store it in some way?
Same as es920 in all aspects. Cost 10x more ca39 got less powerful engine
It's the xl.
Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! The DG30 is essentially the CN39 in a grand piano cabinet. The ES920 is actually slightly higher-end in terms of specs due to the differences in the tone engine.
Too bad this is not a CA99 in the cabinet of a small baby grand.
Come è registrato il suono?
Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! Unless otherwise noted, we record the sound of these pianos by taking a direct line-out feed. To ensure that the sound is as transparent as possible, we do not add any additional post-processing or effects.
Any information about the retail price? It should be somewhat cheaper than the Roland GP607, right?
It's my understanding that the ONLY way you can purchase the 607 is by going to a brick and mortar Roland store. See Tim Praskin's AZ Piano reviews website. If so, that's going to be a big problem for many. It's not like you see Roland stores like you drive down the street and see McDonalds.
I have purchased Roland at Steinway piano dealers.
@@rcogdill6790 what!?🎹🎶
@@MERCEDES-BENZS600GUARD_V12 in Southern California Roland is at s couple of Steinway stores. I love the LX708.
@@c3piano I think it would have sense if theyb
Good demo but would have been more comprehensive if it started opening the Lid as I wanted to see how that worked.
I wish you had put a glass of water on the soundboard to demonstrate the resonance.
DG30 vs GP3 ?
We just received our first shipment of GP3 pianos from Roland about two weeks ago. With that said, you can certainly bet on some reviews and comparisons coming your way and the DG30 vs GP3 is a very sensible place to start. :)
0:49
Digital pianos are for those content to live in a simulation
Digital pianos definitely have their place in the market for players that have sound or space restrictions that demand a digital instrument. However, it is difficult to fully capture the nuance and magic of a wood soundboard and strings resonating.
This really should have been based on a CA series. What a fantastic idea, but a huge miss in my opinion.
I wouldn't pay what they want for the dg30 given that it is basically a CN39. If you save up a little more you can have the roland gp607, which is a lot more piano. The DG30 looks like a really cool piano, but it just feels overpriced.
still dont get why anyone would purchase this over the CN39, CA79, CA99 - value for money the DG30 doesn't really make much sense. And even with the differences, is it really worth the £££ over the alternatives!?
obviously, yes.
Only if it had wooden keys....
While I can certainly understand the sentiment, the RHIII action is fantastic and quite rewarding to play. :)
I wish when you play for people you play not as fast .
I'm simply spoiled by the NV10 and the AvantGrand acoustic keyboards not else will do except a Hybrid. This sounds breathtakingly beautiful, but it is all about the action baby. hehehehehe
Love your reviews ... why don't ever play recognizable songs of any genre?
Thanks for tuning in! Stu's favourite genre is jazz, but, as I am sure you are well aware, he is an incredible and versatile player. He does play in a variety of genres (classical, pop, rock, etc.) in some of our other video reviews/comparisons.
Thank you ... I thought that he may be trying to avoid potential copyright infringements. I am very interested int DG30 But I wish that it were offered with the GFIII action which is a closer approximation of an acoustic Grand Piano action . As a distributor maybe you can "influence" Kawai to offer it on the DG3O model which has GH III action like my ES920.