Founder and Piano teacher
Are you looking for a high-quality yet affordable digital piano? In our detailed Kawai ES120 review, we take a close look at the popular successor to the ES-110. From sound and playing feel to user-friendliness – we show you whether this compact instrument lives up to the hype and how it can best support you on your musical journey.
Table of contents
The Big Picture: The Kawai ES-120 is a compact and delightfully lightweight digital piano that is excellent for starting your musical journey. For its price range under £1,000, it offers incredibly realistic piano sounds and a high-quality hammer action.
Important: The sustain switch included by the manufacturer is unfortunately barely enough for a true piano feel. It’s best to plan ahead and budget for a proper, separate sustain pedal right from the start.
Tip: Thanks to Bluetooth, the ES-120 is ideal for interactive lessons. Simply connect the piano wirelessly to your tablet and jump straight into your first lessons on the music2me app!
If you're just starting out and aren't sure of the best way to begin, make sure to check out our guide on how to learn piano the easiest way.
The Kawai ES-110 was an absolute bestseller for a long time. With the ES-120, Kawai has brought a model to the market that seems to offer similar features at first glance, but scores highly with targeted improvements. The control panel already looks significantly more modern, sleek, and subtle. However, the real strengths are hidden inside: a redesigned keyboard action and fine-tuned sounds elevate this piano to a whole new level.
Pros and Cons at a Glance:
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Excellent hammer action for this price range | The included foot pedal is just a basic switch |
Highly realistic piano sounds (Shigeru Kawai) | |
Particularly light and compact (ideal as a stage piano, too) | |
Bluetooth Audio & MIDI built-in | |
Intuitive control via the PianoRemote app |
Would you like to experience the Kawai ES-120 for yourself? You can find the instrument at our trusted partner retailer:
The heart of any digital piano is its keyboard. The Kawai ES-120 features a redesigned hammer action. It plays beautifully smoothly, yet still provides a very good pressure point and a quick response. When playing, you instantly connect with the keys.
The key surface consists of a matte, slightly textured plastic. While it doesn't feature the expensive Ivory Touch (ivory simulation) found on top-tier models, it still offers an excellent grip that prevents your fingers from slipping.
Anyone playing a real piano or a digital piano with hammer action will always hear mechanical noises. Inside the ES-120, weights move to simulate a real hammer strike. Kawai has noticeably improved the cushioning of this mechanism compared to its predecessor.
Good to know: If you play the digital piano at a very low volume, these mechanical thumping sounds will naturally feel more prominent. In this price bracket and body size, you have to make certain compromises, but our Kawai ES120 review shows that it keeps these background noises pleasantly low, meaning they won't disrupt your playing flow.
A great playing feel only truly comes alive in perfect harmony with the sound. And this is where the instrument shines.
The absolute star among the sounds is the SK-EX Concert Grand (Shigeru Kawai). This sound is extremely well-balanced and offers a beautiful stereo image. If you prefer something with a bit more bite to cut through the mix, choose the EX Concert Grand, which has more power in the attack and allows for an enormous dynamic range from very quiet to really loud.
A classic upright piano is also on board. It has a great "singer-songwriter" vibe without sounding too much like an out-of-tune saloon piano. Classical pieces by Schubert or lively waltzes in particular can be played very expressively and precisely with these pianos. The sound follows the key strike perfectly – everything feels incredibly cohesive here.
Alongside the classic grand pianos, the ES-120 scores points with brilliant vintage sounds:
Tine Electric Piano: A classic, spacious e-piano sound with fantastic bass.
Reed Electric Piano: A typical Wurlitzer sound, complete with a cool tremolo effect.
Modern Electric: A defined, punchy rock sound – the 1980s say hello!
Tip: Furthermore, you can blend sounds thanks to the Dual function. The absolute classic: layering a full piano sound with silky-smooth strings. It’s incredibly fun to play!
A massive upgrade is the Bluetooth connectivity (both MIDI and Audio). The Kawai ES-120 connects wirelessly to the free Kawai PianoRemote app (available for iOS and Android). By swiping on your smartphone or tablet, you can switch instruments in a flash. The app is also the key to the so-called Virtual Technician. Even on this entry-level model, it allows you to dive deep into the sound setup.
Noiseless: Digitally removes all mechanical background noises.
Deep Resonance: Provides more string resonance and a fuller tone.
Soft: Makes the piano respond with a significantly softer and warmer tone.
The fact that Kawai has given the ES-120 both Bluetooth MIDI and Bluetooth Audio is an absolute game-changer for modern piano students. Why? Because you can connect your tablet or smartphone completely wirelessly to the digital piano.
This brings you two huge advantages when practicing:
Bluetooth Audio: The audio from our practice videos and play-alongs from the music2me app no longer sounds tinny through your phone, but plays directly through the high-quality speakers of the Kawai ES-120. You’re sonically right in the middle of the song!
Bluetooth MIDI: The piano sends your key strikes to your device in real time. This allows our software to give you instant feedback on whether you hit the right notes in the right rhythm.
No annoying cable clutter, no adapters, and no complicated setup. You simply sit down at your instrument, open the music2me app, and can start learning interactively right away. This doesn't just make practicing a lot more fun, you’ll also make audible progress much faster!
Imagine sitting at the piano, your fingers gliding effortlessly across the keys as you play melodies that move your heart. With music2me, you can learn piano at your own pace – step by step with a system that truly helps you progress, whether you’re a beginner or already advanced.
Over 400 video lessons & downloadable sheet music
Interactive tools like Skill Check & smart practice mode
Weekly live classes & personal teacher support
Exclusive Discord community for motivation & exchange
The Kawai ES-120 is delivered as a basic package (including a music rest and a simple foot switch). To ensure you have the best playing experience from day one – and above all, sit with the correct ergonomics – we recommend the following additions:
A Solid Sustain Pedal: As mentioned before, the included small switch isn't ideal for a true piano feel. A robust sustain pedal with a classic piano look is an absolute must-have and will massively elevate your playing.
A Matching Piano Stand: Since the digital piano is delivered without a base stand, you’ll need a stable surface. If the piano is going to have a permanent spot in your living room, we recommend the custom-fit wooden stand, the Kawai HML-2. For gigs, a sturdy X- or Z-stand is perfectly adequate.
A Height-Adjustable Piano Bench: The correct posture is vital to avoid back pain while practicing. A standard desk or dining chair is usually not the right height. It's best to invest in a comfortable, infinitely adjustable piano bench.
Good Studio Headphones: One of the biggest advantages of a digital piano is silent practice. With comfortable over-ear headphones, you can play late into the night without disturbing your neighbours – and that amazing Shigeru Kawai grand piano sound unfolds right in your ear!
The Kawai ES-120 is a fantastic, compact digital piano. For well under £1,000, it offers a well-rounded, full sound and a keyboard action that is worth every penny.
Our final verdict is crystal clear: it can be wholeheartedly recommended to beginners and newcomers alike. Whether you're just learning your first chords, getting back into it after a long break, or looking for a lightweight second keyboard for your next live gig – the ES-120 delivers. The modern app-based operation rounds off a great overall package.
Technical Specifications at a Glance:
Feature | Specification |
Keyboard | 88 keys, Responsive Hammer Compact (RHC) action |
Sound Engine | Harmonic Imaging™ (HI), 88-key sampling |
Polyphony | Max. 192 notes |
Speakers | 2 x 10 Watts |
Display | No (controlled via buttons/LEDs or the PianoRemote app) |
Weight | 12.0 kg |
Dimensions (W x D x H) | 130.5 x 28.6 x 15.0 cm |
Connections | Line Out (L/Mono, R), 2x Headphones (6.3mm & 3.5mm), Pedal jack |
Kawai is famous in the piano world for its warm, full tones and exceptionally authentic keyboards. However, the absolute unique selling point in this price range is the "Virtual Technician" – the ability to customise the sound to your own preferences in such detail (e.g. resonances or damper noises) is something you won't typically find with competitors in this price segment.
The ES-120 is a logical evolution: it offers a redesigned, mechanically quieter keyboard action, upgraded Shigeru Kawai grand piano sounds, and a sleeker, more modern control panel. However, the most vital upgrade is the Bluetooth Audio function, which was missing on the previous model.
Yes, absolutely! Weighing just 12 kg, it is extremely lightweight and portable. Thanks to the dedicated Line Out jacks (L/R) on the back, you can easily connect it directly to a mixing desk or a PA system. It works brilliantly as an affordable stage piano or a second keyboard.
Yes! The digital piano features a built-in song recorder. You can easily record your playing and listen back to it afterwards. This isn't just cool for capturing song ideas, it’s also extremely helpful for objectively checking your own learning progress.
Yes, the digital piano features headphone jacks. As soon as you plug your headphones in, the internal speakers are muted, allowing you to practice at any time of the day or night.
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