|
Welcome to the Piano World Piano Forums Over 3 million posts about pianos, digital pianos, and all types of keyboard instruments. Over 100,000 members from around the world.
Join the World's Largest Community of Piano Lovers
(it's free)
It's Fun to Play the Piano ... Please Pass It On!
|
|
74 members (bluebilly, accordeur, BillS728, aphexdisklavier, bobrunyan, anotherscott, AaronSF, apianostudent, 17 invisible),
2,088
guests, and
350
robots. |
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 13
Junior Member
|
OP
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 13 |
So I've been looking for a piano for a few weeks and have decided to increase my budget and are now looking at the Kawai MP11SE. I don't need the portability but the MP11SE is significantly cheaper than it's cabinet style equivalent (CA78?) and do not need built in speakers as I use headphones only. Is there any other pianos I should consider in this price range? I tried the Yamaha P515 and loved everything about it but the action was just too heavy. Help would be appreciated!
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 14,439
Yikes! 10000 Post Club Member
|
Yikes! 10000 Post Club Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 14,439 |
It may be hard to believe ... but you now need do nothing more than buy that MP11. Done. You won't be sorry.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 5,042
5000 Post Club Member
|
5000 Post Club Member
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 5,042 |
So I've been looking for a piano for a few weeks and have decided to increase my budget and are now looking at the Kawai MP11SE. I don't need the portability but the MP11SE is significantly cheaper than it's cabinet style equivalent (CA78?) and do not need built in speakers as I use headphones only. Is there any other pianos I should consider in this price range? I tried the Yamaha P515 and loved everything about it but the action was just too heavy. Help would be appreciated! Hi Inrai, You should try the ES8 / MP7SE, as these are both great portable/stage pianos. The MP7SE in particular is more of a competitor to the RD2000 in terms of stage piano functionality. The action is also a bit lighter than the MP11SE (if you like a lighter action). Bear in mind that the action's weight can be gotten used to by correct training (just as you can build your strength through resistance training). I guess you could try the RD2000. I believe you would need your own headphone amp if you went that way, as the RD2000 headphone amp is not up to par. Kind regards, Doug.
Instruments......Kawai MP7SE.............................................(Past - Kawai MP7, Yamaha PSR7000) Software..........Sibelius 7; Neuratron Photoscore Pro 8 Stand...............K&M 18953 Table-style Stage Piano Stand Piano stool.......K&M 14093 Piano stool
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 5,894
5000 Post Club Member
|
5000 Post Club Member
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 5,894 |
It may be hard to believe ... but you now need do nothing more than buy that MP11. Done. You won't be sorry. I could not say it better. Unless I would use the term MP11SE instead of MP11 …. but we understand what he means.
Don
Kawai MP7SE, On Stage KS7350 keyboard stand, KRK Classic 5 powered monitors, SennHeiser HD 559 Headphones
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 95
Full Member
|
Full Member
Joined: Jun 2018
Posts: 95 |
I don't need the portability but the MP11SE is significantly cheaper than it's cabinet style equivalent (CA78?) and do not need built in speakers as I use headphones only. The MP11SE is not equivalent to the CA78. The CA78 has an improved sound engine and action. Of course, whether those two items make a significant difference is subjective.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 484
Full Member
|
Full Member
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 484 |
I agree with Mac & dmd completely. From your post, I don't think you'll be disappointed with the MP11se. I tried to like the ES8, MP7se and RD2000 but just didn't like their actions enough. The CA78 is very nice but I didn't want a furniture dp because I think they're harder to resell. At $1999, the MP11se was my best option. Enjoy your Christmas present!!!
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 13
Junior Member
|
OP
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 13 |
I agree with Mac & dmd completely. From your post, I don't think you'll be disappointed with the MP11se. I tried to like the ES8, MP7se and RD2000 but just didn't like their actions enough. The CA78 is very nice but I didn't want a furniture dp because I think they're harder to resell. At $1999, the MP11se was my best option. Enjoy your Christmas present!!! This is my thought too, I had a Casio PX-870 and it wasn't easy to sell and it seems pointless paying more for a cabinet style if I'll never use the speakers. In the UK the MP11SE is more expensive than US it seems, £1800 which is around $2400?
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 484
Full Member
|
Full Member
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 484 |
What did you end up getting OP?
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 3,836
3000 Post Club Member
|
3000 Post Club Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 3,836 |
I am visiting my stepson in CA and found a Kawai/Shigeru dealer who had the VPC1 and MP11SE on display and ready for play in San Mateo. The VPC1 was hooked to a laptop. IMO the MPSE11 action would be too light an action for a pianist used to an acoustic other than an upright and the action felt slightly mushy. The VPC1 would be a better choice going between a grand acoustic and a digital IMO. The MPSE11 is good for a keyboardist transitioning to a stage piano.
Last edited by Jethro; 12/27/19 12:11 PM.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 2,345
2000 Post Club Member
|
2000 Post Club Member
Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 2,345 |
I am visiting my stepson in CA and found a Kawai/Shigeru dealer who had the VPC1 and MP11SE on display and ready for play in San Mateo. The VPC1 was hooked to a laptop. IMO the MPSE11 action would be too light an action for a pianist used to an acoustic other than an upright and the action felt slightly mushy. The VPC1 would be a better choice going between a grand acoustic and a digital IMO. The MPSE11 is good for a keyboardist transitioning to a stage piano. That is completely the opposite of my experience with the MP11SE in relation to acoustics. My DP is the MP11SE. I have played on a Yamaha Concert Grand a few times now at meet-ups. I've been able to play my pieces with dynamics reasonably satisfactorily with only 10 minutes of playing around on the concert grand before the official meet up started. When I was in Australia for 2 weeks I was able to hire a Yamaha baby grand twice for a 2 hour session each time. Once again within a short space of time I was able to get a good feel of the piano such that I was comfortable playing. With the concert grand, it did feel like a bit of a truck and I could easily imagine by fingers/arms getting tired quickly. But that is just exercise, the important bit of control over dynamics came very quickly. My teachers piano is a Petrof upright and I have now had my six lesson of an hour each and I am still struggling playing that piano. My experience is that transitioning to a grand, no problem, transitioning to an upright - a big problem. But I don't think I can make such broad generalisations. The actions of acoustic pianos are just so varied I can't project my limited experience as being universal. I'm sure there is an upright out there I could learn to control quickly, likewise I'm sure there is a grand out there (not just an ageing beast ready for the scrap heap) that I would really struggle to control. An odd aside to the mushy action of the MP11SE. I noticed it was mushy when I first got it in comparison to my casio it replaced. The casio had a very hard floor to the key action. That impression of the MP11SE action remained the same until recently, now that I am using the CFX and American Concert D VSTs, the action feels a lot less mushy. I know absolutely there is no physical change in the behaviour of the action, but the different responses of the VSTs compared to in built sound gives a very different impression to the action.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 9,794
9000 Post Club Member
|
9000 Post Club Member
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 9,794 |
I think it depends on the acoustic action you're used to. The SKs I've played are a bit on the heavy side of the few "well regulated large grands" I play, so the MP11SE might feel light in comparison. But a Bose 214 or VC280 have lighter actions, as does a Steinway accelerated action. IMO the GF was the first digital action I tried that really feels like an acoustic and allowed for completely effortless transition.
Bosendorfer D214VC ENPro Past: Yamaha P-85, P-105, CP50, Kawai MP11, Kawai NV10
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 3,836
3000 Post Club Member
|
3000 Post Club Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 3,836 |
I am visiting my stepson in CA and found a Kawai/Shigeru dealer who had the VPC1 and MP11SE on display and ready for play in San Mateo. The VPC1 was hooked to a laptop. IMO the MPSE11 action would be too light an action for a pianist used to an acoustic other than an upright and the action felt slightly mushy. The VPC1 would be a better choice going between a grand acoustic and a digital IMO. The MPSE11 is good for a keyboardist transitioning to a stage piano. That is completely the opposite of my experience with the MP11SE in relation to acoustics. My DP is the MP11SE. I have played on a Yamaha Concert Grand a few times now at meet-ups. I've been able to play my pieces with dynamics reasonably satisfactorily with only 10 minutes of playing around on the concert grand before the official meet up started. When I was in Australia for 2 weeks I was able to hire a Yamaha baby grand twice for a 2 hour session each time. Once again within a short space of time I was able to get a good feel of the piano such that I was comfortable playing. With the concert grand, it did feel like a bit of a truck and I could easily imagine by fingers/arms getting tired quickly. But that is just exercise, the important bit of control over dynamics came very quickly. My teachers piano is a Petrof upright and I have now had my six lesson of an hour each and I am still struggling playing that piano. My experience is that transitioning to a grand, no problem, transitioning to an upright - a big problem. But I don't think I can make such broad generalisations. The actions of acoustic pianos are just so varied I can't project my limited experience as being universal. I'm sure there is an upright out there I could learn to control quickly, likewise I'm sure there is a grand out there (not just an ageing beast ready for the scrap heap) that I would really struggle to control. An odd aside to the mushy action of the MP11SE. I noticed it was mushy when I first got it in comparison to my casio it replaced. The casio had a very hard floor to the key action. That impression of the MP11SE action remained the same until recently, now that I am using the CFX and American Concert D VSTs, the action feels a lot less mushy. I know absolutely there is no physical change in the behaviour of the action, but the different responses of the VSTs compared to in built sound gives a very different impression to the action. Yes I guess I was more referring to the heaviness of the action. In most acoustic grands I play the action of the MP11SE would be too light for me. It feels just a step above electronic keyboards I used to play. But I regularly play on an acoustic grand with a known heavy action. Control may have a lot to do with how well regulated the action is. I played on a Millennium 3 action at my school that felt terrible and hard to control compared to an RX-2 and SK2 that had the same action. The school piano because of its heavy use probably needed regulation work.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 3,836
3000 Post Club Member
|
3000 Post Club Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 3,836 |
I think it depends on the acoustic action you're used to. The SKs I've played are a bit on the heavy side of the few "well regulated large grands" I play, so the MP11SE might feel light in comparison. But a Bose 214 or VC280 have lighter actions, as does a Steinway accelerated action. IMO the GF was the first digital action I tried that really feels like an acoustic and allowed for completely effortless transition. Yes, exactly true. The VPC-1 feels closer to the action I’m used to but even closer to some of the lighter actioned Yamaha grands I play at my school. It was slightly less mushy and definitely a little heavier but more of what I was used to. The MP11SE felt surprisingly very light.
Last edited by Jethro; 12/27/19 02:51 PM.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 147
Full Member
|
Full Member
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 147 |
I agree with Mac & dmd completely. From your post, I don't think you'll be disappointed with the MP11se. I tried to like the ES8, MP7se and RD2000 but just didn't like their actions enough. The CA78 is very nice but I didn't want a furniture dp because I think they're harder to resell. At $1999, the MP11se was my best option. Enjoy your Christmas present!!! This is my thought too, I had a Casio PX-870 and it wasn't easy to sell and it seems pointless paying more for a cabinet style if I'll never use the speakers. In the UK the MP11SE is more expensive than US it seems, £1800 which is around $2400? It's a actually cheaper in the UK from what I can find. djvu10 got really(extremely) lucky, most stores sell the mp11se for $2799
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 484
Full Member
|
Full Member
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 484 |
I haven't talked to the store manager since Thanksgiving so I can't promise that price but the last time we spoke, I could get them at that price for my friends (i already bought 3 at that price) so let me know if I can help you. Price was $1999 & CA tax if you pick up or $1999 & shipping but no tax for out of state. PM me and I'll check on the latest price for you.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 217
Full Member
|
Full Member
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 217 |
I am visiting my stepson in CA and found a Kawai/Shigeru dealer who had the VPC1 and MP11SE on display and ready for play in San Mateo. The VPC1 was hooked to a laptop. IMO the MPSE11 action would be too light an action for a pianist used to an acoustic other than an upright and the action felt slightly mushy. The VPC1 would be a better choice going between a grand acoustic and a digital IMO. The MPSE11 is good for a keyboardist transitioning to a stage piano. The main problem of the GF in the MP11 is the slow response. Also the GF2 is slower as the RM3 in the VPC1. Only the Millenuim Action would be an upgrade for me (but thats not passible for a transportable DP). I tried MP11SE and VPC1 side by side in a store...and the VPC was definately more on the real piano side (if the pianos do have a not too light acion).
Kawai VPC1, Nektar Impact GXP61+88 Past: "Fazer" acoustic piano, Yamaha P120, Roland JV90, M-audio and Novation Midi Keyboards other instruments: electric and acoustic violins, Wal custom 4 string e-bass, Sire V7 fretless e-bass, Musser vibraphone Software: Logic Pro
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 422
Full Member
|
Full Member
Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 422 |
It makes a big difference what key touch you use on the rd2000. Also for getting used to weight.
I put it on heavy / super heavy most of the time.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 279
Full Member
|
Full Member
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 279 |
It may be hard to believe ... but you now need do nothing more than buy that MP11. Done. You won't be sorry. I've been eyeing the MP11SE for about a month now but putting off pulling the trigger. But when I read this I was like... I need to stop overthinking and Just Do It. So I did and it has shipped so now I'm in hurry up and wait mode.
Last edited by Chili_Time; 12/28/19 05:09 PM.
First Lesson Oct. 17, 2017. Now working on Faber Piano Adventures 3B Lesson, T&A, Performance, Theory and Faber FunTime Ragtime & Marches. Kawai MP11SE. My Sound Cloud Piano recordings
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 5,894
5000 Post Club Member
|
5000 Post Club Member
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 5,894 |
It may be hard to believe ... but you now need do nothing more than buy that MP11. Done. You won't be sorry. I've been eyeing the MP11SE for about a month now but putting off pulling the trigger. But when I read this I was like... I need to stop overthinking and Just Do It. So I did and it has shipped so now I'm in hurry up and wait mode. You will be very pleased with it.
Don
Kawai MP7SE, On Stage KS7350 keyboard stand, KRK Classic 5 powered monitors, SennHeiser HD 559 Headphones
|
|
|
|
|
|
Piano
by Gino2 - 04/17/24 02:34 PM
|
Piano
by Gino2 - 04/17/24 02:23 PM
|
|
Forums43
Topics223,408
Posts3,349,457
Members111,637
|
Most Online15,252 Mar 21st, 2010
|
|
|
|
|
|