Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Digital Pianos - Electronic Pianos - Synths & Keyboards Need help buying a DP. MP7SE or CP88

Hey guys, first post here, but im always checking here for a long time...

And now need some advice from you guys...

I can buy Kawai MP7SE or Yamaha CP 88 for almost the same price, so which one should I pick? Can you help me decide what's the best option here...

For monitors I already have a pair of Eris E5 and a Sennheiser HD600 headphone.

Thanks in advance,

Cheers

The CP88 is a whole lot more expensive than the MP7SE. In fact, you can buy a MP7SE and a ES110 for one CP88. Where did you find this deal of a lifetime ?

Yep, same price, but I do not live in USA...from Brazil here, and the store is with a sale!
So I have the opportunity to get one of this two, which of this would make me really happy?
I can't try then to see what's like unfortunately , im going blind here on this...thats why need some advice.

MP7SE. Just better. The CP88 is a total delight to use and looks great but they've dumbed down their core piano sounds for the CP series (which I find absolutely impossible to understand). It would be absolutely fine for pumping through a PA in a gig but if you want to spend any time really getting into the piano sounds and enjoying them then the Kawai every time.

Where in Brazil? When considering kawai, is it worth checking if you will get the proper tech support, should you need it. I think Yamaha has a better tech support in Brazil (and Roland and Casio for that matter).

I am not saying that the CP88 is a better choice in terms of features than MP7SE, from what I have read in this forum and elsewhere, it is not (e.g. I think it does not have string resonance if memory serves and it is limited in terms of sounds).

As both are namely stage DPs, is it worth asking: are you going to gig with them?

MP7SE is better, the CFX Grand on the CP88 was altered to be better to play with other instruments which is stupid.

I live in South Brazil, but we have here Fritzdobbert and other one that's authorized by Kawai...so I think if I need support they can take it, already talked to them and they can do it. But you are right Yamaha here has the cake, all over the place.

Id like to thank you guys on this matter and I think im good to go with Kawai , im in love with they're Piano sounds. Im a Jazz and Classical player, I do some gigs , but mostly play in studio.

So ready to open the wallet on this...

Appreciate your help and attention with me... this the best community!!

Cheers,

JotaR.

Good luck. Whatever you go for let us know what you think of it once you've got it.

Depends upon what you want!
The Yamaha CP88 is ok for playing in a band with drums, bass, lead guitar etc., where the subtitles of a high quality piano sample don't matter---ie., its whether the sound cuts through or not in a band, not whether it has string resonance.

The CP88 is an attempt by Yamaha to compete with people who like the Nord Piano or Nord Stage concepts. If you like that concept, you might prefer the CP88.

The MP7SE on the other hand is a different level of beast: more functionality, much more sounds and sound effect parameters, good user interface (just different) and a piano action which is arguably more closely trying to simulate an acoustic grand action. On the other foot, the CP88's action (NW-GH) is known to be very fast so good for highly repetitive trills. Other differences: the MP7SE has a weight of 22.5 Kg (49.6 lbs) compared to the CP88's 18.6 kg (41 lb, 0 oz). The build quality of the MP7SE is pretty damn good: metal case, wooden side pieces. The polyphony on the MP7SE is 256, whereas the CP88 is only 128. As far as midi-controlling goes, the MP7SE is really good for that.

I would argue that apart from the action, the main differences in day-to-day use are in sound tone and that you should ideally compare them to decide which you like best.

I played the CP88 and didn't like the piano sound. The CFX grand on the Yamaha P515 is much better. The Nord Grand that the CP88 was sat next to in the store was a much better instrument IMO. Therefore, the CP88 is really a cheaper version of the Nord Piano concept which has potential, but is currently less attractive due to the limited Yamaha sound library compared to the Nord libraries.

Really, the nearest competitor to the MP7SE is the Roland RD2000 which is functionally closer in capability. Arguably the RD2000 is the most functional board but with some issues such as lousy headphone amp and inefficient sound selection tool.

Wow thanks for your review on this Doug, really appreciate...made my decision more easy. I was looking at the RD2000 too, its a very good option...But I think I will enjoy the MP7SE more.
Yeah the CP88 I see is not for me, I want that piano level sound in the MP7.

So im sure about getting the MP7SE now, thanks for all your replies on this.

I wil let you guys know when it gets here, I think I will have to wait 2 weeks from now :/, already anxious haha

But I have another question for you guys now, if you could help on this too, as im really a noob on this matter. I bought an Eris E5 to go with the stage piano on my studio.
The question is, what type of cable to I use to connect both, the mp7SE have two 1/4 output and the Eris E5 have a rca, trs and xlr input. So should I use a trs cable to both ends, or should a I use a TS in the MP7SE output and a XLR or TSR in the Eris input, or even an rca on the Eris end? Don't know what's the best option, already did a research on this here, but still confuses to me.

Hope you can help me on the too,

And thanks again for your time replying and attention with me

Cheers,

JotaR

JotaR, it depends on MP7SE outputs type, if they are unbalanced, then a TS to TS (i.e. tip and sleeve) will work fine, it is how I use them with my RD2000. If MP7SE outputs are balanced, then a TRS to TRS or TRS to XLR will be fine.

I am not sure if/how well a balanced cable (TRS-TRS or TRS-XLR) will work with unbalanced outputs, maybe others may know better.

JotaR, I've just replied to your message, however I will post it below just in case:


I hope this helps.

Kind regards,
James
x

I James, good quality TS-TS cables are easier to find than TS-RCA and they work with the Eris TRS inputs. Anyway, the OP has two options instead of one.

The sensitivity of the RCA input on the Presonus monitors is the same as on the other inputs so it does not matter from the perspective of matching line level. It is thus preferred to use the unbalanced inputs on the Presonus monitors for an unbalanced source to eliminate the transformer that unbalances the input for the balanced connections from the audio path.

From the Presonus manual:

If the audio source has unbalanced 1⁄4” TS (tip-sleeve) outputs, use a 1⁄4”-to-RCA adapter or adapter cable.

Sweelinck,

What the manual for? ROFL. TBH I did not RTFM (read the fine manual).

I use the TRS inputs of them and experience no problem.

I don't think modern equipment (other than maybe some microphones) use a transformer on the outputs/inputs. I am pretty sure they use operating amplifiers or specialized differencial output/input amplifiers (I think TI has them in their line card). Otherwise I would notice issues with the sound as I would be short-circuiting one of the transformer sides with the common/shield wire. The only downside I see is a loss of 6dB in sensitivity therefore loss of 6dB of SNR, but that is not noticeable to em.

Having said that, I agree that following the manual directions is a better path.

RTFM? That was our appetizer from the Italian restaurant last weekend. Really Tasty Fried Mozzarella sticks!

Hey guys , thank you very much for your support and attention with me, really appreciate.

Now its all clear, I also talked with Kawai Japan and the representante here in my country, and all told the same as you here...

So MP7SE is confirmed to be unbalanced, and it have to use the TS Mono cable. And the Eris E5, as im using the unbalanced from the mp7, it has to continue to be unbalanced in the other end, so the best option is to use RCA in the Eris input.

They also said I can use TSR or XRL, that can work or not...its not guaranteed and you will not get balanced using this. I think MacMac on a post I read somedays ago told exactly that!

Alright then, thank you all!!

Stay safe and keep playing

Cheers

Yeah, I instinctively think of a transformer to balance or unbalance the audio path, but I’m sure you are correct that these have some off-the-shelf chip to do it. These are unlikely to be an improvement on sound quality however.

Hey guys, my DP finally came today... really happy with it, i went with the mp7se and loving the action and SK voices .. really amazing!!!

But need some advice, the box that came with the piano was half opened, and the piana was upside down in the box, like i had to open from the bottom to get it right. But i think the company that I bought from , and they are the official importer here in my country , also any guarantee its with them, opened to write in the guarantee certificate my name and model etc ... this was inside the box. So i think no problem there, and the DP look like new but the keys ... keys feels amazing and everything seems to work fine. Except the color of the keys , i think it is too yellow ... thats what id like to know from you guys, it its that way? Or they sent me an showroom unit or something like that? Cause the sticker that comes saying ivory keys, the red one i think, it wasn’t there too as saw in lots of video on youtube.

What do you think? Should i send it back ?

Thanks guys ,

JotaR

A picture would be useful. With a white sheet of paper on the keys for comparison. Because your yellow may be my white.

They tend to be (very) slightly yellowish. If too yellow, it may mean it stayed too long in storage and in not great storing conditions. Take a look at the serial number and manufacturing date. Oddly I could not find this information on the piano. I found it a label on the cardboard box. Mine was made in 2016 and the keys are white (with that very slight yellowish tone aforementioned to imitate ivory).