Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Digital Pianos - Electronic Pianos - Synths & Keyboards ES-520 vs ES-920 comparisons?

Hi all, was wondering if anyone has tried these two pianos and can share their thoughts on whether the ES920 is worth the extra price over the 520?

Not concerned about portability/gigging, mainly just around the piano playing experience. For example, are playing dynamics significantly easier/better on the 920 vs 520?

Have read the 920/520 owners thread but it focuses a lot on 920, also watched the piano forever review of the three Kawais.

(Will also try both in store but wanted to see how others value them)

Hello,

@rwc17, Just as you said, trying them out yourself is absolutely essential and is the most valuable criterium to go on.

I'd strongly suggest not to take 'the piano forever' too seriously; he does say some sensible things every now and then, but those need to be filtered out carefully between a lot of wild assumptions and inaccuracies. Or at least that is my impression.

If you haven't found this already, here's a simple Kawai comparison that I think is useful:

https://www.kawai-global.com/product_comparison/detail.php?n=es920,es520&ct=36

Apart from this, I am quite interested as well in what others will answer to your questions, in particular for both the ES520 and 920 used as a MIDI controller.

Cheers and happy decision making,

HZ

I had an ES8, and lucked into a used ES520 last January, when they were hard to get new. After a month, I upgraded to a new 920. Perhaps because I was used to the ES8 key bed, I did not like the 520’s playing experience. It seemed mushy and less expressive. And I found the user interface awkward compared to the ES8, while the 920 is pretty much the same. I’m liking the 920’s equalizer as well.

I could make good music on the ES520, and I greatly prefer it over anything currently available from Yamaha or Roland. But I like the Es920 better.

I use both for MIDI, but only for recording piano tracks and data input when creating arrangements for my chamber ensemble, so I can’t vouch for any more than “they work as well as all digital pianos do for my purposes.”

I owned a ES110, which like all my portable DPs, was for gigging. I liked the action very much and the weight, but wasn't enamored with the entry level features of 110 (having to use keyboard to change sounds, very limited effects and reverbs, etc.) The ES520 has same action (now with triple sensors,) and everything I missed on 110. Also, I play mostly jazz and limited classical.

If I played mostly classical, and was using DP for mostly home, I probably would of bought ES920.