Kawai ES120B (DEMO)

At home, on stage, your music.

Characteristics of the piano

The touch

The Touch of a Cue Piano: Responsive Hammer Compact keyboard action

The sounds of cue pianos : Shigeru Kawai & Kawai EX

Technical characteristics of the ES120

The variety of a digital piano: Convenience and flexibility The impressive ES120 offers a variety of features to complement its authentic keyboard feel and rich grand piano tones. The adjustable metronome and song recorder are invaluable tools for budding pianists wishing to improve their technique, while additional instrument voices, Dual and Split playing modes and 100 drum rhythms allow players of all levels to let their creative spirit run free.

Musicians will appreciate the recording memories and Line Out jacks dedicated to sound reinforcement, while integrated MIDI and Audio Bluetooth® functions and the standard USB-MIDI port offer great flexibility for connecting to smart devices and computers, with or without cables.

Integrated Bluetooth® MIDI and Audio wireless connectivity In addition to a standard USB-MIDI port for connection to computers, the ES120 also features integrated Bluetooth® MIDI and audio technologies, enabling the instrument to communicate wirelessly with supported smart devices.

Once the instrument is paired with a phone, tablet or laptop, ES120 owners can enjoy a wide variety of exciting music apps that enhance their learning and playing experience, or stream the sound of songs and videos directly through the instrument's impressive speaker system, without the need to connect additional cables.

PianoRemote app The ES120 is compatible with Kawai's latest PianoRemote control app for iOS and supported Android devices. This app connects to the piano wirelessly via the instrument's built-in Bluetooth function, offering an easy way to change sounds or adjust settings from an attractive user interface.

Characteristics of the piano

■ Responsive Hammer III keyboard action, a category leader
■ Ivory Touch key surfaces, triple sensor, let-off, counterweights
■ Progressive harmonic imaging sound with 88-key sampling
■ Shigeru Kawai SK-EX & Kawai EX concert grand piano sounds
■ High-quality amplification, 40W four-speaker sound system
■ Built-in Bluetooth® technology for wireless MIDI and audio connectivity
■ MP3/WAV/SMF playback, recording, and overdubbing on USB
■ Integrated classical studies and Alfred lesson books
■ Spatial Headphone Sound for increased depth and realism
■ Attractive cabinet with Cheekblock control panel and OLED display

Grand piano touch: Responsive Hammer III keyboard mechanism

The CN301's Responsive Hammer III keyboard action recreates the supreme touch of an acoustic grand piano, with its realistic movements and rigid, springless design, for a smooth, natural playing experience. The instrument's triple-sensor key detection system enhances responsiveness and precision, while structural reinforcements throughout the action help minimize noise and key oscillation during staccato and fortissimo passages.
The keyboard's weight is adapted to reflect the heavier bass hammers and lighter treble hammers of an acoustic piano, while the release simulation recreates the subtle notching sensation felt when playing softly on the keys of a grand piano. These important features enable demanding pianists to practice expanding their repertoire with confidence, and ensure there are no unpleasant surprises when it comes to playing the very best acoustic grand pianos.

The sound of a grand piano: Three world-class instruments

Renowned as "Japan's first pianos", Shigeru Kawai instruments grace the stages of concert halls and musical institutions around the world, and are appreciated for their exceptional tonal clarity and dynamic range.
The new CN301 captures the magnificent sound of two leading Shigeru Kawai instruments: the SK-EX Concert grand piano and the SK-5 Studio medium-sized grand piano, allowing musicians to appreciate the contrasting properties of each.
What's more, the CN301 also offers the distinctive sound of Kawai's EX concert grand piano, which has been frequently selected by professional pianists at such prestigious events as the Chopin, Tchaikovsky and Rubinstein International Piano Competitions, among others.
All three instruments are faithfully reproduced with full 88-key sampling using exclusive Progressive Harmonic Imaging™ sound technology, to set a new standard in digital piano tonal quality.

Technical characteristics

MP3/WAV Playback & Record

USB memory devices can also be used to play back MP3 or WAV audio files, allowing musicians to learn the chords or melody for a new piece, or to simply play along with their favourite songs.

It is even possible to record and overdub entire performances directly as MP3 or WAV audio files for emailing to family and friends, or casual listening away from the piano.

Flexible USB connectivity
In addition to wireless functionality, the CN301 is also equipped with USB ports that enable the instrument to be connected directly to a computer for MIDI use, or to load and save data on USB memory devices.
This latest USB to Device feature allows recorder songs stored in internal memory to be safely stored on USB memory sticks, or standard MIDI files (SMF) downloaded from the Internet to be played back and enjoyed using the instrument's excellent Progressive Harmonic Imaging sounds, without additional hardware or cables.

Comparison between the CN201 and CN301

Weight & dimensions

The GX-2 is a classic-sized instrument with exquisite tonal quality.

The new standard in grand piano design is beyond imagination. It combines the latest technology with traditional craftsmanship. It is the application of knowledge and experience handed down from generation to generation. It is the very definition of Japanese piano design philosophy. A lightness of touch usually reserved for the largest pianos. Its rich, lively and expressive sound inspires creative passions. A new era of grand piano performance has begun.

Touch

Millennium III Upright Action

The Millennium III Upright's action features components made from ABS-Carbon, a composite material created by infusing carbon fiber into our famous ABS Styran. ABS-Carbon is incredibly strong and rigid, enabling the creation of lighter action parts without compromising strength. The result is a more powerful, faster action offering greater control and stability than conventional all-wood actions. 

Elongated fingerboards made of fir

Fir is the ideal key material - light, yet extremely strong for its weight. It responds with minimal bending and exceptional consistency, conveying every subtle nuance of the pianist's interpretation while remaining stable through years of intensive use. The length of each key has been extended to facilitate playing and offer a more uniform response from the front to the back of the playing surface. The key shanks are also designed with a slightly higher profile for maximum rigidity and increased power.

Tone

NEOTEX key surfaces

Our exclusive NEOTEX key surface, made from cellulose fibers, offers a smooth, unobtrusive texture similar to natural ivory and ebony, as well as a semi-porous silica-filled surface to absorb natural oils and hand perspiration. Because NEOTEX is used for both black and white keys, key feel is consistent across the entire keyboard. NEOTEX resists cracking and fading over years of use, and is also resistant to static electricity, helping to prevent the build-up of unwanted dust. The result is a beautiful, durable key surface offering exceptional playability.

Rigid foundation for key travel

The hammer rail is the "backbone" of the piano's action. GX Series hammer rails are made of durable extruded aluminum with our exclusive double-beam design for added strength and stability. Both the hammer rail and wippens rail are permanently locked in place to preserve the careful tolerances of the action design and ensure consistent touch response throughout the life of the piano.

The entire surface of the hammer rail is finely notched to hold each hammer flange securely in place, ensuring optimum hammer alignment. The surface-mounted hammer flanges are made of PBT resin, allowing the action screws to remain tight without shrinking or swelling. All these meticulous design features form the rigid foundation of the GX series, guaranteeing precise key travel over time.

Solid spruce conical soundboard

The soundboard is the heart of a piano. Its role is to transform the vibrations of the piano strings into a rich, resonant sound. Kawai uses only solid quarter-grain spruce for the K series soundboards. Each soundboard is strategically tapered to maximize its tonal capacity. Only those that meet or exceed our strict quality standards are selected for use in our professional upright pianos.

Hybrid inner border (Rim Konsei Katagi)

The exclusive Konsei Katagi rim leverages different hardwoods to achieve the ideal sonic balance. For the inner rim, finely porous hardwoods are used to provide superior brilliance and projection of the high-frequency range of the sound spectrum. These are layered with wider-pore hardwoods that offer warmth and fullness to the sound. The synergy of structurally divergent hardwoods produces a powerful and pleasingly rounded sound, which is the hallmark of Shigeru Kawai grand pianos.

Vertically laminated bridge

The bridge performs the essential task of transferring the vibrations from the strings to the soundboard. GX series bass bridges are made from the highest quality hard maple or beech. Treble bridges are vertically laminated with 13 layers of maple and mogno for maximum strength and optimal sound energy transfer.

Specifications

Weight & dimensions

A maximum performance in a minimal size

The GL-20 delivers maximum performance with minimal footprint. With its advanced features from the GL series, it will undoubtedly exceed all expectations for a piano of its size.

Touch

Millennium III Upright Action

The Millennium III Upright's action features components made from ABS-Carbon, a composite material created by infusing carbon fiber into our famous ABS Styran. ABS-Carbon is incredibly strong and rigid, enabling the creation of lighter action parts without compromising strength. The result is a more powerful, faster action offering greater control and stability than conventional all-wood actions. 

Extended Key Length

Longer keys make the game easier to play and offer a more uniform response from the front to the back of the playing surface. The benefits for the player are better control and more power with less effort.

Duplex ladders

The instrument's duplex scale system provides harmonics in the midrange and treble, adding depth and breadth to the overall sound.

Staples

The staples ensure precision in string alignment, spacing and angles to produce a more uniform tone and consistent vibratory length of each note.

Tone

Solid spruce conical soundboard

The soundboard is the heart of a piano. Its role is to transform the vibrations of the piano strings into a rich, resonant sound. Kawai uses only solid quarter-grain spruce for the K series soundboards. Each soundboard is strategically tapered to maximize its tonal capacity. Only those that meet or exceed our strict quality standards are selected for use in our professional upright pianos.

SOLID' (Stretcher Over-Lap Integrated Design)

The "SOLID" construction creates an exceptionally rigid foundation to support the tension of the strings. First, the windchest is mounted on the frame. Then, the windchest and yoke bar are integrated into a single structure, firmly anchored to the waistband. The extraordinary thickness of the yoke bar illustrates the structural integrity of this sturdy frame, designed to ensure stable tuning and powerful sound.

Specifications

Weight & dimensions

The GX-1 BLAK Classic Grand Series offers the professional pianist a superb range of tonal expressiveness, as well as a level of elegance and craftsmanship unmatched for a piano of its size. Slightly smaller than the traditional "classical" grand, but larger than a baby grand, it fits perfectly into any smaller home or studio without sacrificing performance.

Touch

Millennium III Upright Action

The Millennium III Upright's action features components made from ABS-Carbon, a composite material created by infusing carbon fiber into our famous ABS Styran. ABS-Carbon is incredibly strong and rigid, enabling the creation of lighter action parts without compromising strength. The result is a more powerful, faster action offering greater control and stability than conventional all-wood actions. 

Elongated fingerboards made of fir

Fir is the ideal key material - light, yet extremely strong for its weight. It responds with minimal bending and exceptional consistency, conveying every subtle nuance of the pianist's interpretation while remaining stable through years of intensive use. The length of each key has been extended to facilitate playing and offer a more uniform response from the front to the back of the playing surface. The key shanks are also designed with a slightly higher profile for maximum rigidity and increased power.

Tone

NEOTEX key surfaces

Our exclusive NEOTEX key surface, made from cellulose fibers, offers a smooth, unobtrusive texture similar to natural ivory and ebony, as well as a semi-porous silica-filled surface to absorb natural oils and hand perspiration. Because NEOTEX is used for both black and white keys, key feel is consistent across the entire keyboard. NEOTEX resists cracking and fading over years of use, and is also resistant to static electricity, helping to prevent the build-up of unwanted dust. The result is a beautiful, durable key surface offering exceptional playability.

Rigid foundation for key travel

The hammer rail is the "backbone" of the piano's action. GX Series hammer rails are made of durable extruded aluminum with our exclusive double-beam design for added strength and stability. Both the hammer rail and wippens rail are permanently locked in place to preserve the careful tolerances of the action design and ensure consistent touch response throughout the life of the piano.

The entire surface of the hammer rail is finely notched to hold each hammer flange securely in place, ensuring optimum hammer alignment. The surface-mounted hammer flanges are made of PBT resin, allowing the action screws to remain tight without shrinking or swelling. All these meticulous design features form the rigid foundation of the GX series, guaranteeing precise key travel over time.

Solid spruce conical soundboard

The soundboard is the heart of a piano. Its role is to transform the vibrations of the piano strings into a rich, resonant sound. Kawai uses only solid quarter-grain spruce for the K series soundboards. Each soundboard is strategically tapered to maximize its tonal capacity. Only those that meet or exceed our strict quality standards are selected for use in our professional upright pianos.

Hybrid inner border (Rim Konsei Katagi)

The exclusive Konsei Katagi rim leverages different hardwoods to achieve the ideal sonic balance. For the inner rim, finely porous hardwoods are used to provide superior brilliance and projection of the high-frequency range of the sound spectrum. These are layered with wider-pore hardwoods that offer warmth and fullness to the sound. The synergy of structurally divergent hardwoods produces a powerful and pleasingly rounded sound, which is the hallmark of Shigeru Kawai grand pianos.

Vertically laminated bridge

The bridge performs the essential task of transferring the vibrations from the strings to the soundboard. GX series bass bridges are made from the highest quality hard maple or beech. Treble bridges are vertically laminated with 13 layers of maple and mogno for maximum strength and optimal sound energy transfer.

Specifications

Weight & dimensions