Kawai ES520 Review

We rated the Kawai ES520 a 9/10. This $1,200 intermediate instrument is user-friendly and has an excellent dynamic range. It’s responsive, and has a solid built-in speaker system. Advanced intermediate players will especially enjoy the grand piano tones, as well as the lightweight and moveable built. Another big plus for the mid-range instrument is that it has significantly more sounds than the beginner models by this maker. 

If you are looking for a medium to heavy action, however, this keyboard may not be for you. The Kawai ES520 has a relatively light touch, especially when we stack it up against instruments Yamaha’s GH3. We ended up taking one point off the score, because we wish the instrument had Kawais newer action (Grand Feel III) and felt the onboard recorder could be more advanced.

Kawai ES520 Overview

In this Kawai ES520 review, we will be looking into an 88-key digital piano with high-quality speakers, the harmonic imaging sound engine, and Bluetooth compatibility. The ES520 was first made available in December of 2020. This model is considered to be mid-range, which means it is aimed at intermediate players. 

A side note about the ES instrument line: Kawai ES pianos are portable instruments with much versatility, according to the maker. Kawai aims to make ES pianos affordable and adaptable.The ES920 is the current flagship model of the line; The ES520 is the third newest of the ES pianos. 

Features

34 High-Quality Instruments

Unlike the entry-level Kawai’s we’ve been reviewing lately, the Kawai ES520 has 34 instruments in the soundbank (rather than 15). The voices in the harmonic imaging soundbank include: 

• Pianos
• Organs
• Harpsicords
• Mallet Percussion 
• Bass

This instruments pianos are truly lovely including the regular concert grand piano sound. The ES520 also has E. (electric)  pianos. According to the maker, the ES520’s piano sounds were made with jazz and pop in mind. The ES520 also has a stunning sampling of Shigeru Kawai SK-EX concert grand piano. Kawai uses 88-note sampling, which means that each note of the Shigeru Kawai SK-EX was sampled to get this sound.

F-10H Pedal

This intermediate instrument is compatible with a 3-pedal assembly, and comes with the F-10H damper pedal. The ES520 also supports half-pedaling. While we wish the 3-pedal unit was included rather than sold separately, the one included pedal is still nice to have on hand, and has a value of about $80 on its own. You can learn more about the included damper pedal here.

Onkyo Stereo System

This piano has a powerful and robust speaker system which was made in collaboration with Onkyo. If you haven’t heard of Onkyo before, they are a Japanese company that specializes is sound systems and speakers, and more specifically, theatre speakers. 

6 Main Effects

The ES520 has reverb and amplification effects to enhance the sound of your playing. There are 3 FX slots that you can place the above into. Oh, and there is also a misc FX section! The maker describes the FX section as powerful, and realistic. I find that the effects add another level of depth to the instrument’s sounds. 

Matte Keys

The non-slip keys of this piano will help you through quick passages with their non-slip grip. They aren’t synthetic ebony and ivory, but for me, the matte keys are all I need. 

Bluetooth MIDI and Audio

Kawai ES pianos such as this one can be connected to devices and apps (like the PianoRemote app) with Bluetooth. Bluetooth audio, on the other hand, allows you to play music through the speakers on the instrument. Not all Kawai models include Bluetooth audio- A lot of beginner model pianos don’t have this luxury! 

Other Features Include: 

• App Support
• Standard and Mini Jacks 
• Internal Song Recorder
• A New Instrument Design 
• Dual Mode and Split Mode
• Transpose and Tuning
• Temperament

Kawai’s piano remote controller app doesn’t have the best reviews, but now, the technology comes with app support. The ES520 can be played with either studio-style (¼ inch) headphones, or with regular earbuds. This is a really handy feature, because it means that newer musicians won’t have to go out of their way to noodle with finding a ¼ inch adapter, or purchase another expensive piece of musical equipment. 

The internal song recorder is another “plus” in my book. Kawai has really gone the extra mile to include their song recorder in pretty much all of their entry-level to mid-range models. This song recorder allows you to record and playback 3 total songs. While I do wish that it had more fleshed-out functions, such as 5 songs instead of 3, and the ability to layer, it’s still a nice feature. 

It’s also worth noting that the ES520 was redesigned since the model before it. Some folks are a big fan, and others are not. The ES520 has a plastic frame instead of a metal one, which means that it’s more portable. That being said, we do sacrifice some hardiness when the instrument is made to be lighter. Definitely consider this instrument’s application before purchasing it- If it is going to get lots of wear and tear, something heaftier may be better. 

Dual mode and split mode are two other standard features that are always nice to have on hand, for duets, and combining voices across the keyboard respectively. I was also glad to see the adjustable temperament and transpose features, which makes the instrument more versatile. 

Kawai ES520 Specifications

• Weight: 32 pounds
• Dimensions: 5.7’’ tall X 52.75” wide X 14.7’’ deep
• Piano Type: Portable digital
• Number of Effects: 6
• Total Output: 40 watts 

Who is it suitable for?

The ES520 is best suited for intermediate players. I find that the ES520 lends well to those with performance in mind. That being said, this instrument has more in the sound bank than other, more entry-level portable Kawais. The 34-voice soundbank is truly inspiring, and makes me want to compose. Budding songwriters will likely get everything they want out of an instrument with this portable keyboard. 

This model is one that you will grow with, so you won’t be needing an upgrade as soon as you had gotten something like say, a Rockjam. 

The Kawai ES520 in Action

Take a listen to this “All Playing, No Talking” video by Kraft music to get a better feel for the instruments sound bank and touch response: 

I thought that some of the string sounds were “Just Ok”, and sounded the best when they were used in the context of split mode. The organ / e piano voices were certainly done justice, in my opinion. But the voice that always takes the cake with Kawai digital pianos is the Shigeru Kawai sound. 

Pros and Cons

Pros

• The instrument has a 3-year warranty 
• The dynamic response of the instrument is stunning
• The damper pedal is included 
• It is more portable than comparable models from other brands
• The instrument is also more portable than other Kawais before it
• It has 4 touch sensitivity options, so players can change the instrument to their preference
• It has a lot more sounds than entry-level Kawai models
• It has the renowned Shigeru Kawai SK-EX concert grand piano sound sample

The response of the instrument is very good. Another big plus for those who plan to travel with their music is that the ES520 is light. 

However, the biggest pro for me is that the ES520 has more sounds than some of the newer models out there. It was refreshing for me to see 34 sounds in the soundbank instead of 15– For me, if I’m going to buy an instrument, I like to have over 20 sounds to work with. This feature makes the instrument more ideal for composers and songwriters than the instruments with more minimalist setups. 

Cons

• The stand is not included in most ES520 packages, including the one on Amazon
• While older ES models had metal in the frame, this one is comprised of plastic
• The keys are matte but are not made up of synthetic ebony and ivory
• There are newer, more updated Kawai instruments out there 
• The RCH II keys face some stiff criticism from some
• The song recorder doesn’t have any more storage space than in the beginning models
• The string sounds could be better

It’s pretty standard to not get a stand (hah, pun!) in newer piano packages- But can’t a girl dream? Anyways…

RCH II is reliable weighted action, but some musicians really dislike it. It can feel quite light compared to Yamaha’s graded hammer action III, and isn’t as new as Kawais Grand Feel III. If you don’t like light action, you might out to try another brand, or a more recent digital Kawai. 

Another con is that there have been 2 new ES pianos released since this one– So you won’t be getting as many upgrades as you could. That being said, despite being released about two and half years ago, this model still continues to be very popular, and for good reasons. It’s a hardy instrument that’s easy to use, and has a great soundbank. 

In my opinion, one of the biggest cons to this intermediate piano is that the song recorder doesn’t feel very intermediate to me– You can only record 3 songs, and you can’t multitrack. While I was stoked to see the 3-song recorder in their entry-level instruments, I wish that the company had added another feature or two to the onboard recording in the model. 

Amazon Ratings: 

Amazon customers rated the ES520 a 4.7 out of 5. So, what did folks have to say? Let’s find out! First, let’s start with the good.

Positive comments from Amazon customers:

• According to two customers, this instrument is “It’s the best in its class”
• “The Bluetooth is easy to use”

Constructive comments from Amazon customers: 

• The key action is light 

Quick View 

Comparable Instruments 

The three instruments that are most comparable to the Kawai ES520 are the Kawai ES90, the Kawai ES110, and the ES8.

The ES90 is one of Kawai’s newest instruments, and has two different samples of two Shigeru Kawai instruments. This piano is much more expensive, costing about $2,699.99, so the ES90 would be an upgrade when compared to the ES520. 

The ES920 (also by Kawai) is another instrument that has some similar features to the ES520, and at a fraction of the price of the ES90. The ES920 costs around $1,799.99 and has Kawai’s newest action. In addition to this, it has a whopping 256 notes of polyphony- Much, much more than the piano we reviewed today. This model was released in February of 2021. 

The Kawai ES8 is an older instrument which is no longer being made. In fact, the ES520 was designed to replace the ES8. That being said, the older ES was very popular, and many people like it for its sturdy metal built. You may be able to find a refurbished ES8 on Sweetwater, or Amazon. 

Other comparable instruments you may want to check out include:

• Kawai ES120
• Kawai KDP120
• Roland FP30X 
• Yamaha P515 

If you don’t like the RCH II action and want something that has a heavier touch, try the above Roland or Yamaha models. 

Kawai ES520 Conclusion

In conclusion, the Kawai ES520 is an excellent mid-range instrument with on-board recording, lovely voices, and a powerful speaker system. We would highly recommend this model to players who consider themselves intermediate and up. 

Music quote of the week:

“Music is the mediator between spiritual and sensual life” 

-Ludwig Van Beethoven 

9Expert Score

We rated the Kawai ES520 a 9/10. This $1,200 intermediate instrument is user-friendly and has an excellent dynamic range. It’s responsive, and has a solid built-in speaker system. Advanced intermediate players will especially enjoy the grand piano tones, as well as the lightweight and moveable built. Another big plus for the mid-range instrument is that it has significantly more sounds than the beginner models by this maker. If you are looking for a medium to heavy action, however, this keyboard may not be for you. The Kawai ES520 has a relatively light touch, especially when we stack it up against instruments Yamaha’s GH3. We ended up taking one point off the score, because we wish the instrument had Kawais newer action (Grand Feel III) and felt the onboard recorder could be more advanced.

PROS

• The instrument has a 3-year warranty
• The dynamic response of the instrument is stunning
• The damper pedal is included
• It is more portable than comparable models from other brands
• The instrument is also more portable than other Kawais before it
• It has 4 touch sensitivity options, so players can change the instrument to their preference
• It has a lot more sounds than entry-level Kawai models
• It has the renowned Shigeru Kawai SK-EX concert grand piano sound sample

CONS

• The stand is not included in most ES520 packages, including the one on Amazon
• While older ES models had metal in the frame, this one is comprised of plastic
• The keys are matte but are not made up of synthetic ebony and ivory
• There are newer, more updated Kawai instruments out there
• The RCH II keys face some stiff criticism from some
• The song recorder doesn’t have any more storage space than in the beginning models
• The string sounds could be better