Kawai ES920 Portable Digital Piano - Black (Demo)

Responsive Hammer III keyboard action
ES920's highly authentic Responsive Hammer III keyboard action recreates the supreme touch of a fine acoustic grand piano, with its realistic movement and rigid, springless design providing a smooth and natural piano playing experience. The instrument's triple-sensor hammer detection system enhances responsiveness and accuracy, while structural reinforcements throughout the action assembly help to minimize noise and key wobble during staccato and fortissimo passages.

Superior playing control
In addition to grade-weighted hammers, the Responsive Hammer III keyboard action also features counterweights embedded within each black and white key. As with an acoustic piano, these finely balanced weights help to lighten the touch of the keyboard during pianissimo passages while adding a feel of greater substance when playing with force.

Premium key surfaces
ES920 features Kawai's highly regarded Ivory Touch key surfaces as standard. This finely textured material gently absorbs fingertip perspiration and oils to assist playing control and possesses a natural, matte finish that is smooth but not slippery. Furthermore, this moisture is absorbed without dirt or grease permeating the surface, allowing the keytops to be wiped clean easily using just a damp cloth.

Three world-class instruments
Shigeru Kawai instruments grace the stages of concert halls and musical institutions throughout the world and are prized for their outstanding tonal clarity and exceptional dynamic range. ES920 captures the magnificent tone of two Shigeru Kawai instruments, the flagship SK-EX Concert and medium-sized SK-5 Studio grand pianos, allowing musicians to enjoy the contrasting properties of each. In addition, the ES920 also features the distinctive sound of Kawai's highly acclaimed EX concert grand piano, which has frequently been selected by professional pianists in such prestigious events as the Chopin, Tchaikovsky, and Rubinstein international piano competitions. All three instruments are faithfully reproduced with full 88-key sampling using proprietary Harmonic Imaging sound technology to establish a new standard in digital piano tonal quality.

Rich, dynamic, expressive
When playing a fine piano, the amount of pressure applied to the keyboard affects not only the volume of the sound produced but also the unique tonal character of each note. Therefore, in order to construct a realistic acoustic portrait of each grand piano, not only is each key recorded individually but also at a wide variety of different volumes ranging from gentle pianissimo to thunderous fortissimo. ES920 offers a highly detailed acoustic portrait, with Harmonic Imaging XL technology ensuring smooth tonal transitions across the keyboard and throughout the entire dynamic range.

Variety beneath your fingertips
Alongside the classically voiced SK-EX, SK-5 and EX grand piano sounds, ES920 also showcases a selection of jazz, pop and modern variations suitable for a range of musical genres. A traditional Kawai upright piano sound is also included for pieces that suggest a feeling of nostalgia or call for a slightly more intimate tonal character.

Studio-quality effects and reverb
ES920's powerful digital effects engine enhances the instrument's superior core sounds, applying additional layers of detail and realism that bring performances to life. Tailor an instrument's character and feeling with a range of studio quality chorus, tremolo, delay and auto-pan effects. Add vintage warmth to electric pianos and trademark growl to drawbar organs using the dedicated amp simulation speaker models. Then, adjust the instrument's reverb controls to position yourself within one of six acoustic environments, ranging from a small practice room to an inspirational grand cathedral.

Room-filling resonance and tonal clarity
ES920's impressive 40W output system utilizes speaker box enclosures that deliver a rich, expansive sound to rival much larger console digital pianos. This design allows for a compact, portable instrument capable of enthralling medium-sized audiences without the need for additional amplification.

Additional instrument sounds
Supplementing the beautiful acoustic piano voices, ES920 also features a strong selection of additional sounds. Vintage electric pianos, drawbar organs and warm synth pads allow this portable piano to serve as a convenient gigging board, while church organs, strings and graceful choir voices ensure that the versatile ES920 is equally at home in places of worship. Furthermore, the Dual playing mode also allows two different sounds, such as grand piano and strings, to be layered together, while the Split and Four Hands modes divide the keyboard into two independent sections with volume balances adjustable in real time from the front panel.

Realtime 4-band EQ faders
ES920 provides a variety of sound customization options ranging from the authentic Virtual Technician function to the flexible reverb, effects and amp simulation controls. For live performers, the addition of 4-band EQ faders to the upper panel are particularly convenient, allowing players to easily tailor the instrument's sound for certain acoustic environments or quickly boost frequencies in order to cut through the mix when taking a solo.

Flexible USB connectivity
ES920 is equipped with modern USB connectors that not only allow the instrument to be connected to a computer for MIDI use, but also to load and save data to USB memory devices directly. This latter USB-to-device functionality allows favorite instrument settings, registrations and memorable recorder songs stored within internal memory to be safely preserved on USB flash drives, or for standard MIDI files (SMF) downloaded from the internet to be played back and enjoyed using the instrument's exquisite Harmonic Imaging XL sounds without additional hardware or cables.

Uncluttered appearance, lightweight body
ES920 adopts a brand new exterior design, utilizing a molded unibody construction. Its smoothly rounded edges and clean lines complement the flat, uncluttered panel surface, with elegantly recessed buttons that depress with a satisfying click. Lightweight and portable, ES920 weighs just 37.5 lb, almost 14 lb less than its predecessor, while retaining a stylish, professional quality that players can trust. ES920's clean design is appropriate for both traditional and contemporary spaces, and with matching designer stand and triple pedal options (both sold separately), the instrument can be easily transformed into an ultra-compact piano replacement for the lounge, studio or bedroom.