๐ŸŽนRoland FP-60X vs Kawai ES520 Digital Piano Comparison - Mid-Range Digital Comparison๐ŸŽน

Rolandโ€™s FP line has been multitiered for a number of years now, and its current incarnation consists of four different models at different prices and quality levels.

Kawaiโ€™s ES line conversely has only consisted of two models, and while it could be argued that the Kawai ES110 (now being replaced by the ES120) could be positioned against the Roland FP-10 and FP-30X, and the top ES model (currently the ES920) against the FP90X, Rolandโ€™s FP-60X did not have a true Kawai comparable.

With the expansion of the ES line and the release of the ES520, the FP-60X now has a true competitor from Kawaiโ€™s camp. And this is very welcome because despite being somewhat of a niche category, there are folks looking for a totally professional instrument that is better than an entry-level model yet isnโ€™t the best of the best.

So, if youโ€™re looking for a piano in this category this comparison is for you.

Roland FP60X vs Kawai ES520 โ€“ Background

Roland FP60X
Roland FP60X

With these two instruments, weโ€™re looking at a pair of 88-key, all-in-one portable digital pianos built both for home and professional use.

You can think of this comparison as the battle of the middle children. The ES520 fits in between the ES110 (now ES120) and ES920, while the FP-60X fits between the FP-30X and FP-90X. Both can be seen as either just coming short of their more expensive brethren or being massive improvements over the more basic option.

Given this middle position, both of these models tend to be a little bit less popular than the less and more expensive options. But for some people, this middle area is the sweet spot, and the release of Casioโ€™s new PX-S5000 speaks to this part of the market getting more competitive.

Weโ€™ll start by comparing everything sound related between these two.

Piano Sound

Kawaiโ€™s Progressive Harmonic Imaging Sound Technology vs Rolandโ€™s SuperNATURAL Piano

The ES520 is equipped with Kawaiโ€™s Progressive Harmonic Imaging engine (PHI) with 192 notes of polyphony. This is a sample-based engine built around an 88-key individually stereo sampling of the Shigeru Kawai SK-EX concert grand piano, which serves as the ES520โ€™s default piano sound.

On the FP-60X, we have Rolandโ€™s SuperNATURAL Piano Sound with 256 notes of polyphony. Unlike Rolandโ€™s higher-end sound engines that feature an entirely modeled acoustic piano sound, this particular version of the engine is sample-based, though there is quite a bit of additional modeling that fills in the sound. The FP-60X also features Rolandโ€™s new BMC chip which allows for much higher fidelity than their old sound chip.

Despite the seemingly similar specifications, the default piano tones from these two instruments are distinctly different. The 520 has a more open tone with more bloom around that sound, but weโ€™re not sure if this is a result of signal processing or a more powerful set of speakers (we cover the speakers more in-depth below.) In any case, the SKEX sample is very lush, colorful and natural.

Over on the FP60X, we feel that the size of the speakers here isnโ€™t doing the tone engine justice. The sound is on the darker side and has a very Steinway-like character with nice fortissimos, but it does feel a little bit boxed in compared to the ES520.

Plugging in a set of headphones totally erases this feeling, and brings the piano tones much more on par with one another with Rolandโ€™s nice Headphones 3D Ambience effect, even if we would still give the nod to the ES520 in terms of the acoustic piano sound.

Sound Editing

Both of these musical instruments offer the user a fairly level of customization when it comes to the piano tone. On the FP60X, Roland offers the built-in My Stage feature which offers 8 different presets of the default grand piano tone.

If you want to go deeper, thereโ€™s the free Piano Designer app which allows you to go in and edit a plethora of parameters such as damper resonance, string resonance, ambience and many more.

The FP60X also has a key advantage over the ES520 in that Roland has incorporated a tactile 3-band equalizer with sliders that allow the user to make adjustments on the fly without any menu diving on the LCD display.

Over on the ES520, thereโ€™s no tactile equalizer, but Kawai makes their Virtual Technician a built-in feature accessible via the menu. This feature makes 17 parameters available for user editing including the touch curve, touch sensitivity, damper resonance, damper noise and more. There are multiple reverb engines to choose from as well.

This is a very nice level of control, though presets like the FP60X has with My Stage and a tactile EQ would be very nice to have.

Other Instrument Sounds

The ES520 has 34 total onboard sounds, all of which would be considered core sounds and theyโ€™re quite intuitive to navigate via the pixel OLED display. The FP60X has 79 core sounds, and another 279 sounds made up of the General MIDI 2 sound bank and several drum sets.
Obviously, the 60X clearly has a much larger selection of onboard tones, and courtesy of the new BMC chip, the quality of the samples is really a step above what was offered on the FP60 with things like the electric pianos, harpsichords, synthesizers, pads, and strings all sounding much more lush. The synth pads in fact are quite similar to the beloved Yamaha pads on some of their larger stage pianos.

The 520โ€™s smaller selection of sounds is consistently solid and definitely functional, but the non-piano sounds are not quite as lush as the 60Xs. Considering the much larger quantity and better quality of sounds on the 60X, itโ€™s fair to say the 520 is outranked in this regard.

Speaker Systems

As we mentioned in the first sound section above, a key difference between these two pianos is the speakers. The ES520 has a dual speaker system with 40 watts of power, compare to the 60Xโ€™s dual speaker system with 26 watts of power.

Now, rated power output on its own doesnโ€™t necessarily mean a whole lot as speaker design and quality can go a long way in making up for a lack of rated power output, and Roland is certainly known for their superb speaker design.

That said, Kawai also makes great built-in speakers and this set of speakers was designed in collaboration with Onkyo. With that in mind, the ES520 absolutely packs a bigger punch in terms of power, and in terms of what the speakers are capable of drawing out of the sound engine.

Sound Wrap Up

To sum up the sound comparison with some general takeaways, if youโ€™re looking for a portable digital piano mainly as an acoustic piano substitute and youโ€™ll primarily be using the onboard speakers, the ES520 is likely going to deliver a better overall experience.

However, if you need a variety of sounds like e pianos and synths and are okay with plugging into an amplifier or PA system, the FP60X starts to look like the more compelling instrument.

Piano Action

Roland FP60X PHA4 Keyboard Action
Roland FP60X PHA4 Keyboard Action

Rolandโ€™s PHA4 Standard Keyboard with Ivory Feel

Both of these weighted key actions have been on the number for at least a few years now, and theyโ€™re both well-regarded and known for a very low rate of warranty-related claims.

Rolandโ€™s PHA4 action is used all throughout the lower half of Rolandโ€™s lineup and can be found on other FP series models like the FP-30X and FP10, as well as home digital pianos like the F701 and RP701. The specs are class-leading with features like a triple sensor, escapement and textured key tops.

The presence of escapement offers a nice level of control, especially when playing in softer dynamic ranges, which pairs very nicely with the sound engine as the new BMC chip has really enhanced the dynamic range of the instrument.

The triple sensor ensures that this hammer action is capable of great accuracy in terms of its MIDI output, and the textured keys provide a nice combination of grip and glide.

Kawaiโ€™s Responsive Hammer Compact II Action

Over on the ES520, we have Kawaiโ€™s Responsive Hammer Compact II action, or RHCII for short. This action is not as ubiquitous as the PHA4, but it is featured in their massively popular KDP-120 home digital piano.

The RHCII also features a triple sensor and textured keytops, but it does not have any escapement. For folks who play fairly demanding classical or jazz, the escapement will probably be missed, and youโ€™d have to jump to the top ES series piano โ€“ the ES920 โ€“ and its RHIII action for the next action up which does feature escapement.

The Playing Experience

In terms of the actual playing experience with each action, the repetition speed happens to be very good, as are the weighting and dynamic expression levels.

The PHA4 is a little bit louder from a mechanical standpoint, but not significantly so. In terms of the weighting, the PHA4 is slightly heavier but again, not significantly so. The ivory and matte textures are different but equally enjoyable.

On the whole, these are two of the best actions available in the price range, but we would have to give Roland the nod here with the PHA4 outgunning the RHCII.

Features/Connectivity

Kawai ES520 Features/Connectivity
Kawai ES520 Features/Connectivity

Companion Apps

Both manufacturers offer companion apps for iOS and Android, both of which are compatible with these two models.

Kawaiโ€™s apps have generally lagged behind their competitorโ€™s offerings over the years, but the new PianoRemote is very well-designed and definitely worth checking out.

Not only does it offer the user remote control of all of the functions of the instrument, but it also allows you to manage the Virtual Technician features with great visual aid. They also include some different preset configurations within the app that are not available onboard.

Over on the Roland side, they have two companion apps currently available. The first is the Piano Designer app which we mentioned above, as well as the new Roland Piano App which replaces the Piano Every Day app. This not only also offers remote control but also expands the functionality of the instrument by including things like drum rhythms.

Connectivity

Moving over to the connectors, we have a fairly similar offering between these two pianos with a couple of notable exceptions.

Starting with the similarities, both pianos offer dual headphone outputs (1/4โ€ and stereo mini-phone types), 1/4โ€ line outs, stereo mini line-in, USB Type A and B, multiple pedal inputs and of course, an input for the power supply adapter.

They both also offer Bluetooth MIDI connectivity and Bluetooth Audio, so connecting to the apps we mentioned above can be done totally wirelessly. Bluetooth connectivity is becoming standard at the price point, but some companies, such as Yamaha, are still holding off on including this across the board.

When it comes to the differences, the ES520 offers traditional 5-pin MIDI in and Out, whereas the 60X does not.

The 60X on the other hand offers a mic input with adjustable vocal effects like a compressor and modulation. There are not too many 88-key weighted action digital pianos with mic jacks, so this is a great addition if thatโ€™s a feature youโ€™re looking for.

The 60X also has a built-in USB audio interface, which if youโ€™re planning on connecting your instrument to a DAW is another very welcome feature.

Accessories

Both pianos come as a slab unit in the box with a music rest and damper pedal, both of which offer half-pedaling and are not simply flimsy sustain pedals. If you are going to be using your piano in a fairly stationary setting you also have the option of adding a designer keyboard stand and 3-pedal unit.

In the case of the 60X, the stand options are the KSC-72 and KS-20X, while the RPU-3 floating pedal unit or KPD-90 pedalboard are your triple pedal options.

Over on the ES520, the designer stand is the HM-5 stand, and the pedal options are the GFP-3 floating unit and the F-302 pedal bar.

Functions and Weighting

All of the standard functions like a metronome, transpose, split, dual, basic recorder and playback are all available on both pianos.

And one final thing to take note of is the weight discrepancy between these two pianos. The ES520 comes in at a fairly light 32 lbs, while the 60X is about 1/3 heavier at 43 lbs.

This probably wonโ€™t matter if youโ€™re not intending to transport your instrument on a frequent basis, but if you are, the weight difference here could be a deciding factor for you.

Closing Thoughts

To sum up our comparison here, with the ES520 we have an instrument with a focus on acoustic piano performance. If youโ€™re mostly going to be playing with an acoustic piano patch and have a need for a portable instrument for gigging with reliable action, the 520 is a very compelling choice.

For a player looking for a well-rounded instrument with a wide range of really high-quality tones, the FP-60X clearly excels in this area, especially if youโ€™re fine with connecting to an amp. You also get a very good keyboard action and other perks like a mic input and a built-in audio interface.

We hope youโ€™ve found this comparison helpful. Thanks for reading!

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