Kawai ES-920 B Digital Stage Piano Black

Kawai ES-920 B Stage Piano: Concert Grand Feel in a 17 kg Cabinet

The Kawai ES-920 B is a portable 88-key stage piano that captures the touch and tone of the Shigeru Kawai SK-EX concert grand in a 17 kg molded unibody case. Built around the Responsive Hammer III action and Harmonic Imaging XL sound engine, it delivers the same keyboard response and piano voicing that the manufacturer fits into its larger console instruments. This model is the right choice for working pianists and serious students who need a portable instrument that does not compromise on action authenticity.

What Sets This Model Apart

Two features distinguish the instrument from typical stage pianos. Audio circuitry was developed with Onkyo, producing a redesigned motherboard, amplifier, and signal path that minimizes distortion at higher volumes. The action uses grade-weighted hammers with counterweights embedded in every key, mirroring the heavier bass and lighter treble weighting of an acoustic grand.

Keyboard Action — Responsive Hammer III

The Responsive Hammer III action uses 88 grade-weighted keys, Ivory Touch white key surfaces, triple-sensor key detection, counterweights, and let-off simulation to recreate the feel of a fine grand piano.

• Keys: 88 graded — full concert range with weighted bass-to-treble progression
• Key surfaces feature Ivory Touch material, a matte, moisture-absorbing finish that prevents slipping during long sessions.
• Triple sensor with let-off — captures rapid re-strikes and the subtle "notch" of grand piano keys

Sound Engine — Harmonic Imaging XL

Harmonic Imaging XL records all 88 keys individually at multiple dynamics from the SK-EX, SK-5, and EX concert grands, then extends the attack portion of each sample by up to 120% for organic detail. With 256-note polyphony, complex pedal-rich passages sustain cleanly without dropped notes.

• Polyphony: 256 notes — handles dense chords and sustained pedal work without voice stealing
• Piano sounds include SK-EX, SK-5, EX, and K-60 — three concert grands plus a traditional upright character
• 38 total voices — electric pianos, drawbar organs, strings, choir, and synth pads

Connectivity, Recording, and Stage Features

Built for working musicians, this portable piano combines wireless and wired connectivity with practical performance tools. Bluetooth MIDI and Audio (with aptX support) let players stream backing tracks or pair with apps like PianoRemote without cables. The Rhythm Section provides 100 backing styles with full-keyboard chord recognition, while the internal recorder stores up to 10 songs in 2-track format.

• Bluetooth: MIDI and Audio (Ver. 4.1, aptX) — wireless app control and audio streaming through the built-in speakers
• The Rhythm Section offers 100 styles with 2 variations each, giving solo performers a full backing band at the press of a button.
• Recorder stores 10 songs in 2 parts, approximately 90,000 notes — capture practice sessions or layered arrangements to internal memory or USB

Who this Instrument Is Built For

It is the right choice for gigging keyboardists, advanced students, and home players who want concert-grade piano feel in a portable format. Performing pianists benefit from the 40W speaker system, 4-band EQ faders for cutting through a band mix, and 1/4" line outputs for larger PA rigs. Worship leaders appreciate the Rhythm Section accompaniments, lesson song library of 377 pieces via the PiaBookPlayer app, and dual headphone jacks for silent practice.

Kawai: A Century of Japanese Piano Craft

The company has been building pianos in Hamamatsu, Japan since 1927, and the flagship Shigeru Kawai SK-EX concert grand has been selected by professional pianists at the Chopin, Tchaikovsky, and Rubinstein international piano competitions. The unit draws directly from that lineage, sampling the SK-EX, SK-5, and EX instruments key-by-key rather than stretching a few recordings across the keyboard.