Kawai
ES120
$949
Kawai ES120: a clear digital piano review for practice and comparison
10.0 Beginner 8.5 Night Practice 6.0 Portability 6.8 Touch Reality 7.1 Value
88 12 kg
Kawai ES-320 Review
Kawai ES-320: a clear digital piano review for practice and comparison
Discontinued 88 Keys 12 kg Responsive Hammer Compact II (RHC2)
Bluetooth
Beginner
Scores
Where to Buy
MSRP
$800
This model is discontinued. New-old-stock or used listings may still appear, so confirm the current listing status at retailers.
This model is discontinued; links may show used listings, remaining stock, or unrelated search results. These buttons open retailer search results and may include affiliate tracking where available. Stock and listing status can change without notice.
How These Scores Were Calculated
Beginner
10.0| Factor | This Piano | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Base Score | — | 3.0 |
| Lesson Function | Yes | +1.5 |
| App Connectivity | Yes | +1.5 |
| Recording | Yes | +1 |
| Metronome | Yes | +0.5 |
| Transpose | Yes | +0.3 |
| Layer / Split | Yes | +0.3 |
| Preset Songs | 100 | +1.5 |
| Sound Variety | 25 sounds | +0.5 |
Night Practice
8.5| Factor | This Piano | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Base Score | — | 2.0 |
| Headphone Jacks | 2 | +2 |
| Headphone Type | 6.3mm, 3.5mm | +1.5 |
| Headphone Optimization | Yes | +1.5 |
| Key Action Quietness | Responsive Hammer Compact II (RHC2) | +0 |
| Volume Control | Yes | +1 |
| Bluetooth Audio | Yes | +0.5 |
Portability
5.5| Factor | This Piano | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Base Score | — | 5.0 |
| Weight | 12 kg | +1 |
| Width | 1322 mm | -0.5 |
| Battery | No | +0 |
| Foldable | No | +0 |
| Key Count | 88 keys | +0 |
Touch Reality
7.3| Factor | This Piano | Points |
|---|---|---|
| Key Action Quality | Responsive Hammer Compact II (RHC2) (grade 6) | +3.6 |
| Key Count | 88 keys | +1.5 |
| Polyphony | 192 notes | +1.2 |
| Sound Modeling | Progressive Harmonic Imaging | +0.5 |
| Key Surface | ivory-feel | +0.5 |
Kawai ES-320 review verdict
This Kawai ES-320 review reads the published specifications from a comparison-first point of view: touch, sound, practice fit, value, and limits.
Kawai ES-320 is best read as a portable digital piano for beginners and returning players. This review looks at weighted-key feel, sound, practice features, value, and realistic comparison points instead of treating the spec sheet as advertising copy.
Pros
- • Key count: 88 keys, a clear basis for digital piano comparison.
- • Touch: weighted hammer action, so the review stays focused on practice feel.
- • Quiet practice: Headphone practice support.
- • Connectivity: USB MIDI, Bluetooth and app support.
- • Use case: Its best fit is home practice.
Cons
- • Main limit: the need for a furniture-style living-room instrument.
- • Stand cost and compatibility are separate checks.
- • Used-market condition and support need careful checking.
Kawai ES-320 is a portable digital piano that makes most sense when its strengths are matched to the right practice situation. The useful points are 88 keys, weighted hammer action, 192-note polyphony, 20W speakers, and a weight of 12 kg. In a digital piano review, those details matter more than broad claims about being the best digital piano overall. For home practice, this model can be a sensible candidate if the layout and feature set match the way the instrument will actually be used. Because it is discontinued, the condition, accessories, and local support matter more than the original launch position. The fairest comparison is with models in the same price and use class, where touch, speakers, headphone practice, and connectivity can be judged side by side.
Kawai ES-320 evaluation points
Kawai ES-320 key action and touch
Kawai ES-320 uses a weighted hammer action. For a digital piano with weighted keys, the important question is not only whether the keys are heavy, but whether they help steady daily practice. The ivory feel key surface is a useful comfort detail. The specification lists 192-note polyphony; that is enough for ordinary pieces, while more layered playing or heavy pedal use benefits from a higher number. This makes the key action a practical comparison point rather than a decorative specification.
Who the Kawai ES-320 is for
Kawai ES-320 is most relevant for beginners and returning players. The main use case is home practice. Strengths: portability and easy placement. Limits: the need for a furniture-style living-room instrument. Buyers comparing digital pianos should also check the stand, pedal, headphone jack, app support, and local availability before deciding.
Kawai ES-320 sound and speakers
Kawai ES-320 offers 25 sounds and 20W speakers. That is the sound side of the review: enough variety for practice, but the real experience depends on speaker power, headphone use, and the room where it will be played. The headphone output supports quiet practice. For lessons, apps, or recording workflows, the useful connectivity is USB MIDI, Bluetooth and app support.
What to know before buying the Kawai ES-320
Before buying Kawai ES-320, compare it with nearby alternatives on touch, sound, portability, and value. A stand may need to be budgeted separately. A damper pedal is included, though some players may still want a fuller pedal unit. Because it is discontinued, the condition, accessories, and local support matter more than the original launch position. For searchers looking for a Kawai ES-320 review, the practical conclusion is to treat it as one candidate in a digital piano comparison, not as a universal answer for every player.
Demo Video
Video coming soon for this model
We embed videos from manufacturer official channels and trusted reviewers. As soon as a suitable demo or review is available, it will appear here.
Specifications
| Keys | 88 |
| Key Action | Responsive Hammer Compact II (RHC2) |
| Polyphony | 192 notes |
| Sounds | 25 |
| Weight | 12 kg |
| Speakers | 20W (×2) |
| Bluetooth | Audio + MIDI |
| Key Surface | Ivory Feel |
| Sound Modeling | Progressive Harmonic Imaging |
| Headphone Jacks | 2 |
| Headphone Type | 6.3mm, 3.5mm |
| Headphone Optimization | Yes |
| USB MIDI | Yes |
| Line Out | No |
| Lesson Function | Yes |
| App Connectivity | Yes |
| Recording | Yes |
| Metronome | Yes |
| Transpose | Yes |
| Layer / Split | Yes |
| Preset Songs | 100 |
| Battery | No |
| Foldable | No |
| Dimensions (W×D×H) | 1322×232×141 mm |
| Stand Included | No |
| Pedal Included | Yes |
Spec terms are explained in the glossary. Glossary →
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Recommended Accessories
🪑
Stand
Stand not included (sold separately)
A sturdy X-stand or furniture-style stand is essential if one isn't included.
🎧
Headphones
Closed-back headphones with good bass response make practice sessions more enjoyable.
🎹
Sustain Pedal
The included pedal is usually basic. A half-damper pedal upgrade is worthwhile for expressive playing.
💺
Bench
An adjustable-height bench helps maintain proper posture during long practice sessions.
Where to Buy
MSRP
$800
This model is discontinued. New-old-stock or used listings may still appear, so confirm the current listing status at retailers.
This model is discontinued; links may show used listings, remaining stock, or unrelated search results. These buttons open retailer search results and may include affiliate tracking where available. Stock and listing status can change without notice.
How It Compares
ES-320 vs ES120
The ES-320 scores higher in piano-like touch, while the ES120 is stronger in portability. The ES-320 costs $149 less. Choose the ES-320 if piano-like touch matters most.
Kawai ES120 →ES-320 vs FP-30X
The ES-320 scores higher in portability, while the FP-30X is stronger in piano-like touch. The FP-30X costs $100 less. Choose the ES-320 if portability matters most.
Roland FP-30X →ES-320 vs PX-S3100
The ES-320 scores higher in quiet practice, while the PX-S3100 is stronger in portability. The ES-320 costs $199 less. Choose the ES-320 if quiet practice matters most.
Casio PX-S3100 →Related Guides
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Read more →Best Console Digital Pianos for the Home (2026)
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Read more →What reviewers say online
A synthesis of recurring points from price-comparison sites, Amazon reviews, music-store staff videos and forum threads. Not a star-rating average — we read across multiple reviews and pulled out the points that came up repeatedly.
The Kawai ES-320 is an entry-level model in the portable ES series, sitting between the ES120 and the ES-520. Stand-alone reviews and videos are scarce, so any assessment has to be read from the platform shared across the series (Responsive Hammer Compact II, ivory-feel key tops, the Harmonic Imaging sound engine, and Bluetooth audio plus MIDI). On the strength of the series as a whole, the key feel and the honest piano tone are considered solid.
Praised most often
-
Feel of the ivory-feel key tops
Like the rest of the ES series, it pairs Responsive Hammer Compact II with ivory-feel key tops, and the series consensus is that the surface has just enough grip to keep fingers from slipping.
-
Honest, characteristically Kawai piano tone
The ES series piano tone is routinely described as clean and well suited to practice, and the ES-320 carries a sound engine of the same lineage.
-
Bluetooth audio plus MIDI
It offers both Bluetooth audio, for streaming music from a phone through the speakers, and Bluetooth MIDI, for connecting to apps or a computer. Being able to use these without adding cables is a plus.
Common cautions and criticisms
-
Few stand-alone reviews
Compared with the ES120 and ES-520, there are few reviews devoted to this model on its own, which makes its model-specific feel hard to pin down. In practice you end up judging it from the tendencies shared across the series.
-
No line output
This model has no line output. If you want a stable connection to an external amplifier or recording gear, something like the ES-520, which does have a line output, is the more practical choice.
-
Note that it is a discontinued model
Since it has already been discontinued, checking the condition, included accessories, and support matters more than it would with a new unit.
By source
-
Manufacturer spec (Kawai)
Reliable information on the ES-320 rests mainly on Kawai's official specifications. The keyboard, sound engine, and connectivity are described as part of the shared ES-series lineage.
-
Reviews of the same series (ES120 / ES-520)
Because dedicated expert reviews of the ES-320 alone are limited, its assessment is inferred from reviews of the neighboring ES120 and ES-520 (key feel, honest piano tone, speaker character).
Net take
On balance, the ES-320 is an entry-level model with few reviews of its own, but the fair read from the series consensus is that the ivory-feel key tops and honest piano tone shared across the ES line are solid. Because it is discontinued, checking condition and support is a precondition. If you want something comparable among current models, the ES120 and ES-520 are worth considering.
We do not compute a numeric star average. The points below are recurring themes we identified by reading across multiple reviews.
Sources & transparency
This page is written by the operator, who has run the piano-learning site Piano Juku since 2017, based on published manufacturer specifications. We are not a retailer or tied to any maker — every model is compared by the same criteria. About the operator
- Last verified
- Data referenced from
- Published spec sheet
How the 5-axis scores are calculated
We do not aggregate user reviews or star ratings (see methodology for why).
Spot a mistake or have a question about what's on this page? Let us know and we'll review it.
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Kawai ES-320