The ES8 digital piano is the perfect portable piano for any musical occasion. Whether you're transporting your instrument to a performance or have limited space, the ES8's compact and lightweight frame really packs a punch with premium features such as Responsive Hammer III keyboard action and breathtaking sound captured from our flagship Shigeru Kawai SK-EX Concert Grand Piano.
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With over 90 years of Kawai expertise in crafting world-class acoustic pianos, our ES8 Portable Digital Piano provides the most authentic playing experience ever achieved in a portable digital instrument. Its class-leading Responsive Hammer III keyboard action recreates all the subtleties of playing a fine grand piano. Premium built-in features such as Ivory Touch key surfaces, let-off simulation, counterweights and a precise triple-sensor detection system offer a smooth and natural piano playing experience. The Virtual Technician feature further allows the player to enhance the instrument’s superior tone and customize the character and shape of selected piano sounds to suit personal preferences. Strong and surprisingly lightweight, the ES8’s modern chassis is engineered from aluminum with a reinforced keyboard base to provide additional stability. With optional matching design stand and pedal lyre, it can be easily transformed into a compact piano replacement for lounges, studio or home. Find a Kawai dealer here.
| Keyboard | Responsive Hammer III action - 88 keys - Grade-weighted hammers - Ivory Touch white key surfaces - Let-off simulation - Triple sensor key detection - Counterweights |
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| Pedal | F-10H pedal unit - Damper (with half-pedal support) |
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| Piano Sound | Harmonic Imaging XL (HI-XL) - 88-key stereo sampling - SK-EX, SK-5, EX recording - 256 note maximum polyphony |
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| Piano Resonance | - Damper Resonance - String Resonance |
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| Piano Adjustment | Virtual Technician (17 parameters) - Touch Curve (incl. User Touch Curve) - Voicing (incl. 88-key User Voicing) - Damper Resonance - Damper Noise - String Resonance - Key-off Effect - Fall-back Noise - Hammer Delay - Topboard Simulation - Decay Time - Minimum Touch - Stretch Tuning (incl. 88-key User Tuning) - Temperament (incl. User Temperament) - Temperament Key - Key Volume (incl. 88-key User Key Volume) - Half-Pedal Adjust - Soft Pedal Depth |
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| No. of Sounds | 34 voices | |
| Reverb | 6 types | |
| Brilliance | ✔ | |
| Other Effects | 11 types + 4 combination effects + amp simulator | |
| Speakers | (8 x 12) cm x 2 | |
| Output Power | 30 W (15 W × 2) | |
| Headphone Enhancements | - | |
| Display | 2 x 16 characters LCD | |
| Key Cover | - | |
| Music Rest | Detachable type (included) | |
| Dimensions | Width | 54" (136.5 cm) |
| Depth | 14 1/2" (36.5 cm) | |
| Height | 6" (15 cm) (not including music rest) | |
| Weight | 49 lbs (22.5 kg) | |
| Available Finishes | Gloss Black (ES8B) Snow White (ES8W) |
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| Basic Functions | Dual Split Four Hands Transpose Tuning Registration Startup Setting |
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| Internal Songs | Sound Demo | 29 songs |
| Piano Music | - | |
| Concert Magic | - | |
| Lesson Songs | - | |
| Internal Recorder | Total Memory | approximately 90,000 notes |
| No. of Songs | 10 songs | |
| Parts | 2 parts | |
| Metronome | Time Signatures | 1/4, 2/4, 3/4, 4/4, 5/4, 3/8, 6/8, 7/8, 9/8, 12/8 |
| Drum Rhythms | Rhythm Section - 100 styles (x 2 variations) - 4-part accompaniment select - 100 preset chord sequences - Chord mode: Full Keyboard, 1 Finger, Preset - 'On Bass' chord detection |
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| Bluetooth * | - | |
| USB Audio Recorder | Record/Playback | MP3 WAV |
| Other Functions | - | |
| App Functions | Virtual Technician app (iPad) | |
| Connector Jacks | Headphone | 2 x 1/4" Stereo jacks |
| MIDI | MIDI IN, MIDI OUT | |
| Line Out | 1/4" L/MONO, R [unbalanced] | |
| Line In | 1/8" Stereo [unbalanced] | |
| USB to Host | ✔ | |
| USB to Device | ✔ | |
| Others | Damper/Soft (for F-20) Damper (for F-10H) Speakers on/off switch |
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| Power Consumption | 35 W | |
| Power | Power cable AC adaptor |
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| Bench | - | |
| Headphones | - | |
| Sheet Music | - | |
| Others | Warranty Card * Owner's Manual Music Rest F-10H damper pedal (with half-pedal support) |
Kawai CL, ES, EP, CE Series and KDP products:
3 Years Parts and Labor – Click Here To Download Owner’s Registration Card
Customers should retain their store receipt or purchase statement as proof of the date of purchase. Please contact Kawai’s Technical Services Division if you have any questions or concerns, or to request a copy of your new warranty.
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Andrian Dm –
Excellent piano. It sounds really natural, has broad set of adjustments, features are really impressive. The key-bed is probably one of the best in this price range.
The only thing that I would improve is the key return mechanism which makes the key to oscillate too long before calming. I mean, it is hard to play long repetition of one note because of the key’s dragging ,
Beside of that, everything is just stunning.
Patrick Fitzgerald –
I am a professional musician and have owned the ES8 for about 5 years. I purchased my first digital piano in 1999. In the 15 years that followed I played nearly every digital piano released, waiting for something substantially better than what I had. Kawai beat everything on the market for the past 15 years (and still does in 2020) with the release of the ES8. As someone who has played acoustic pianos for over 40 years, I can confidently state that the ES8 is the best all around digital piano (sound, features, action, durability, appearance and value) on the market. The action is excellent for players accustomed to real grand piano action, the variety of acoustic grands and virtual tech options provide something for everyone, and the speaker technology puts out enough volume to fill a small restaurant area for pro gigs without additional amplification. It is an excellent all around performing and recording instrument. I recently had the opportunity to play almost every Kawai digital piano in the current line, and the ES8 remains my all around favorite. Perhaps someday there will be an ES9. Until then, I have a piano that will satisfy my personal and professional needs for may years to come. The Kawai ES8 is one of the best alternatives to an acoustic grand available, at a very attractive price.
James Bridge –
7+ years later and still loving the Kawai ES8! The whole time I’ve used it with its internal speakers and they have been great. Just today I finally purchased my first set of studio monitors and expect they will only strengthen my love for this piano.
I primarily use the built-in acoustic and electric piano sounds and they really are impressive. Occasionally I play around with the other sounds and effects or use it as a MIDI controller for another small keyboard I own. I bought the stand and three-pedal unit to complete the natural feeling I was looking for. Has been so great.
Daniel T Dunn –
I purchased my ES8 back in March of 2016 . After playing the piano for 65 years , I can say , without a doubt , that this instrument
is the finest digital piano that I have ever played …. I doubt that I could even wear this action out !
My problem has been finding a set of higher powered external speakers that can even come close to the intrinsic sound quality of
the wonderful on-board speakers of the ES8 …. can anyone help me here ?
Daniel Dunn –
Having owned my Kawai ES8 since April of 2016 , I can say that this piano is the best there is in a portable piano .
Unfortunately , back in 2016 , there were problems with muted keys due to a design flaw in both ” key sensor contact boards ” .
Mine were replaced with newly re-designed boards at no cost to me . Other than that , this has been a wonderful instrument .
Having played the piano for the best part of 65 years , I Know which portable piano is the best there is ,,,, it is this one !