Kawai KDP120

About the Kawai KDP120

At the heart of the KDP120 sits a full 88-note stereo sample of Kawai's own Shigeru Kawai SK-EX concert grand, played back with 192-note polyphony across 15 onboard sounds, four of them acoustic piano voicings. The keyboard itself uses Kawai's Responsive Hammer Compact II action with triple-sensor key detection, which improves responsiveness specifically on fast repeated notes compared to simpler double-sensor designs. Sound comes out through a 40-watt, two-speaker system, with both 1/4" and 3.5mm headphone jacks and Spatial Headphone Sound (SHS) processing for a more natural stereo image on headphones. Connectivity covers USB-MIDI for computer use and built-in Bluetooth MIDI, which pairs with Kawai's own Piano Remote app on iOS and Android. Rounding out the feature set are a Grand Feel pedal system, Four Hands mode for duet practice, transpose, a metronome, and built-in etudes plus Alfred method lesson songs. At 136 x 85.5 x 40.5cm and 37kg, it's built as a furniture-style home instrument rather than a stage piano.

Where to buy

Unfortunately we can't currently find any offers for this instrument. Check back regularly - we update our listings several times a day.

Sound character of the Kawai KDP120

The full 88-key SK-EX concert grand sample gives the KDP120 a rich, harmonically complex acoustic piano tone that reviewers say belies its mid-range price, reproduced through a 40-watt speaker system capable of comfortably filling a small to medium room.

What owners of the Kawai KDP120 say

Reviews across multiple independent testing sites are consistently glowing, with phrases describing an instrument that "anyone should love to have in their home" and praise focused squarely on the SK-EX sample, the keyboard feel and overall build quality. The one recurring reservation is that the KDP120 reads as a modest refresh of the KDP110 rather than a dramatic leap forward, and a handful of owners specifically wish for a line audio output beyond the headphone jacks for easier connection to external speakers.

Playability & handling of the Kawai KDP120

One widely cited review sums up the KDP120 with the headline "If It Ain't Broke, Don't Fix It", and that captures the broader consensus: it looks, feels and sounds like a far more expensive instrument, aimed squarely at beginners and improving intermediate players who want features normally reserved for pricier models. The SK-EX concert grand sample is singled out repeatedly as the star of the show, with all 88 keys individually recorded to preserve its rich harmonic character rather than relying on a handful of sampled notes stretched across the range. The Responsive Hammer Compact action is described as a genuine step up from entry-level keyboards, giving the keys a heavier, more acoustic-like weight, and the 40-watt speaker system is strong enough to fill a small to medium room without strain. The main criticism across reviews is that the KDP120 only incrementally improves on its KDP110 predecessor, and that there's no audio output besides the headphone jacks if a player wants to run it through external speakers or a PA.

Recommended accessories & strings for the Kawai KDP120

Some retailers bundle a matching bench with the KDP120. Since there's no line-level audio output beyond the headphone jacks, connecting to an external sound system means routing audio through a computer via the USB-MIDI connection rather than a direct cable. The built-in Piano Remote app over Bluetooth MIDI covers most everyday needs like sound selection and recording without extra hardware.

Technical data for the Kawai KDP120

The history of the Kawai KDP120

Kawai built the KDP120 as an entry point into its console digital piano range, carrying its acoustic piano manufacturing heritage into a compact home instrument.

About Kawai as a manufacturer

Kawai's founder, Koichi Kawai, grew up next door to Torakusu Yamaha in Hamamatsu, Japan, and worked on the team that introduced pianos to Japan at Nippon Gakki (Yamaha's parent company) before striking out on his own in August 1927 to found the Kawai Musical Instrument Research Laboratory with seven colleagues. The first Kawai grand piano followed in 1928, and the company became the stock corporation known today in 1951. The KDP120 sits at an unusual intersection of that history: it borrows its signature sound directly from Shigeru Kawai, the brand's own top-tier hand-built piano line, and brings that flagship voicing down into an affordable, home-oriented digital instrument - a deliberate strategy of making Kawai's acoustic reputation audible at every price point rather than reserving it for the most expensive models.