🎹 COMPARISON REVIEW - New 2018 model Kawai MP7SE and MP11SE - Recommended - Kawai is just introducing replacement models for their previous MP7 & MP11 stage pianos which are called MP7SE ($1799US internet discount price) and MP11SE ($2799US internet discount price). Both of these new models have a few important upgrades over the previous versions which I will explain below. If you want one of these new versions then I suggest you do not wait (especially don't wait until the holidays) because Kawai only has a small initial quantity right now and they will likely be sold out soon and new inventory may be slow to come into the US.
🎹 If after reading these reviews you decide you would like to own one of these new models, please let me know and I can help you get a special introductory price with free shipping, no tax, new warranty, and my free support.
![Kawai MP11SE & MP7SE pictures]( "Kawai MP11SE & MP7SE digital pianos")
OK, so what is different about these new models? Well, as it turns out...not much in terms of quantity. However the things that ARE new are what I consider to be the most important features in a piano and that is a new key ![Kawai MP11SE & MP7SE pictures]( "Kawai MP11SE & MP7SE digital pianos")
action in the MP7SE along with new piano chip sound realism, and the same new piano sound chip in the MP11SE along with more responsive pedaling. Kawai currently has a specific key action they use in their ES8 ($1999US internet price) portable stage/home
![Kawai MP11SE & MP7SE pictures]( "Kawai MP7SE key action")
piano called the RH3 (plastic key action) which now replaces the previous key action from the MP7 which was called the RH2 (plastic key action). The difference between the two key actions is a couple of things one of which is that there is a bit more resistance and weight in the new RH3 key action so it more closely approximates what a real good acoustic piano feels like, The RH3 key action also has counter-weights built into each each (left pic) so that the key return response is more accurate and that the key returns faster after it is depressed. Keyboard counterweight technology is found in all acoustic pianos and a some digital pianos, but most digital pianos don't have it. So the new MP7SE key action now has counter-weight technology in the keys and also the keys have a better "piano-like" feel to them.
![Kawai MP11SE & MP7SE pictures]( "Kawai MP11SE key action")
![Kawai MP11SE & MP7SE pictures]( "Kawai MP11SE key action")
The MP11SE key action has not changed at all and it still has the very popular and well regarded Kawai "Grand-Feel" wood key action which has longer individually installed keys that offers a different and more precise fulcrum and pivot point than the MP7SE RH3 key action. The longer wooden key not only moves up & down much more like a real full size acoustic grand piano (it can be really difficult to tell the difference it's so good), but the transition in key weight and finger pressure needed to press the key down from one key to the next on the MP11SE is almost seamless. It feels pretty much the same whether pressing the white keys, black keys, playing towards the back of the keys or front of the keys, the transitions are really smooth and realistic. Even the black wooden keys have an organic wood feel on the sides of the keys just like a real grand. I know many people who own and play great acoustic grand pianos such as Steinway, Kawai, etc and they buy MP11's so they can practice with
headphones so as to not disturb other people in the home, which they obviously cannot do on a real acoustic piano. The MP11SE key action is quiet and expressive and that's what advanced players require of a digital piano so they can practice in privacy and yet still enjoy their piano playing.
So what else is different and improved on these 2 new models? Well, both of them have Kawai's top model piano sound chip with extended memory piano sampling. This piano sound chip offers a noticeably more natural and responsive piano tonal dynamic range and more organic elements of a real acoustic grand. There is a distinct difference in piano sound realism in these new models for both acoustic piano sounds and electric piano sounds as compared to the previous models. This change is on the MP7SE and MP11SE and the new piano sound chip comes from the top Kawai home digital piano model called the CS11 which sells for about $7000. Among other things this new piano sound chip offers 4 distinct individual sampled grand and upright piano sounds along with additional variations of those sounds so there is plenty of acoustic piano variety on the new models which is a welcome upgrade. It also offers precise piano editing control with the Kawai
Virtual Technician.
The other upgrades and changes on these new models are that the MP7SE & MP11SE now both have redesigned side panels that are polished black wood rather than the more traditional dark mahogany wood tone side panels that were in the previous models. This is a more subjective change and I like both colors but
![Kawai MP11SE & MP7SE pictures]( "Kawai MP11SE & MP7SE digital pianos")
the new black panel design which is also more flush with the keyboard itself and the black color does make them look sleeker with a matching look to the rest of the piano. The new side panel redesign also added about 3 lbs more weight to the MP11SE. The other and last change to mention is that the new MP11SE has a redesigned proprietary and upgraded triple pedal unit called the GFP-3 as compared to the previous model pedal unit on the MP11. The triple pedal unit which comes standard with the MP11SE (optional for the MP7SE) now has advanced optical sensors built in instead of traditional sensors/contacts so that the pedal calibration and response is more precise and expressive. Some people will notice this change if they were to play both models (MP11 and MP11SE) both many people may not notice the difference. Nevertheless, the new triple pedal that comes with the MP11SE is more durable, more responsive, and adds another element of authenticity to your overall playing on this new model. The MP7SE comes with one sustain-damper pedal and that pedal is extremely durable and expressive so there was no change need for that one.
![Kawai MP11SE & MP7SE pictures]( "Kawai MP11SE & MP7SE digital pianos")
![Kawai MP11SE & MP7SE pictures]( "Kawai MP11SE & MP7SE digital pianos")
not changed. Almost everyone who had purchased the former MP7 and MP11 that I know of was very satisfied by their experience with those models, and the only things that MP7 and MP11 shoppers were mainly concerned with was the "piano playing experience" which includes key action, piano sound, and pedaling and those are the changes (more or less) on the new MP7SE and MP11SE.
![Kawai MP11SE & MP7SE pictures]( "Kawai MP11SE & MP7SE digital pianos")
I recommend you read my previous reviews of the MP7 and MP11 at the links below and then you'll know (if you don't already) what those models actually do in terms of functions, features, and their ability to offer a very satisfying user experience with being able to control those pianos in ways that make playing keyboard/piano very enjoyable. I highly recommend them and have had great fun playing and listening to the upgraded piano sound chip, key action, and the hundreds/thousands of things you can do on these exciting instruments. By the way, just so everyone knows, I do try to look for
negative things that I might find that I do not like about new digital pianos when they come out and I mention these things if and when they come up. But aside from the fact that piano sound, key action, and pedaling are generally a bit subjective and that some people may like or dislike one or more of those things as compared to someone else, I really have nothing to complain about on these new models. However, they do not have user LCD
touch screens, they don't have Bluetooth capability, they do not have built-in speakers, Kawai does not make wooden type stands for them, and the MP11SE is somewhat heavy and bulky. These are a few things that some people would really want to see changed in these pianos and I might agree with them. But the lack of these features definitely does not take away from what these pianos can do for their
price range and in my opinion nothing else out there comes close in terms of stage type pianos.
Kawai MP7 Review -
Kawai MP11 Review
OK, so what is different about these new models? Well, as it turns out...not much in terms of quantity. However the things that ARE new are what I consider to be the most important features in a piano and that is a new key 
action in the MP7SE along with new piano chip sound realism, and the same new piano sound chip in the MP11SE along with more responsive pedaling. Kawai currently has a specific key action they use in their ES8 ($1999US internet price) portable stage/home 
piano called the RH3 (plastic key action) which now replaces the previous key action from the MP7 which was called the RH2 (plastic key action). The difference between the two key actions is a couple of things one of which is that there is a bit more resistance and weight in the new RH3 key action so it more closely approximates what a real good acoustic piano feels like, The RH3 key action also has counter-weights built into each each (left pic) so that the key return response is more accurate and that the key returns faster after it is depressed. Keyboard counterweight technology is found in all acoustic pianos and a some digital pianos, but most digital pianos don't have it. So the new MP7SE key action now has counter-weight technology in the keys and also the keys have a better "piano-like" feel to them.
The MP11SE key action has not changed at all and it still has the very popular and well regarded Kawai "Grand-Feel" wood key action which has longer individually installed keys that offers a different and more precise fulcrum and pivot point than the MP7SE RH3 key action. The longer wooden key not only moves up & down much more like a real full size acoustic grand piano (it can be really difficult to tell the difference it's so good), but the transition in key weight and finger pressure needed to press the key down from one key to the next on the MP11SE is almost seamless. It feels pretty much the same whether pressing the white keys, black keys, playing towards the back of the keys or front of the keys, the transitions are really smooth and realistic. Even the black wooden keys have an organic wood feel on the sides of the keys just like a real grand. I know many people who own and play great acoustic grand pianos such as Steinway, Kawai, etc and they buy MP11's so they can practice with headphones so as to not disturb other people in the home, which they obviously cannot do on a real acoustic piano. The MP11SE key action is quiet and expressive and that's what advanced players require of a digital piano so they can practice in privacy and yet still enjoy their piano playing.
the new black panel design which is also more flush with the keyboard itself and the black color does make them look sleeker with a matching look to the rest of the piano. The new side panel redesign also added about 3 lbs more weight to the MP11SE. The other and last change to mention is that the new MP11SE has a redesigned proprietary and upgraded triple pedal unit called the GFP-3 as compared to the previous model pedal unit on the MP11. The triple pedal unit which comes standard with the MP11SE (optional for the MP7SE) now has advanced optical sensors built in instead of traditional sensors/contacts so that the pedal calibration and response is more precise and expressive. Some people will notice this change if they were to play both models (MP11 and MP11SE) both many people may not notice the difference. Nevertheless, the new triple pedal that comes with the MP11SE is more durable, more responsive, and adds another element of authenticity to your overall playing on this new model. The MP7SE comes with one sustain-damper pedal and that pedal is extremely durable and expressive so there was no change need for that one.
not changed. Almost everyone who had purchased the former MP7 and MP11 that I know of was very satisfied by their experience with those models, and the only things that MP7 and MP11 shoppers were mainly concerned with was the "piano playing experience" which includes key action, piano sound, and pedaling and those are the changes (more or less) on the new MP7SE and MP11SE.
I recommend you read my previous reviews of the MP7 and MP11 at the links below and then you'll know (if you don't already) what those models actually do in terms of functions, features, and their ability to offer a very satisfying user experience with being able to control those pianos in ways that make playing keyboard/piano very enjoyable. I highly recommend them and have had great fun playing and listening to the upgraded piano sound chip, key action, and the hundreds/thousands of things you can do on these exciting instruments. By the way, just so everyone knows, I do try to look for negative things that I might find that I do not like about new digital pianos when they come out and I mention these things if and when they come up. But aside from the fact that piano sound, key action, and pedaling are generally a bit subjective and that some people may like or dislike one or more of those things as compared to someone else, I really have nothing to complain about on these new models. However, they do not have user LCD touch screens, they don't have Bluetooth capability, they do not have built-in speakers, Kawai does not make wooden type stands for them, and the MP11SE is somewhat heavy and bulky. These are a few things that some people would really want to see changed in these pianos and I might agree with them. But the lack of these features definitely does not take away from what these pianos can do for their price range and in my opinion nothing else out there comes close in terms of stage type pianos. Kawai MP7 Review - Kawai MP11 Review