Need help deciding between the Grand 2 and Kawai MP11SE

[strongbad]

Hello all,
I’m having a hard time deciding between the Nord Grand 2 and the MP11SE, and I was hoping y’all could help me make the decision to find out what keyboard is right for me. I have listed out pros that are important to me for each keyboard:

Nord Grand 2
- Ability to craft your own unique sound with infinite possibilities
- Less heavy, can take it to jams or occasional gigs
- Effects not buried in menus, there are physical knobs and faders
- Incredible sounds
- Newer
- Access to the Nord Sample Library

MP11SE
- $1400 less expensive
- Best action on the market
- Good for practicing technique
- Better ppp dynamics
- Includes a music rest

I’m really at a loss here. I’ve dreamed of having a Nord, and now that I can finally afford one, I’m having second thoughts. What should I do?!

[ziozeus]

Forget about ppp dynamics point, it's nowhere a plus in kawai vs Nord. Nord piano strongest point, together with the well tought velocity curves, is the wide dynamic of all the piano sounds and how well you can control it.

[cphollis]

Hi, welcome to the forum!

Both are great instruments. Nord is all about gigging keyboards -- with the exception of the Nord Grands. That being said, lots of folks build home studios around their Nords which never leave the house.

The NG2 is designed to sit in your living room and look good, besides sounding good. You won't be taking it to gigs very often

Most of us would prefer the NP5 or NP6 for gigging -- easier to schlep and much less expensive. The differences in the action are highly subjective. The NP5 is a great deal right now if you can find them.

The Nord sample library is great, no doubt -- but the MP11SE sounds aren't bad, either. If I was looking for an awesome digital piano to sit in my living room permanently, I'd go with the Yamaha AvantGrand again.

[strongbad]

Hi, welcome to the forum!

Both are great instruments. Nord is all about gigging keyboards -- with the exception of the Nord Grands. That being said, lots of folks build home studios around their Nords which never leave the house.

The NG2 is designed to sit in your living room and look good, besides sounding good. You won't be taking it to gigs very often

Most of us would prefer the NP5 or NP6 for gigging -- easier to schlep and much less expensive. The differences in the action are highly subjective. The NP5 is a great deal right now if you can find them.

The Nord sample library is great, no doubt -- but the MP11SE sounds aren't bad, either. If I was looking for an awesome digital piano to sit in my living room permanently, I'd go with the Yamaha AvantGrand again.

Thanks for the reply. I’m hoping to get something that’s more than a furniture item. I want a keyboard that feels great to play and inspires creativity. I need it to be something I can practice etudes on and make an original song with.

[ziozeus]

I regularly gig with my grand since 4 years. Yes it's 3kg more than a NP. But it's 1kg less then the mp7se I had before. I can manage that with my lightweight soft bag and double shoulder strap no problem

[Fedex]

Thanks for the reply. I’m hoping to get something that’s more than a furniture item. I want a keyboard that feels great to play and inspires creativity. I need it to be something I can practice etudes on and make an original song with.

It's a long time since I don't write on this forum. Anyway I wanted to jump in for this one since I've played both MP11SE and Nord Grand. I also own a Kawai VPC.

If you're looking for a keyboard that feels great to play and inspires creativity look no further than the Nord Grand 2. The connection between keys and sound is phenomenal, Nord engineers / musicians are really the best on this. While the sounds on MP11SE are perfectly fine and top standards, you won't unfortunately find that connection...with Nord Grand 2 you feel the piano sound in your fingers.

There's also the Kawai VPC plus VST Instruments route, it's a nice compromise but again you won't obtain that connection keys-sound (you'll get close with 275 piano/pianoteq) and that portability above all, VPC is +30kg really difficult to move.

That's it, I hope I've been helpful.