Kawai MP-11 SE

excellent instrument with a great variety in settings including brilliant and sharp to mellower/ lounge-ier piano sounds even though the namesake Shigeru setting is actually really all I need. I may imagine this but it sounds very kawai-esque, which was quite the transition from having played on yamaha stage pianos. It took some getting used to but I mean - that's to be expected when getting a new instrument I think.
It comes with the usual other instrument settings, the strings are "okay" (to be fair, i have yet to find one setting that could do a string section any justice so I might be biased here, it's still one of the better ones but yeah, that is literally the only part I'd not expect too much of) but every (other) setting is tastefully made and usable. There are even some fun ones that can be layered or used with a split keyboard which is great for layering tracks. I personally mainly use the piano sounds but I can imagine someone enjoying the other ones as well.

The keyboard plays naturally and the combination of different sounds and the option to change the responsiveness of the keys allows to completely transform the playing experience.

Downsides:
Pressing the sustain-pedal creates a shattering sound that is virtually only audible using headphones but still irritating. I haven't found a way yet to turn it off. At 34kg it is quite heavy and cases take some time to manufacture.
The multitude of ways to tweak the different settings is at first quite overwhelming but the price point should have indicated already that this instrument would be overkill for a beginner anyway.

I've had this for a few years now and I continue to love the sampes, the tuch and the experience when playing.

I play classical music on it exclusively and there are a lot of "tunable' features in this keyboard for me that I love.

I think the touch is better than many acoustical uprights (and a few grands) and it's easy to forget it's digital. It's not perfect, but it's also not corrupting my technique so when I do play an acoustical pianos, I feel in control still.

It's very heavy. Portability heavy is relative. Get a really good stand.
Build is superb. I've not had any issues (yet) with action of UI functionality.

I really, really wish the knobs on the console were rotary encoders and NOT potentiometers - or that somehow it was possible to rotate them through and past 360 degrees... You can set the pots in one menu with terrific accuracy, but move to another menu and then pots are all rotated in the wrong positions. This was not a deal breaker for me (and it should not be for you), but it is annoying to have a problem like this, both at this price point, and with all the amazing design and engineering Kawai put into making everything else outstanding.

I’ve played all kinds of pianos, from crappy uprights in apartments, to elects pianos in schools, to grands at BBC Maida Vale, and while I’m a mere songwriter whose main instrument is guitar, what I need is wonderful action and feel and a sound that is at least not dissimilar to a real piano, so that I can tinker and compose and record. This has both, and passes any test with ease. I’m using Sennheiser 650HD headphones and it’s pure escape into a parallel world.
The default piano sound is wonderful as are the electric pianos. That’s all I’ve played so far in these five days, and I shan’t want for anything more.
Well done Kawai and excellent service from Thomann.
I bought the set with the Z stand which is so easy to assemble and solid, absolutely solid! I also bought the Thomann stool!
Just brilliant! 🤩