4 ms·

Over the last several weeks I have been deep in research for a new digital piano, spending a lot of time looking at Roland, Kawai, and Yamaha models, and seeing

Over the last several weeks I have been deep in research for a new digital piano, spending a lot of time looking at Roland, Kawai, and Yamaha models, and seeing this made me giggle. I doubt I would ever buy even one of the less traditional-looking production models (like the Kiyola), but I am glad they have fun with creating wild concepts like this.

bob1029 4y ago
Same. I'm about to just buy that P515... I can't stand the indecision any longer.
- Nifty3929 4y ago
  I can vouch for the 515. I got one last year and I love it. Make sure you get the proper furniture stand for it. L515 I think.
  - bob1029 4y ago
    I just went for it... Sweetwater had the whole triforce in stock. Got the P515 + L515 + LP1.
    - Nifty3929 4y ago
      That's exactly what I bought. Almost from Sweetwater as well, though I ended up buying from a local dealer instead.
- kzrdude 4y ago
  Have fun with the new piano :)
nkozyra 4y ago
A good percentage of the producer digital pianos are just the flat keyboard and controls housed in a structure meant to look like a traditional piano. The new Casio, for example, looks relatively modern and fits like furniture, but you could remove the body and put it into any crazy design you like. https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/PXS7000BK--casio-px-s7000-digital-piano-black https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/PXS7000BK--casio-px-...
FlyingRobot 4y ago
Looked at those exact brands about a month ago. Went with the Yamaha N1x hybrid. (Which means it has a conventional acoustic action with hammers and everything) so far pretty happy with it. I suggest going over to the piano world forums and doing a dive. The threads on these models are long. Also above all go see them in real life if you can.
- tshaddox 4y ago
  Wow, I hope you’re having a blast with that piano, I’m jealous! I have been intensely lurking on the Piano World for a while now. :)
jonahbenton 4y ago
Got the kids a $2k Roland FP 90x for Christmas to replace a $1k Casio. I don't play but they liked the Roland action when we tried their models in stores over Yamaha, Casio, and some others. Now that we have it- incredible instrument, well worth the upgrade, good match for their skills. It is a really, really good sound producer, better than most analog pianos I've heard, though I can easily tell the difference between it and their teacher's Steinway grand. The sounds emitted by the Roland are very fine, but still digital. It feels like a $10k digital would get much closer to being able to trick a listener into thinking it was a fine analog.
- rjh29 4y ago
  It's a matter of taste I guess. I had a Yamaha and switched to Roland and much prefer the chunkier key action and the slightly brighter/compressed piano tone. Definitely important to try it in store. My absolute favourite is the Nord Grand, but it's a little too expensive.
  - jonahbenton 4y ago
    Ooo, yeah, I saw one of those, didn't get to listen to it. It does seem like it would totally be about taste and preference. Was really pleasurable, also wistful, taking my son to try them out. We could just hang out in this large room in a retail store in the middle of NYC for a few hours, he just playing whatever was there. Sometimes other kids would drop in too. That kind of relaxed vibe now incredibly rare. And though I can hear and feel the music, I can't make it, never learned. Don't have time and space to do it now. Really glad he is getting it into his brain at a young age.
  - tshaddox 4y ago
    I believe the Nord Grand uses Kawai’s Responsive Hammer III action, which is also on the much cheaper (and excellent!) Kawai ES920 portable digital piano.
    - alfiedotwtf 4y ago
      Yep - https://forum.pianoworld.com/ubbthreads.php/topics/2986123/nord-grand-use-the-same-action-as-kawai-rh3-here-the-proof.html https://forum.pianoworld.com/ubbthreads.php/topics/2986123/n... You could go Kawai VPC-1 which is just the controller, and then connect it via MIDI to whatever you like. That way, you get a wooden action without paying for the sound engine (I've got my VCP-1 connected to a CP Reface): https://kawaius.com/technology/wooden-key-actions/ https://kawaius.com/technology/wooden-key-actions/
layer8 4y ago
The higher-end Kawai models have an Android-driven touch screen. It would be great if someone would manage to jailbreak those.
- illumin8 4y ago
  I sort of prefer the ones without. The Kawai CA95 doesn't have it, but it does have a line input and USB/5 pin MIDI in/out, so you can simply place a tablet (iPad or Android) on the music stand and use a USB cable to play whatever digital synths or piano emulators you want to download. Not having a built-in tablet means it is future proof and can work with the latest tablet, even a decade into the future.
  - InCityDreams 4y ago
    >means it is future proof and can work with the latest tablet, even a decade into the future. My preferred digital workstation (cubase) works (started with an atari version) great - also on my phone. My son has the same phone - does not work (slightly different processor? Different size sd card?). I can't find the forum message where someone went out and got a new tablet for the program..doesn't work. "Future proof", isn't even today proof.
- bzzzt 4y ago
  It would be greater if they could make one that didn't need a minute to boot up...
illumin8 4y ago
Kawai makes quite nice digital pianos. The CA95 that we bought about 5 years ago has real wooden hammer action and a wooden soundboard. It also reproduces the harmonics (through digital samples) that you get when you hold the sustain pedal down and play a different string (resonant frequencies can vibrate other strings that you haven't played). I highly recommend them if you are considering a digital piano.
- tshaddox 4y ago
  I wonder if that’s the predecessor to the CA99. I played that in a showroom and the Grand Feel III action is fantastic. I’m just not sure if I want to pay like 2-3x over what a portable digital piano would cost.
  - illumin8 4y ago
    It is. The CA95 just has Grand Feel II action. I agree, it's one of the best digital pianos I've tried.
- kibibyte 4y ago
  You can get this feature at their lowest end model of that series (CA49), though it may lack some other aspects of the resonance modeling that they reserve for higher end models. I believe almost all digitals starting at $2000 across the board have this feature, and the limiting factor that'll hold you back from hearing it all at the lower end of the price range is the audio setup that comes with the keyboard. I remember discovering this feature when I held down all keys from A0 through E1 (without sounding them), depressed the sostenuto pedal, and then played a bunch of other keys.
  - illumin8 4y ago
    That's the term I was looking for: resonance modeling. When you hear it in action you realize why most digital pianos sound so terrible. A quality digital or virtual piano models all the resonant frequencies and is a joy to listen to.
austinprete 4y ago
Did the same search about a year ago, ended up ordering the CLP-775 after testing Kawai and Yamaha in stores. It _finally_ arrived last month, completely love it so far. On the somewhat cheaper side the 745 also felt great in store. I don’t think you can go wrong with the equivalent Kawai models either. They somehow didn’t quite do it for me when I played them in store (compared to the CLPs), but couldn’t quite pin down what it was, and it was probably just a personal thing. Anyway, definitely second FlyingRobot’s recommendation about Piano World (though seems like you’re set on that) and trying before settling on anything. Good luck, sure you’ll end up with something you love!
- bzzzt 4y ago
  The CLP line is from Yamaha ;) Just to give a +1 to the CLP-775, I also chose that one and it's a joy to play. While the CLP display looks a bit more 'dated' than the Kawai models it starts up a lot faster and response is instantly. The Kawai models I tried have some low-end mobile chip which needed some time to boot and touch screen response was slow.
  - kzrdude 4y ago
    The display difference you highlight is actually one of the reasons I preferred CLP 745 over Kawai options. So I went with the Yamaha.
- hibbelig 4y ago
  It's really interesting. I tried Kawai and Yamaha digital pianos in the store and I didn't like the key action of the Kawai at all, nor the sound. Now my piano teacher has an “actual” (non-digital) Kawai grand and it feels just like the digital one -- not my favorite.

bob1029 4y ago

Same. I'm about to just buy that P515... I can't stand the indecision any longer.

Nifty3929 4y ago
I can vouch for the 515. I got one last year and I love it. Make sure you get the proper furniture stand for it. L515 I think.
- bob1029 4y ago
  I just went for it... Sweetwater had the whole triforce in stock. Got the P515 + L515 + LP1.
  - Nifty3929 4y ago
    That's exactly what I bought. Almost from Sweetwater as well, though I ended up buying from a local dealer instead.
kzrdude 4y ago
Have fun with the new piano :)

nkozyra 4y ago

A good percentage of the producer digital pianos are just the flat keyboard and controls housed in a structure meant to look like a traditional piano. The new Casio, for example, looks relatively modern and fits like furniture, but you could remove the body and put it into any crazy design you like. https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/PXS7000BK--casio-px-s7000-digital-piano-black https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/PXS7000BK--casio-px-...

FlyingRobot 4y ago

Looked at those exact brands about a month ago. Went with the Yamaha N1x hybrid. (Which means it has a conventional acoustic action with hammers and everything) so far pretty happy with it. I suggest going over to the piano world forums and doing a dive. The threads on these models are long. Also above all go see them in real life if you can.

tshaddox 4y ago
Wow, I hope you’re having a blast with that piano, I’m jealous! I have been intensely lurking on the Piano World for a while now. :)

jonahbenton 4y ago

Got the kids a $2k Roland FP 90x for Christmas to replace a $1k Casio. I don't play but they liked the Roland action when we tried their models in stores over Yamaha, Casio, and some others. Now that we have it- incredible instrument, well worth the upgrade, good match for their skills. It is a really, really good sound producer, better than most analog pianos I've heard, though I can easily tell the difference between it and their teacher's Steinway grand. The sounds emitted by the Roland are very fine, but still digital. It feels like a $10k digital would get much closer to being able to trick a listener into thinking it was a fine analog.

rjh29 4y ago
It's a matter of taste I guess. I had a Yamaha and switched to Roland and much prefer the chunkier key action and the slightly brighter/compressed piano tone. Definitely important to try it in store. My absolute favourite is the Nord Grand, but it's a little too expensive.
- jonahbenton 4y ago
  Ooo, yeah, I saw one of those, didn't get to listen to it. It does seem like it would totally be about taste and preference. Was really pleasurable, also wistful, taking my son to try them out. We could just hang out in this large room in a retail store in the middle of NYC for a few hours, he just playing whatever was there. Sometimes other kids would drop in too. That kind of relaxed vibe now incredibly rare. And though I can hear and feel the music, I can't make it, never learned. Don't have time and space to do it now. Really glad he is getting it into his brain at a young age.
- tshaddox 4y ago
  I believe the Nord Grand uses Kawai’s Responsive Hammer III action, which is also on the much cheaper (and excellent!) Kawai ES920 portable digital piano.
  - alfiedotwtf 4y ago
    Yep - https://forum.pianoworld.com/ubbthreads.php/topics/2986123/nord-grand-use-the-same-action-as-kawai-rh3-here-the-proof.html https://forum.pianoworld.com/ubbthreads.php/topics/2986123/n... You could go Kawai VPC-1 which is just the controller, and then connect it via MIDI to whatever you like. That way, you get a wooden action without paying for the sound engine (I've got my VCP-1 connected to a CP Reface): https://kawaius.com/technology/wooden-key-actions/ https://kawaius.com/technology/wooden-key-actions/

layer8 4y ago

The higher-end Kawai models have an Android-driven touch screen. It would be great if someone would manage to jailbreak those.

illumin8 4y ago
I sort of prefer the ones without. The Kawai CA95 doesn't have it, but it does have a line input and USB/5 pin MIDI in/out, so you can simply place a tablet (iPad or Android) on the music stand and use a USB cable to play whatever digital synths or piano emulators you want to download. Not having a built-in tablet means it is future proof and can work with the latest tablet, even a decade into the future.
- InCityDreams 4y ago
  >means it is future proof and can work with the latest tablet, even a decade into the future. My preferred digital workstation (cubase) works (started with an atari version) great - also on my phone. My son has the same phone - does not work (slightly different processor? Different size sd card?). I can't find the forum message where someone went out and got a new tablet for the program..doesn't work. "Future proof", isn't even today proof.
bzzzt 4y ago
It would be greater if they could make one that didn't need a minute to boot up...

illumin8 4y ago

Kawai makes quite nice digital pianos. The CA95 that we bought about 5 years ago has real wooden hammer action and a wooden soundboard. It also reproduces the harmonics (through digital samples) that you get when you hold the sustain pedal down and play a different string (resonant frequencies can vibrate other strings that you haven't played). I highly recommend them if you are considering a digital piano.

tshaddox 4y ago
I wonder if that’s the predecessor to the CA99. I played that in a showroom and the Grand Feel III action is fantastic. I’m just not sure if I want to pay like 2-3x over what a portable digital piano would cost.
- illumin8 4y ago
  It is. The CA95 just has Grand Feel II action. I agree, it's one of the best digital pianos I've tried.
kibibyte 4y ago
You can get this feature at their lowest end model of that series (CA49), though it may lack some other aspects of the resonance modeling that they reserve for higher end models. I believe almost all digitals starting at $2000 across the board have this feature, and the limiting factor that'll hold you back from hearing it all at the lower end of the price range is the audio setup that comes with the keyboard. I remember discovering this feature when I held down all keys from A0 through E1 (without sounding them), depressed the sostenuto pedal, and then played a bunch of other keys.
- illumin8 4y ago
  That's the term I was looking for: resonance modeling. When you hear it in action you realize why most digital pianos sound so terrible. A quality digital or virtual piano models all the resonant frequencies and is a joy to listen to.

austinprete 4y ago

Did the same search about a year ago, ended up ordering the CLP-775 after testing Kawai and Yamaha in stores. It _finally_ arrived last month, completely love it so far. On the somewhat cheaper side the 745 also felt great in store. I don’t think you can go wrong with the equivalent Kawai models either. They somehow didn’t quite do it for me when I played them in store (compared to the CLPs), but couldn’t quite pin down what it was, and it was probably just a personal thing. Anyway, definitely second FlyingRobot’s recommendation about Piano World (though seems like you’re set on that) and trying before settling on anything. Good luck, sure you’ll end up with something you love!

bzzzt 4y ago
The CLP line is from Yamaha ;) Just to give a +1 to the CLP-775, I also chose that one and it's a joy to play. While the CLP display looks a bit more 'dated' than the Kawai models it starts up a lot faster and response is instantly. The Kawai models I tried have some low-end mobile chip which needed some time to boot and touch screen response was slow.
- kzrdude 4y ago
  The display difference you highlight is actually one of the reasons I preferred CLP 745 over Kawai options. So I went with the Yamaha.
hibbelig 4y ago
It's really interesting. I tried Kawai and Yamaha digital pianos in the store and I didn't like the key action of the Kawai at all, nor the sound. Now my piano teacher has an “actual” (non-digital) Kawai grand and it feels just like the digital one -- not my favorite.