My local Kawai dealer finally got a Novus5S in that didn't immediately fly out the door before I had a chance to try it out, and I have to say I am in love!! I'd played the CA901 several times, and I like it very much, but the Novus, with the Millennium III action, truly is spectacular!!
I am happy to hear that you had a chance to test out the NV5S first hand! It is a remarkable instrument. The Millennium III action and soundboard system combo lead to a very enjoyable musical experience. :)
There are too many models available for most of us to hope to try them all, particularly what with brand monopolising of retail outlets. Even so, I do visit some big showrooms and smaller retailers on my travels through Europe, and I've tried some of the Yamaha NX series, the P-151 and assorted Kawai CN/CA models, and wasn't overly excited by any of them. What I do know is that the greatest pleasure for me last year was trying a Yamaha CLP-785. Nothing else in the (mainly Yamaha) outlet interested me any longer, not even several respected upright pianos, so I'm giving the CLP-785 an honorary mention here.
Thanks for tuning in! There certainly are a lot of models out there, which makes testing them all out very difficult. With that said, I'm glad you found a model that you're excited about and inspired by. :)
Very nice overview Stu, thank you. Interesting to see how much progress digital pianos have made in the last 10 years or so, there is some amazing technology and craftsmanship being integrated into these instruments nowadays. Surprise as well and kudos to Casio for their progress in the digital piano market niche.
Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! Thank you for tuning in! I definitely agree with the sentiment. The future of digital pianos looks quite bright and quite exciting. :)
@@MerriamPianos Hi. Any chance you guys (Stu?) can give us an update on what's going on with MIDI 2.0? When can we expect it? What to expect from it? How impactful having 65,535 of velocity resolution levels vs 128 will be + 4 billion control resolution steps vs 128 - will it mean it will become indistinguishable from acoustic etc. etc.? Thanks! P.S. A video on the subject would be amazing!
I have the N1X. The inbuilt speakers are not great but you can connect external speakers or use headphones. The N1X Bosendorfer sounds alot nicer than the bright N1X CFX. But if i want to spoil myself, I just connect Pianoteq 8 on my iPad via the USB and start playing a Steinway, Bechstein or Petrof piano. The sound is incredible and it plays out of the piano speakers/headphone. (note- N1X users, you need to turn off "local control" so the N1X's local tone generator is disabled)
Stu, love your reviews! 😃 👍 They are the best out there. Question, how come you never review Nord Stage 4 compared to for ex Roland RD2000 and Yamaha YC88? I never saw you play a Nord even though they are quite amazing to play. They also sound absolutely great. 😃 Keep it up!
Hi! Brent here! Thanks for tuning in! We are not Nord dealers, so it is a bit tricky to tackle reviews/comparisons for their models. With that said, we do receive pianos on trade-in from time-to-time, so we will do our best to tackle Nord model reviews/comparisons if the opportunity presents itself. :)
We keep our fingers crossed for the successor of the great Casio GP 510, you have great potential, the best keyboard (the Best Price-Quality Ratio). I hope the successor will build as much of excitement on the digital piano market as the previous version, or even more.
@@MerriamPianosthe GP-500 was released in 2015, and the GP-510 was released in 2019… so it is now likely that a new model will arrive either this year or next year. The new model would need to feature an improved key action if they want to compete with Yamaha, Roland, or Kawai premium-level models.
The Casio AP 750 is in a similar price range as the Kawai CA 401. The Kawai has the Grand Feel Compact action with wooden keys, that is known to be really good. Why did you chose the Casio over the Kawai in this class? Is the sound better? How would you compare the key action between these two? I had the opportunity to play both at a local dealer 2 weeks ago. For me the key action of the Kawai was way better. I had more "feeling" and control in comparison.
The AP750 has a superior speaker system. However, I would rate them as being on par in terms of the fidelity of the piano samples. The Kawai has a warmer sound versus the Casio's brighter tone. In terms of action, it really comes down to preference. Players that gravitate towards a lighter touch will likely favour the Casio AP750, whereas players that want a heavier action will favour the Kawai CA401. At the end of the day, it all comes down to subjectivity and personal preference.
I would definitely add to the review true hybrids like Kawai ATX or Aurus models, which are priced very close to NV10S and actually take less space. Then you get the beauty of the both worlds :)
Which one would you prefer, the LX-6 or the CA901, and of course why? In my country they are the exact same price.. For now I am leaning towards the LX-6. This because it is a bit newer and the guarantee period is 10 years instead of 5 years.
Here in Australia the CA901 (AUD $4,450 + tax) is 30% cheaper than the LX-6 (AUD $5,910 + tax) - so I think the LX-6 seems like it is better value for money where you are.
Hi! Brent here! It really comes down to a matter of personal preference. I would put them both in the same quality tier, but they have very different musical experiences. If you gravitate towards a warmer tone and a slightly lighter touch, the CA901 would be more appropriate. The LX6 has a more balance, transparent voice and slightly heavier, more rigid touch, which will be the preference of some players.
I’ve just never cared for Kawai acoustic. My favorites are Bosendorfer and Schimmel. I’m thinking that Roland may be my best choice. Although Kawai and Yamaha digital pianos are wonderful, I personally prefer not so bright but a stronger lower sound and I don’t care for the brassy Casio sound. Thanks for the video Stu.
Hi! Brent here! Thank you for tuning in and writing in! I certainly understand. Tone preferences are deeply personal. Thankfully, there are a lot of great pianos out there to choose from. This ensures that most players can find a sound that they truly resonate with. :)
Thanks Stu -- Your reviews are the best, and I'm glad your reviews concentrate on (1) sound, (2) action, and (3) other. I second the question regarding Nord. They need mention! I'm especially interested in the new Nord Grand 2, which just released this month.
Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! Thanks for supporting our channel! We're glad to hear that you enjoy Stu's reviews/comparisons. We are not Nord dealers, so it is a bit trickier to tackle reviews/comparisons for Nord models. With that said, we will do our best to tackle some if we're able to in the future. :)
I was wondering about that... Yeah, you guys do review lots of brands in general, but yeah, having easy access, and with that access, you also gain knowledge to share, that's what's priceless to all of us !!! Thanks for making the videos !!!!! :-)
I'm celebrating my NV5s' 2nd birthday 🎂, I'm still amazed by it. It really crowns this selection IMO, even faced with an nv10 or avant grand. With the nv5s, Kawai achieved balance between the piano action, the speaker quality, the piano engine and the design that's close to perfection. Although other models are "better" in some of those areas, they lack too much in others for my taste (e.g. superb action for the nv10, admittedly more enjoyable than nv5, but the speakers are too "boomy" and "artificial".) For lower budgets, I would recommend a casio GP510 over Roland, the action is incredibly close to an acoustic for a relatively low price. I had tried it and really consideres buying over an Avant Grand - then the nv5 came out and I lost my senses 😅. Just my two cents :)
Happy birthday to your NV5S! ;) It really is a wonderful piano. I think the soundboard system delivers an exceptionally warm and authentic tone that some players feel is even sonically superior to the NV10S. It is all a matter of opinion of course, but the NV5S is a top-tier instrument without question. Enjoy!
I have a Casio AP 470. While it's not top tier, I get no enjoyment from playing it. It sounds fine, better with headphones. But there's no feedback, no feeling when you play it. The vibration of the strings through the wood of the soundboard, the rim, the action is what makes part of playing the piano so special. You feel like part of the instrument. I have a very nice conservatory grand so it's easy to compare. I know the high end Roland units have haptic feedback. I would be tempted to try that to see how well it emulates the full piano experience. For me, they remain nothing but practice instruments instead of something to enjoy music with.
The AP470 is a very solid instrument for the money of course. But, high-end models like the LX9 are naturally going to have more sophisticated designs and features. The haptic feedback system is quite interesting. It was a bit more subtle on the previous LX708 model, but it is more pronounced on the new LX9 model. It does make the playing experience a bit more authentic. :)
I was an authorized Kawai digital piano tech for many years. One dealer had the top of the line Kawai digital next to the Kawai 9 foot concert grand. The digital sounded better! But anyone who thinks buying a digital is going to save them money because they do not require tuning may be in for a shock. They all have action failure issues. Every brand has their design problems. Those problems provided me with a living for many years! Fortunately Kawai has one of the longest warranty periods of the brands.
It is a good point that even digital piano actions will inevitably require some maintenance to keep them going for extended lifespans. This is particularly the case when you get into higher end digital pianos with more sophisticated actions. At the end of the day, it does make sense: with more components comes more potential problems. However, for top-level players, nuanced details with the touch are critical.
@@MerriamPianos I agree. I used to love the older 6 footer Yamaha and Baldwin grands that have a rather light touch weight. They make for lighting quick playing with little finger fatigue. Most of the digital piano actions made in the last fifteen years have been designed to have the touch weight of a 9 foot concert grand, which I find rather heavy and unpleasant to play. I have actually cut an inch of metal off the length of my Yamaha digital piano's key weight bars to make the touch lighter.
Hey Stu, what do you think of the keyboard on the ES920 compared to the feel on the FP-E50? I love Kawai keyboard and I didn't really enjoy the FP-90X's action, but I love the price point and features (vocoder, etc) of the FP-E50 and unfortunately there isn't one near me to try. Another fantastic video sir!
Hi! Brent here! The ES920 and FP-E50 have very different feeling actions, but the weighting is fairly close. The difference for me is how pronounced the escapement is on the FP-E50's PHA4 action. There is a much bigger "speed bump" feeling from the escapement, which some players may prefer. On the other hand, the ES920 has a much more subtle let-off/escapement. I would recommend testing both pianos out side-by-side if possible. :)
It really depends on the tone engine and sample sets. Some of the top portable digitals have the same tone engines as the top console digital pianos. In some cases though, the top console digital pianos have superior tone engines.
Great video! Good work, Stu and crew! I owned a Roland GP-6 last year for 7 months, and now own the Yamaha AvantGrand NU1XA since Xmas. Both are very much worth considering. However here in Australia that Kawai CA901 is easily far and away the best value for money instrument on the market (it currently sells here for AUD $4,450 / CAD $4,000 + tax). Here the CA901 sells between 10% and 30% cheaper than the Casio GP-510 and it also has superior key weighting (the GP-510 has incorrect key weighting: 60 grams at A0 vs 40 grams at C8 - hopefully Casio fix that soon in their successor model).
@@ev_kosmokot concert grand pianos like Steinway and Fazioli (which both use German Renner actions) are usually weighed 49 to 50 grams at A0 and linearly decrease in weight down to 45 to 46 grams at C8 - a 3 to 4 gram difference across the entire white keys (note that black keys are heavier). Smaller grand pianos usually have an even more even weight gradation than that - e.g. close to 50 grams on every key. Upright pianos, whilst 20% heavier key weighting than grand pianos, also only have a 5 to 6 grams gradation across the entire keyboard. The CA901 and the NU1AX do not suffer from that key weighting defect present in the Casio GP-510. There are also audio sampling defects present in the GP-510. Once Casio fix these issues then they will have a very fine instrument - but right now it is extremely overpriced for what you are getting. If the GP-510 was priced correctly at no more than USD $2,500 + tax, then it would start representing reasonable value for money.
@@pianowhizz thank you for your explaining. My Korg is weighted 76 (a0) - 71 g (c8), it’s harder than on acoustic pianos, but I don’t feel complicated about it.
So much of Stu’s commentaries on pianos seems to focus on sound reproduction as being critical for thesehigh end models. I repeat myself here but I t would be really good to see some kind of review of keyboard amplifiers, and how much they bring to the table. If we get a “lesser” keyboard but have a large audio system reproducing the sound home. I’m still very curious about an experts opinion on how good or inadequate keyboard amplifiers are.
Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! Thanks so much for the suggestion! That is a very excellent idea. I will be happy to pass along the suggestion to our production team. I think tackling different keyboard amp models, would be quite compelling to say the least. :)
Although I'm not at the income level to buy acoustic grand yet, I can justify such move, knowing it'll serve me for a decade or two. With these electronic black boxes there are too many things to go wrong or to go obsolete. But for some people there is just no other choice, like for Stu himself.
Higher quality digital pianos are quite robust and built to last. While the technology may be updated within 3-5 years, it is not unusual to get 10-15 years of use out of a quality digital piano before major repair work is required.
Hey Stu, is there any kind of industry standard on how often a digital piano replacement/refresh is released? For example, the Roland HP702/704 have been around for a while now, and there can be concerns in upgrading or waiting for a newer release with the most modern tech.
Hi! Brent here! While the usual timeline is 3-5 years, there is no set standard. Companies make those decisions on a case-by-case basis for the most part depending on a number of factors. Thanks for the question!
@MerriamMusic From this video it is a bit unclear how does Kawai CA-901 stand against the Roland LX-9. We really need a dedicated comparison as the Kawai NV-5S (which has already been compared and contrasted to lx-9) stands a bit on each own category (hybrid key action piano).
Thanks for writing in! I will pass the suggestion along to our production team. An LX9 versus NV5S comparison video would definitely make a lot of sense, as I'm sure it will be a common consideration for customers shopping in this price category. Thanks for the suggestion!
so what would you recommend if I only want the closest action possible to acoustic.. I don't care so much about sound as all I am focused on right now is technique practice.. but I need the right finger actions to be grooved and minimal adaptation to acoustic say for exams and lessons I am looking at GP310.. in the CLP line what would be good.. do I necessarily need to go to the 85 line or will 45 be good enough action wise.. and how do they both compare to the Kawai CA range (301 I guess)
Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! The Casio GP310 is an excellent piano with a very authentic feeling action. It is on the heavier end as far as digital pianos go, which makes it a very attractive option for high level playing. The Kawai CA401 and CA501 have an excellent all wooden-key action, but the pivot length is a bit shorter compared to their higher-end counterparts, the CA701 and CA901. The Kawai CA models tend to have a mid-weighted feel in my opinion, which I personally prefer. I find overly heavy and stiff actions a bit disengaging for my playing styles. But, it all comes down to preference at the end of the day.
We are not Nord dealers, so it is a bit tougher to tackle reviews of their models. With that said, if the opportunity presents itself, we will do our best to feature some Nord models on the channel. :)
That is correct! The TwinDrive Soundboard system is not present on the NV10S. I am not sure why exactly, but I can say that NV10S speaker system is quite impressive and offers amazing sound quality as well. :)
Sadly Casio speakers Hisses like a whistle at the end of the tone and other times there's a distortion too and the keys especially the Black ones are slippery
I have not experienced a hissing or distortion of the speakers with Casio models. In terms of the feel of the keys, every player has different preferences of course. Some prefer a glossy key surface, while others prefer a matte key surface.
The main selling point of the Casio GP models is price. In 2019 I found a new condition (unused - that’s why they were selling it) GP-300 for USD $1,200. At that price point the Casio represents reasonable value for money.
@@pianowhizz I Agree but was it enjoyable to use? I have a Casio and it bothers me a lot when my fingers slip off the black keys and when the sound hisses and distort on the tone decay 😭
@@NosferatuPsychosisyes I did find the keys slippery when playing in a non-air-conditioned room. Certainly the whole playing experience is not as premium as models from other brands like the Roland LX-9 and the Yamaha AvantGrand NU1XA.
We are not Dexibell dealers, so it is a little tougher to tackle reviewing their pianos. I have heard good things, but I don't have too much experience with them myself. Perhaps, we will have an opportunity to review/compare them in the future. :)
@@MerriamPianos nice! Thank you for the response. 🙂 Dexibell have both stage and home digital pianos that, IMHO, hold their own very well against Roland, Yamaha, and Kawai. OTOH, regardless of the brand, we live in a time of incredible selection, where the differences between the brands are much more about preference than overall quality, features, and price!
@@MerriamPianos yes i understand that but the question was for you, how do you rank each one and which one comes up on top per your criteria and assessment?
i am sure you decided to make this after my cries in the comments under previous videos))) Anyway Kawai rules. Anyone with some grand pianos experience will chose Kawai. The plastic-ness of the competition’s actions is so obvious.
Whilst I agree that the Kawai CA901 represents the best value for money of any piano on the market in Australia right now - the recently released models from Yamaha and Roland now have superior key actions: Yamaha AvantGrand NU1XA (uses dual RF contactless sensors - brand new piano technology) Roland LX-9 (note that Roland, like Yamaha, use hyphen characters in many model numbers - whereas Kawai and Casio don’t use hyphens. Many shops are lazy and forget the hyphen characters - looking at you Merriam Music!) No one will be disappointed with any of those 3 models. The choice will likely come down to two factors: 1. How it sounds and/or 2. How it will look / fit into the room it is going to live in.
i am sure you decided to make this after my cries in the comments under previous videos))) Anyway Kawai rules. Anyone with some grand pianos experience will chose Kawai. The plastic-ness of the competition’s actions is so obvious.
I know you’re sick of hearing it but…Stu is the man!
Haha for sure! I will pass along the kind note to Stu for you! ;)
My local Kawai dealer finally got a Novus5S in that didn't immediately fly out the door before I had a chance to try it out, and I have to say I am in love!! I'd played the CA901 several times, and I like it very much, but the Novus, with the Millennium III action, truly is spectacular!!
I am happy to hear that you had a chance to test out the NV5S first hand! It is a remarkable instrument. The Millennium III action and soundboard system combo lead to a very enjoyable musical experience. :)
Il novus è migliore del 901 anche per il suono o solo per la tastiera?
Casio is making lots of strides as a serious contender in the premium digital piano. They have come a long way. It’s impressive
Absolutely! The latest generation of PXS and AP models are fantastic. It is exciting to see what they do in the future! :)
I am not going to get tired of say that KAWAI is the best digital piano far away from others (Yamaha Roland etc) Regards
It is hard to argue with how impressively authentic the piano experiences of Kawai digital pianos are. :)
There are too many models available for most of us to hope to try them all, particularly what with brand monopolising of retail outlets. Even so, I do visit some big showrooms and smaller retailers on my travels through Europe, and I've tried some of the Yamaha NX series, the P-151 and assorted Kawai CN/CA models, and wasn't overly excited by any of them. What I do know is that the greatest pleasure for me last year was trying a Yamaha CLP-785. Nothing else in the (mainly Yamaha) outlet interested me any longer, not even several respected upright pianos, so I'm giving the CLP-785 an honorary mention here.
Thanks for tuning in! There certainly are a lot of models out there, which makes testing them all out very difficult. With that said, I'm glad you found a model that you're excited about and inspired by. :)
Very nice overview Stu, thank you. Interesting to see how much progress digital pianos have made in the last 10 years or so, there is some amazing technology and craftsmanship being integrated into these instruments nowadays. Surprise as well and kudos to Casio for their progress in the digital piano market niche.
Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! Thank you for tuning in! I definitely agree with the sentiment. The future of digital pianos looks quite bright and quite exciting. :)
@@MerriamPianos Hi. Any chance you guys (Stu?) can give us an update on what's going on with MIDI 2.0? When can we expect it? What to expect from it? How impactful having 65,535 of velocity resolution levels vs 128 will be + 4 billion control resolution steps vs 128 - will it mean it will become indistinguishable from acoustic etc. etc.? Thanks!
P.S. A video on the subject would be amazing!
I have the N1X. The inbuilt speakers are not great but you can connect external speakers or use headphones. The N1X Bosendorfer sounds alot nicer than the bright N1X CFX. But if i want to spoil myself, I just connect Pianoteq 8 on my iPad via the USB and start playing a Steinway, Bechstein or Petrof piano. The sound is incredible and it plays out of the piano speakers/headphone. (note- N1X users, you need to turn off "local control" so the N1X's local tone generator is disabled)
Congrats on your N1X! Thanks for sharing those tips with our community here. We appreciate it. :)
Stu, love your reviews! 😃 👍 They are the best out there. Question, how come you never review Nord Stage 4 compared to for ex Roland RD2000 and Yamaha YC88? I never saw you play a Nord even though they are quite amazing to play. They also sound absolutely great. 😃 Keep it up!
Hi! Brent here! Thanks for tuning in! We are not Nord dealers, so it is a bit tricky to tackle reviews/comparisons for their models. With that said, we do receive pianos on trade-in from time-to-time, so we will do our best to tackle Nord model reviews/comparisons if the opportunity presents itself. :)
We keep our fingers crossed for the successor of the great Casio GP 510, you have great potential, the best keyboard (the Best Price-Quality Ratio). I hope the successor will build as much of excitement on the digital piano market as the previous version, or even more.
That would certainly be quite exciting! We have not yet received any updates from Casio on that front, but we will certainly let you know if we do. :)
@@MerriamPianosthe GP-500 was released in 2015, and the GP-510 was released in 2019… so it is now likely that a new model will arrive either this year or next year.
The new model would need to feature an improved key action if they want to compete with Yamaha, Roland, or Kawai premium-level models.
The Casio AP 750 is in a similar price range as the Kawai CA 401. The Kawai has the Grand Feel Compact action with wooden keys, that is known to be really good. Why did you chose the Casio over the Kawai in this class? Is the sound better? How would you compare the key action between these two? I had the opportunity to play both at a local dealer 2 weeks ago. For me the key action of the Kawai was way better. I had more "feeling" and control in comparison.
The AP750 has a superior speaker system. However, I would rate them as being on par in terms of the fidelity of the piano samples. The Kawai has a warmer sound versus the Casio's brighter tone. In terms of action, it really comes down to preference. Players that gravitate towards a lighter touch will likely favour the Casio AP750, whereas players that want a heavier action will favour the Kawai CA401. At the end of the day, it all comes down to subjectivity and personal preference.
I would definitely add to the review true hybrids like Kawai ATX or Aurus models, which are priced very close to NV10S and actually take less space. Then you get the beauty of the both worlds :)
Thanks so much for the suggestion! We will certainly have to tackle an overview video about hybrid acoustic pianos as well. :)
Which one would you prefer, the LX-6 or the CA901, and of course why? In my country they are the exact same price.. For now I am leaning towards the LX-6. This because it is a bit newer and the guarantee period is 10 years instead of 5 years.
Here in Australia the CA901 (AUD $4,450 + tax) is 30% cheaper than the LX-6 (AUD $5,910 + tax) - so I think the LX-6 seems like it is better value for money where you are.
Hi! Brent here! It really comes down to a matter of personal preference. I would put them both in the same quality tier, but they have very different musical experiences. If you gravitate towards a warmer tone and a slightly lighter touch, the CA901 would be more appropriate. The LX6 has a more balance, transparent voice and slightly heavier, more rigid touch, which will be the preference of some players.
I’ve just never cared for Kawai acoustic. My favorites are Bosendorfer and Schimmel. I’m thinking that Roland may be my best choice. Although Kawai and Yamaha digital pianos are wonderful, I personally prefer not so bright but a stronger lower sound and I don’t care for the brassy Casio sound. Thanks for the video Stu.
Hi! Brent here! Thank you for tuning in and writing in! I certainly understand. Tone preferences are deeply personal. Thankfully, there are a lot of great pianos out there to choose from. This ensures that most players can find a sound that they truly resonate with. :)
Thanks Stu -- Your reviews are the best, and I'm glad your reviews concentrate on (1) sound, (2) action, and (3) other.
I second the question regarding Nord. They need mention! I'm especially interested in the new Nord Grand 2, which just released this month.
Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! Thanks for supporting our channel! We're glad to hear that you enjoy Stu's reviews/comparisons. We are not Nord dealers, so it is a bit trickier to tackle reviews/comparisons for Nord models. With that said, we will do our best to tackle some if we're able to in the future. :)
I was wondering about that...
Yeah, you guys do review lots of brands in general, but yeah, having easy access, and with that access, you also gain knowledge to share, that's what's priceless to all of us !!!
Thanks for making the videos !!!!!
:-)
Terrific reviews! Would you be able to review the Yamaha CLP 795?
Thanks so much! We are not Yamaha dealers, but we will do our best to tackle that review for you if we have the opportunity.
I'm celebrating my NV5s' 2nd birthday 🎂, I'm still amazed by it. It really crowns this selection IMO, even faced with an nv10 or avant grand. With the nv5s, Kawai achieved balance between the piano action, the speaker quality, the piano engine and the design that's close to perfection. Although other models are "better" in some of those areas, they lack too much in others for my taste (e.g. superb action for the nv10, admittedly more enjoyable than nv5, but the speakers are too "boomy" and "artificial".)
For lower budgets, I would recommend a casio GP510 over Roland, the action is incredibly close to an acoustic for a relatively low price. I had tried it and really consideres buying over an Avant Grand - then the nv5 came out and I lost my senses 😅. Just my two cents :)
Happy birthday to your NV5S! ;)
It really is a wonderful piano. I think the soundboard system delivers an exceptionally warm and authentic tone that some players feel is even sonically superior to the NV10S. It is all a matter of opinion of course, but the NV5S is a top-tier instrument without question. Enjoy!
I have a Casio AP 470. While it's not top tier, I get no enjoyment from playing it. It sounds fine, better with headphones. But there's no feedback, no feeling when you play it. The vibration of the strings through the wood of the soundboard, the rim, the action is what makes part of playing the piano so special. You feel like part of the instrument. I have a very nice conservatory grand so it's easy to compare. I know the high end Roland units have haptic feedback. I would be tempted to try that to see how well it emulates the full piano experience. For me, they remain nothing but practice instruments instead of something to enjoy music with.
The AP470 is a very solid instrument for the money of course. But, high-end models like the LX9 are naturally going to have more sophisticated designs and features. The haptic feedback system is quite interesting. It was a bit more subtle on the previous LX708 model, but it is more pronounced on the new LX9 model. It does make the playing experience a bit more authentic. :)
I was an authorized Kawai digital piano tech for many years. One dealer had the top of the line Kawai digital next to the Kawai 9 foot concert grand. The digital sounded better! But anyone who thinks buying a digital is going to save them money because they do not require tuning may be in for a shock. They all have action failure issues. Every brand has their design problems. Those problems provided me with a living for many years! Fortunately Kawai has one of the longest warranty periods of the brands.
It is a good point that even digital piano actions will inevitably require some maintenance to keep them going for extended lifespans. This is particularly the case when you get into higher end digital pianos with more sophisticated actions. At the end of the day, it does make sense: with more components comes more potential problems. However, for top-level players, nuanced details with the touch are critical.
@@MerriamPianos I agree. I used to love the older 6 footer Yamaha and Baldwin grands that have a rather light touch weight. They make for lighting quick playing with little finger fatigue. Most of the digital piano actions made in the last fifteen years have been designed to have the touch weight of a 9 foot concert grand, which I find rather heavy and unpleasant to play. I have actually cut an inch of metal off the length of my Yamaha digital piano's key weight bars to make the touch lighter.
Hey Stu, what do you think of the keyboard on the ES920 compared to the feel on the FP-E50? I love Kawai keyboard and I didn't really enjoy the FP-90X's action, but I love the price point and features (vocoder, etc) of the FP-E50 and unfortunately there isn't one near me to try. Another fantastic video sir!
Hi! Brent here! The ES920 and FP-E50 have very different feeling actions, but the weighting is fairly close. The difference for me is how pronounced the escapement is on the FP-E50's PHA4 action. There is a much bigger "speed bump" feeling from the escapement, which some players may prefer. On the other hand, the ES920 has a much more subtle let-off/escapement. I would recommend testing both pianos out side-by-side if possible. :)
@@MerriamPianos thank you!
If these top models are just plugged into a daw. Would they sound better than the 90 or 525 or 920 ?
It really depends on the tone engine and sample sets. Some of the top portable digitals have the same tone engines as the top console digital pianos. In some cases though, the top console digital pianos have superior tone engines.
Great video! Good work, Stu and crew!
I owned a Roland GP-6 last year for 7 months, and now own the Yamaha AvantGrand NU1XA since Xmas. Both are very much worth considering.
However here in Australia that Kawai CA901 is easily far and away the best value for money instrument on the market (it currently sells here for AUD $4,450 / CAD $4,000 + tax). Here the CA901 sells between 10% and 30% cheaper than the Casio GP-510 and it also has superior key weighting (the GP-510 has incorrect key weighting: 60 grams at A0 vs 40 grams at C8 - hopefully Casio fix that soon in their successor model).
Hi, what is the correct weight?
Сенсационно! Бехштейн ошибся с весом клавиш для Кассио! 👏 Чего ж так поздно-то сообщили?
Hi! Brent here! Thank you for tuning in and sharing your insights and experiences with these various models. We appreciate it! :)
@@ev_kosmokot concert grand pianos like Steinway and Fazioli (which both use German Renner actions) are usually weighed 49 to 50 grams at A0 and linearly decrease in weight down to 45 to 46 grams at C8 - a 3 to 4 gram difference across the entire white keys (note that black keys are heavier).
Smaller grand pianos usually have an even more even weight gradation than that - e.g. close to 50 grams on every key.
Upright pianos, whilst 20% heavier key weighting than grand pianos, also only have a 5 to 6 grams gradation across the entire keyboard.
The CA901 and the NU1AX do not suffer from that key weighting defect present in the Casio GP-510. There are also audio sampling defects present in the GP-510. Once Casio fix these issues then they will have a very fine instrument - but right now it is extremely overpriced for what you are getting. If the GP-510 was priced correctly at no more than USD $2,500 + tax, then it would start representing reasonable value for money.
@@pianowhizz thank you for your explaining. My Korg is weighted 76 (a0) - 71 g (c8), it’s harder than on acoustic pianos, but I don’t feel complicated about it.
So much of Stu’s commentaries on pianos seems to focus on sound reproduction as being critical for thesehigh end models. I repeat myself here but I t would be really good to see some kind of review of keyboard amplifiers, and how much they bring to the table. If we get a “lesser” keyboard but have a large audio system reproducing the sound home. I’m still very curious about an experts opinion on how good or inadequate keyboard amplifiers are.
Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! Thanks so much for the suggestion! That is a very excellent idea. I will be happy to pass along the suggestion to our production team. I think tackling different keyboard amp models, would be quite compelling to say the least. :)
Although I'm not at the income level to buy acoustic grand yet, I can justify such move, knowing it'll serve me for a decade or two. With these electronic black boxes there are too many things to go wrong or to go obsolete.
But for some people there is just no other choice, like for Stu himself.
Higher quality digital pianos are quite robust and built to last. While the technology may be updated within 3-5 years, it is not unusual to get 10-15 years of use out of a quality digital piano before major repair work is required.
Hey Stu, is there any kind of industry standard on how often a digital piano replacement/refresh is released? For example, the Roland HP702/704 have been around for a while now, and there can be concerns in upgrading or waiting for a newer release with the most modern tech.
Hi! Brent here! While the usual timeline is 3-5 years, there is no set standard. Companies make those decisions on a case-by-case basis for the most part depending on a number of factors. Thanks for the question!
Stu, how about a full review of Yamahas yc73 & yc88?
Hi! Brent here! Thanks for the suggestion! I will be happy to pass it along to our production crew. :)
@MerriamMusic From this video it is a bit unclear how does Kawai CA-901 stand against the Roland LX-9. We really need a dedicated comparison as the Kawai NV-5S (which has already been compared and contrasted to lx-9) stands a bit on each own category (hybrid key action piano).
Thanks for writing in! I will pass the suggestion along to our production team. An LX9 versus NV5S comparison video would definitely make a lot of sense, as I'm sure it will be a common consideration for customers shopping in this price category. Thanks for the suggestion!
Always wanted to try one of these. Sadly they're mostly made to order where I'm at. I've only tried the GP609 a few years ago🎹🎶
I'm sorry that you haven't had the opportunity to test more of these models out. Hopefully, you'll have the chance to do so soon! :)
so what would you recommend if I only want the closest action possible to acoustic.. I don't care so much about sound as all I am focused on right now is technique practice.. but I need the right finger actions to be grooved and minimal adaptation to acoustic say for exams and lessons
I am looking at GP310.. in the CLP line what would be good.. do I necessarily need to go to the 85 line or will 45 be good enough action wise.. and how do they both compare to the Kawai CA range (301 I guess)
Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! The Casio GP310 is an excellent piano with a very authentic feeling action. It is on the heavier end as far as digital pianos go, which makes it a very attractive option for high level playing. The Kawai CA401 and CA501 have an excellent all wooden-key action, but the pivot length is a bit shorter compared to their higher-end counterparts, the CA701 and CA901. The Kawai CA models tend to have a mid-weighted feel in my opinion, which I personally prefer. I find overly heavy and stiff actions a bit disengaging for my playing styles. But, it all comes down to preference at the end of the day.
Have you ever done a Film on curved keyboard pianos?
We have not, but that could be an exciting video to tackle in the future! Thanks for the idea!
Why has Stu not REVIEWED E NORD STAGE 4 OR PIANO 5?
We are not Nord dealers, so it is a bit tougher to tackle reviews of their models. With that said, if the opportunity presents itself, we will do our best to feature some Nord models on the channel. :)
Watching this, I realize, the NV10S doesn’t have the soundboard that the NV5S has? I wonder why.
That is correct! The TwinDrive Soundboard system is not present on the NV10S. I am not sure why exactly, but I can say that NV10S speaker system is quite impressive and offers amazing sound quality as well. :)
Casio has made great leaps and bounds in the last decade…
Absolutely! I certainly agree with that sentiment. :)
Should do one about best slab pianos,I have workstation,no room for upright.
Thanks for the suggestion! I will happily pass it along to our production team. :)
@@MerriamPianos thx
Sadly Casio speakers Hisses like a whistle at the end of the tone and other times there's a distortion too and the keys especially the Black ones are slippery
I have not experienced a hissing or distortion of the speakers with Casio models. In terms of the feel of the keys, every player has different preferences of course. Some prefer a glossy key surface, while others prefer a matte key surface.
The main selling point of the Casio GP models is price.
In 2019 I found a new condition (unused - that’s why they were selling it) GP-300 for USD $1,200. At that price point the Casio represents reasonable value for money.
@@pianowhizz I Agree but was it enjoyable to use? I have a Casio and it bothers me a lot when my fingers slip off the black keys and when the sound hisses and distort on the tone decay 😭
@@NosferatuPsychosisyes I did find the keys slippery when playing in a non-air-conditioned room. Certainly the whole playing experience is not as premium as models from other brands like the Roland LX-9 and the Yamaha AvantGrand NU1XA.
Dexibell?
We are not Dexibell dealers, so it is a little tougher to tackle reviewing their pianos. I have heard good things, but I don't have too much experience with them myself. Perhaps, we will have an opportunity to review/compare them in the future. :)
@@MerriamPianos nice! Thank you for the response. 🙂 Dexibell have both stage and home digital pianos that, IMHO, hold their own very well against Roland, Yamaha, and Kawai. OTOH, regardless of the brand, we live in a time of incredible selection, where the differences between the brands are much more about preference than overall quality, features, and price!
Very good, Stu is a G
Thank you kindly for tuning in! :)
Okay so the winner is?
That is a matter of subjectivity. Every player will gravitate towards a different musical experience based on their preferences. :)
@@MerriamPianos yes i understand that but the question was for you, how do you rank each one and which one comes up on top per your criteria and assessment?
Thank You❗😃🎹
from Japan😌
You're very welcome! Thank you for tuning in! :)
i am sure you decided to make this after my cries in the comments under previous videos)))
Anyway Kawai rules. Anyone with some grand pianos experience will chose Kawai. The plastic-ness of the competition’s actions is so obvious.
Haha we certainly do our best to tackle as many suggestions as possible! ;)
And I certainly agree with your sentiments about Kawai's amazing actions.
Whilst I agree that the Kawai CA901 represents the best value for money of any piano on the market in Australia right now - the recently released models from Yamaha and Roland now have superior key actions:
Yamaha AvantGrand NU1XA (uses dual RF contactless sensors - brand new piano technology)
Roland LX-9 (note that Roland, like Yamaha, use hyphen characters in many model numbers - whereas Kawai and Casio don’t use hyphens. Many shops are lazy and forget the hyphen characters - looking at you Merriam Music!)
No one will be disappointed with any of those 3 models. The choice will likely come down to two factors:
1. How it sounds and/or
2. How it will look / fit into the room it is going to live in.
I guess, there will not be any digital piano reviews anymore - just “overviews”. I am giving up.
We will be tackling more comparison/review videos as well of course.
i am sure you decided to make this after my cries in the comments under previous videos)))
Anyway Kawai rules. Anyone with some grand pianos experience will chose Kawai. The plastic-ness of the competition’s actions is so obvious.
Haha we certainly do our best to tackle as many suggestions as possible! ;)
And I certainly agree with your sentiments about Kawai's amazing actions.