I played this piano while on a holiday in Malaysia last Christmas and I immediately fell in love with it. The sound is so crisp, and the keys felt awesome! Loved it especially when connecting the headset which is very cool if you live in an apartment building.
Great review, all your points are valid, digitals have the advantage of the headphones and not upsetting the neighbours and flatmates, all hours, thanks for sharing
This is the first review video of any piano I’ve seen that is worth watching. All store videos never ever say anything bad about one piano or another. They never compare with important facts to dissuade. Because they are dealers and have to sell….always one “great” piano vs another. So thank you for that. I’m torn about what piano to get for my 11 year old who is in conservatory in Europe for piano. His teachers insist on an acoustic. He currently has a crappy digital. I was thinking it may be easier to get the Novus. But your inciteful review has made me realize why his teachers are right. Plus, his school is competitive. He needs the right tool. Problem is I’ve tried the Kawai gl40 GX2 and Shigeru sx2. And there is no comparison with the expressiveness of the Shigeru. So it looks like I’m in for a second mortgage soon!
Great video. I have a digital piano at home but also regularly practice on Yamaha C7 at church. I now understand the transition problems (between digital and acoustic piano) better
Interesting point! I didn't consider that using the volume in a digital or hybrid could influence your play so much, but I think you may be right. A workaround could be: using always headphones and always a high or at least half volume, but allways the same. The reason why using always headphones is necessary: If you play with speakers on you get problems with your neighbours, or you turn the volume down to avoid problems with neighbours an then you cannot play dynamics similar as on a acoustic piano. So the only way to have no problems with neighbours ans play with high dynamic range is using headphones.
Great review. I retired five years ago, and recently decided I wanted to learn how to play the piano. As an absolute beginner who hasn't even had the first lesson yet, I don't have any delusions that I will be a concert pianist, appear on America's Got Talent, or play in a smoke filled bar (if those still exist). I want to learn for my own enjoyment, and if one day I happen to walk past a piano minding its own business, maybe I won't be bashful about tickling the ivories and amusing anyone nearby. I bought the NV10S last week after considering my options with the Roland and Yamaha digital stage pianos, as well as a few other models. I didn't want an acoustic piano and don't have room for anything larger than an upright, so the NV10S is as large as I wanted to go. The other thing I didn't want was to spend money on a starter digital piano, and progress up the product line as my skills hopefully improve. From an alternate aspect related to driving, and with money not being a primary factor, did I want to learn in a Ford Pinto or an Audi A8? I've had both, and the Audi would be my choice if I was starting over. Alex, you are much braver than me concerning the solo assembly! My music room is in the basement, and it took three people to maneuver top section down the stairs with two 90-degree turns and place it on the base. I already had the base set up, but there was no way my wife and I could safely manage the top section.
I remember this same sort of talk back in the 60's when I was a boy, except there wasn't digitals to trash, so upright pianos were the target. Alot of kids in my neighborhood took piano lessons and as far as I knew, none of them had grands. But I never could understand how Bach, Handel, Haydn ,Moe Zart, and maybe even Beethoven & Chopin ( and others) could become such keyboard players without having great concert grands .
Thanks a lot for your review! I’ve got a KAWAI MP10 and I use it with Pianoteq. I like both the stage piano as well as the software, however, it’s way too quiet to make it feel like a real piano. I always increase the dynamic range to 50 dB because I read somewhere that grand pianos usually have that dynamic range. Nevertheless I prefer to practice on my acoustic upright and only use the stage piano and Pianoteq to make recordings. I’ll now try to use headphones for my digital setup, increase the volume and hope that it will help. One effect I hope to get from the headphones is that the piano sound feels kind of closer to me so I can get a better feedback soundwise.
Hi Alex, thanks a lot for your review. I am Belgian but I am living in Chile for 10 years. Currently have a Clp 745 which is nice but I really feel that I need something better to practice. I am going to move in a few years in a bigger house in the South of Chile so it will be the oportunity to upgrade. If space it's not a problem your recommendation is to go for the acoustic grand right ? I am considering the Kawai GL40 or Kawai GX2. The only thing I am afraid of is that the climate is very humid in the south.. What would be your recommendation in this case ? Thanks a lot.
If you can get a grand with the "silent" feature, you've probably covered all your bases -- i'd be happy with that workaround myself, i think. that said -- i love having my real grand upstairs and this nv10s in the living room, where it doesn't take up much space. i can pop it on and play any time i want when it's just for fun, use it for MIDI recording, playing with headphones, etc, then go upstairs to record the acoustic sound or practice with the merciless true acoustic dynamics. if i HAD the space for a grand in my main space, and didn't already have the RX5, i'd probably go for one with the silent feature. all that said -- my grand lives in a 400 sq ft apt which i keep humidity-controlled. if you won't be able to do that -- or set up a dampp-chaser rig and stay on it -- you might be happy with the nv10s. as others have said, you CAN set the volume such that it replicates a full grand. if you are being held to a conservatory standard i still maintain that you'll struggle with just the nv10s. if you are playing and singing or otherwise making music that isn't being scrutinized that closely, i know i'm exdtremely hapy with my nv10s. not crystal clear, but i hope that helps...
It would be an interesting experiment if a school were to buy an NV10s and put it in a practice room, along with their existing acoustic pianos. Have students alternate between 3 months practicing only on the NV10s, and then the next 3 months practicing only on an acoustic, and see if one or the other produced a noticeably greater level of improvement. Whenever I think of buying an acoustic piano for my home (I live in a one-bedroom apartment), two things deter me: 1) if I move (very likely), I have to hire a piano mover to move the piano, and 2) it's loud, so I will constantly be worried that I'm annoying the neighbors, so I will always be playing with "soft" dynamics, to keep the sound level down. Just doesn't make sense...
Great point! Maybe try to measure the DB level on your sitting position in front of the grand piano and play few of the C notes in each octave, write down the numbers and then do the same with your NV10s and try to compensate with the vol knob until you'll get the same levels (it won't be near close to perfect but inside my head it sounds right and might help lol).
Thanks so much, exactly the video I wanted and could not find. But now I wonder: The limiting factor you explain is the same on all digital pianos. Is it then still worth investing in an expensive hybrid that has more realistic action? Or should I go for a decent but more affordable digital with less realistic touch and then every now and then rent a practice room with a grand piano?
Wish I could answer that one for you but it's all shades of gray. I'll always advocate for getting the best instrument you can -- I'm guessing you know how much positive feedback that can give the experience of doing music. Maybe go cheap on boring stuff and pump the money into gear? If you're asking whether I would buy it again, knowing I was going to bring my grand out anyway.... thaaaaaaaat's a tough question.
i've been thinking about this question a lot. playing this nv10s is a tremendous joy, every time. if you are a pianist who finds even the best uprights to be gummy and unresponsive, this will be a dream. just a question of money, really, and priorities. you CAN crank the volume and probably achieve the goal of simulating a grand. just a question of whether you will.
Nope, didn’t answer the question I’m looking for the answer to. I want to practice on a keyboard that has the feel closest to an acoustic grand piano. Does the Kawai hybrid have the feel, touch and fast keyboard action response of an acoustic grand piano? And is the action more responsive, in your opinion, than a Yamaha NU1x?
It is the same action as the Kawai acoustic grand, so mechanically your question is equivalent to "do these scissors feel the same as those identical scissors?" The real question is the relationship between your interpretation of the tactile sensation and the sound. When techs voice pianos, the clients very often believe that mechanical changes were done to the action. So... there's black magic afoot, and it's not as easy a question to answer as one might think.
Interesting point, learning at how play softer using the finger at closed distance from the keys and a proper use of the pedal, with time, should be helpful too keep at minimum that issue. On the maintime maybe you can make two profiles one, at higher volume, when using the speaker, another one, at lower volume, when using the headphone or earbuds, until the tecnique to play softer is learned with gradual increase over the volume. Or eventually, if work best and it is possible, limit the change of the volume only over the more energetic keys (so bass and middle).
Arguably, if you play a large grand in a modest room, this will cause you to back-off too. If I remember correctly, Stu Harris at the Merriam pianos channel suggests that most digital pianos and digital hybrid pianos sound best at about 70% volume. I get his point, though digital piano amplification varies tremendously in power across the assorted models, so some allowance should be made IMO. It's true that for certain pianists, a digital piano is a very compromised substitute for the desired acoustic piano (usually a grand) but considering that few pianists can even fit a grand in their homes, it is fairer to compare digital pianos to upright pianos. There may come a day too when students complain that acoustic pianos just don't quite sound or feel like the latest (more desireable) digital pianos. I mean maybe someone thought that the harpsichord would never be dethroned. Technology marches on.
Yeah please buy the piano to the room.. no need for a 8'+ piano in your living room if it's not hall sized.. there is 0 benefit there only harm... although maybe if you want to learn to play really really quietly? :) but most too oversized pianos I've seen in rooms often get muffled, the winter cover on or all spare blankets in the house covering it as it's way too loud and unpleasant in the room.
I played Kawai KX00 Aures pianos - the digital part sounded the same level as the pure acoustic, if you have the volume knob on max. NV5S sounded louder in the same showrooms as it has a richer bass thanks to the amplifier. So that’s the solution - play the hybrid on a max volume either through speakers or headphones.
Do NOT play at max volume through any headphones: hearing loss may lie that way. Different headphones have very different sensitivities, there’s no way the piano manufacturer could have accounted for those, while they probably did for the built-in speakers. Do play at max, or close, through speakers, then try to replicate the same sound level on the headphones: no more, no less.
Fully agree to your points and arguments. I also own an NV10S for around one year now, and have my weekly lessons on a Yamaha C7. Yes, there is a difference. Even I, as a late beginner, can feel the difference here. That's also the reason, why I now bought a Kawai Babygrand (GL-30). Was really not easy to convince my wife... but now, just waiting for the delivery of my Babygrand. It has also a built in silent system, but I want to practice as much as possible without headphones or external speakers.
So, did you buy the Kawai Gl30- Aures or ATX? I would love to hear your thoughts about this babygrand piano. I am an early intermediate adult player and would one day want to upgrade from my current Kawai CA49 to a babygrand with silent system (being able to practice with headphones is a must for me). I've been thinking of the Kawai Gl30-ATX/aures in particular (which will need more convincing of my wife too!) than buying the NV10S which is my second option. I am also wondering whether the sound system of the Gl30 ATX is similar to the NV10s.
@@ml4119 I bought the GL-30 with ATX4. What was a very good decision, as the technician who came to my house confirmed, that there are sometimes issues with the Aures systems. The action is the same on the GL-30 and NV 10S, but there is really big difference in dynamic. No, the sound of the GL-30 is not similar to the NV 10S. Go to a dealer at test it. It's worth it.
Great summary. I am an advanced amateur pianist. The NV10S is awesome but not a replacement for a grand. I do my silent practicing on the NV10S but prefer to play and practice on my Kawai RX2. For the action and response, NV10S really does a good job replicating a grand piano- but the sound and dynamic control and voicing are just not the same.
Alex, thx for your review. I was debating between a Yamaha GC1 TA3 or the Kawai NV10s. I knew GC1TA3 is better but I have no room in my home to put it and NV10s would be perfect. However, it's some of the things you mentioned that reminded me there's no substitute to a real piano: the haptic resonance, sympathetic resonance, vibrations from the strings/sound board, the need to manage volume/dynamics as a true musician (something simulations would never become real). Have you look into a transacoustics piano i.e. GC1TA3? Basically works like a silent piano, real grand real action.
I had my RX5 moved out from my dad's house where it's been languishing for a few years. So now I have the NV10s in my main space, and a real grand in the side space. I deeply appreciate both -- the footprint and volume control of the NV10s are perfect for an apartment. The NV10s is unlike any other electric keyboard you'll play. It has everything you want -- except that exact training quality of a real grand.
i've always really disliked the action on uprights; i even played a $60,000 bechstein upright once and still hated it. so #1 is action, #2 is the ability to use headphones or turn down the volume, #3 is the ability to use it for MIDI, #4 is the shorter body than an good upright, #5 is no need to tune! Of course all of those can be had with an inexpensive keyboard, but given my fondness for the action, I'm still very glad to have it with all those additional advantages. Would I buy it again if it were stolen? Oh... it's possible. The enjoyment of playing it really crushes that of my ES8, which was a $2,000 keyboard when I bought it.
This was an interesting video. I am a serious piano student as well for my own pleasure and have been enticed by these Novus pianos also. I have a full sized upright at home and I doubt if I would ever get rid of it but I have wondered if I would enjoy one of these as well. I need to play one (which I haven’t done) to see what the actual experience is like. I was wondering if a solution to what you are talking about would be to keep the volume at a level that would be close to what an acoustic piano would be and make yourself leave it there? Despite what you are talking about in this video, are you still able to enjoy it?
I absolutely love mine, make no mistake there. I suspect you could get much closer if you take the time to put the volume where it "should" be and leave it there. The question is... will you? Or, maybe the more pertinent question is: why don't I? That's where the gray zone lies. It's a shame there aren't more data points among "serious" piano students to answer that question with regard to this instrument. So many variable may be contributing to my experience that may be skewing the conclusion, you know?
@@alextryan That’s why I was saying I would have to play one for myself to find out how I really respond to it. But based on the demonstration videos on here that you mentioned, I think they sound great. And I think it is pretty awesome that you are able have an actual upright or grand action in a digital piano. But my impression from listening to these videos of people playing them is that I like the sound of them very much. I have a feeling I would like these but I also like my acoustic piano,as well lol.
I wish there were a clear answer. I guess... if you can afford it, get it. Even if you find yourself still needing acoustic practice, you will seriously love the Kawai. Spending money on good instruments is almost always a good thing to do!@@ackamack101
Hola creo que lo. Que dices es correcto. El volumen es muy importante yo compre el gp3 de roland por dos cosas. Uno pequeño para mi casa y la otra el mueble para actuaciones en directo. El sonido es bueno y la pulsación también. Hay un par de cosas que mejorar. Pero estoy muy contento con la compra. Naturalmente el volumen sigue siendo un problema con los vecinos y demás. Pero estoy totalmente de acuerdo que cambia tu manera de tocar. Yo sugiero un volumen medio y así compensar. Otra cosa que he ganado es la resonancia con este mueble ya que puedo colocar para directo micros de ambiente y así recoger el ambiente del piano y resonancia. Yo estoy contento con esto. Actualmente toco como 2 o 3 pianos de cola a la Semana en los hoteles. Gracias
the reason i wanna buy this is not cause the speakers cause digital wont sound like a grand but its for headphone use and the action when i play in headphones.i heard the problems when you on a low volume the action will feel heavy is that true? i only gonna play at low volume in headphones. have you tried the kawai 701 how is the action compared to nv10s
When you voice the hammers on a real piano up or down -- make the felt surface that contacts the strings harder or softer -- the pianist feels that the action has become lighter or heavier. The physics of the keys is unchanged, but the way you interact with them to produce a certain sound does change, so the action EFFECTIVELY become heavier as measured by the amount of force required to produce a certain kind of sound. So it's similar with the volume knob on any electric piano. You can't do better than the NV10s for an electric.
@@BFHPET if a deaf person played my piano and an acoustic grand Kawai, they couldn't tell the difference (because they're the same.) But think about turning the volume all the way up vs so low you can barely hear it. Hit a key with the same force each time. First time the action feels super light; second time it feels really heavy. That's the struggle.
My experience is to measure the loudness of an acoustic grand then sit back at your digital piano and match the volume knob to that specific measurement.
I have a Yamaha C1S grand acoustic , silent and Midi Output. I also a Nord Grand with KRK6 and K7 sub. Nothing comes close to my Yamaha Grand, I have tried and purchased many keyboards. I Guess the Kawai NV10s is one of the best options or one of the new Yamaha Hybrids. Thanks
I’ve owned 2 digital pianos, Yamaha Clavinola CLP 685 and now Kawai CA701. I found early on that it’s best to have volume set to at least 3/4, and then control the volume with dynamics. It made me improve my tone once I discovered this. A digital or hybrid is the best compromise for many people for home use. Space is a major consideration and Headphones to avoid complaints from family or neighbours. And the Kawai action on the top tier digitals is really good, way better than the similar range from Yamaha and others imo. And I don’t particularly like playing upright acoustics, but grands yes. My Kawai sounds and feels pretty similar to the Kawai acoustic grands it emulates. I love mine. I get to play a Steinway Grand occasionally which I do enjoy.
I wonder if the Yamaha N1X would have a better response. From what I've seen, they have the most advanced sound design/speakers on the market. Not to mention Yamaha usually has the upper hand in technology, pianos, sound design, and sampling.
If you were to buy a digital piano so you could practice with headphones (but play "for real" on an acoustic), what kind of digital piano would be good enough not to spoil your acoustic technique?
Well.... ain't that the question. A friend of mine is staggeringly good and practices on a relatively cheap digital at home -- but that's all he can afford, and he spends lots of time practicing on his professor's studio grand. In the end, it just depends what your goals are. Unless you REALLY need super-fine nuanced control of your playing, you probably don't need anything fancy.
I found out that there are no professional technicians when you need services. It took two years to have someone come and look at some issues still under warranty. He was leaning as he opening up all the screws. I was very worried if he was going to break my experience piano. I don’t understand that digital piano companies don’t train professional technicians.
The Yamahas just didn't look or feel as good to me. Also I'm a huge fan of the Kawai millennium 3 action. Details like the real damper pedal contribute a lot to my enjoyment.
This is a nice feedback regarding the NV10s. I was looking to buy one of these (but chose the NV5s instead). Basically I agree with you:, if you want to hone yourself as a performing musician, then you'll have to deal with real grands. But I think for serious (amateur) players who want a grand experience in their living rooms, the NV10 is certainly good enough for that category of people. After all, we get our hybrids because of their "digital" options - esp. the ability to turn down the volume or to plug in the headphone - we want them to be as close as possible to the real thing without having to handle the real thing.
Thank you for your personal and honest evaluation. You got to see me an aspect of digital pianos I was completely unaware of. I often play with the silent function, but until I got your input I never understood what was really different to the analogue playing. Thanks a lot!
I was about to buy an lx708 but there was a 1989 kg-2s that had me thinking maybe i should go acoustic. I do have the space. It's 30 years old while an nv-10s will have a brand new action. My goal is proficiency on acoustic grand. I'm not sure whether I'd do better at that price on an old acoustic or new digital
What room do you have? Think about the volume level Alex was talking about. I’ve just bought NV5S to replace an acoustic Kawai BS-10 because it’s not possible for me to sit in front of it in my 12sq m room for more than hour - it’s just too loud.
i just moved my 6'6" RX5 into a tiny apartment here in the building. it's amazing to have it, but yeah... looooots of sound. that said -- at least at this point -- if your goal is to really become proficient and you aren't just playing pop tunes for fun -- go acoustic. you are forced to reckon with a whole rainbow of sonic factors that will make you a better player, stuff you end up skipping over with a digital (no matter how nice it may be). all THAT said... make no mistake, i adore my nv10s. It's a phenomenal instrument... it just doesn't have what i need in order to thrive as a full-speed classical piano student.
@@alextryan I'm playing for fun. I see players online with more skill than I'll ever attain that are amazing on digital but sometimes just play a lot of notes on acoustic. I think it would be neat to develop the acoustic technique but acoustic ownership may be overkill.
it's a tricky trade-off. like if the loudness of an acoustic would make it so you play less out of respect for others, the electric is a clear winner. honestly, the nv10s is a stupendous instrument. start there, see how you feel. let the acoustic be something you live up to in a couple years. @@terrencefm
I wonder if folks at your level also risk losing adaptability in your technique because of the consistency of the experience? The variability of the sound, feel and tuning of the practice pianos forcing your brain to adjust your technique to get the sound you expect would be another dimension of your practicing.
I think you can use a recorder, in manual code, to record the proper volume of a real grand piano. Then go home and calibrate the NV10s to that volume.
Hi, I have a yamaha c1s acoustic grand and a nord grand with krk monitors and matching sub. For years I have been searching for a replacement for my grand. I hardly ever play the nord. maybe you have answered my question, there is no replacement. Money is not a problem. I just don’t get the satisfaction. If anyone can find me an answer that would be great.
True a digital piano doesn't teach you how to produce sound on a real one.. there's indeed the volume issue, but there's also the resonance of the instrument and the room, all the quirks and sounds and timbres of the piano itself, the size of the room as that all interacts in how the sound builds and what you feel in feedback at your fingers.. .like try with an upright you can feel in the keys if you move the distance from the wall and how the soundwave behaves and if the strings nicely ring out or if they are clashing and nervous with what they're getting back from the wall... and that will vary across piano tyoes and builds and in what room they are in, that changes the way the thing sounds and responsds.. and you have to learn way more techniques & compensation in your playing to make the thing sound good for the room you are in.. which leads to much more variation and control in dynamics and playing. Also the sound is raw, with an electric you're always getting a fairly polished representation. Playing acoustic anything makes you aware of a lot more what goes on with sound and how they are produced and how to control it.
Very good comment. I have a Yamaha Avantgrand N2 and I noticed the same. Solution: painful learning time of new repertoire on the N2… but when you have the notes in your hand, switch to good old grand Steinway… at least your neighbors will not kill your when they meet you in the elevator 😂😂😂
Yeah this kinda annoys me so I studied acoustics and I have been trying to get back in to piano. It is like first off they could have modeled the directivity of the front a grand piano. Then second they could have easily had a concert level button to match the level of the piano. All you need is a sound level meter in front of the piano and a then match the level. I mean they make grand pianos. But, I also have come to the same conclusion that having a volume control on a digital piano is a mistake. Their is so much nonsense in the music industry ,but it is true the confusion.
I've watched your guitar videos and I can't not say it anymore... you look and sound so much like Sam Rockwell. You guys have to be related somehow lol
Hahahaha That was Awesomemer Than Hell....I Believe every Damn word of it....Whats your address? Cause Yer Get'n a Hug Hahahahaha......That was Great by the Way hahaha
@@alextryan i use a Novus 10S every week in professional applications. I've done what @jpdurr suggested, and it works great. Not everyone can do that depending on their setting/context; it's something to be considered, for sure, but to say "you won't" ... well, did. :)
@@ericbarnhart9731 beautiful! i guess my bias was limited to the home pianist who's constantly adjusting to an environment of other people reading, working, talking in the shared space, or practicing something loud with headphones on, etc. very glad to hear it works!
I played this piano while on a holiday in Malaysia last Christmas and I immediately fell in love with it. The sound is so crisp, and the keys felt awesome! Loved it especially when connecting the headset which is very cool if you live in an apartment building.
Agree so much! Let there be no mistake: I love this piano and would never let it go.
This is _precisely_ the kind of review I was looking for. Thanks for posting.
This is a most useful and insightful review! Thank you.
Great review, all your points are valid, digitals have the advantage of the headphones and not upsetting the neighbours and flatmates, all hours, thanks for sharing
The review i needed. Thanks so much man :)
Hell yeah
That is what I need it to hear. Thank you!
This is the first review video of any piano I’ve seen that is worth watching. All store videos never ever say anything bad about one piano or another. They never compare with important facts to dissuade. Because they are dealers and have to sell….always one “great” piano vs another. So thank you for that. I’m torn about what piano to get for my 11 year old who is in conservatory in Europe for piano. His teachers insist on an acoustic. He currently has a crappy digital. I was thinking it may be easier to get the Novus. But your inciteful review has made me realize why his teachers are right. Plus, his school is competitive. He needs the right tool. Problem is I’ve tried the Kawai gl40 GX2 and Shigeru sx2. And there is no comparison with the expressiveness of the Shigeru. So it looks like I’m in for a second mortgage soon!
Can't deny the Shigerus are fantastic. Money well spent.... (I'm no help at all, I know...)
Great video. I have a digital piano at home but also regularly practice on Yamaha C7 at church. I now understand the transition problems (between digital and acoustic piano) better
Thank you for your prospective. It was very helpful.
Just what I was looking for too!
Thanks very much. This is a very helpful video.
Interesting point!
I didn't consider that using the volume in a digital or hybrid could influence your play so much, but I think you may be right. A workaround could be: using always headphones and always a high or at least half volume, but allways the same.
The reason why using always headphones is necessary: If you play with speakers on you get problems with your neighbours, or you turn the volume down to avoid problems with neighbours an then you cannot play dynamics similar as on a acoustic piano.
So the only way to have no problems with neighbours ans play with high dynamic range is using headphones.
Fantastic.. Thank you. I have subscribed. Glorious cat!!
Awesome. Thank you.
Great review. I retired five years ago, and recently decided I wanted to learn how to play the piano. As an absolute beginner who hasn't even had the first lesson yet, I don't have any delusions that I will be a concert pianist, appear on America's Got Talent, or play in a smoke filled bar (if those still exist). I want to learn for my own enjoyment, and if one day I happen to walk past a piano minding its own business, maybe I won't be bashful about tickling the ivories and amusing anyone nearby.
I bought the NV10S last week after considering my options with the Roland and Yamaha digital stage pianos, as well as a few other models. I didn't want an acoustic piano and don't have room for anything larger than an upright, so the NV10S is as large as I wanted to go. The other thing I didn't want was to spend money on a starter digital piano, and progress up the product line as my skills hopefully improve. From an alternate aspect related to driving, and with money not being a primary factor, did I want to learn in a Ford Pinto or an Audi A8? I've had both, and the Audi would be my choice if I was starting over.
Alex, you are much braver than me concerning the solo assembly! My music room is in the basement, and it took three people to maneuver top section down the stairs with two 90-degree turns and place it on the base. I already had the base set up, but there was no way my wife and I could safely manage the top section.
Great content. Thanks
I remember this same sort of talk back in the 60's when I was a boy, except there wasn't digitals to trash, so upright pianos were the target. Alot of kids in my neighborhood took piano lessons and as far as I knew, none of them had grands. But I never could understand how Bach, Handel, Haydn ,Moe Zart, and maybe even Beethoven & Chopin ( and others) could become such keyboard players without having great concert grands .
Oh for sure -- this is purely a problem for ppl expected to perform on a grand, under super critical judgment.
Thanks a lot for your review! I’ve got a KAWAI MP10 and I use it with Pianoteq. I like both the stage piano as well as the software, however, it’s way too quiet to make it feel like a real piano. I always increase the dynamic range to 50 dB because I read somewhere that grand pianos usually have that dynamic range. Nevertheless I prefer to practice on my acoustic upright and only use the stage piano and Pianoteq to make recordings. I’ll now try to use headphones for my digital setup, increase the volume and hope that it will help. One effect I hope to get from the headphones is that the piano sound feels kind of closer to me so I can get a better feedback soundwise.
Hi Alex, thanks a lot for your review. I am Belgian but I am living in Chile for 10 years. Currently have a Clp 745 which is nice but I really feel that I need something better to practice.
I am going to move in a few years in a bigger house in the South of Chile so it will be the oportunity to upgrade.
If space it's not a problem your recommendation is to go for the acoustic grand right ? I am considering the Kawai GL40 or Kawai GX2.
The only thing I am afraid of is that the climate is very humid in the south.. What would be your recommendation in this case ? Thanks a lot.
If you can get a grand with the "silent" feature, you've probably covered all your bases -- i'd be happy with that workaround myself, i think. that said -- i love having my real grand upstairs and this nv10s in the living room, where it doesn't take up much space. i can pop it on and play any time i want when it's just for fun, use it for MIDI recording, playing with headphones, etc, then go upstairs to record the acoustic sound or practice with the merciless true acoustic dynamics. if i HAD the space for a grand in my main space, and didn't already have the RX5, i'd probably go for one with the silent feature.
all that said -- my grand lives in a 400 sq ft apt which i keep humidity-controlled. if you won't be able to do that -- or set up a dampp-chaser rig and stay on it -- you might be happy with the nv10s. as others have said, you CAN set the volume such that it replicates a full grand. if you are being held to a conservatory standard i still maintain that you'll struggle with just the nv10s. if you are playing and singing or otherwise making music that isn't being scrutinized that closely, i know i'm exdtremely hapy with my nv10s.
not crystal clear, but i hope that helps...
It would be an interesting experiment if a school were to buy an NV10s and put it in a practice room, along with their existing acoustic pianos. Have students alternate between 3 months practicing only on the NV10s, and then the next 3 months practicing only on an acoustic, and see if one or the other produced a noticeably greater level of improvement.
Whenever I think of buying an acoustic piano for my home (I live in a one-bedroom apartment), two things deter me: 1) if I move (very likely), I have to hire a piano mover to move the piano, and 2) it's loud, so I will constantly be worried that I'm annoying the neighbors, so I will always be playing with "soft" dynamics, to keep the sound level down. Just doesn't make sense...
I've moved a lot of pianos myself, uprights are a snap and grands are even easier if you have a board.
Music major dilemma! Good luck. Rooting for you 100%.
Great point!
Maybe try to measure the DB level on your sitting position in front of the grand piano and play few of the C notes in each octave, write down the numbers and then do the same with your NV10s and try to compensate with the vol knob until you'll get the same levels (it won't be near close to perfect but inside my head it sounds right and might help lol).
that's a really cool idea! i even have a professional db meter.... (in a box somewhere...)
@@alextryanI'm waiting for an update 😜
@@NirHason grand isn't due here for another few weeks...
Thanks so much, exactly the video I wanted and could not find. But now I wonder: The limiting factor you explain is the same on all digital pianos. Is it then still worth investing in an expensive hybrid that has more realistic action? Or should I go for a decent but more affordable digital with less realistic touch and then every now and then rent a practice room with a grand piano?
Wish I could answer that one for you but it's all shades of gray. I'll always advocate for getting the best instrument you can -- I'm guessing you know how much positive feedback that can give the experience of doing music. Maybe go cheap on boring stuff and pump the money into gear? If you're asking whether I would buy it again, knowing I was going to bring my grand out anyway.... thaaaaaaaat's a tough question.
i've been thinking about this question a lot. playing this nv10s is a tremendous joy, every time. if you are a pianist who finds even the best uprights to be gummy and unresponsive, this will be a dream. just a question of money, really, and priorities. you CAN crank the volume and probably achieve the goal of simulating a grand. just a question of whether you will.
Nope, didn’t answer the question I’m looking for the answer to. I want to practice on a keyboard that has the feel closest to an acoustic grand piano. Does the Kawai hybrid have the feel, touch and fast keyboard action response of an acoustic grand piano? And is the action more responsive, in your opinion, than a Yamaha NU1x?
It is the same action as the Kawai acoustic grand, so mechanically your question is equivalent to "do these scissors feel the same as those identical scissors?" The real question is the relationship between your interpretation of the tactile sensation and the sound. When techs voice pianos, the clients very often believe that mechanical changes were done to the action. So... there's black magic afoot, and it's not as easy a question to answer as one might think.
Interesting point, learning at how play softer using the finger at closed distance from the keys and a proper use of the pedal, with time, should be helpful too keep at minimum that issue.
On the maintime maybe you can make two profiles one, at higher volume, when using the speaker, another one, at lower volume, when using the headphone or earbuds, until the tecnique to play softer is learned with gradual increase over the volume.
Or eventually, if work best and it is possible, limit the change of the volume only over the more energetic keys (so bass and middle).
Arguably, if you play a large grand in a modest room, this will cause you to back-off too.
If I remember correctly, Stu Harris at the Merriam pianos channel suggests that most digital pianos and digital hybrid pianos sound best at about 70% volume. I get his point, though digital piano amplification varies tremendously in power across the assorted models, so some allowance should be made IMO.
It's true that for certain pianists, a digital piano is a very compromised substitute for the desired acoustic piano (usually a grand) but considering that few pianists can even fit a grand in their homes, it is fairer to compare digital pianos to upright pianos. There may come a day too when students complain that acoustic pianos just don't quite sound or feel like the latest (more desireable) digital pianos. I mean maybe someone thought that the harpsichord would never be dethroned. Technology marches on.
Yeah please buy the piano to the room.. no need for a 8'+ piano in your living room if it's not hall sized.. there is 0 benefit there only harm... although maybe if you want to learn to play really really quietly? :) but most too oversized pianos I've seen in rooms often get muffled, the winter cover on or all spare blankets in the house covering it as it's way too loud and unpleasant in the room.
Hi, how long you get this piano? Does it get any failure issue so far? I heard that their key action part replacement is very expensive.
nothing so far, thankfully! i've had it... two years now? playing pretty regularly.
@@alextryan Thank you.
I played Kawai KX00 Aures pianos - the digital part sounded the same level as the pure acoustic, if you have the volume knob on max. NV5S sounded louder in the same showrooms as it has a richer bass thanks to the amplifier. So that’s the solution - play the hybrid on a max volume either through speakers or headphones.
Do NOT play at max volume through any headphones: hearing loss may lie that way.
Different headphones have very different sensitivities, there’s no way the piano manufacturer could have accounted for those, while they probably did for the built-in speakers.
Do play at max, or close, through speakers, then try to replicate the same sound level on the headphones: no more, no less.
Fully agree to your points and arguments. I also own an NV10S for around one year now, and have my weekly lessons on a Yamaha C7. Yes, there is a difference. Even I, as a late beginner, can feel the difference here. That's also the reason, why I now bought a Kawai Babygrand (GL-30). Was really not easy to convince my wife... but now, just waiting for the delivery of my Babygrand.
It has also a built in silent system, but I want to practice as much as possible without headphones or external speakers.
So, did you buy the Kawai Gl30- Aures or ATX? I would love to hear your thoughts about this babygrand piano. I am an early intermediate adult player and would one day want to upgrade from my current Kawai CA49 to a babygrand with silent system (being able to practice with headphones is a must for me). I've been thinking of the Kawai Gl30-ATX/aures in particular (which will need more convincing of my wife too!) than buying the NV10S which is my second option. I am also wondering whether the sound system of the Gl30 ATX is similar to the NV10s.
@@ml4119 I bought the GL-30 with ATX4. What was a very good decision, as the technician who came to my house confirmed, that there are sometimes issues with the Aures systems.
The action is the same on the GL-30 and NV 10S, but there is really big difference in dynamic. No, the sound of the GL-30 is not similar to the NV 10S. Go to a dealer at test it. It's worth it.
@@saschamuller451 how did the nv10s feel compared to the kawai 701 action? is there a difference is the money gap worth it for an 701?
@@BFHPET can't tell you as I never owned or played on a Kawai 701 action. Recommend to go to your local store and test it.
@@saschamuller451 do you think ita worth to have the nv10s if you got a grand piano too ?
Great summary. I am an advanced amateur pianist. The NV10S is awesome but not a replacement for a grand. I do my silent practicing on the NV10S but prefer to play and practice on my Kawai RX2. For the action and response, NV10S really does a good job replicating a grand piano- but the sound and dynamic control and voicing are just not the same.
how is it in headphone? if you got low volume will the action be to heavy and feel weird?
if we ignore the sound how is the action and pianissimo on it compared to a real piano
Alex, thx for your review. I was debating between a Yamaha GC1 TA3 or the Kawai NV10s. I knew GC1TA3 is better but I have no room in my home to put it and NV10s would be perfect. However, it's some of the things you mentioned that reminded me there's no substitute to a real piano: the haptic resonance, sympathetic resonance, vibrations from the strings/sound board, the need to manage volume/dynamics as a true musician (something simulations would never become real). Have you look into a transacoustics piano i.e. GC1TA3? Basically works like a silent piano, real grand real action.
I had my RX5 moved out from my dad's house where it's been languishing for a few years. So now I have the NV10s in my main space, and a real grand in the side space. I deeply appreciate both -- the footprint and volume control of the NV10s are perfect for an apartment. The NV10s is unlike any other electric keyboard you'll play. It has everything you want -- except that exact training quality of a real grand.
what made you pick this vs an upright ? and what would you do now that you experienced that ? would you still pick this over an upright ?
i've always really disliked the action on uprights; i even played a $60,000 bechstein upright once and still hated it. so #1 is action, #2 is the ability to use headphones or turn down the volume, #3 is the ability to use it for MIDI, #4 is the shorter body than an good upright, #5 is no need to tune! Of course all of those can be had with an inexpensive keyboard, but given my fondness for the action, I'm still very glad to have it with all those additional advantages. Would I buy it again if it were stolen? Oh... it's possible. The enjoyment of playing it really crushes that of my ES8, which was a $2,000 keyboard when I bought it.
This was an interesting video. I am a serious piano student as well for my own pleasure and have been enticed by these Novus pianos also. I have a full sized upright at home and I doubt if I would ever get rid of it but I have wondered if I would enjoy one of these as well. I need to play one (which I haven’t done) to see what the actual experience is like. I was wondering if a solution to what you are talking about would be to keep the volume at a level that would be close to what an acoustic piano would be and make yourself leave it there? Despite what you are talking about in this video, are you still able to enjoy it?
I absolutely love mine, make no mistake there. I suspect you could get much closer if you take the time to put the volume where it "should" be and leave it there. The question is... will you? Or, maybe the more pertinent question is: why don't I? That's where the gray zone lies. It's a shame there aren't more data points among "serious" piano students to answer that question with regard to this instrument. So many variable may be contributing to my experience that may be skewing the conclusion, you know?
@@alextryan That’s why I was saying I would have to play one for myself to find out how I really respond to it. But based on the demonstration videos on here that you mentioned, I think they sound great. And I think it is pretty awesome that you are able have an actual upright or grand action in a digital piano. But my impression from listening to these videos of people playing them is that I like the sound of them very much. I have a feeling I would like these but I also like my acoustic piano,as well lol.
@@alextryan And I am glad you are enjoying your nv10s. It seems like it is a wonderful instrument to have at home.
I wish there were a clear answer. I guess... if you can afford it, get it. Even if you find yourself still needing acoustic practice, you will seriously love the Kawai. Spending money on good instruments is almost always a good thing to do!@@ackamack101
Hola creo que lo. Que dices es correcto. El volumen es muy importante yo compre el gp3 de roland por dos cosas. Uno pequeño para mi casa y la otra el mueble para actuaciones en directo. El sonido es bueno y la pulsación también. Hay un par de cosas que mejorar. Pero estoy muy contento con la compra.
Naturalmente el volumen sigue siendo un problema con los vecinos y demás. Pero estoy totalmente de acuerdo que cambia tu manera de tocar. Yo sugiero un volumen medio y así compensar. Otra cosa que he ganado es la resonancia con este mueble ya que puedo colocar para directo micros de ambiente y así recoger el ambiente del piano y resonancia. Yo estoy contento con esto. Actualmente toco como 2 o 3 pianos de cola a la Semana en los hoteles.
Gracias
the reason i wanna buy this is not cause the speakers cause digital wont sound like a grand but its for headphone use and the action when i play in headphones.i heard the problems when you on a low volume the action will feel heavy is that true? i only gonna play at low volume in headphones. have you tried the kawai 701 how is the action compared to nv10s
When you voice the hammers on a real piano up or down -- make the felt surface that contacts the strings harder or softer -- the pianist feels that the action has become lighter or heavier. The physics of the keys is unchanged, but the way you interact with them to produce a certain sound does change, so the action EFFECTIVELY become heavier as measured by the amount of force required to produce a certain kind of sound. So it's similar with the volume knob on any electric piano. You can't do better than the NV10s for an electric.
@@alextryan i dont know what you mean but i assume what you say in the video the action dont feel like a grand piano?
@@BFHPET if a deaf person played my piano and an acoustic grand Kawai, they couldn't tell the difference (because they're the same.) But think about turning the volume all the way up vs so low you can barely hear it. Hit a key with the same force each time. First time the action feels super light; second time it feels really heavy. That's the struggle.
@@alextryan might need to try it cause i dont like to play really loud in headphones just need to be low volume i have the shigeru kawai
I prefer a good digital. True acoustics are noisy beasts.
My experience is to measure the loudness of an acoustic grand then sit back at your digital piano and match the volume knob to that specific measurement.
I have a Yamaha C1S grand acoustic , silent and Midi Output.
I also a Nord Grand with KRK6 and K7 sub. Nothing comes close to my Yamaha Grand, I have tried and purchased many keyboards. I Guess the Kawai NV10s is one of the best options or one of the new Yamaha Hybrids. Thanks
I’ve owned 2 digital pianos, Yamaha Clavinola CLP 685 and now Kawai CA701. I found early on that it’s best to have volume set to at least 3/4, and then control the volume with dynamics. It made me improve my tone once I discovered this. A digital or hybrid is the best compromise for many people for home use. Space is a major consideration and Headphones to avoid complaints from family or neighbours. And the Kawai action on the top tier digitals is really good, way better than the similar range from Yamaha and others imo. And I don’t particularly like playing upright acoustics, but grands yes. My Kawai sounds and feels pretty similar to the Kawai acoustic grands it emulates. I love mine. I get to play a Steinway Grand occasionally which I do enjoy.
I wonder if the Yamaha N1X would have a better response. From what I've seen, they have the most advanced sound design/speakers on the market. Not to mention Yamaha usually has the upper hand in technology, pianos, sound design, and sampling.
i played those as well. sure, maybe? didn't seem to be any magic to me.
If you were to buy a digital piano so you could practice with headphones (but play "for real" on an acoustic), what kind of digital piano would be good enough not to spoil your acoustic technique?
Well.... ain't that the question. A friend of mine is staggeringly good and practices on a relatively cheap digital at home -- but that's all he can afford, and he spends lots of time practicing on his professor's studio grand. In the end, it just depends what your goals are. Unless you REALLY need super-fine nuanced control of your playing, you probably don't need anything fancy.
I found out that there are no professional technicians when you need services. It took two years to have someone come and look at some issues still under warranty. He was leaning as he opening up all the screws. I was very worried if he was going to break my experience piano. I don’t understand that digital piano companies don’t train professional technicians.
Doesn't a piano next to a kitchen get humidity and temperature swings leading to quicker deterioration?
Not for a digital which is what NV10S is. But for an acoustic piano, it could certainly
why did you go with kawai instead of yahama avant grand?
The Yamahas just didn't look or feel as good to me. Also I'm a huge fan of the Kawai millennium 3 action. Details like the real damper pedal contribute a lot to my enjoyment.
very good point, i guess it is not for beginners then, it is just important to get the right feeling of a real piano, how loud it should be etc....
This is a nice feedback regarding the NV10s. I was looking to buy one of these (but chose the NV5s instead). Basically I agree with you:, if you want to hone yourself as a performing musician, then you'll have to deal with real grands. But I think for serious (amateur) players who want a grand experience in their living rooms, the NV10 is certainly good enough for that category of people. After all, we get our hybrids because of their "digital" options - esp. the ability to turn down the volume or to plug in the headphone - we want them to be as close as possible to the real thing without having to handle the real thing.
i liked the way the NV5 sounded a lot. i'm snooty about upright vs grand action but there's no question the NV5 wins on sound, with that soundboard.
@@alextryan yeah - can't really have a soundboard on this unless you have space for the rest of the deer (great analogy btw).
Thank you for your personal and honest evaluation. You got to see me an aspect of digital pianos I was completely unaware of. I often play with the silent function, but until I got your input I never understood what was really different to the analogue playing. Thanks a lot!
I was about to buy an lx708 but there was a 1989 kg-2s that had me thinking maybe i should go acoustic. I do have the space. It's 30 years old while an nv-10s will have a brand new action. My goal is proficiency on acoustic grand. I'm not sure whether I'd do better at that price on an old acoustic or new digital
What room do you have? Think about the volume level Alex was talking about. I’ve just bought NV5S to replace an acoustic Kawai BS-10 because it’s not possible for me to sit in front of it in my 12sq m room for more than hour - it’s just too loud.
i just moved my 6'6" RX5 into a tiny apartment here in the building. it's amazing to have it, but yeah... looooots of sound. that said -- at least at this point -- if your goal is to really become proficient and you aren't just playing pop tunes for fun -- go acoustic. you are forced to reckon with a whole rainbow of sonic factors that will make you a better player, stuff you end up skipping over with a digital (no matter how nice it may be). all THAT said... make no mistake, i adore my nv10s. It's a phenomenal instrument... it just doesn't have what i need in order to thrive as a full-speed classical piano student.
@@alextryan I'm playing for fun. I see players online with more skill than I'll ever attain that are amazing on digital but sometimes just play a lot of notes on acoustic. I think it would be neat to develop the acoustic technique but acoustic ownership may be overkill.
it's a tricky trade-off. like if the loudness of an acoustic would make it so you play less out of respect for others, the electric is a clear winner. honestly, the nv10s is a stupendous instrument. start there, see how you feel. let the acoustic be something you live up to in a couple years. @@terrencefm
I wonder if folks at your level also risk losing adaptability in your technique because of the consistency of the experience? The variability of the sound, feel and tuning of the practice pianos forcing your brain to adjust your technique to get the sound you expect would be another dimension of your practicing.
My teacher said exactly this. Tough one, right? Having your own Shigeru 9' at home wouldn't help with that.
I think you can use a recorder, in manual code, to record the proper volume of a real grand piano. Then go home and calibrate the NV10s to that volume.
So the moral of the story, stuff your neighbours, turn up the volume.
Hi, I have a yamaha c1s acoustic grand and a nord grand with krk monitors and matching sub. For years I have been searching for a replacement for my grand. I hardly ever play the nord. maybe you have answered my question, there is no replacement. Money is not a problem. I just don’t get the satisfaction. If anyone can find me an answer that would be great.
i'll be honest, the nv10s is close. the real action IS exdtremely satisfying. just... you know. Not cast iron and steel strings and wood.
HI Alex, Thanks for your reply. I will go round to my local shop and try it and maybe some other high end contenders.
True a digital piano doesn't teach you how to produce sound on a real one.. there's indeed the volume issue, but there's also the resonance of the instrument and the room, all the quirks and sounds and timbres of the piano itself, the size of the room as that all interacts in how the sound builds and what you feel in feedback at your fingers.. .like try with an upright you can feel in the keys if you move the distance from the wall and how the soundwave behaves and if the strings nicely ring out or if they are clashing and nervous with what they're getting back from the wall... and that will vary across piano tyoes and builds and in what room they are in, that changes the way the thing sounds and responsds.. and you have to learn way more techniques & compensation in your playing to make the thing sound good for the room you are in.. which leads to much more variation and control in dynamics and playing.
Also the sound is raw, with an electric you're always getting a fairly polished representation. Playing acoustic anything makes you aware of a lot more what goes on with sound and how they are produced and how to control it.
Very good comment. I have a Yamaha Avantgrand N2 and I noticed the same. Solution: painful learning time of new repertoire on the N2… but when you have the notes in your hand, switch to good old grand Steinway… at least your neighbors will not kill your when they meet you in the elevator 😂😂😂
pretty much my solution! glad to hear that someone shares the struggle.
Precisely.
Yeah this kinda annoys me so I studied acoustics and I have been trying to get back in to piano. It is like first off they could have modeled the directivity of the front a grand piano. Then second they could have easily had a concert level button to match the level of the piano. All you need is a sound level meter in front of the piano and a then match the level. I mean they make grand pianos. But, I also have come to the same conclusion that having a volume control on a digital piano is a mistake. Their is so much nonsense in the music industry ,but it is true the confusion.
well just don't turn the volume down right?
....but you will. That's the trouble.
If I spent that much on a digital, I'd do nothing but sing its praises or risk losing my mind! 😁
A fair point... don't get me wrong, I absolutely love the thing. Just that one little quirk.
I've watched your guitar videos and I can't not say it anymore... you look and sound so much like Sam Rockwell. You guys have to be related somehow lol
I'll start taking style tips from him!
Hahahaha That was Awesomemer Than Hell....I Believe every Damn word of it....Whats your address? Cause Yer Get'n a Hug Hahahahaha......That was Great by the Way hahaha
nothing better than opening up a box and a bunch of hugs come out 🤗🤗🤗
Clark keneth
Hah! It's the one celebrity look-a-like I sometimes get.
$0.10 Solution, find out what volume setting on your Kawai is equivalent to an acoustic piano, then LEAVE IT THERE!
....but you won't. That's the tricky part.
@@alextryan i use a Novus 10S every week in professional applications. I've done what @jpdurr suggested, and it works great. Not everyone can do that depending on their setting/context; it's something to be considered, for sure, but to say "you won't" ... well, did. :)
@@ericbarnhart9731 beautiful! i guess my bias was limited to the home pianist who's constantly adjusting to an environment of other people reading, working, talking in the shared space, or practicing something loud with headphones on, etc. very glad to hear it works!
Solution? Get a really, really good clavichord.😅
Play mezzoforte on a real piano and record the decibels. Go home and play mf adjusting the volume until it’s the same