Grand Piano Comparison; Yamaha GC1 vs Kawai GL30

[@artgamesforfun]

The Kawai has more warmth; although a few notes in the Yamaha mid register are slightly out of tune, it's got a crisper, more bell-like tone. Very sharp and precise. Don't confuse crispness with dynamic range; the Kawai is highly expressive! When I was younger I would have preferred the Yamaha, but my taste over the past decade has changed and I enjoy the richer, more complex tone of the Kawai. Some styles of music and individual pieces may be more forgiving of the Yamaha's crispness, but I think the Kawai is more suitable for a broader spectrum of genres. Will soon visit my local dealer and compare the actions. Hands down the tone winner for me is Kawai.

[@guidodemarcoroma]

I tried Yamaha GC1 and the quality of sound to my ear was a little less rich than Kawai GL-30. However, the GL-30 is 166 cm whereas the GC1 is 161 cm. I also tried in a different showroom a GC2 that is 173 cm and it sounds was more powerful compared to GL-30. So I believe the sizes matter in these comparison, however, I really liked most the keyboard of GL-30, it is lighter and I prefer it over the Yamaha keyboards.

[@damianwong7503]

Kawai GL-30 3:12 Yamaha GC1 4:25

[@Max_sbk12]

Kawai for classic music is the better!!

[@pigramentebambino7117]

I think the exact opposite...

[@EveshkaGhost]

I favour the Kawai's over the Yamahas and I've been in the show room a few times there. At the moment they have this immense Yamaha which is voiced and regulated to perfection though. Also, a really nice Feurich. Kawais for me have the more classical sound. Yamahas usually (with the exception of a few) are a bit plain. Depends what you're after! Yamaha touch is amazing though. Can't deny that.

[@benjaminsmith2287]

I don't necessarily find the Yamaha more sparkly or brighter. I do find the Kawai lusher but that doesn't necessarily mean it's richer. Yamaha seems to go for clarity and evenness and subtlety where Kawai almost has more "body" in the sound although the tone is quite sweet. Excellent marques and both would make find practice instruments.

[@rodrigofratin5141]

Kawai is my choice!

[@ian757]

Nice playing. 👌

[@Kaitlynrenee78]

I really expected to prefer the Yamaha. But the Kawai won me over

[@seancregomusic]

I don't know why I prefer the sound of the shorter Kawai grands, but I always have. In every other brand, though, I can't handle anything under 6 feet. But with Kawai, even the GL20 and GL30 sound fabulous. My brain must be wired in a very strange way.

[@kenpeters9807]

Sean, you’re not alone. I found the sound of the two Kawai’s (20&30) to be fantastic. I’d ordered a GL20 (big price difference in the USA). Mid way, I went back and listened again. The GL-30 trumped them all - even 6’2” + in other brands. I’m not putting down the GL-20, as I said I had ordered it. We came into a little bit of more money and the GL-30 was more than worth it. I’m not sure of why the noticeable difference in only 3”. The KAWAI Indonesian factory supposedly mimics their Japanese factory. Maybe the artisans in Japan put in a bit more time -who knows. You certainly pay more. I like classical so KAWAI is it. But it sounds wonderful in most pop, rags, jazz and the like. Yamaha, I think, has the edge in a lot of pop and more modern music. If you offered me either for a very low price, I would take it.

[@titob.yotokojr.9337]

Both are very good pianos but I prefer the lushness of the Kawai in this video, particularly the lower range of the Kawai.

[@IamKonstantin]

Definitely the kawai :-)

[@DavidIzquierdoAzzouz]

I'm sure both actions are delightful, although I clearly like how Kawai sounded here rather than the Yamaha. For me Kawai sounded full and woody, while the Yamaha was lacking a bit of presence, just a thought.

[@beback_]

Both are beautiful but are you sure you're Yamaha is tuned?

[@dchrzescijanek]

Yes, it's in unwell tempered :D

[@markE946]

It's slightly out of tune

[@markE946]

The yahama seems slightly out of tune, but my ears are accustomed to their digital piano range not wooden acoustic pianos that require regular tuning

[@rhondaleavitt3456]

What is the name of the second song you played? I would love to learn it.

[@beback_]

Chopin's Nocturne Opus 1 No 2 in B flat minor! kzbin.info/www/bejne/kKWsiGWoZqqUoq8

[@tm.anwarianwari8107]

Chopin nocturne op9 no1

[@pian0gao]

What was the name of the1st piece he played? Beautiful

[@elias7748]

Kawai definitely got a much more powerful sound which I'm a fan of

[@elias7748]

@Clyde Ayden cool

[@cashmerecat9269]

I prefer Kawai's warmer and fuller sound.

[@okuto777]

昔から日本はヤマハVSカワイ、ライバル意識で戦ってきました。ヤマハのピアノが世界的に有名になったのも、カワイの存在があったからです。カワイもけしてヤマハに劣る音ではなく、曲によってはヤマハ、スタインウェイ、ベーゼンドルファーを凌ぐ音を出してます。もし、この四社が同じピアノ価格であれば、あなたはどれを選ぶか?問題はそこなのです。音の差があっても多くの人はスタインウェイを選ぶと思います、やはり知名度でしょうか・・・・

[@siddharthst2712]

はい、どうやら河合浩一はヤマハ・トラクスの弟子として働いていたそうです。また、河合茂はスタインウェイやボーゼンドルファーと競合できる規格を持っています

[@cludiocozzani9446]

I prefer Kawai

[@mangoldm]

The Yamaha sounds a bit out to my ear.

[@silentinaway7407]

Not a completely fair comparison as the Kawai, although not brilliantly tuned, is rather better tuned than the Yamaha.

[@mikeyshanghai9801]

Kawai has brighter more crisp notes while Yamaha seems to be more mellow and more depth in its tone.

[@shanshanliu8445]

I agree with you.

[@benjaminsmith2287]

@@davidalarconquinones87 Interesting. I found the Yamaha significantly more mellow and almost to the point that I thought the Yamaha was overly subdued, especially in the treble.

[@benjaminsmith2287]

That's what I heard as well. I didn't hear Yamaha as bright or sparkly at all. It almost seemed restrained and certainly mellow. It also has less body but not necessarily less richness. But the singing tone is almost a talking tone in the Yamaha. The Kawai seemed to have an "oing" to its tone but if you go to the Yamaha CX, they do as well.

[@gustavogo2915]

@@benjaminsmith2287 🤡

[@africanhistory]

yamaha wins for me. If you were recording each piano would fit different songs

[@Yussnan84.]

The Yamaha sounds better.

[@CaptJackAubreyOfTheRoyalNavy]

Kawai sounds more rich.

[@ianreed7605]

Yamaha sounded nicer to me

[@JD-kf2ki]

Nah, Kawai.

[@benjaminsmith2287]

@@JD-kf2ki He did say "to me" We all have different preferences.