CLP885 Honest Review

[@doomfoot]

I tried the CLP885 today and thought it was stunning, closing my eyes it felt like a concert grand. The CLP875 was also great, very responsive and solid feeling (and more in my price range, so I went with that). It's been a long time since I last tried a top-end Yamaha digital and they definitely have come on a long way. Thanks for the video.

[@arkadiuszk.3898]

Is there a big difference between the CLP 785 and the CLP 875? Is it true that the CLP 875 has plastic pedals?!

[@MonaroMel1]

Thank you for this review. I've just bought a CLP-875 as the 885 is to tall for where I'm putting it in my home. There aren't many reviews out yet with them being the new models. This was really helpful. Thanks again.

[@TheScottishDad]

@@MonaroMel1 Hey, no problem. Glad the video was helpful. Yes, the 875 is essentially the same piano with a different look. I struggled too to find video reviews on the new models. Part of me wishes I’d kept my 585 now - I use Pianoteq a lot and they sound better imo to the onboard samples. Everyone has a preference though - how long have you been playing? Any particular style? :-)

[@MonaroMel1]

@TheScottishDad Hi, well I started playing when I was 10, grade 4 at 12. Then my parents divorced and I stopped having lessons. Biggest mistake of my life. I then found a guy playing a piano piece on KZbin that I've always loved which reignited my passion. I figured now's the time to start again. I bought a £210 "Glarry" piece of rubbish off amazon which is OK for kids, but I quickly realised it is terrible. I'm hoping the 875 is a huge step-up! I've now restart my lessons and I'm loving it. She plays on upright acoustic Yamaha, but wants a CLP885. I guess they're so similar now and with the bonus of not having to tune it and the ability to turn the volume down during evening lessons it's very attractive. Classical music is almost all I know (piano wise) however the pieces I'm working on currently are from Game of Thrones. I just love the piano and escapism it provides. I'm really looking forward to receiving my CLP. You're playing is fantastic. How long have you been playing and is Classical your genre?

[@MonaroMel1]

@@TheScottishDad I also wanted to ask, do you regret the upgrade, seriously? Also where did you get it from? I used Rimmers, Edinburgh. It's saying 2 weeks for delivery but i'm hoping it'll be sooner.

[@TheScottishDad]

@@MonaroMel1 sorry, just getting around to this comment, my phone didn’t notify me. To be honest, I think I do slightly. It was a lot of money for really not a lot of difference. It sounds and feels largely the same to my 10 year old 585. Kinda wishing I’d kept the money haha. Ah, I used them too! I stay over in Dunfermline. You close by then as well I’d imagine? There is a piano meetup group each month down near haymarket that’s quite a nice social if you’d be interested? Everyone gets together, some chat and you have the opportunity to play infront of the members if you want, everyone takes turns and no pressure. Really good vibe.

[@TheScottishDad]

@@MonaroMel1 aw thank you, and glad you’re back into it! I’ve been playing since I was a little kid, around 10 or so. I’m 36 now and still at it but sometimes I drop it for a few months (or years) :-). I like Chopin and Beethoven, mostly classical / romantic era. I teach too! I’d love to hear some of what you’re learning.

[@ITPoshLady1]

Thanks for this review!

[@SyncopaticSimon]

For your information, I also have a bad sound resolution of the Bosendorfor around the key you've pointed in your video. Mine is on a black key. And it is worse if you use headphones. So definitely the sample. I use a CLP 785 and I believe they have the same sample.

[@musipto]

Thanks for your video. CFX is a better sound in my opinion, not sure all the marketing crap around bosendorfer and the gimmicks, I'll just get the clp825 instead, I think the upgrade from my clp320 from 2008 to clp825 this 2024 will be worth it.

[@pranavjayaprakasanut]

Ya i bought 725 recently 😊

[@german.direct]

Great review! I'm considering upgrading to the CLP-875, which is quite an improvement over my CLP-970. I was at the store recently to try it out, and while the action was okay, I struggled a bit with the repeating notes in Beethoven's Op. 7 (the left-hand section at the beginning). The Bösendorfer sound in your video actually seems better than they it feels when playing in person-it felt very flat and compressed to me. Also, I'm not a fan of the touch display. On my older Clavinova, the kids love switching and combining sounds quickly using the buttons but that’s way more difficult with the new control unit. It’s a shame you can’t keep separate settings for the Bösendorfer and CFX either!

[@TheScottishDad]

@@german.direct I find myself using Pianoteq 90% of the time now and bypassing the built-in sounds of the CLP885. The sound from Pianoteq are far superior in terms of realism.

[@ITPoshLady1]

I just saw your comment below regarding the 875 does it sound the same? Does it sound as good the 885? it's a big price difference in the US the 885 is $6399 while the 875 is $4999

[@buckachiddy]

They've not really moved on as much as I'd hoped in 10+ years. My old CLP-270 sounded almost the same.

[@TheScottishDad]

I tend to agree - I was hoping for a little more in terms of tone generation and action improvement. It’s a new model though and should last me another 10 years or so. I play everyday and the action is a nice improvement, my 585 was getting tired as well and was in need of replacement. I’d like to have seen a better escapement mechanism. Perhaps with real action inside to produce the feel of actual hammers.

[@arkadiuszk.3898]

Is it true that the CLP 875 has plastic pedals?!

[@TheScottishDad]

@@arkadiuszk.3898 I haven’t tried the 875 but the 885 has metal pedals - I’d be very surprised if the pedals were plastic.

[@giuseppepaparo8977]

Good morning, is the sound recorded in a direct line from the Piano's generator or with environmental microphones?

[@АндрейЗорин-е7г]

напрямую с усилителя

[@TheScottishDad]

Hey - I recorded direct onto a usb from the pianos sound generator and then moved this file over to my laptop and synced with the video.

[@Sudulicious]

I have the CLP735, I found the Bosendorfer sample horrible, I wonder why so many people applaud it. The CFX is the only decent sample. But I regret having sold my Kawai with the Sk-Ex samples, much much better than Yamaha's CFX

[@TheScottishDad]

I really wanted a Kawai but due to the stair setup in my house it wasn’t practical to get the one I wanted. The CLP dismantles enough to get it up the stairs. The Bosendorfer sample sounds ok on the 885 but I find myself using Pianoteq 90% of the time as those are hy far the most realistic sounds I’ve come across.

[@r.d.6856]

@@TheScottishDadOh, could you make a video showing the 885 with the Pianoteq? Please with microphone from your room and with audio out to see the difference.

[@BrunodeSouzaLino]

It's strange Yamaha would skimp on the Bosendorfer samples considering they own Bosendorfer since 2007.

[@followtheginger]

Hi! I´m curious to know why you actually bought this particular model since you don´t seem very excited about it?

[@Josepcarrion]

It sounds like plastic and with bad dimamics. I will bette choose another model. Thank you really

[@TheScottishDad]

Thanks for the comment. In person, the sound is very realistic, I was impressed with it. The recorded version here doesn’t relate to the in person sound. I’d encourage you to try one in person and see how you feel then. I’d agree that it’s not perfect. But it’s a nice improvement. As I say, I tend not to use the built in sounds and instead use Pianoteq as this sounds better to my ears.

[@arkadiuszk.3898]

Which?

[@blindazabat9527]

If your black keys are topped with ivory, the elevent that provided it must have had terrible mouth hygiene! ;)

[@MrFlint51]

He said "SYNTHETIC ivory

[@blindazabat9527]

@@MrFlint51 Did he? My mistake. Sorry. Then again, he should have said synthetic EBONY because I can't see the point of making black ivory. But I'm just trying to get out of a problem I created here... :)

[@BrunodeSouzaLino]

@@MrFlint51 You didn't get the joke. If your ivory is black, whoever elephant provided it has rotten tusks.

[@TheScottishDad]

Yamaha quote the term “synthetic ivory”. I’m using their terminology here.

[@user-ht2on3ig8o]

ebony = black... ivory = NOT black :)

[@fromu2ramin]

its very expensive for a digital piano!

[@TheScottishDad]

Yes, it’s quite pricey. I think most goods these days are inflated tbh. My last piano (CLP-585) lasted over 10 years, so for me, this new one should do me another 10. My son shows some curiosity for the piano too, so I wanted to get a new model for the house and hope he takes to it as well.

[@DiegoDourado]

O Casio GP510 tem uma mecânica melhor e três timbres dos melhores pianos do mundo. Por um preço melhor.

[@TheScottishDad]

Hi, thanks for the feedback. I have tried various models over the years, including the Casio. The Casio was impressive, however; for me, there’s something about the feel from the Yamaha. The build quality and sound are more to my liking. It’s a brand I’ve stayed with for a long time and have been impressed with.

[@arkadiuszk.3898]

@@TheScottishDad What about Kawai? Which do you prefer?