🎹 Kawai Novus NV10 Hybrid Digital Piano Review & Demo by Merriam Pianos 🎹

[@ahojahojish]

You are the best piano reviewer in the world. You deserve hundreds of thousand subscribers. Finaly someone who is actually a pro musician doing these reviews. You easily blow all the yamaha and roland “pro” reviewers (the demo guys) out of the water. Thank you for the work. I was getting tired searching online for a interesting product only to find that 99% of those videos are done by guys that are sloppy musicians at best.

[@Zoco101]

While I wouldn't agree that being a pro pianist is vital to a review (it can even get in the way) I do agree that Stuart is a joy to listen to while he plays or talks. You know you are getting a good value demo and great advice, delivered eloquently. He is definitely my favourite reviewer.

[@natalyahennings1085]

Agree absolutely. One of the best piano reviewer in North America at least. Love the way you speak, very pleasant voice, sophisticated language and real professional pianist and good musician, probably have perfect music ears. I like your honesty and professionalism. Thank you. Thinking to come to Toronto to your store to try and buy a piano. You deserve millions of subscribers.

[@Mohabpiano]

I couldn't agree more, he really knows his stuff and as a pianist I deeply admire his in-depth reviews and genuine excitement about the instruments he talks about.

[@HeimIich]

I have to say, when I started watching this review, I was shocked to see your small subscriber base and view count. This is quality content. It's refreshing to watch a review where products and certain brands aren't being constantly peddled at you. Plus, a lot of reviewers just skim over the specifications where as you give us insightful details. Loving it and looking forward to future videos like this!

[@BonZW-rt1zs]

Finally NV10s is released, can't wait to see a comparison between these models.

[@dominic6055]

just marketing

[@MostEasterlySteve]

Such an intelligent and considered review, many thanks indeed. I think most people play their digital pianos too quietly and that can clearly detract from what the Novus is trying to achieve. You have some serious piano skills too!

[@MerriamPianos]

Thanks for the thoughtful comment Steve, really appreciate you watching! - Stu

[@JitinMisra]

Merriam Music agreed , you are very good reviewer! Do you think a piano like nv10 is as expressive as k200/300/500?

[@keyboarddancers7751]

I'm about to buy one. Fabulous sound and action with the practicality of occupying much less space than any acoustic piano. Easy to install because the legs/stand are separate from the main 'box' - it'll easily get through very small entrances of any very small property.

[@MerriamPianos]

Fantastic instrument, I hope you enjoy it. LOVE me some NV-10. -stu

[@patrickmolloy6994]

I was in a piano store earlier today, with the intention of trying a Roland GP607 ... it was good, but they also had this Novus, which is about twice the price. This Kawai blew me away and I just had to buy it. Lol. Now I’m home, I came across your review. Seems my impulsive purchase was a good one. I can’t wait until it’s delivered!! Thank you!

[@MerriamPianos]

You'll love it Patrick, no regrets! -stu

[@mdeblaschem]

I had a GP607 for 2 years and quickly grew out of it. Don't take me wrong; I think the 607 is a nice instrument but it is still a keyboard, not a piano. I Bought my NV10 in July 2019 and it was the best decision I could ever make!

[@patrickmolloy6994]

Miguel Angel De Blas I took delivery about 4 weeks ago. I’m so pleased! The Novus is just so good. I love it. It also looks great in my lounge :-) Apart from a 2 week holiday, I’ve played it every day.

[@JoelAWeiss]

@@patrickmolloy6994 still happy with it? I'm very interested in it.

[@patrickmolloy6994]

Joel Weiss I am! I play every day...it’s a joy. I’m a beginner and I do different things every day, and I really look forward to playing. I do the chords etc but I throw in some, boogie woogie , 12 bar blues etc so I get a chance to learn loads of stuff. This piano is incredible. I love it.

[@vincentnieuwhof-pianoteach1604]

It’d be good if Kawai installed a volume setting recommendation aligned with an acoustic piano. It’ll also be interesting to see how they gradually make it look more like a grand in future models which is going to be a very popular choice...

[@shrinkdad01]

Probably the best piano review I have ever watched and I've watched a ton. Outstanding video. Your sincerity and honesty comes through effortlessly and is a joy to see. Thank you for the great information and helpful tips. Your piano skills are top notch and I look forward to more videos. Thank you so much for doing this

[@keyboarddancers7751]

I bought mine in Nov '19. Magnificent beast! The price has gone up since then too.

[@MerriamPianos]

Good buy - I bet you're loving it...nothing but awesome feedback from our buyers as well. -stu

[@David-me5nv]

These are outstanding balanced reviews. I particularly appreciated this video as I’ve had similar experiences but without the tips. I’ve been considering hybrids for a while as I’m working on early advanced classical repertoire. Unfortunately this is exposing issues with both my own technique/tone and capability of my premium digital piano. As such, I’ve been in search of a baby grand but finding some obvious challenges with size, price and maintenance requirements. These hybrids seem an excellent idea and I buy into the hype but whenever I try one I come away somewhat underwhelmed. I shall give these tips a go especially setting the volume med-high (keeping it constant) and finding a tone that sounds natural to my ear. Thank you very much Stu you are an asset to this industry!

[@franmorr1966]

Excellent! Honest! I feel like I could make a decision without even trying a single instrument.

[@Zoco101]

Hey guys. Since we all agree that Stu is one of the best piano reviewers, why don't we make a concerted effort to raise his number of subscriptions through sharing and recommending the subscribe button.

[@JoeLinux2000]

What I notice with my Pianoteq Voices driven by a Casio PX-150 is that the room you are in makes a huge difference. You have to set the piano up specifically for the space you are in. One issue people are going to have with this instrument is that eventually action will need regulation. Nevertheless, this is one of the most beautiful electric pianos I have ever heard coming through my tiny laptop computers. That said, I personally am into a good sounding light weight portable keyboards. Moreover, I'm very frugal. However, for a person who is a great pianist and who can also afford it, this looks to be a fantastic instrument. You are still going to need a moving company to transport it.

[@zhengjia7382]

Subscribed. Learned about this model from this video and ordered one at Marriam Piano this May. Tried it myself at your showroom and was definitely amazed by its quality. Also, Merriam music is the most reliable piano dealer I ever met in Canada.

[@MerriamPianos]

Thank you so much for your incredibly kind words as well as your trust and support! We sincerely appreciate it and are very glad that we were able to be part of your piano journey. Thanks again and happy playing! :)

[@VetSemperFi]

I appreciated your review for its honesty and the knowledge and experience you shared. Explaining the relationship between feel, volume, and tonal qualities made so much sense and will help others like me who are new to digital pianos and guilty of playing them 'muted'.

[@kenroberts9599]

I’m most grateful for your thorough review on Novus NX10S by Kawai. I am unable to visit showrooms at present but having watched and listened carefully to your review and those of others I have ordered one and feel sure I won’t be disappointed. Thank you and keep up the good work. Ken Roberts St Andrews Scotland.

[@SilverSpur1]

I love your videos, because you are so professional and competent...

[@JoeLinux2000]

It's really enjoyable to hear a demo by a person who plays as well as you do. It's the only way I can evaluate the sound of a digital piano. It's obvious that this is beautiful sounding instrument. I doubt it makes sense to put a true acoustic piano action into a digital piano. There are a lot of adjustments in a traditional action. Changing the key height will also affect the heaviness of the action on an actual acoustic grand, particularly the height of the black keys as compared to the whites. I'm assuming this is a grand action, not an upright. I'm wondering is anyone is making a digital piano action and voice that can be installed into older acoustic grands and uprights to give them new life as opposed to all the trouble to actually rebuild them. As an aside, I think for the money and weight of the instrument, Casio has a pretty good gravity action in their digital pianos although it's not perfect. Keep in mind too that not all acoustics have a great action.

[@enriqueernesto738]

Best review of the NV10 I stumbled over

[@MerriamPianos]

Hi Enrique, thanks for the comment! I'm really glad you enjoyed the review, please come back for future videos! - stu

[@namakudamono]

Really great review - clear explanation and good quality A/V. Nice job!

[@enriqueali]

Best review I've come across so far of this particular keyboard, and by a real musician too!! Thanks for taking the time to delve into the aspects that so many are primarily interested in.

[@twistedsymposium3744]

A digital with a life-size music rest. It's about time.

[@electricsnut]

Absolutely thank you so much for this advice! I had rhe same issues with my poor sounding Kawai CS11 and this helped greatly to bring it out of its usual muffled garbage sound with the volume below 50%

[@Yothlan]

So let's be clear your reviews are the best I can see over the entire internet 😅. I am trying to make my mind between Yamaha n1x and Kawai nv10, and I'd really enjoy hearing your opinion on those two !

[@clemensheil4086]

Rémi S Would be interested in what you ultimately decided on...?

[@Yothlan]

@@clemensheil4086 I haven't yet chosen. I'm actually setting up some website to easily compare all models of hybrids, but if you can go try in a shop. At first I didn't like how the kawai felt, the yamaha felt much more robust. And then coming back a week after the NV10 felt actually just perfect, it was such a pleasure to play ! And the yahama kind of ... limited and didn't sound as good. But I'm still thinking it through, especially at that price point !

[@brickmissing8295]

In a side-by-side test I found the Nv10 way better on sound and touch. Not even close.

[@HemanLee]

What did you finally get?, I love the Novus 10, but the Yamaha N1x is now ~$3K cheaper.

[@Yothlan]

@@HemanLee not yet because I'm on the middle of a flat move, but unless Kawai updates the NV10s or releases a new Novus, I think I'll go with the NV5S. I tested both the NV5 and NV10 side by side and although I prefer the grand action, the speakers of the NV10 are really disappointing, whilst the NV5 has a very impressive sound quality, I don't know if it's the form factor or the soundboard, or both.

[@brickmissing8295]

13:43 I measured the static key weight of my Yahama P515 as 82g at the tip of the keys. The weight at the back near the fall board is much higher still - so it’s very difficult to tinkle those ivories with your pinkies since you have to overcome that 82g to get the keys moving. 53g static weight of the NV10 would be much preferable. That’s one of the reasons I’m considering upgrading.

[@MerriamPianos]

82g??? Oh my that's just crazy - 60g is enough to seriously fatigue your hands and cause injury over the long run. Good luck finding something comfy to play :) - stu

[@rupe82]

I measured the P515 that I briefly owned and it was 94g at middle c, the f just above was 117g! I decided to return and buy the CA48.

[@brickmissing8295]

Rupe Yes - It’s heavy. But unless you’ve played a light action you wouldn’t know the P515 was heavy - but your playing would suffer.

[@PeterRosaDK]

Brilliant review! Great point about perceiving the action as too heavy when the volume is low. I would love to see you make a review of Kawai's biggest competitor, the Yamaha N1X.

[@MerriamPianos]

Thanks for the comment Peter! Yes, it's definitely a point that can be overlooked with this amazing instrument. I'll be sure to add the N1X to our list and hopefully we have the chance to review the Yamaha in the future. Thanks for watching!

[@MrMarcec85]

Everybody keeps comparing the novus with N1X.. but in my opinion the competitor is the N2X... the fact that the price of the N1X is lower and comparable with the NV10 doesn t mean that those specs are comparable (maybe the black keys of N2 are slightly better, but I don't know the difference between the special ABS and the yamaha N2X "ivoryte (?)" . Am I wrong?

[@brickmissing8295]

The N2X doesn’t exist yet - just the N2. Yamaha have only updated the N1X and the N3X. Still waiting for the N2 update.

[@Yothlan]

@@MerriamPianos any update on that 😊 ? That would be awesome ! Anyway, astonishing work guys !

[@Assassunn]

@@MrMarcec85 the ivorite is just the synthetic ivory on the key caps, the ABS carbon is a specific material used for some parts of the modern Kawai piano mechanics, instead of wood traditionally. It makes the action more accurate, lighter, way more resistant to temperature change and moisture.

[@ferdinandheindlmeier5486]

Awesome review, so helpful! Thank you very much for that video!

[@MerriamPianos]

No problem at all! Thank you for taking the time to tune in! :)

[@mireyafernandezalvarez7941]

Great review! I’m thinking about buying this piano to practice at home. Would you recommend it to professional classical music piano players?

[@nelsonjr2521]

This piano is unique...

[@MerriamPianos]

It sure is, a beautiful instrument to play! -stu

[@alexpixeli]

Great review with super tips! Thanks. Can't wait for your opinion on the NV5!!!

[@bandogbone3265]

I have an acoustic grand and recently bought a Kawai MP11SE for practicing. I love the Kawai, except for one area of disappointment: the soft pedal implementation merely limits the max key velocity and correspondingly flattens the key velocity curve, which simulates the soft pedal on an upright piano. A proper una corda pedal implementation would instead have a separate series of samples that captures the tonal difference of using the una corda pedal on a real grand. How does the NV10 implement the una corda pedal?

[@piananimal3413]

great review !

[@MerriamPianos]

Thank you so much! :)

[@Nico-rw2tl]

Excellente review, merci !!

[@MerriamPianos]

You are most welcome!

[@rgm2754]

Very deep and complete reviewing. thanks

[@PianoScoreVids]

Great review.

[@danielpederson9025]

Very helpful and informative. Thanks!

[@MerriamPianos]

You're very welcome Daniel! Thanks for tuning in!

[@tacitpolyphony]

It would really be great if you could do a comparison of the Kawai Novus NV10 vs. the Kawai Novus NV10S…

[@DavidIzquierdoAzzouz]

Super good explanation about sound perception and heaviness of the action, remarkable observations makes this review different from any other on KZbin, congrats and thanks.

[@aceman199]

Thank you for being the one and only piano dealer who doesn't have ancient sales tactics of blind praise and regurgitation of manufacturer specs (including all of the manufacturer gimmicks like garbage sounding fake strings layered with piano that nobody wants or cares about). Do you guys have any N3X's in your shop that you can review? The Yamaha's features (and probably some of their sound engines) seem pretty outdated compared to Kawai, but I'm curious to hear from somebody who is willing to speak intelligently and critically about sound, action and such.

[@Zoco101]

aceman: I get what you're saying, but we have to remember that different buyers want different features. I know a lot of pianists who layer sounds, particularly piano and synth pad. If you're into high end dps, even hybrids, then an "acoustic" feel and sound must matter a lot to you. (I refrain from using the word "real".) But why should we fix our aim forever at producing a facsimile of the acoustic instrument. Perhaps digital technology will eventually make a superior piano available, even at the highest end. Meanwhile, that dps are replacing those horrible bucket-price acoustic pianos (which were the poor man's only option) pleases me immensely.

[@brickmissing8295]

Amen on the cheesy piano/strings combo. It never works well because sustained high notes always swell really loud on the strings then cut off when you take your foot off the sustain pedal in a very unmusical manner. If you’re spending £7K on a hybrid it’s the piano sounds you’re interested in. Not the cheesy trumpet and string samples you can get on a £200 synth. So it’s good this review focuses on the piano sounds.

[@abz124816]

Nice playing.

[@SongsOfTheMerryEarth]

It was insightful and good advice. Thanks.

[@korayus]

Great review as always. And also I think you are the best piano reviewer so far. I want to ask what is the dirrefences between CA99 and NV5. Is it possible to compare them? Thank you very much indeed.

[@andrewwright6893]

Great playing.

[@fernandorabadan1313]

Muchas gracias a ti por toda esta valiosa información. Y felicidades por tu gran calidad como pianista.

[@MerriamPianos]

You're very welcome! Thanks for taking the time to tune in! :)

[@burmashave]

Great review! I had no idea Ed Norton played piano...

[@MerriamPianos]

I'll take that as a compliment! -stu

[@SeaDrive300]

Ralph: "Now, address the piano." Stu: "Hello, piano!" 🙂

[@Gearsandco]

i love kawai ! ❤️

[@MerriamPianos]

Thanks Nick!!

[@the_newvoice]

God dammit! You're a genius, speaking about action! I'm about to sell my first Kawai ES100 long time ago, because i fell unconnected and heavy on keying.

[@diogogarcia3866]

Hi, I have a question: Does the keyboard action of this Kawai changes when you press the soft pedal, as it does on an acoustic grand piano? Thanks !

[@simonc8265]

Yes it does

[@ampac]

@@simonc8265 No it does not. The NV 10 includes the mechanism of the damper pedal (the right pedal). So, when you press the right pedal the action becomes lighter. But the una corda/soft (left) pedal and the sostenuto (middle) pedal are electronic. So, the action assembly does *not* shift right when you press the una corda like it does on a grand.

[@the_newvoice]

16:30 Actually, not agree with that. Curving in cabinets deal with standing waves inside a speaker box and makes it sound natural, without phase issues for a driver related inside negative effects. It's really rare, that speaker manufacturers are made curved cabinets nowadays, but it's really really good for the sound. Plus it makes less flat surface membrane resonances and you can make a better control with a same material thickness or make it thinner/lighter/cheaper. I guess same thing for all acoustical instruments and ears.

[@mfwheel]

Hi Stu. I would be interested in how this compares to the Roland LX708.

[@markfowlermusic]

The Roland can't compete with a true hybrid like nv10 or n1x... Not even close!

[@Zoco101]

Another problem with "baby" grands is the bass end. The better digital pianos are often more satisfying to my ears, since I play in several jazz styles, and I need a crisp bass end on my piano. The problem with many upright pianos and digital pianos is that aesthetically, they are made only for playing against a wall. The rear panels look so unfinished! Can't we have something prettier in a compact piano? I wish there were a view here of the Novus 10 hind quarters, so to speak. Let it be the exception!

[@Aaron-md2eo]

Hey Stu I'm in a bit of a pickle. I've testet the NV10 as well as the NV5, loved both. I did like the sound of the NV5 a little better, mainly because of how the low notes feel quite a bit richer. I'm guessing this might be because of the Soundboard? Anyhow, I practice mostly with headphones and the sound over the headphones is supposed to be exactly the same between these two Instruments. So that sort of takes that plus point away from the NV5. Regarding only the actions, would you recommend the upright action from the NV5 or the grand action from the NV10? So far I've only practiced with a simulated grand action of fairly old Roland digital piano.

[@PianoUniverse]

Can this be compared to a Yamaha YUS5 Tansaccoustic? On the digital side?

[@alfredocassano3194]

best piano reviewer on the internet, no doubt. Thanks! I have question: having both the millennium III action, how would any GL with ATX4 would sound different compared to the Novus 10S in terms of piano tone generator? Is the ATX4 behind or better than the generator on this model? I'm talking about using headphones and blindfolded

[@MerriamPianos]

Thanks so much for the kind words! The ATX4 and NVS models both use the same tone generator and sample sets, so, from the standpoint of experiencing these instruments with headphones, they should be virtually the same. :)

[@alfredocassano3194]

@@MerriamPianos awesome, thanks!

[@mystic8260]

Nice review. Is it a better experience than the Yamaha N1X?

[@benjaminsmith2287]

Preference. That's for the player to determine.

[@PhilLiszt]

Stu, what do you suggest to use as headphones for this advanced Novus10? Would love to get any comment on this as playing live and playing with headphones might have a difference in sound output as you play. Sounds coming from novus speakers I expect to be good but what about playing or practicing in private 2am using headphones may make the experience different?

[@JoeLinux2000]

Does it have an offset balance rail? Does it boot as quickly as Pianoteq? As usual your piano playing completely blows me away.

[@mystic8260]

I'm looking for a piano and seriously considering the hybrid digital ones. Clearly, Kawai and Yamaha are the only serious options and I'm thorn between this and the Yamaha equivalent (N1X or N2?). Then you said "this is the best digital piano I've ever played" and that "this is definitely the closest experience to an acoustic experience I've ever come to". I'm wondering whether you are considering the Yamaha equivalent in your claim? :) And do you still feel the same in 2021 (i'm not aware of any other alternative anyway)?

[@c3piano]

What is an expected life span of this piano if played an average of an hour a day? Does the complexity of the electronics affect it's longevity? What comparisons should we consider to an acoustic piano if it's for a child starting lessons?

[@marcusvaldes]

It will last a LONG time. Plus it has a 5 year warranty. But, it is an electronic, so don't expect the value to hold up for 10 years like an acoustic.

[@MrMarcec85]

Great re-review! Very helpful. Does kawai recommend any headphones? Or tips about this? Nobody give any advice on headphones.

[@MerriamPianos]

The nice thing about the NV-10 is that it gives you the option of specifying what type of headphone you have, so in one sense, it doesn't really matter. However, the experience of open-back vs. closed is different GENERALLY...if you're looking for your headphone to isolate you and give you a very controlled aural experience, you want closed back headphones with a balanced / flat response. If you just want to make sure that others don't hear the instrument, but you personally don't mind hearing room noise and want a more 'natural' sound experience, then open-back might be your jam. There's a time and place for either. I wouldn't go crazy with $1000 headphones or anything...I'd go flat response if closed, maybe from someone like AKG or SONY, or if you want open back, Sennheiser is nice because they tend to be a little bass heavy, which makes up for the lack of a seal around your ear. Good luck! - Stu

[@MrMarcec85]

@@MerriamPianos my budget is way under 1000 - 500 $ 😁 knowing nothing about headphones the open/close alternative is a good hint. Bye!

[@patrickmolloy6994]

The piano store I used actually provides Bose headphones. Good, because I have the Bluetooth Bose which can’t be used.

[@CreepyClayCave]

Stu, could you please make a review of the Yamaha Avantgrand series? And wich one you think is better between Kawai´s hybrids and Yamaha´s hybrid pianos.

[@yabowang]

thanks as always, given NV10 is discontinued now maybe it's time to do a review for NV10S ? 🙂

[@MerriamPianos]

Hi Michelle! You're very welcome! Absolutely! We have had quite the backorder list on the NV10S, but, once that is cleared, you can definitely anticipate a review of the NV10S. :)

[@corolex]

I'm currently using a Roland lx7 and pianoteq, would you think this will improve expression and dynamics if im recording to an external midi device?

[@twistedsymposium3744]

It doesn't seem very loud. Sounds just as brittle as my CA78.

[@vlb12345]

Would this be suitable for a conservatory student not having space for a grand? I guess yes in terms of action, but what about pedaling for example? Is this really worth the price difference with, say, a Casio Grand Hybrid?

[@MerriamPianos]

In my opinion, the NV10S is an excellent alternative for players that do not have sufficient space for a grand piano. The authenticity of the action, pedals, and piano sounds is very impressive. While the Casio GP310 and GP510 are both excellent instruments, they are not true hybrids. They have a wonderful action, but it is not an exact acoustic grand action. The NV10S is an exact acoustic piano action (with a few very minor differences, such as the use of carbon fibre hammers for better tracking via the sensor system) transplanted into a digital form. In terms of whether it is worth the price difference, that is a matter of subjectivity and comes down to the opinion of the player.

[@jung4399]

How is the sound of NV5/NV10 compared to K300 Aures? I was very disappointed as it sounded very closed and boxed and the volume was not enough. As I cannot try NV5/NV10, I can only asume through simialr hybrid Kawai piano. Thanks

[@bryanheap3859]

Can we have a review of the NV10s please Stu.

[@MerriamPianos]

Hi! Brent here! Thanks so much for the suggestion! We will certainly be tackling a Kawai NV10S review at some point. :)

[@RA-el6zj]

So this sound is coming from the speakers, not direct line output?

[@MrGadaga]

I think it is coming from the line out and that is so deceiving. Stu should record the output from the speakers. That would be more honest and probably very much worse sounding. But that is what our decisions should be based on!!!

[@burmashave]

When listening to this with headphones, it almost sounds like the background ambience disappears when you play the piano; was the recording of those parts mic'd, or direct to digital?

[@GotYourWallet]

Most of the time they are doing a mix where the line output dominates and only some of the mic sound is layered on top.

[@BFHPET]

10:49 what about headphones i dont play whit loud volume

[@MerriamPianos]

The Kawai SH9 headphones are excellent, economic, and specifically designed to be used in conjunction with Kawai's SK-EX samples. :)

[@kevinmaestroful]

What piece are you playing at 0:36?

[@MerriamPianos]

I would have to check with Stu as to what piece he is playing there, but it is quite beautiful! :)

[@actie-reactie]

Very curious how it holds up to the mp11se.....there is a big price difference....

[@Assassunn]

it's totally different instruments. The MP11SE use the Grand Feel action (it's not even the GFII), which feels very okay for a digital piano, but it is trying to simulate a grand piano renner action, the thing is it's very basic, a grand piano action has thousands of pieces and it can't be replicated, there is still a big gap in the feeling between a simulate and an authentic action unfortunately. One of the biggest reason is shown in this very short video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/o3jbpndpobyUedU

[@malthus101]

did they fix the action/volume issue on the NV10S?

[@MerriamPianos]

We have not yet received our first shipment of NV10S pianos yet, but you can certainly expect to see some detailed review and comparison videos of it once we do. I am sure Stu will be breaking down the areas of improvement. :)

[@Yothlan]

Kawai needs to combine the soundboard from the NV-5 and combine it with an NV-10 action - cause the speaker setup is disappointing. Also the back of the instrument is very unfinished for an 8k€ keyboard. But otherwise the action is truly the best

[@NinaSoyfer]

how to record midi files on piano ?

[@malthus101]

Is it better than the DG30? 🤔

[@MerriamPianos]

While the answer to that question is subjective, for many experienced piano players, the Kawai NV10 is not just more superior to the DG30, but virtually all digital pianos out there. The DG30 is an excellent digital piano and provides a wonderful aesthetic, which can be an important consideration to many customers. However, the NV10 is in a different category as it features an acoustic grand piano action along with a far more sophisticated tone engine. Hope this helps! :)

[@malthus101]

@@MerriamPianos it does; thanks a lot 👍🏻

[@france4me117]

Has this situation with playing in low volume been fixed by Kawai on the NV10s?

[@jpdj2715]

For people who do not, or cannot, spend the time to set this up to their liking - they need a piano toner.

[@DrDLL99]

How much does the fact that your store doesn't carry Yamaha's AvantGrands but does carry the Kawai impact your opinions of the Kawai and the making of this video?

[@MrGadaga]

I think the sound is coming from the line out (probably you've mixed the microphone input for your voice with the line out from the piano. That is misleading in my opinion! Stu. I firmly believe that you should record the output from the speakers via microphones. That would be more 'honest' I suppose it would probably be very much worse sounding. But that is what our decisions should be based on!!!

[@MerriamPianos]

Hi, Brent from Merriam Music here.Unless otherwise specified in the video, the instrument sound you are hearing is taken from direct line outs. The issue with using microphones to capture the onboard speaker system sound is that there are so many variables. All microphones tend to colour the sound in a specific way based on their design and frequency profile. Furthermore, the microphone placement and room the instrument is in will greatly affect the overall sonic representation. For these reasons, we try to eliminate as many variables as possible and offer as transparent of a portrayal as possible. :)

[@MrGadaga]

@@MerriamPianos Hi Brent. Thanks for your reply. The same problems (mic placement, mic brend etc) exist with the acoustic pianos you review (I love tout reviews, apart from the digital and hybrid piano reviews where you only very rarely use microphones). Imho your reviews would be much more informative if you systematically use mics for digital and hybrid pianos... Please...

[@jamesa375]

at these prices why not have an acoustic piano.I guess there may be some people who cant play with a loud sound and want the best digital with headphones.But other than that,these furniture pianos actually lose the main advantages of a digital which is usually a low price , low weight and small size.

[@MerriamPianos]

The high end hybrids are definitely geared towards customers in spaces or situations where volume control and headphone practice is a necessity. The NV5S and NV10S gives optimal musical performance and playability with all of the functionality of a digital piano. :)

[@lordramoth3416]

Damn i wish i was Canadian.

[@lordramoth3416]

@@frankhugh2052 lol no doubt it’s got it’s good points, this music store being one of them...

[@maulcs]

If only I had the cash

[@du39104]

The problem with this piano is that it's way too expensive..... I can get a 6 foot grand piano with that much amount of money

[@MerriamPianos]

Hi! Brent here! The NV10S is on the more costly side of things. However, it is designed with specific piano shoppers in mind. It is the perfect solution for high-level players that want the best action possible, but unavoidably need a digital piano due to size or volume constraints.

[@nolinchitnis]

Kawais don't sound good. That is the bottom line. They have a tinny metallic sound which has absolutely no warmth like Steinways or German pianos. Yamaha also sound more glass like but are less metallic and less harsh on the ears. Until Kawais can fix rhe sound all the technical wizardry is irrelevant. I was listening to this piano vs Roland LX 708 706 etc and Rolands sound lot more 'musical'.

[@MerriamPianos]

It all comes down to a matter of personal preference of course. It really depends on which type of touch and tone you resonate and. connect with. The Roland LX pianos are incredible as well of course, but they offer a very different musical flavour. With that said, I would recommend giving Kawai pianos (particularly their acoustics) another shot. They are generally renowned for their warmth and depth. A GX3 or SK3 grand produces immense power, warmth, and expressivity for instance. However, it is a matter of musical taste of course. :)

[@assisoberdanposser1542]

Talk... talk

[@tadl.4196]

Kawai does not sound well. Never successful in Chopin competion.

[@MerriamPianos]

Tonal preference is a very subjective thing and it all comes down the preferences of the player. With that said, I am personally a massive fan of the Shigeru Kawai tonal profile. They are gorgeous instruments with an impressive range of expressivity and colour. :)

[@MrMewsique]

Great review

[@MerriamPianos]

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it! :)