🎹Kawai Novus NV10 vs NV5 Hybrid Digital Piano Comparison - TwinDrive, Onkyo Transducers🎹

[@Yothlan]

I've been waiting for that comparison! Seeing this video and after trying the NV5 out, the NV5 looks more like a "polished" product and is really appealing. But I want that grand action ! So what I'm saying is ... I want an NV20 😁with a soundboard and a grand action. With Kawai's experience of the nv10 and nv5, that would be the ultimate hybrid. Would it be expensive? Totally. Probably the price point of a good acoustic grand, but many of us are living in cities in tiny flats where having a grand piano at home is just a dream.

[@cyrw]

@Maafa 1619 I'm seriously considering finding a way to sleep on top of a baby grand as the space for one would cost me an extra 2000 USD a year in rent here in Hong Kong. So I can convert my bedroom into a piano room. Or maybe sleep on the couch and have no bedroom.

[@DavidIzquierdoAzzouz]

Brought popcorn to watch this awesome comparison, really enjoyed it 👌

[@tyrvintersol916]

I had a NV10 in the past and sold it for several reasons but primarily i wasn't happy with its speaker setup. It simply doesn't delivered the sound as expected for this expensive instrument. My NV5 on the other hand nails it perfectly. I loved the NV10 for it's action and shape but it doesn't gave me the excitement like the NV5 does.

[@JoeLinux2000]

It's clear that the NV5 is a great sounding instrument.

[@brickmissing8295]

You can fix sound by adding a sub or speakers - but you can’t fix the action - and IMHO the grand action of the NV10 is so much nicer than the upright NV5 action.

[@tyrvintersol916]

@@brickmissing8295 I don''t mind much difference. Yes the NV10 is a grand action but the NV5 one feels good enough. Also i don't like the idea sporting additional hardware to make such expensive instruments work.

[@hansweichselbaum2534]

You should have considered the CA99 - it has a grand piano action and a great sound system with soundboard, same as NV5. Unless, of course, it has to be an authentic action. In that case I would stick to acoustic pianos with real strings as well.

[@enriqueali]

What works one person won't necessarily suit another. For me, I'd be using headphones more than 90% of the time, so the speaker issue is moot. However the upright action of the NV5 is a total deal breaker for me. I much prefer the action of a grand

[@romeli1941]

The differences between the two models are very carefully delivered. You really need to play them in person to understand the sound system difference. Great job and thank you as always.

[@denisebalch4610]

Just ordered my NV5 today and I cannot wait to get it home! Thanks to the great team at Merriam Piano in Toronto, especially Barry and of course for the reviews!

[@yayyaycats]

Congrats! How long did it take for you to get it? I hear they're backordered.

[@RonMantay]

Before the NV5 was available at Ontario retailers, I test-played the Kawai NV10 in your store and the Yamaha N1X and Yamaha N3X at other stores. I preferred the N1X for a variety of reasons, and have completely enjoyed playing it since taking delivery of my new N1X in Feb 2020. The N1X is such a pleasure to play compared with my 21-year old Roland KR-375! Although I haven't yet had a chance to test-play the NV5, my research suggests that this is an awesome digital hybrid piano for those who prefer upright piano key action rather than grand piano key action. The NV5 was near the top of my list after doing lots of research in 2019 and in early 2020. As you and other people have said, it's important to choose a piano that is a pleasure to play, so that practicing is more fun. Keep up the great work on these informational videos, Stu. Thanks -

[@MegaMech]

I own the N1X, it clearly has a better audio system and samples (even so, it sounds digitized in an echoey room (if reverb is off it's not so bad)). However, the N1X has a very heavy action and for me it's nearly impossible to play high level repertoire on. I'm killing my hands with it. I was in a store that had an N3X and the C3 key was outright broken (slow to lift up). Now that you have had your N1X for a couple years, I'm curious if you still like it? I want to upgrade to the NV10 and purchase Viennas Fazioli piano library (it's 500GB uncompressed). Then I'll have a good action alongside fantastic piano samples.

[@RonMantay]

@@MegaMech For the last 2 years, I've been practicing on my Yamaha N1X for at least an hour per day on a variety of music styles (classic, ragtime, jazz and contemporary popular songs). I still enjoy my N1X and would recommend it to anyone. I'm sure that the Kawai Novus NV10S would also be a fantastic instrument. I periodically publish my amateur piano performances on KZbin just for fun, and have been surprised by view counts and comments.

[@GOLTSYNTH]

Thank you so much for this video, you’ve answered some of my questions. I’ve been waiting for an NV-5 since it’s announcement. I’ve played the NV10, GL-10, CA-99 and K-300/500 but none of of them quite ticked the boxes for me. I wanted headphones and a real action, in the smallest space possible. I thought the NV-5 was it, but Kawai took too long to get it into Australia. I my opinion, of all the Kawai’s to this price point, the GL-10 has the best action by far. The NV-10 is slightly different, I can’t explain why maybe a little heavier, maybe it’s the digital engine. I love both but the cost is nearly the same, so if you have the room and can be loud all the time the GL-10 is a no-brainer. The problem is no practice pedal on a grand! So if you need to be quiet the NV-10 wins. The difficulty comes when comparing the NV-10 to uprights and digital pianos. It’s way more expensive and takes up more room. There are plenty of cheaper options. The CA-99 has the best digital piano action by a mile (GF3 far better than GF2) and you can do all the fast repeats on it that you want, but the big weighted clunk of a Millennium 3 action can’t be beaten. This is where the NV-5 and K-300 excel. I ended up buying a K-300 and the practice pedal does mute it enough to play at night. It’s interesting that the NV-5 and K-300 are nearly the same price here as well (that would be a great comparison video.) The NV-5 really puts a nail in the coffin of the ATX3/Aures which are way overpriced IMO. But I love my K-300, there is something about it that just suits me at the moment. Thanks again for all the great videos.

[@verymozart]

The Grand Feel 3 action me deeply because is unrealistically light. Too lighter than acoustic grand pianos. The touch isn't firm. You highly likely have problems to play advanced classical music on acoustic grand pianos, after studying it mainly on Kawai Grand Feel Action III, Kawai CA 99/701/901. Even the Novus10, that has a nice sound, is too light for its price.

[@Gustavo-x8f3q]

Did you ever upgrade? I bought a brand new Kawai GL10 in 2022 and then upgraded to a brand new Kawai GL40 just a few months ago. I may have over done it with the GL40 as I live in a small apartment and the GL40 is very powerful. Either way love both the GL10 and the GL40 for its massive bass and warm tone.

[@nymbusDeveloper86]

You are a great commentator for piano comparisons because unlike most who are presenting the instruments, you can actually play them really well. Your opinion matters to me because you know what you're talking about.

[@MerriamPianos]

Thank you for tuning in! I'll be sure to pass along your kind words to Stu on your behalf. :)

[@andrealevan6472]

So I bought the NV5S a few months ago and have had a handful of issues and technician visits….but I’m happy to report that Kawai and the Kawai of St Louis store completely had my back and have fully remedied the situation. So top notch customer service and even with the apparently rare issues I had, the sound and feel of the NV5S is absolutely incredible ❤

[@MerriamPianos]

Congrats on your NV5S! While I'm sorry to hear that you ran into some issues with your piano, I'm very glad to hear that your dealer and Kawai were on the ball with remedying the situation. That echoes our experiences with Kawai here in Canada. Their post-sale warranty support is excellent! :)

[@olegloza]

Dear Stu, thank you for your reviews! I actually improved my piano technique just by watching you play. Thanks again and best wishes!

[@jordanschwarz4759]

i wait no more. it has arrived.

[@patrickmolloy6994]

I've had the NV10 now for 9 months and I'm loving to play every day. You did't mention, but you can set the ambience of the speakers, so you can for example set it for an open room or perhaps against a wall. I have it set to the latter, and it's pretty much identical, to my ears, as a baby grand sound in the same position. A reasonable review , but I feel a bit NV5 based, because I'm NV10 biased no doubt! Meantime, I love the reviews. Keep them coming

[@brickmissing8295]

Agree. Stu clearly loves the NV5 but I find the NV10 action considerably more enjoyable to play - lighter, faster and more accurate. I will probably be getting an NV10 and adding a small subwoofer to fill-out the low end. Happy days.

[@scottryanjohnson5145]

how is the repetition rate on the NV10? and a "real" action throws the hammer in the first 1/8" of the key going down - do the optical sensors kick in at the top? Or something sadly deleteriously, lower down towards the bottom of the keybed?

[@patrickmolloy6994]

@@scottryanjohnson5145 it has all the subtlety of true hammer action. You play gently and soft, hard, slow or fast, it’s pretty incredible. I still play and enjoy every day. I’m not professional and I’ve never played a true grand piano, only uprights. Maybe a pro will better express a technical view, but for me, I can’t sense a difference

[@markfowlermusic]

@@scottryanjohnson5145 you won't find a faster/smoother repetition rate than the nv10, its faster and easier than any dp or upright and most grands over played also.

[@Rachman01]

I’ve recently had the pleasure of testing both side by side at full volume.. I walked in thinking I was going to be gravitating towards the NV10 but I was instead floored by the sensation and connection I got when I played the NV5.. I could not get myself to go play the 10 again.. The NV5 felt alive, intimate and direct.. The 10 felt great under my fingers but it left me wanting for more.. Hard to quantify or explain why but my money is going towards the 5 this Christmas.. Cheers! 😁

[@benjaminsmith2287]

Kawai nailed it with the NV5. The NV10 is very good, but the NV5 sounds more authentic with only a hint of a digital sound. It's arguably the least digital sounding digital piano on the market (that's not a virtual piano).

[@thegood9]

This is what i'm thinking too. I need to replace my wonderful 7'6" grand, but, just haven't been able to pull the trigger on anything I could trust yet...but, I'm wondering if Kawai will upgrade the system on the Nv10 to make it better. The grand action is important...

[@Playingbyear]

@@thegood9 perhaps they’ll introduce an nv10 with a soundboard?

[@spacedoodle6989]

They need to make an NV5 with grand action. That is the piano I would buy. Question, does anyone know if the Avantgrand series also uses modelling and a soundboard speaker?

[@scdobserver835]

Ooo. I'm going to love this. Thanks for doing this comparison!

[@samwang5831]

Excellent review as always. For someone who practices on an upright through the years, he /she is used to hearing the sound coming directly from the cabinet directly in front of him/her. And so here NV5 has an edge. There is one caveat though, an upright cannot match the speed of a grand on playing trills. It is due to the way the actions are designed. Digital pianos do not have such an issue with this but these are hybrids with traditional actions. It may not be important to most people but do try it out before commiting big dollars.

[@namakudamono]

Excellent comparison Stu. Beautiful playing too - very well done!

[@RenyPerucchi]

The best reviews come from those who know how to play well. Congrats

[@nymbusDeveloper86]

I agree with you.

[@JoeLinux2000]

I like the soundboard concept of the NV5. It sounds great. I like the grand style action of the NV10. I'm thinking the next NV10 will have a sound board. The fact that the NV10 is optical is a big plus. All that said, I think I'm more of a customer for the CA series of instruments. I have to go into a showroom to hear these pianos for myself. Just listening on my computer, I'm partial to the sound quality of the NV5. I'm positive the NV10 is going to be improved in the not too distant future. There was someone who was going to get a great deal on an NV10, and I think that's the reason. They want to move out the original NV10 before the NV10sb is released. The sound board will be in the pedal unit which may end up being a bit wider than the present model.

[@marcusvaldes]

I don't think so. If you add a soundboard the size gets MUCH bigger. My .02 cents. I've got a potential deal on an NV10, but like you am now leaning for a CA series. I own a grand piano (Kawai RX-5). Not sure I need two.

[@namakudamono]

"The fact that the NV10 is optical is a big plus." Both instruments use optical sensors on the keyboard action.

[@JoeLinux2000]

@@namakudamono, Thanks Stu didn't tell us that. He only mentioned the NV10. What parts are carbon fiber in the action?

[@JoeLinux2000]

@@marcusvaldes I think it could have two sound boards. One on the back of the action box, and one on the back of the pedal box. The sound boards can be engineered to be smaller than on a conventional piano. Think of a cello or harp. Maybe the pedal box could have fore and aft soundboards. But I don't feel putting a conventional action into a digital is necessarily the best approach. I'm confident that a great playing modern action can be created.

[@dansickles8983]

I think the next grand action with soundboard will be a new model NV-15/20. To get the same or more area as the NV5 soundboard in a grand form (soundboard facing down) would require it to be at least petite grand size, maybe larger. While it would sound great, the sound would still have the distance and dispersion that Stu mentioned. They could add additional nearfield speakers to give more intimacy but it will not sound the same the NV5. It will, I'm sure, sound great in its own way. But for budget, space and overall musicality, the NV5 has clearly hit a sweet spot. I hope to play one soon (dealer here in Vegas doesn't carry anything higher than a CA59 most of the time). I'll bet Onkyo and Kawai know an awful lot about grand shaped soundboard transducers by now. Bring it on.

[@willrobison17]

Can you please do a side by side comparison of the NV5 with a K300 Aures? I'm really curious how the strings/no-strings compare to each other. Thanks! Love the videos.

[@DonswatchingtheTube]

They should introduce the sound board to the NV10

[@titob.yotokojr.9337]

The difference of where the sound comes from is the difference between where the sound comes from on an upright piano versus the concert grand. If you are a piano student in a conservatory, then the NV10 will prepare you better for a performance on a concert grand, sound, action and all.

[@markandrewpiano]

Thanks for sharing this. Great video as usual and great playing!

[@MerriamPianos]

You're very welcome! Thank you so much for the kind words! We appreciate it. :)

[@scar80]

Just bought the NV5 I'm waiting to receive it

[@jjsc3334]

nice review, but decide to buy MP11SE for sure.

[@calebmeyer8098]

Hey Stu, thanks for this comparison video, I was hoping this would come soon as soon as I saw your NV5 video. 2 quick questions: How do I find a shop where I can try these out in the Kansas City, Missouri area? I went on Kawai's website and they recommended Schmitt Music in Overland Park, but I searched that store's website and couldn't find anything. Second and more importantly: How many years do I need to practice to be able to improvise as well as you? Your skill is incredible. I'm barely on Faber's 3a book right now, but I am practicing daily!

[@andreyarmenioatienza1956]

I've been waiting for this

[@maulcs]

Any plan to review the Casio GP-310 or GP-510? I'm really interested in that action.

[@angeltan3622]

Hello Stu, do you find NV5 the keys weigh a bit heavy? Do you off hand know the key weights for a middle C on the NV5? Do you think for an upright piano 72g key weights about right? Would you still recommend regulating the keys although you won’t need to have it tuned? Thank you💕💕💕 for making another spectacular video.

[@tyrvintersol916]

On my NV5, the middle C starts moving around 75g and is pulled down at ~83g.

[@lialim]

@@tyrvintersol916 That is heavy. 50 to 72 should be the correct weight. No wonder my hands are hurting now :-(

[@tyrvintersol916]

@@lialim tbh: Most digital actions (especially in the top line range) have a more or less heavier action as they should be.

[@angeltan3622]

I got injured from playing on NV5. Left hand inflamed tendon. I have to have Cortisone shot.

[@Erosis]

Hope you can try out the NV10S!

[@musicfromfriends]

I would love a Controller Version of the nv10 - like the vpc1 ❤

[@MerriamPianos]

That would be quite cool! Perhaps, we will see something like that from Kawai down the road. :)

[@andronikyegiazaryan3546]

Very good playing !!

[@PianoUniverse]

Any comparisons between NV5 and N1X?

[@abz124816]

Excellent video in all ways

[@GodardScientific]

you should use the roland CS-10EM bineural microphones for these head to head tests so we get an idea of the sound from the player's perspective.

[@MerriamPianos]

Thanks for the suggestion! I'll be sure to pass it along to our production team. All the best!

[@MrKlawUK]

Any update with the NV10s / NV5s - in particular the updated sound

[@peteypablo2081]

Ok awesome but now please share how you became such an amazing pianist? ;)

[@sailorickm]

Stu, with regards to the sensation of a heavier action at low volumes, which you've been mentioning in other more recent reviews, does selecting a lighter velocity / touch curve not compensate for this?

[@Tidus3960]

As a former owner of a Yamaha U1 upright, I always had an issue with digital pianos for the fact they lack the tactile feeling of an acoustic. I now play on a Yamaha N1X and it also lacks that tactile response. I have to crank up the volume rather significantly to feel some form of vibration but even then it's just not the same. The soundboard on the NV5 should go some way in mitigating that.

[@scdobserver835]

Apparently the vibration is simulated. It's quite pleasing and realistic. I tried the Nv10 but not the NV5 as it was not available in the showroom and then the lockdown happened...

[@olegloza]

Yamaha N2 and N3 have this function. The vibration imitation could be switched on and off.

[@PavlenkoM]

Thank you!

[@MerriamPianos]

You're very welcome! :)

[@MrMacFred]

NV10 arrived yesterday 🎼🤓🤓

[@enriqueali]

Question : could either of these actions be regulated (would they even need to be?) by a competent piano technician?

[@titob.yotokojr.9337]

I believe the sound of the NV10 behaves exactly like a concert grand because in concert grands the strings are placed away from the player. Whereas the strings in uprights are placed closer to the player's face/ears.

[@chanyou9567]

Does the actions/ touch expected to require regular regulation like normal acoustic piano?

[@pixarlyVII]

I'm from València, Spain. I've tried both and personally, I think that the NV10s is too far away in terms of how your feel the sound and piano vibrations of how a grand piano feels. On the other hand, the NV5s, wich I compared vs a Kawai 500, feels much more closer to an upright piano. I could feel the reverberation of the "strings" and the "harp" of the piano. I suppose it's because the back panel. Personally, I recommend to buy the NV5s if you are buying an electric piano to play the piano at any time of the day. If you are aiming for the NV10s because an acoustic grand piano is out of your budget, I recommend to save some more money and buy a 150-170 cm grand piano or buy the NV5s. The feel os exactly the same, but the sound is more polished and warmer in the NV5s.

[@MerriamPianos]

Thanks for sharing your thoughts! The NV5S is an awesome instrument and the added warmth and depth that the TwinDrive Soundboard System adds is quite meaningful. With that said, the NV10S has a fantastic touch. There are many acoustic grand pianos available at the same price as the NV10S or less. The NV10S is designed for players that need a digital piano due to space or noise constraints, but are looking for the best possible grand piano touch.

[@mickandrews9458]

This is very interesting. We have a digital piano with a soundboard against one that doesn't, in the same range from the same manufacturer. Does this imply Kawai is not convinced about the soundboard approach I wonder, or that they tried a soundboard approach with a prototype NV10 and it didn't work very well in the grand configuration? I note that the Roland LX700 range does not have a soundboard but the Yamaha NX3 (albeit a grand) does have what it calls a 'a flat-panel Soundboard Resonator', but this does not seem to be doing quite the same thing as the Kawai NV5 soundboard. In your experience of having played the various top of the range digital pianos, do you think the NV5 with its soundboard is giving an aural experience that is closer to an acoustic, such that in a blind test, playing a good mid range acoustic v the NV5, you might find it difficult to tell the difference, or is that still a long way off? As always, thanks for this and your other Kawai NV and Roland LX700 range reviews.

[@MerriamPianos]

Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! You're very welcome! As always, thank you for tuning in! :) I am not sure exactly why Kawai has not opted to use their soundboard system in the NV10S. But, with that said, the speaker system is quite sophisticated and really does provide a wonderful sonic experience. However, on that note, many customers actually prefer the NV5S over the NV10S sonically because of the extra warmth/nuance they feel they get from the soundboard system. Of course, this is all a matter of personal preference and subjectivity. For me, the NV5S performs quite well against low and lower-mid level acoustic pianos. But, again, it really is a matter of preference. :)

[@mickandrews9458]

@@MerriamPianos Thanks for the reply. So C Bechstein, Bluthner, Schimmel, Steingraeber & Söhne etc. can rest easy, for now at least! My piano tuner played an NV10S and wasn't that impressed by its sound, so given I am considering an NV5S to replace my acoustic (owing to a hearing sensitivity condition) it is good to know that many of your customers prefer this over the NV10S.

[@eric.esoteric]

How does it compare to the yamaha hybrid?

[@KeepingOnTheWatch]

I understand it might not be very popular but... can the NV5 be offered in oak finish?

[@paulblack5025]

Does the NV hammers hitting still feel real at low volume ? Ive tried a hybrid Casio & the action is nice at medium or high volume but at low volume feels fake / doesn’t match! “The hammers is too hard or have too much swing”

[@csu111]

Does the NV5 have the same issues as upright acoustics regarding playing soft passages or rapidly playing single notes?

[@george0t]

I have a question. Would a less "authentic" action, such as the one found on the CA99 or the Casio GP-510 be more durable and maintenance-free compared to the one on the NV5?

[@MerriamPianos]

Hi there! While the Millennium III Hybrid Actions on the NV5S and NV10S are extremely durable and reliable. They will eventually require some maintenance and regulation depending on the environment, amount of use, and preferences of the player. From that perspective, the CA99 and GP510 actions would require less maintenance. The only thing that may eventually require replacement are the sensors, which can wear out from use over time (usually many years of heavy play though).

[@elenalosseva4912]

What's the "touch curve" mentioned towards of the video? How do you configure this setting?

[@datAero]

put a grand action in the NV5's cabinet, make it thicker doesnt matter, keep the soundboard, and we got a market dominating product

[@MerriamPianos]

A soundboard system and grand piano action would certainly be an attractive offering. Perhaps, we'll see that technology implemented in the next version of the NV10S.

[@chriswarren3449]

Hi - how does the NV5 cope with repeated note legato? This has always been a problem with acoustic uprights for me.

[@seheyt]

Repeated note... Legato? Do you mean using the sustain pedal? If so, what problems are referring tot?

[@marcusvaldes]

This is the video I have been waiting for. Ugh, this or CA series and save some $$$? I wish some of these reviewers would pick a side. Which one would you buy and why? Only problem with reviews from stores. But I do appreciate what you have done here.

[@MerriamPianos]

Marcus Valdes, thanks for the comments. I’ve been pretty unambiguous on my personal preference - if you can afford it I think the NV5 is the best digital I’ve ever played and go buy it 👍 - Stu

[@marcusvaldes]

@@MerriamPianos That's what I'm talking about haha. My only twist is that I have an opportunity to get an NV10 for $7200 out the door vs. $6000-ish for the NV5. So is the NV10 really more "premium" from the action standpoint. I need to go try the NV5 this week. The other twist is I own an RX-5 so this is a quiet "practice" piano. So should I just pick up the CA49? Thanks Stu. Your reviews are always my favorite.

[@marcusvaldes]

Oh and to be honest, I left that first comment before I had gotten to the end of the video!!

[@blueberrytea8312]

Marcus Valdes Where can you get the NV5 for $6000-ish?

[@marcusvaldes]

@@blueberrytea8312 I could be completely off on this. Is that not the correct price range? More than that is nuts in my book. See link below $6200 right?

[@suzanneseven7797]

Why is a music store allowing ads on their reviews?

[@Gustavo-x8f3q]

Because they are clowns.

[@Playingbyear]

I think Stu prefers the NV5 🤭

[@adhdaf]

off-topic.. but I'm dying over here trying to work out the chord structure @14:26.. anyone wanna drop the answer along with your cashapp? literally not even kidding lol

[@MerriamPianos]

Hi James! Brent from Merriam Music here! Thanks for tuning in! Perhaps, one of our community members will be able to assist. :)

[@seheyt]

That’s an F dom voiced with a F-C-A down low, the a-d-e flat-g in the middle (LH) and a Gmaj upperstructure voicing (RH)

[@malthus101]

You know they are going to bring out an NV20 with the soundboard from the NV5, all those ghastly speakers hidden away somehow... and all those who bought the NV10 are all going to have buyers remorse.. you just know it...

[@tomasitto299]

Nothing can compare to a truly acoustic instrument. You will never feel the amazingness of hammer striking a string on this.

[@mrteera88]

🤩

[@portov_trov]

paul mccartney

[@MerriamPianos]

A true legend! :)

[@andrejzatkalik]

It seems that NV10 has way more better dynamic control through his grand piano action.

[@SoniaEljerman-ry2lx]

Op

[@MerriamPianos]

Thanks for tuning in!

[@scottryanjohnson5145]

why can't someone actually demonstrate classical style music that is most technically demanding? Such as repeated notes, for one thing? Piano lounge jazz stylings are NOT helpful. maybe an update? how is the repetition rate on the NV10? and a "real" action throws the hammer in the first 1/8" of the key going down - do the optical sensors kick in at the top? Or something sadly deleteriously, lower down towards the bottom of the keybed? The "sound" engines are no better than what Modartt has created with it's Pianoteq Acoustic modelled software - it's all about the mechanics, could you update things with this information? Thanks!

[@MerriamPianos]

Hey Scott - sometimes hard to get it all in one package...I'm an OK classical pianist, but I don't really have the chops up to a high level these days. I'll take "lounge jazz stylings" as a compliment :p There are tons of awesome classical pianists out there, but in general, very few of them have technical knowledge of the industry let alone the pianos themselves. So we try and delivery a blend of musical context and technical knowhow in a way that helps most people. HOWEVER, one thing we are doing is starting to invite some outside musicians in to give playing examples while I can still contribute some of the more technical information. To your questions about the sensors, the hammers entire movement is tracked, and the instrument produces damper resonance at the appropriate point in the key-dip as well. To your point, the technology here isn't anything more sophisticated than Pianoteq / Moddart. However...for most people who aren't familiar with DAW environments (the majority of pianists I suspect), who are looking for an instrument to feel/sound/look good, I still contend that these instruments deliver a great value package.

[@emilawad7074]

Terrible comparison

[@MerriamPianos]

We're sorry to hear that you didn't enjoy the comparison. We're always open to feedback. Was there anything in particular you didn't like about it?

[@emilawad7074]

@@MerriamPianos I find too much talk and too little sound comparison. The idea of a sound comparison is to hear each piano one after the other; the person presenting speaks for several minutes in between the Yamaha and the Kawai. I recommend that all the verbal comparisons are done together and the sound comparison are done one after the other, even one could benefit from a sample of the highs in one and the other, the middle register, and lower register, one immediately after the other. Then the decay time in each, in each register; then a short musical passage in each. Also there are several questions, such as, if one preses very softly as in a piano without creating sound, can the piano make the harmonics resonate by playing sympathetic tones? There many pieces that required such technique, and it would affect very much the playing with a pressed chord or with the pedal on. Regards

[@seheyt]

⁠​⁠@@emilawad7074There is no Yamaha. The more detailed questions about resonance modeling are answered in the individual reviews of the instruments. Also, sometimes it helps to view a few reviews in a series because Stu does tend to go into substantially more detail on a particular topic every once in a while. Which is great, because you wouldn’t want to listen to the same explanation over and over in every video

[@seheyt]

@@emilawad7074Regardless I believe the feedback about doing short passages back to back has been received, and I’ve seen many later comparison videos from Merriam which do take that approach