New Roland V-Stage vs Nord vs Yamaha vs Korg! - Blindfold Stage Piano Shootout

[@AndertonsKeyboardDept]

Check out our full deep dive on the new Roland V-Stage | kzbin.info/www/bejne/inPbY6GHrdGUmdE

[@hificomics]

On the Yamaha the display showed that he was playing the CFX grand. Yamaha just released a new OS update version 2.0 this week for this CP series that includes the newer CFX2, which to my ears sounds even better :)

[@1881Gordon]

You have very keen eyes man! 😊

[@hificomics]

@@1881Gordon Haha, thanks! Watching on a large screen so can catch lots of things. Already annoyed at 6:15 that the "rotary" LEDs on the far left side of the Organ section on the Roland (under the master volume knob) are flashing even though the Organ section is turned off! :)

[@andrelindenau3856]

@@hificomicsSherlock Holmes is still alive, I believe.

[@HrWisch]

I still can't get over the fact that Yamaha crippled the CP88 in terms of string resonance. I like the sounds, I love the hands-on approach with those old school switches. It's a great instrument to perform live. But it always feels like Yamaha limited it on purpose. But the same goes for the V Stage. Why can't we have a stage piano with the PHA50 action and Roland's latest piano modelling engine? In terms of sound and action, the V Stage would be a step back from my FP-90X. It's time for an RD-2000 successor with the PHA50 action, both (!) piano modelling engines (including all models) and all the other cool features of the V Stage.

[@nickwebb9290]

Hey that’s interesting, thanks for the info 👍

[@WoodyPianoShack]

cannot believe it is 4 years since we had the pleasure of hearing dan on the channel

[@kokostudioku]

The TOP 2 for me : - Nord (moat realistic, widest dynamic range) - Yamaha (superb tone clarity)

[@VadimShinnik]

@@kokostudioku I wonder if you managed to play on Viscount Legend 70s? I won’t say anything on my own, I’ll say what was said to me by those who have been playing on the Nord Stage for many years, this is about musicians who give concerts, tours, etc. The best piano sound they've ever encountered in non-acoustic instruments Legend '70s. We are talking about "American Grand" from the A.PIANO module. Many people also noted that when playing on Nord in the upper register there is a feeling of glass sound, glassy, ​​sharp... But Nord suits everyone, for several reasons: There is always a Nord in the rider if you have to play in another country and there is no way to take your own instrument. Another reason, we just got used to the Nord over the years, it works well, power horse.

[@jp4751]

Interesting, I listened to number 2,3, and 4 without looking at the screen. When the CP came on I thought it sounded pretty smooth and when the Roland came on it also sounded good but not quite a smooth and the Nord sounded good but not quite as open. Interesting enough I agree with Dan that when did the play bqck, the Korg jumped up in score for me too. It actually sounded a lot better. I didn't feel that it sounded bad to begin with but it sounded a lot better on playback.

[@cirisirpula152]

The Korg Playstation 😂

[@VadimShinnik]

It's old joke 🙂

[@chuxmyk]

It’s funny joke 😂

[@VadimShinnik]

@@chuxmyk 😉👌🏼

[@tommyg5095]

The joke's on us..😮😅

[@marc_sarria]

😂😂😂

[@howardbthyname713]

The Nord Reigns!

[@seanmichaels718]

Also next time use an old keyboard as a wild card like a fantom88 or a motif to see the outcome

[@danyldaniel834]

Thanks for updating this relevant topic.

[@Sportsfan3811]

Bring in Mike !!!

[@bloemundude]

I second, third, and fourth this comment. It's not a real comparison video without Mike!!

[@ldifalco2010]

It’s always about action and sound and of course for the most part, that’s what it should be about. I’m 69 years old and have been hauling keyboards to gigs for 55 years and I have the back to prove it. There is one reason why I am sticking with my Nord Stage 3 HP76. Itweighs just 27 pounds. Even with its inferior action to the NS4, it’s still one of the lightest keyboards with piano action out there. To many older players, weight is key.

[@matzer8846]

TOP of the on stage art: great keyboards ... great demo

[@bettsdn]

Look I'm just saying doing this blindfolded is a crazy flex from Dan

[@b00ts4ndc4ts]

Fair play with the blindfold. Don't beat yourself up mate you did better than I ever could.

[@GizzyDillespee]

I can't negatively judge anyone's playing while they're blindfolded.

[@ext3rn734]

Omg that PS5 joke caught me off-guard 😂

[@michaelekwulugo8659]

Missed D Bingers, welcome back brother 👊🏾 🔥

[@LuisShand]

Love these videos!

[@sandscribbler]

I can only aspire to the type of playing Dan does - and that's when he's wearing a blindfold. Loved the video!

[@zoomzoom3950]

Ordered my Korg Grandstage X as soon as possible after NAMM 2024 - it arrived in September, and I'm very pleased with it. Sound, feel, control, options,...does everything I need for a piano focused instrument. Sounds great to me.

[@BongoBaggins]

It's BEAUTIFUL.

[@andertonsfan3144]

Methinks Jack is having a jest with us here, I know for a fact that Jack and Bingerz spent at least 10 months last year touring with James Arthur....

[@midinotes]

Gotta love the Nord piano, the V piano just not my thing… it sounds synthetic. From a very happy Nord Stage owner 😊

[@ivance1985]

This video is so good! Thank you Andertons!

[@richardpenrose1968]

The original CFX is possibly my least favourite piano sound on the CP88. The newly released OS 2.0 CFX2 is a noticeable step up from the original. The Hamburg is also an improvement over the original CFX. Also, the new CP88 OS 2.0 has added an adjustable damper resonance which improves it further. Regarding action, the CP88 feels closer to both the Kawai and Yamaha acoustic uprights I have in my teaching room than the Nord Stage when I compared them.

[@mystscot9814]

Jack's back!!

[@stenaldomehilli8809]

This is from before watching! Damn, I still watch those videos from 4 years ago. They inspire me! Dan, It's great to listen to you again! Edit: After watching the video, there’s one thing that moves me soundwise. Korg is replicating a grand better than everything else except for Nord, which of course has a reputation for it. But since the years of those videos Dan made here on the channel, I don’t think Nord has brought anything new in terms of Grand piano sounds. They have released 3 new keyboards since then considering the newly released Nord Piano 6 as well. despite appreciating the work you do no matter what, I would like to suggest that you keep your videos as natural as always, and that the playing part remains long and natural as once upon a time. Thank you and keep it up!

[@filip5150]

He’s back 💪🏻

[@JCjrise78592]

Thank you for this blind tasting . I also found the sound of Nord Stage the best. Fuller and warmer.👍

[@clarenceoveur9497]

Surprisingly, I found myself strongly preferring the sound of the Korg, it wasn’t even a close call. The Nord comes in second for me, while the Yamaha and Roland feel overly bright, way too much top end, and "in your face," which I find quite off-putting.

[@JeffPalmer83]

Agreed--I think a lot of pro players and/or product demonstrators are more used to the piano sounds of other brands due to legacy Korg products having subpar pianos, but that really hasn't been the case in a long time (really ever since Kronos launched with the original SGX-1 engine, now even surpassed with SGX-2). Personally, I think Roland has the worst pianos, and the Nords sound too "wooden" to me and lack some of the brilliance I like. The Yamaha is good, but I'd take that Grandstage X in a heartbeat here.

[@BongoBaggins]

The Korg cuddles your ears

[@DigitalRackGear]

I'm quite stunned at how different all these sound - even through my laptop speakers.

[@meldmagic]

🤠 Also compare with Kurzweil.

[@jfcleanup]

Perhaps pair the Nord sound with the Yamaha action ? Nord stage still has a Fatar action. Never been a fan of that (believe me, I really tried so many times; Tp40, TP100, TP40W , TP110, TP400W…always got back to Roland / Yamaha / kawai actions). Sure it is very playable and sounds are well adjusted to the action. But pure for AP presets Kawai and higher end Roland and Yamaha actions simply feel more solid and long lasting. Nord already has used Kawai RH-III in the grand, perhaps a Stage 5 could have the latest revision of that Kawai keybed in the future …

[@FerIsella]

go Nord (imagine the Nord Grand 2 or Nord Piano 6 😍)

[@david_davinci]

I'll probably keep my YC88 but the new Nord Grand II is really calling to me!

[@williampaivaoficial]

I have a suggestion: call the winners in reverse order is ok, but it would be funnier if you call the winners from 3rd to the 1st. That's because you would have two keyboards fighting for the 1st place but one of them would jump straight to the last place as you announce the winner!

[@neil.dickinson]

Fantastic video. I'm a decent keys player but Dan's playing is on another level. Anyone got any resources they can point me to in order to learn Dan's style of playing? (I appreciate that he's hugely talented and that you can't just learn to play like him without natural talent but it's the style in which he plays which really excites me)

[@davidkyle2073]

Start by studying the published works of David Foster, Dave Gruisin, Giovanni Allevi, Phillip Aeberg, Lyle Mays, and the goat, Keith Jarret’s Koln Concert.

[@neil.dickinson]

@@davidkyle2073Thanks, I’ll check them out 🎹

[@samprock]

Nord stays most elegant and something I would keep in my bedroom studio. Though Nordland sound good + zen-cores but seem a bit ugly, no?

[@fragu123]

Great stuff...!

[@agartthamishkan2054]

do it again with Viscount Legend One please :)

[@incenseandpeppermints4625]

I think the Nord nicely emphasizes the middle sustained warmth of the piano tone best, even though the decay might be a little quicker than the Yamaha or Roland. I play a Montage so I know the CFX sound well and find it has a nasal quality to it that I do not like. I tend to use the S700 piano over the CFX, despite the age of that sample library.

[@henrycstjamesjr8k]

The Korg Grand Stage X and the new V Stage sounds better than the other 2

[@HermesAndroidProject]

The Nord sounds like an actual piano because of the algorithm that's specialised to mimic the piano action, which makes it feel more natural. They are all great, but it's just that.

[@howardjones543]

No mention of price, considering some are double the price of others here?

[@tonylancer7367]

Decided to also just listen to this without watching but watch the results, so I wrote the below: Keyboard 1: Sounds like a good grand piano like the character, more laid back (6/10) Keyboard 2: Is this a Roland? More "live". More in your face Keyboard 3: Also like it, very mix ready, not too much bottom end. (Easier to play, throw is shorter, 7/10), forward. Keyboard 4: Character piano, sounds nice, but not for live, fuller sound? (The Winner?) Nord? 9/10. Nice mix, balanced EDIT: I agree, at this point, you are really splitting hairs, but the standout ones were keyboard 4 (Nord Stage), liked the fullness of the piano sound. Keyboard 1 (Korg Grandstage) has a wonderful grand piano sound, very good for a solo piano record. As always, the Yamaha and Roland have a very "live" mix sound to easily cut through the mix.

[@andreievkalupniek5717]

I agree with the scores. I have the CP88 and the Nord Stage 4 and I prefer the Nord - the reverb and effects are way better on the Nord. I played the new Korg and it is really nice and this is the best Korg piano to date - and I like it better than Roland, but the Nord still beats it. My advice to Yamaha is get nicer effects, specially reverb and delay and add string resonance, pedal resonance and the brightness modes the Nord has.

[@jjared.m]

Idk if it was just me and I'm no pro But I found the Roland the cleanest and the most satisfying to my ears

[@nathanaelvalville9191]

When u get to the big guys ( Roland, Yamaha, Korg, Nord....) it's always going to be a matter of preference

[@axs203]

These comparison videos are helpful. I think you should get some more players in to try the same test. It can be subjective depending on the person. Personally I liked the Nord sound. It's very close though.

[@frankhugh2052]

Should have listened using blindfold too. Changing after the event 😂

[@mrdyer1006]

only 1 of these keyboards is over 5 grand !

[@reltius2993]

I agree Nord White Grand is impossible to beat

[@lhbalesjr4670]

Great comparison. If someone has already asked, I apologize but what is the song you are playing? I would love to hear the entire song. I only play by ear and I've been listening over and over trying to learn what was played, but I can't find anything that suggests what the song is. Thanks

[@richardalldredge9129]

It may be a bit controversial… but I liked the more natural sound of the Roland. I can actually hear the resonance and what not that they’ve modeled in there. It is so unique and gives it a realistic characteristic over the samples…

[@pianomikeoct]

Throw a Kawai in there!

[@brymills]

They don’t stock them.

[@brunopereira3640]

Nord Stage 4

[@mansuydenis52]

I love the Nord, for me it's the best, un petit français qui adore les Nord il n'y a pas photo c'est vraiment le Meilleur

[@RDMusic504]

"it feels and sounds the best, felt at home with it." - Nord just great with it's acoustic pianos.

[@paulmapp8306]

Interesting. Much as I like the sound - I just cant get on with Nord Keybeds.... for me there the worst feeling of the options. Live Im happy with my RD2000 (not quite the same I know, and the way I use it the new stage is a step back though wont be for everyone) as that "eq,d" sound works - and at home I use Pianoteq or other VSTs using the RD as the master keyboard. I guess much of this is down to what your used to, or a personal preference. If live playing (and using the bed to trigger other sound modules) wasnt important and was looking for a pure home sound it would be the Kawai MP11se. If I was looking for just a single stage board with pianos, EPs and organs it would probably be the Yamaha.

[@jenniferbard623]

I’ve often felt keyboards with built in speakers have a better feel due to the vibrations felt in the action. I’m curious, as to how of those may have ranked?

[@johnkuckowicz781]

I played that same Nord today and, though I really want to love it, the keyed feels hard when it hits bottom and the sound is a bit muddy on that default Grand. But, if the action doesn't bother you, it's a pretty amazing machine for live performance, but it's very pricey. For me, the action is a total deal breaker and the Yamaha Montage that was right next to it felt very piano like in feel and response and it's over a grand less in price.

[@reltius2993]

Curious if Dan could rank the Nord Stage 4/Piano 5/Grand 2

[@jamiepastman5594]

thanks for this. i’m a pro keyboard player. i’ve wanted to like the Nord for years now, but the action feels like hitting a hard tabletop to me, I could never learn to like it even when i wanted to (i love the controllers on it). The Roland (as usual) sounds inferior to the others. I’ve been touring with Kronos for many years, and still can’t find something i like better, but these things are subjective of course

[@jumpingman8160]

Forgot the Kurzweil

[@dmoss1285]

no matter who chooses what, in this day and age this type of shootout is so subjective. Everynone has a preference to sound and how something feels. You could do this identical test with 20 different people and come up with all kinds of results. As far as the Nord, it does sound very good but I would have to disagree that its not EQd. It sounds heavily EQd to me especially in the bottom end. They all sound good IMO. I quite like the Korg actually.

[@paulmapp8306]

Agreed. I cant stand the feel of the nord keybeds either. I love the Rolands (though the stage is teh PHa4 not the PHa50 - so its a step back from the fantom 8 and RD2000). The RD does suit how I play live too (using external sound sources as well as its stand alone) but if I was choosing a single board just for pianos/EPs/Organs Ifd probably go for the yam. To me its got the second best keybed after the Rolands and the second best (natural) sound behind the Nord - I just think the yam is the best compromise between sound and feel.

[@NyneForte]

No mike patrick?

[@dmajorx]

The Korg Grandstage Sounded best to my preference of piano sound with the Yamaha almost tied for #1. Then the Nord Stage 4 and lastly the Roland. I dont like that they compared the first patch because both the Nord and Korg have better pianos loaded than the first sound in the category. Feel I have played all of these except for the new Roland. Nord has the best action because it’s the Kawai action which is one of the industry’s best. Then Yamaha CP and possibly Rolands because Korg is stuck on the RH3 for 20 years with little improvement.

[@algarvemike]

Where’s the Yamaha YC88?

[@Mikomanus]

NS4 is deeeep.

[@seanmichaels718]

Why not stack 2 at a time that would be a nice video 😮

[@BlackRootsAcademyOfSoul]

Nord... Any day 🙌🏿

[@bassmonk2920]

Is the Casio 7000 in this league....or Kawai

[@davidkyle2073]

KAwai has the best action. Casio 7000 no. I own both as well as the superior sounding Nord P5.

[@helbert_paulino]

It's incredible that Nord's philosophy that allows the user to run the piano sound in your old equipment. For me, it's still the better piano sound, the Roland is losing the war again :(

[@paulmapp8306]

Im not so sure. I went Roland (though not this one) as I felt the nords keybed was poor. The Yamaha and Rolands PHa50 (not the POHa4 here) was just so much better. Granted the sound of the nord is more realistic - but I go with feel over sound all the time. I can always run a VST if I have to for the sound and there always better than anything in a stand alone product - and generally the sounds of any of them are fine for live (and the audience doesnt care).

[@EzraBufford]

As much as I hate the Norg, I must admit they MASTERED the grand piano this time! around!

[@sundevil98]

Norg = Nord or Korg?

[@UrbanGarden-rf5op]

Nord😎 ✌✌

[@pneptun]

shooting from the hip here, before watching the video, but it's Dan so ... NORD WILL WIN perhaps? 🤣🤣🤣

[@checkbox1234]

wearing his specks with a blindfold on 🤣

[@jp4751]

The channel had him on vs Mike 2 years ago😂

[@55Sungkono]

I am sorry...the guys from the North is da best for me.

[@andersjeppsson8499]

Yep. Nord FTW

[@TitoVasquez]

No one really discussed price but I’m sure that’s gotta factor in. But it’s like pizza as well, people just will gravitate to one brand or sound just like people who prefer a Bosendorfer to a Steinway.

[@SurfingProphet]

I love THE SOUND of the Korg Grandstage X, but it certainly doesn't help that it has the same keybed as other cheaper Korgs. The RH3 Keyboard action is very good at price points below 1000 bucks, but I would have expected something more premium for the Grandstage. If I was to spend this kind of money on a keyboard, it would be the Nord Stage 4, which is also the only one of the lineup that I personally have played. (I am a Korg D1 owner, at the moment.)

[@amitev]

Which Korg pianos are under $1000 and have RH3 except D1, which is nothing more than a MIDI controller (with a few basic sounds)?

[@SurfingProphet]

@@amitev The C1, the Lp-380, and if I am not mistaken, the G1 as well. None of them have many functions, they all do basically the same things (kind of), but the piano sounds are quite OK. For someone who just wants to play piano, they are great.

[@tonylancer7367]

Right? There's a grand piano-y sound that is so character full, like you're about to record your own solo piano record. It's a really nice sound didn't expect to like it. I really wish that Korg would upgrade the D-1 and add some more features (USB Audio, some of the premium sounds from the Kronos/Nautilus) at the same price, it's such a nice board, but it feels like Korg is abandoning it like the Krome.

[@thisllub]

Nord an easy winner on sound. But the Yamaha is less than half the price. You would need a hearse to get to a gig with the Korg.

[@TheLambLive]

If you're going to charge over 3 grand for a keyboard, you bet I want Neurik jacks, I want 'rugged' usb sockets, I want an OLED screen,,,, I don't want to see cheap chinese parts,, but here we are.. 🙄

[@akibe7608]

Question: Let's just say Nord have, hands down, the best pianos in a hardware keyboard. What is preventing their competitor's from putting out equally good pianos? It's not as if Nord has some deeply guarded sampling secret no one else does. It's as if these companies are choosing to lag behind in quality.

[@zoomzoom3950]

🤣

[@DinoFancellu]

kawai

[@jameselias]

I used to be a huge Roland fan… but come on! The layout, the red case and red end blocks and “stage” in the name! Roland fired up the photocopiers didn’t they! Roland was also the only one that was a modelled piano and not sampled… IMO it’s the wrong way to do it, but just my opinion. It’s why I like the Nord more.

[@Bruce.-Wayne]

Completely agreed....I was hoping roland would go the Sampled way to compete, but they're not.....many people have issues with the "modeled" piano library....I'm just learning to get used to it and learning how to tweak around it...I have a Fantom 8, but I didn't get it for just piano sounds

[@tonylancer7367]

@@Bruce.-Wayne I think Roland's technology stack is limiting them, they could only release "new samples" for the RD-2000 (German Concert) and I don't even believe those were new samples, probably re-worked. Change is coming in slowly though, but it's still behind the likes of Korg, Yamaha and Nord, they seemed to have figured out the code (pun intended) a while ago.

[@jameselias]

@ They aren't sampled are they? They're modelled presets? Computer generated. Honestly - Roland (Korg and others) just aren't moving with the times. I dowloaded the Roland Earth Piano and its modelled junk. It sounds crap. I went back to Keyscape and Noire, both sampled and have some soul. Just like Nord. V-piano isn't new. Fantom is nice but has polyphony issues... and a lot of the patches are from the 90s! A lot of people are going DAW, MainStage, etc. Where's Rolands native instruments or Arturia competitor? Doesn't exist. They're stuck in the past. Where is a proper 2025 Roland MIDI controller? Take a Fantom and strip out the audio stuff and they're surely sitting on a success since Fantoms logic and MainStage integration is pretty good! Roland make great hardware - I just don't get some of the junk they release now. They should be the best given their legacy.

[@klaus1234567890]

Yamaha cp88 is much cheaper than all the others and it is 4 years old and getting still updates and new sounds from yamaha in 2025.

[@dannysairpids]

Is it just me or the Roland sounds thinner

[@Bigricky06]

Completely agree. Sounds like a cheaper keyboard. Not sure why but it did not sound the best in this video.

[@Dadee3]

​@@Bigricky06Roland has been using the same thin piano engine for years and years that's why.

[@Keyboardnut99]

Nord is the daddy

[@revotalizer7504]

dude,, the ps joke hjahhaa

[@dmitriysoldsarg2526]

Так и чё по итогу то?

[@beamannydanny]

Nord is the king for a reason guys

[@mylesandrews2019]

Today is a good day🥹🥹

[@DontareWilliamsMusic]

Nord, Yamaha, Korg, last Roland 🤮

[@jenkijazbeat]

Du racisme industriel à l'occidentale cest possible autrement 10 pour nord et 7 pour korg..!!? Sérieux...!!

[@ryanthepianoman27]

they all sound the same exept korg is worse

[@menarj]

Korg design team need to get fired. That thing is ugly as hell 😂

[@mgwhitney]

Do any of you GUYS (no women ever shown...?) read music? Can any of you guys play a real song? Never a music stand. Always improv drivel? Playing blindfolded should be no big deal. SO BORING!!!!!!

[@66guidos]

I think you might be on the wrong channel, mate.

[@TheLambLive]

Copyright claims get you shadowbanned.

[@0tf850]

He literally says it's not improv but rather a segment from a written passage he's trying to remember. Maybe recommend keyboard players you'd like to see instead?