It is so heartening to know that pianos have not stopped evolving. I hope that these innovations help pianos become better and cheaper so that perhaps they will attract more people to take up the piano. It would be wonderful if pianos could regain the popularity they had in America in the early 20th century.
Absolutely! Making the magic of learning/playing the piano more accessible is something we all hope to see. With digital piano technology evolving so quickly, I think it is a very plausible scenario. :)
I wanted to buy an acoustic piano but, due to my situations (living in an apartment), I had to go for the Kawai NV5s. I have to say that it meets all my expectations. It's impossible after owning this to go back to a digital keyboard. My teacher said that owning a high quality instrument does elevate one's commitment and enthusiasm, and he was so right.
That is awesome to hear! The NV5S and NV10S are amazing instruments that will outplay many acoustic pianos in my opinion. We're happy to hear that you've been enjoying your NV5S! :)
Very cool video. I am always interested in the speaker system of digital pianos. Notice how the speakers are not enclosed in individual boxes, so the sound leaks through the keys and everywhere, since the back wave is not contained in a box. That's the natural sound field of an acoustic piano, particularly an upright piano, as the soundboard projects sound as a dipole. The NV10S has 3 amplifiers driving 3 channels: left, right, and bottom. The left channel consists of 3 speaker drivers: two full range 10 cm (4 inch) woofers and a tweeter. The right channel also consists of 3 speaker drivers: two full range woofers and a tweeter. The bottom channel features a 20 cm (8 inches) woofer that I believe has no crossover and is allowed to play full range. Again, the purpose here is not just to produce low frequencies but mimic the sound field of an acoustic piano. The right and left channels don't have a crossover for the full range 10 cm (4 inch) woofers, in the style of home stereo systems, which is typical in digital piano speaker systems. The tweeters have a 2.2 uF (microfarad) capacitor crossover to protect them from the full range signal the amplifier sends to the little woofers. Since the tweeters are 12 ohms (the symbol that looks like a mushroom is the Greek letter omega and represents the impedance value, expressed in ohms) and the crossover is 2.2 uF, the frequencies will have a slope of -6 dB starting at 6, 028 Hz. This will basically play the subtle metallic sound of the strings when hit by the hammers in a fortissimo. Something interesting about the way the two 10 cm woofers are connected: they are wired in parallel, and since one is 24 ohms and the other one is 12 ohms, the total impedance is 1/R=1/24 + 1/12, which is 8 ohms (solving for R), so the amplifier sees a standard load of 8 ohms most of the time, as piano sounds are mostly below the 6 kHz mark. Notice that the 12-ohm woofers are on the back, more distant from the player. The fact that those back woofers are half the impedance of the front ones means they will play 3 decibels louder, which is slightly louder that the front woofers. I wonder if the impedance difference was chosen to reduce potential comb filtering issues, since both woofers are playing the same signal from the amplifier. If that was the case, then once again, good attention to detail by Kawai. A speaker system like this is actually fairly simple to implement but very effective, as it will create a fairly realistic piano sound field. It would be great to see Stu opening more digital pianos in the future and discussing details of how it's built inside.
Thanks for tuning in and writing in with your insights! It is a very good point regarding the speakers not being enclosed and simulating the natural sound field of an acoustic piano. I suppose manufacturers always have their reasonings behind specific design decisions, but simulating an acoustic piano as faithfully as possible is usually the goal of course. :)
@@MerriamPianos Thank you! Yes, this type of design is used very often in digital pianos. For example, the Roland GP-9 uses three 16 cm "spatial" speakers, and one of them is not in a box. It also uses two 8 cm center near-field speakers, which I believe are box-less as well. The Yamaha N1X three top speakers are mounted on the board without an enclosure (although the bottom speakers are in a box). All entry-level digital pianos by Yamaha, Roland, and Kawai have their speakers not being enclosed (ES120, P225, FP30X). The NV5S also has its 4 top speakers without an enclosure. However, ported design are also used. For example, Kawai ES520/920, Yamaha P525, Roland FP90X, and Yamaha DGX-670. An outlier in terms of speaker design is the Yamaha AvantGrand N3X, which has all its 12 speakers in a gigantic, sealed box made of MDF. I can't think of any other digital piano that uses exclusively a sealed box. I believe Yamaha was trying to go for sound accuracy with this design, but since the speaker box is somewhat away from the player (much like a grand piano soundboard is somewhat away from the player), they added a soundboard resonator. That model has two transducers under the top piece that runs along the piano and provides harmonic detail. It is similar to the job that tweeters do in the NV10S or the 8 cm near-field speakers placing the player in the Roland GP-9. Ultimately, all designs will produce a high-quality piano sound when they are well implemented.
@@Maxime-ho9iv Thank you. Yes, I think that is probably the case for the woofer, as it appears to have a separate audio out from the main board, which goes to some type of digital signal processing circuit. My guess is that the bass is probably boosted and/or the frequencies are attenuated before the woofer breakup point. The rationale for such guess is that, since the woofer is not in a separate box (none of the speaker in this piano are), the woofer doesn't have a proper way to play low frequencies naturally, therefore they need to be boosted. In addition, the woofer will have a cone breakup probably around 5 kHz or so, and those frequencies could be digitally eliminated. However, the main 4 speakers on top seem to be playing the full signal, and that should be fine when small full range drivers are playing a piano sound. If you run a piano sound on a spectrum frequency program, you can see it has almost no content after 6 kHz, you can literally eliminate frequencies digitally beyond that point and still hear the piano perfectly fine. Since the tweeters have a 2.2 uF capacitor only as a crossover, it means that they literally play almost nothing as far as piano sound goes. Only the metallic sound of the strings at a fortissimo are likely to activate the tweeters. They will be much more relevant when you play other voices/sounds, especially the built-in drums.
I wanted to go into a store blindfolded to find out if I could tell the difference between the ca79/99 and 701/901, and between the sk ex competition vs the regular sk ex. But I haven't had the opportunity to do so.
I think that a pianist could be fooled only under some limited circumstances. For example, if you listen to a digital piano from far away while soft, slow pieces are played. Speakers can do a fairly good job in that case. But when you sit at a piano, the sound field and complexity produced by the soundboard of an acoustic piano is hard to miss, particularly if you play an actual piece rather than just some random notes. Both the tone generator and speaker system of a digital/hybrid piano have technical limitations and are ultimately built to a budget. It is also important to know that the actual speaker system used in digital/hybrid pianos is not audiophile grade level, and this is true from all manufacturers (Yamaha, Kawai, Roland, Casio). The typical cost of digital/hybrid speaker drivers is around $5-$50 a piece. An actual audiophile speaker driver could cost almost $4,000 a piece, so a couple of those would be $8,000, which is already way beyond the budget of any digital piano speaker system design. True audiophile speakers can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, and even those don't sound like the real thing. There have been efforts to create speaker systems that could be indistinguishable from an actual concert grand, such as the Steinway-Lyngdorf Model D, which costs more than $250,000. Not sure if they would go as far as claiming that speaker actually sounds like a Steinway D. Digital pianos offer great value and can emulate the sound of a piano quite realistically in some high-end models, but I am sure they are still not comparable with a 9-foot concert grand piano.
@@Instrumental-Coversthat happened to me wile I was trying out a Yamaha C3X and a Roland GP609 a few years ago. Far away the Roland sounded quite nice, and if you weren't thinking you would think it was an actual acoustic piano🦊🎹🎶
@@MERCEDES-BENZS600GUARD_V12 Yes, that has happened to me too in digital piano stores at least twice. Even cheaper models can fool you when you are far away from them. But once you get close, you can hear the difference.
I have an NV5S (the upright one with the same principle) and it's amazing. I upgraded from Roland HP and it unlocked the whole new world for me. My playing instantly improved. Realistic action is extremely important.
The NV5S is a truly special instrument! Congratulations on acquiring one! I'm really glad to hear that you are happy with what it has to offer. I agree! The Millennium III action is exceptional. :)
Thank you so much for this video. Whoever is in Australia and thinking about this model, be careful with how the instrument is set up. The damper pedal will have issues if not installed by the instructions. My unit has other issue and Kawai Australia were of no help. Apparently, in Europe the support of this model is much better.
You're very welcome! I'm sorry to hear that you didn't have a good experience with the post-sale support from Kawai Australia. I can only attest to Kawai US' support and it is excellent. They are easy to work with and super fast when it comes to troubleshooting and resolving warranty related issues. :)
That's it, I guess it's hard to offer anything better regarding digital piano, maybe just different. The only thing I see as a potential improvement is adding very big e-book reader type screen in landscape A3 size, for reading sheet music. For me, that would be the ultimate hybrid experience 🙂 Thanks for this presentation!
Thanks for the excellent video, Stu! NV10S actually takes quite a lot of space (bc of the real keybed) and it makes sense to consider Aures or ATX4. I would also like to see a version with no sound, kinda VPC2 with this amazing keybed. NV MIDI :)
Hi! Brent here! Thanks for taking the time to tune in! It is certainly worth considering options like the GL10 ATX4 or GL30 Aures 2, but they are quite a bit more expensive. The fact that they also require tuning and additional maintenance may be a deterrent to some customers depending on their situation and needs. We have not heard any updates from our Kawai reps regarding a VPC1 successor (most logically the VPC2 I suppose!). We will certainly keep you posted if we get any updates.
@@MerriamPianos thanks for your comment, Brent! K-500 ATX4 will be very close in terms of pricing and footprint but you get in this case upright action instead of grand feel. I play mostly classical and the more I’m in, the greater difference I feel between acoustic and digital.
It is a larger instrument, but it is still more compact than a traditional acoustic piano. Thankfully, there are some excellent digital pianos on the market that have more streamlined cabinets for tighter spaces as well. :)
Thank you so much! Glad you enjoyed it! Dust and debris accumulation can be problematic for any sensor system ultimately, but it is fairly easily resolved by an experienced tech. :)
I tried a NV10s in Kawai store and it played really good. Very controllable and responsive. However on online forums there are complaints that the piano cannot play ppp when using midi (or less that midi velocity 20) which makes me hesitate. Do we have an update on that?
Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! Thanks for the question! The Novus NV10S is a stunning instrument with a fantastic touch and tone. I have not personally experienced any issues related to using the NV10S as a MIDI controller. I have found the optical sensor system to be extremely sensitive and accurate, and - if anything - capable of a truer dynamic representation than the vast majority of other sensor systems on the market.
You're very welcome! Thank you for tuning in! We have not received any updates from Kawai regarding an updated version of the NV10S. However, we will certainly keep you posted if we do. :)
Your video has definitely peaked my interest in revisiting the NV10s. The Kawai NV10s was first introduced in 2021. Since one of the advantages of a digital piano is less maintenance, how has the NV10s faired in this category?
The NV10S is an exceptional piano. It is certainly worth consideration if you are looking for the very best musical experience available from a digital piano. The NV10S will eventually require some regulation work throughout its life, but the use of carbon fibre componentry in the action gives it excellent durability. :)
I think the action of VPC1 is comparatively simple compared to an acoustic action. I also believe the VPC1 may have one of the longest key sticks on any digital piano controller.
Can you run something like Garritan CFX or Pianoteq through this and use the internal speakers. If you can do this, I would more seriously consider trading my grand in for the convenience of sound/volume adjustment.
Thanks for the question! Unfortunately, the NV10S does not have a USB audio interface that allows you to do this. You could technically still work out some type of chain to achieve the result you are outlining, but there may be some latency with the signal. There are some digital pianos that have a USB audio interface, which allow you to run VST plugins through the onboard speakers.
@@MerriamPianos I really feel like these companies are missing the mark here. At any rate, you are saying that if I utilized my own audio interface and adjusted the parameters to reduce latency, it is possible? You guys should do a video demonstrating! I think it would get a lot of love. Thanks!
@@Pianoman1488 Yes, both Novus Models has a 1(8" audio input. So, all you have to do is get the sound out of your audio interface and send it to the Novus to hear the sound from the Novus' speakers. Yes, a bit of latency, but with a good audio interface, proper settings and a fast computer it might be minimal.
The problem is not with the audio interface, as you could simply buy an external USB audio interface and feed its line out into the NV10S line in. The main problem you will find with Garritan CFX (which is true for many vst pianos) is that they are not specifically designed to produce a live piano tone, but they are meant for album recording or playback using studio monitors. Digital piano speakers are positioned in such a way that they emulate the sound field of an acoustic piano, and the piano sample needed for that task is essentially different from a piano sample used to play back piano using studio monitors or headphones. For a digital piano to sound live, you need a "rough" piano sample, as opposed to the soft, smooth, elegant piano sample from Garritan CFX, with its natural reverb built in and sort of distant microphone capture (even from the "close mic" setting). You need a piano sample that can be "in your face". Imagine placing your ear inside an actual grand piano belly: you get a very "in your face" (literally) type of sound, no room ambience, no reverb. Just a loud, clear piano tone. That is why digital piano samples tend to have a very strong fundamental, which may sound less refined when using headphones. It is a sample meant to come through the digital piano speakers and make a presence of "live" sound in the room, as opposed to a refined sample coming through a pair of studio monitors or headphones, where you can appreciate subtle details of the room it was recorded. In other words, I think you will be more satisfied with the Kawai NV10S built-in samples (which are great quality anyway, and probably better quality than most vst pianos) because they are specifically designed for that speaker system. Garritan CFX is a great piano vst for studio monitors or headphones.
Amazing deep dive of the action. We need more time with the onboard speakers tho. I have an idea for an interesting video: show the same play on both this NV10S and the real acoustic Shigeru Kawai SK-EX it is based on. We don’t expect it to sound as good, but it would so interesting to actually hear how close it can get.
Hi Stu - great video as always. One of the key questions I have relates to the volume level. On your NV10 video, you mentioned that the volume needed to be set at about 75% or the touch felt really heavy. I think kawai did something on the nv5s to address this. Have they done the same on the nv10s?
Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! Thanks for the question! They have made some adjustments to the NV10S' speaker system and overall tone, which helps solve this issue and allow a comfortable feeling even at lower volumes. Of course, you can also adjust the touch sensitivity as well to further custom tailor the playing experience to your preferences. :)
Thank you for your very experienced thoughts, as always. I just wanted to mention that yamaha has made some upgrading of its screen in its latest version of the nu1xa. It looks more like the roland's screen you talked about. I own a nu1x, old version and I have to say, it's not very convenient. You have to push the piano keys to select values and parameters which is kind of... so old fashioned compared to what exists on the market. Nevertheless I'm so much satisfied with this nu1x. It's a real pleasure to play and the sound is absolutely fabulous, although some might find it too light in the bass range, which I personally find more authentic.
You're very welcome! Thank you so much for tuning in and sharing your experiences with the NU1X. Some control interfaces are more convenient than others - that is for sure. But, the core playing experience (i.e. action and tone) will always be the most important facets of any digital or hybrid instrument. :)
Thanks for this informative video. It's nice to see how much thought and care there is in designing and making this piano. Last time I heard an NV-10, I was impressed, and presumably this is a little better. I'm guessing that the main difference between the NV-10 and NV-10s is the addition of the Shigeru Competition sample. Any other things?
You're very welcome! The NV10S actually predates the release of the SKEX Competition grands. The updates from the NV10 include a redesigned speaker system, two additional Virtual Technician parameters, and more. :)
So many questions.... I take it the digital components of the piano will fail long before you need to replace the felt? Since there is the virtual analog part to the Kawai piano, is there a difference in the haptic feel of the Roland GP9 over the 10S? Is there any preference of an unlimited polyphony over the 256 polyphony as far as sound and true piano performance? I could go on, but you get the idea!
Thanks for the questions! That is not necessarily true. The durability of components depends on a number of factors, such as one's playing habits. Heavy-handed players putting many hours on the piano may run into issues a lot faster than lighter players putting fewer hours on the instrument. To that point, we have heard of examples where Roland digital pianos have been used regularly for 25 to 30 years without any issues. The haptic sensations felt are quite different between the two pianos. It is quite nuanced though. There are some players that notice the haptic system on the GP9 action immediately, while others don't sense any difference. Unlimited polyphony can be useful in a number of ways. In terms of piano performance specifically, it can improve the sustain, release, and decay properties of the sound.
Wondering how it compares to the GL10-ATX4. I have the Yamaha CLP-795GP which sounds great but there is something missing which most likely could be the feel. I just like the fact that the piano does not need to be tuned every so often.
There are some similarities between the NV10S and GL10 ATX4 of course (Millennium III grand action for instance). With that said, the NV10S' tones are the SK-EX 9' concert grand. To that point, it will have a very different sonic profile than the 5' GL10 baby grand (unless you are playing the digital system, which also uses the SK-EX sample sets).
Hi there! The NV10S pricing may vary from region to region. Here in Canada, the NV10S currently (2024) sells for $18,799 + tax. Thanks and all the best!
I've played and recorded this piano for almost two years now and yes, it sounds great, feels great, and looks great. What lets it down is the incredibly crummy design of the touchscreen software and the lack of basic functionality. While you can tweak and tune every note individually (as if I wanted that) is there a setting to say that I always want to record in WAV format and not MP3 ? No... it refuses to remember it and I have to change MP3 to WAV every bloody time I switch on the piano. When you are done making a recording, does it automatically generate a filename with date and time, like the lowly CA59 does ? No.... The Novus does not have a clock. All the files get the same meaningless timestamp, and you have to punch in some unique name every time you save a recording or otherwise there's no way to find and sort your files once you've uploaded them to the computer. A royal pain in the bum. There's also no visual indication of the volume, just one rather insensitive turning knob that you never know how far to turn. When you put on the headphones you need to turn the it way down because it's so loud. Is there an option to change that ? Not really, you can only make it louder yet. No presets, obviously. And these are just three of my gripes, though the biggest ones. Apart from this I find the menu system convoluted, illogical and incomplete. These shortcomings irritate the hell out of me. Apart from this it's a great machine. Except that it occasionally hangs or crashes, like every self-respecting computer.
Hi there, while I'm happy to hear that you've been enjoying the playing experience of your NV10S, I'm sorry that you've been dealing with frustrations regarding recording settings. The touch screens can be a little sluggish, but, if you use the piano in conjunction with Kawai's Piano Remote app, it helps expedite things quite meaningfully. Perhaps, we will see the issues you mentioned addressed with the next generation of Novus instruments. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
@@MerriamPianos Thanks for getting back. I did try the app to start with, but found it unconvincing and unreliable. IIRC it made some things a little easier but did not significantly address any of my issues (sluggishness being the least of my problems). Anyway using the app would be hugely impractical if not downright impossible, as I need both my iPad and smartphone during the recording sessions.
Lovely review thank you Stu !! But I was wondering, for 300 bucks cheaper, I can buy an upright Kawai K300 with ATX4 silent system Both can be played silent Both are pretty hard to move around in the house anyway But the k300 is a real vibrating acoustic This novus Nv10s is very impressive but I don’t get who would want that and why ? The grand piano look ? Other reasons ? If someone could enlighten me that would be awesome !
Hi! Brent here! Thanks for the question! It is a personal decision between two amazing instruments of course. With that said, the advantage of an NV10S is the action. A grand piano action is quite different than an upright action. The key sticks and pivot lengths are longer, which provides increased control and connectivity for the player. Furthermore, because of the physics involved (i.e. the influence of gravity on both types of actions), a grand piano will have a faster repetition speed. However, there are players that prefer the feel of an upright piano. The other differentiator here is the K300 ATX4's ability to be played as a standard acoustic piano. There is a certain magic that comes from hammers striking real strings that some players feel cannot be fully emulated yet via digital technology.
I will buy it but it needs to get a bit cheaper Because it's expensive for me right now. I have es920 now and I need to say I love the sound it's great but I can't force myself to like the keyboard.
I imagine that it will eventually get discounted when a new generation model is announced. Hopefully, you can get your hands on an NV10S soon. They're marvellous pianos. :)
I found out the NV10S does not transmit note-off velocity (only fixed at value 64) through MIDI. Does that also mean it doesn't read and reproduce note-off velocity from its keys? If so, does it make a noticeable difference from playing an acoustic piano?
I would have to look into those types of details as they are not formally documents in Kawai's literature on the NV5S and NV10S. With that said, the NV10S is one of the most authentic piano experiences you will find in a digital medium in my opinion. The action is excellent and the tone is quite inspiring. :)
In my opinion note off is note off, but maybe it could be adjusted to simulate a slower damper action. As far as I know the damper drops onto the string as the back of the piano key drops. With the pedal you can control the amount of drop. I would assume the NV10S has a variable damper pedal. (sustain pedal) My DGX has a variable sustain, and it's one of the least expensive digitals in what might be considered the pro-category.
Nice review and fascinating technology, thank you. However, with an MSRP of $19k, potential customers will have to seriously weigh the pros and cons of this instrument vs. an acoustic grand in the lower end of Kawai's range.
Thank you! This piano is designed with a very specific customer in mind of course; someone that wants a playing experience as close to an acoustic grand as possible, but needs volume control and mitigation. The Novus series hybrids are particularly popular for high-level players living in condos, apartments, and townhouses. :)
We are not Nord dealers, so it is a bit tougher to tackle reviews of their models. With that said, if the opportunity presents itself, we will do our best to feature some Nord models on the channel. :)
It is true that Kawai reveals a lot of info about their actions. They are quite proud of the innovations they have integrated into their action mechanisms, and rightly so. :)
I really enjoyed this video. I am currently having to purchase a 2nd digital piano for our church. I looked at the Casio hybrid models, they also look amazing. But I was just wondering what happens - as with an acoustic instrument, when some of the mechanical elements go wrong? Bearing in mind, you have a lot more in a hybrid, with the hammers and levers. Will these need to be serviced at some point by a technician? Perhaps it is too early to say. On a separate note, I'm having action problems with my Roland FP60X, lots of keys making a rattle/clicking noise when the key returns. Roland have agreed to repair it, but I also have same issue with Roland HP702, a few notes are making the same noise, and it's less than 2 years old. The sheer volume of components in hybrids make me a bit nervous!
Thanks for the questions! The Kawai NV10S is a fantastic instrument! Given that it does have a full acoustic grand action in it, it will take some maintenance and regulation work throughout the span of its life, but thanks to Kawai's amazing specs and use of carbon fibre, it is a very stable and reliable action that does not require a lot of work in my experiences. :)
I would have to leave that answer to Stu, but I know he is a massive fan of both Kawai and Roland. Even while he had his NV5S at home, Stu was regularly gigging with a Roland RD2000 and FA-08/FANTOM-08.
@MerriamPianos Thank you. On the one hand it is none of my business. Stu is entitled to have any/as many pianos as he wants. But he has always welcomed us inside his own preferences and thinking. When he realized an acoustic no longer fit his lifestyle he explained exactly why the Novus met his need and why he thought it was the closest possible stand in for an acoustic. While always reminding us of the role of personal preference he was close to an evangelist for the Kawai. So it would be very meaningful to know why he now prefers the Roland. Of course the Novus is not a gigging instrument soI'm not surprised he still has several keyboards. I recently upgraded to a Kawai CA 701 which I learned about here. It will be my forever piano if it lasts as long as I do. I'm 76, so time will tell.
How many samples (at different velocities) per note? There needs to be at very least 6 if this is to truly RESPOND (rather than just physically feel) like a real piano. To give huge attention to mechanical action then sample at just 3 velocities per note, is really silly, but also very common...
Kawai doesn't officially share that information in their literature on the NV series instruments. With that said, it certainly sounds like there are a high number of different samples per note. That detailed sampling combined with the enhanced modelled parameters rendered through the tone engine make for a very authentic piano sound. :)
I don't know about the Kawai, but Pianoteq is highly variable with velocity, particularly on the lower notes. Perhaps it's the same on all notes, but easier to notice in the bass.
Is it really that expensive in Canada? 18.800 Bucks is a hefty pricetag. Here in Germany we can get it for 8.900€ which is roughly 12.500 canadian Dollars.
Would love you to compare IF possible, Pianoteq 8 Bosendorfer 280 vc vs Synchron Bosendorfer 280 vc, best reviewer that can deep dive into the piano sound, because of you I explored and fall in love with Bosendorfer 280 vc piano sound!
Can't you just test the demo version of the Pianoteq 8 voice? The Synchron voices are great but they are not compatible with Linux. Pianoteq runs natively on Linux.
@MERCEDES-BENZS600GUARD_V12 this is a good thing on 2 counts. It looks to me that any normal piano technician can do some minor repairs as they would do on a normal grand piano. And secondly, probably more importantly, a piano technician can really customise the action and feel of the piano keys to the way you like.
This is an amazing setup with little compromise for those living in noise sensitive areas. My only question is in regards to the maintenance requirements on all those hand made parts...is this going to be cost prohibitive when it comes to servicing? 😅
Absolutely! The NV10S is an impressive instrument in every regard. An experienced digital piano tech will have no issues servicing the electronic side of things, while an acoustic technician will be able to maintain the action and complete any required regulation work. Beyond regulation work every few years (if that given how stable the carbon fibre componentry of the Millennium III action is), there is really no additional servicing or maintenance required.
Kawai acoustic grand pianos with silent systems, such as the GL10 ATX4 are at a higher price point. There are some customers that prefer to have an instrument that does not require tuning. Some apartments/condos also have weight limitations, which may limit the options too.
Kawai has their version of the TransAcoustic called the Aures 2 series. The Kawai K500 Aures 2 and GX2 Aures 2 are two examples of amazing acoustic hybrid pianos that have comparable technology.
Everyone is entitled to their opinion of course, but the complexity of the action design is what allows for a truly nuanced playing experience and optimal control/connectivity.
I reckon this is true. Acoustic pianos - due to their fully mechanical nature - will come with the associated features - the thunks, clunks etc. From far away - the acoustic pianos will sound like acoustic pianos. Same for digital - from far enough away - digital pianos will also sound like acoustic pianos. They're all pianos though - all of them. Piano forte -- adequate and independent loud soft control of the notes (shortened to piano) - means they're all pianos. Real pianos. Also - hybrid pianos are actually digital pianos. Hybrids are still based on a mechanical front end, coupled to electronics sensor system. They're digital pianos. But they just needed to use a name that allows people to simply know they have traditional acoustic piano 'lever' system. But also knowing that sensor measurements still need to be done to get the electronics/sample playback etc activity happening - velocity etc measurements. An acoustic piano is not bad design though. It is simply what they could build in the old days, due to the technology. We have various types of pianos these days. I don't mind what people use. I only mind when somebody thinks they're so 'good' (eg. some readers) when they feel the need to say stuff like 'I won't ever go back to digital now that I have this hybrid'. The thing is - the 'hybrid' is a digital piano. The video is great though. I like the vid. Stu makes very good vids.
You’re actually right on the fact that it brings all the flaws of the acoustic piano to the digital piano, but the point is that we want to reproduce all the « weaknesses » and « quirks » of an acoustic piano, in order for it to feel like an acoustic piano. This isn’t meant to be what an ideal 100% digital piano should be.
@@Maxime-ho9iv True. The designers can do as they wish on pianos. Like many piano players, I am too - as well - at a state where I'm very comfortable with playing any piano, any time and anywhere. I just check its behaviour and then play it - to do what I like or think is nice or enjoyable etc on that. This is regardless of whether it is an acoustic piano or a digital piano.
@@southpark5555I was thinking that too. In the end it's the electronic sensors that trigger the computer signal and sound the note. I haven't heard many complaints about the sensors in digital pianos. They seem to work well. And you are absolutely correct that Stu is a superb player who makes excellent piano sales videos as a result. I agree that an acoustic action is a marvel of mechanical design. The big deal is actually the escapement. There is no direct connection between the key and the string. The hammer is tossed at the string. The problem with most digital actions is the length of the key stick to the fulcrum. It's too short on most. I don't know who makes the best digital action. What I do know is that there have been tremendous advancements in the action of Rubik's Cubes. The design of completion cubes allow the scrambled puzzle to regularly be solved in under 4 seconds by top competitors. The best competition cubes use a combination of small adjustable magnets and adjustable spring tension to control the motion of the cube. I think digital piano manufacturers would do well to consult with the top end cube manufactures to improve the "feel" and playability of digital actions.
Stu, thank you very much on the review. Can you share thought on how is nv10s compared to nv5s in terms of outer sound generation? I mean nv5s has that soundboard which amplify sound and make it more realistic via natural resonating mechanics, and nv10s doesn't have this one. How is that feeled on your taste?
Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! Thanks for watching and writing in with your question! The NV5S and NV10S are both exceptional sounding instruments. I personally feel that the soundboard system adds a little bit more warmth and depth of tone that speaker systems alone can't quite produce. With that said, the NV10S' speaker array is extremely sophisticated and does a remarkable job at simulating the sonic experience of an acoustic piano. It is also a more powerful system. For me, I would give the sonic edge to the NV5S slightly, but the NV10S' grand action is exceptional so that would be my preference in terms of touch.
It is so heartening to know that pianos have not stopped evolving. I hope that these innovations help pianos become better and cheaper so that perhaps they will attract more people to take up the piano. It would be wonderful if pianos could regain the popularity they had in America in the early 20th century.
Absolutely! Making the magic of learning/playing the piano more accessible is something we all hope to see. With digital piano technology evolving so quickly, I think it is a very plausible scenario. :)
As a classical jazz pianist I always going to say that Kawai is the best digital /analog/ piano by far. And one of the best acoustical pianos to.
Absolutely! It is tough to argue with that statement. Kawai delivers amazing digital and acoustic pianos - that is for sure. :)
@@MerriamPianos it’s so balanced, unlike too bright Yamaha. Best choice for sure!
@@javiervargas1428 is that classical music and jazz, or classic jazz? If it's the latter, I'm interested in knowing your definition.
I wanted to buy an acoustic piano but, due to my situations (living in an apartment), I had to go for the Kawai NV5s. I have to say that it meets all my expectations. It's impossible after owning this to go back to a digital keyboard. My teacher said that owning a high quality instrument does elevate one's commitment and enthusiasm, and he was so right.
That is awesome to hear! The NV5S and NV10S are amazing instruments that will outplay many acoustic pianos in my opinion. We're happy to hear that you've been enjoying your NV5S! :)
Kudos to the cameraman/editor for phenomenal images that followed the narration of the video. Top notch work!
I know our production team appreciates the kind words! I'll be happy to pass on the compliment to them. :)
Very cool video. I am always interested in the speaker system of digital pianos. Notice how the speakers are not enclosed in individual boxes, so the sound leaks through the keys and everywhere, since the back wave is not contained in a box. That's the natural sound field of an acoustic piano, particularly an upright piano, as the soundboard projects sound as a dipole.
The NV10S has 3 amplifiers driving 3 channels: left, right, and bottom. The left channel consists of 3 speaker drivers: two full range 10 cm (4 inch) woofers and a tweeter. The right channel also consists of 3 speaker drivers: two full range woofers and a tweeter. The bottom channel features a 20 cm (8 inches) woofer that I believe has no crossover and is allowed to play full range. Again, the purpose here is not just to produce low frequencies but mimic the sound field of an acoustic piano.
The right and left channels don't have a crossover for the full range 10 cm (4 inch) woofers, in the style of home stereo systems, which is typical in digital piano speaker systems. The tweeters have a 2.2 uF (microfarad) capacitor crossover to protect them from the full range signal the amplifier sends to the little woofers. Since the tweeters are 12 ohms (the symbol that looks like a mushroom is the Greek letter omega and represents the impedance value, expressed in ohms) and the crossover is 2.2 uF, the frequencies will have a slope of -6 dB starting at 6, 028 Hz. This will basically play the subtle metallic sound of the strings when hit by the hammers in a fortissimo.
Something interesting about the way the two 10 cm woofers are connected: they are wired in parallel, and since one is 24 ohms and the other one is 12 ohms, the total impedance is 1/R=1/24 + 1/12, which is 8 ohms (solving for R), so the amplifier sees a standard load of 8 ohms most of the time, as piano sounds are mostly below the 6 kHz mark. Notice that the 12-ohm woofers are on the back, more distant from the player. The fact that those back woofers are half the impedance of the front ones means they will play 3 decibels louder, which is slightly louder that the front woofers. I wonder if the impedance difference was chosen to reduce potential comb filtering issues, since both woofers are playing the same signal from the amplifier. If that was the case, then once again, good attention to detail by Kawai.
A speaker system like this is actually fairly simple to implement but very effective, as it will create a fairly realistic piano sound field.
It would be great to see Stu opening more digital pianos in the future and discussing details of how it's built inside.
Thanks for tuning in and writing in with your insights! It is a very good point regarding the speakers not being enclosed and simulating the natural sound field of an acoustic piano. I suppose manufacturers always have their reasonings behind specific design decisions, but simulating an acoustic piano as faithfully as possible is usually the goal of course. :)
@@MerriamPianos Thank you! Yes, this type of design is used very often in digital pianos. For example, the Roland GP-9 uses three 16 cm "spatial" speakers, and one of them is not in a box. It also uses two 8 cm center near-field speakers, which I believe are box-less as well. The Yamaha N1X three top speakers are mounted on the board without an enclosure (although the bottom speakers are in a box). All entry-level digital pianos by Yamaha, Roland, and Kawai have their speakers not being enclosed (ES120, P225, FP30X). The NV5S also has its 4 top speakers without an enclosure.
However, ported design are also used. For example, Kawai ES520/920, Yamaha P525, Roland FP90X, and Yamaha DGX-670.
An outlier in terms of speaker design is the Yamaha AvantGrand N3X, which has all its 12 speakers in a gigantic, sealed box made of MDF. I can't think of any other digital piano that uses exclusively a sealed box. I believe Yamaha was trying to go for sound accuracy with this design, but since the speaker box is somewhat away from the player (much like a grand piano soundboard is somewhat away from the player), they added a soundboard resonator. That model has two transducers under the top piece that runs along the piano and provides harmonic detail. It is similar to the job that tweeters do in the NV10S or the 8 cm near-field speakers placing the player in the Roland GP-9.
Ultimately, all designs will produce a high-quality piano sound when they are well implemented.
Very interesting comment.
Please note they probably have some sort of digital crossover at play.
@@Maxime-ho9iv Thank you. Yes, I think that is probably the case for the woofer, as it appears to have a separate audio out from the main board, which goes to some type of digital signal processing circuit. My guess is that the bass is probably boosted and/or the frequencies are attenuated before the woofer breakup point. The rationale for such guess is that, since the woofer is not in a separate box (none of the speaker in this piano are), the woofer doesn't have a proper way to play low frequencies naturally, therefore they need to be boosted. In addition, the woofer will have a cone breakup probably around 5 kHz or so, and those frequencies could be digitally eliminated.
However, the main 4 speakers on top seem to be playing the full signal, and that should be fine when small full range drivers are playing a piano sound. If you run a piano sound on a spectrum frequency program, you can see it has almost no content after 6 kHz, you can literally eliminate frequencies digitally beyond that point and still hear the piano perfectly fine. Since the tweeters have a 2.2 uF capacitor only as a crossover, it means that they literally play almost nothing as far as piano sound goes. Only the metallic sound of the strings at a fortissimo are likely to activate the tweeters. They will be much more relevant when you play other voices/sounds, especially the built-in drums.
What a beauty! I would like to see a blind-folded test by a group of pianists.
That would be a very interesting text and would make for some interesting content too. ;)
I wanted to go into a store blindfolded to find out if I could tell the difference between the ca79/99 and 701/901, and between the sk ex competition vs the regular sk ex. But I haven't had the opportunity to do so.
I think that a pianist could be fooled only under some limited circumstances. For example, if you listen to a digital piano from far away while soft, slow pieces are played. Speakers can do a fairly good job in that case. But when you sit at a piano, the sound field and complexity produced by the soundboard of an acoustic piano is hard to miss, particularly if you play an actual piece rather than just some random notes. Both the tone generator and speaker system of a digital/hybrid piano have technical limitations and are ultimately built to a budget.
It is also important to know that the actual speaker system used in digital/hybrid pianos is not audiophile grade level, and this is true from all manufacturers (Yamaha, Kawai, Roland, Casio). The typical cost of digital/hybrid speaker drivers is around $5-$50 a piece. An actual audiophile speaker driver could cost almost $4,000 a piece, so a couple of those would be $8,000, which is already way beyond the budget of any digital piano speaker system design. True audiophile speakers can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, and even those don't sound like the real thing.
There have been efforts to create speaker systems that could be indistinguishable from an actual concert grand, such as the Steinway-Lyngdorf Model D, which costs more than $250,000. Not sure if they would go as far as claiming that speaker actually sounds like a Steinway D.
Digital pianos offer great value and can emulate the sound of a piano quite realistically in some high-end models, but I am sure they are still not comparable with a 9-foot concert grand piano.
@@Instrumental-Coversthat happened to me wile I was trying out a Yamaha C3X and a Roland GP609 a few years ago. Far away the Roland sounded quite nice, and if you weren't thinking you would think it was an actual acoustic piano🦊🎹🎶
@@MERCEDES-BENZS600GUARD_V12 Yes, that has happened to me too in digital piano stores at least twice. Even cheaper models can fool you when you are far away from them. But once you get close, you can hear the difference.
Love this video review format. Keep it up!
Thanks for the feedback! We really appreciate that. :)
I have it in my studio and my students love it.
That is awesome to hear! It is an incredible piano. :)
Thank you thank you so much for focusing so much on piano actions very deep insight.. especially taking the whole thing apart
You're welcome! We're happy to hear that you've been enjoying the action deep dives. :)
Great review
Thank you so much! We're glad you enjoyed it. :)
That is an amazing! I have always wondered what a hybrid piano look like inside and this kind of content is why I subscribe to your channel.🤔🎹➕💻
Thank you kindly! We really appreciate the support and sub! It means a lot. :)
I have an NV5S (the upright one with the same principle) and it's amazing. I upgraded from Roland HP and it unlocked the whole new world for me. My playing instantly improved. Realistic action is extremely important.
The NV5S is a truly special instrument! Congratulations on acquiring one! I'm really glad to hear that you are happy with what it has to offer. I agree! The Millennium III action is exceptional. :)
Thank you so much for this video.
Whoever is in Australia and thinking about this model, be careful with how the instrument is set up. The damper pedal will have issues if not installed by the instructions. My unit has other issue and Kawai Australia were of no help. Apparently, in Europe the support of this model is much better.
You're very welcome! I'm sorry to hear that you didn't have a good experience with the post-sale support from Kawai Australia. I can only attest to Kawai US' support and it is excellent. They are easy to work with and super fast when it comes to troubleshooting and resolving warranty related issues. :)
Another great video. Thanks Stu!
Hi! Brent here! Thanks for tuning in! We're glad you enjoyed it. :)
Very interesting presentation.
Thank you.
You're welcome! Thanks for watching! :)
That's it, I guess it's hard to offer anything better regarding digital piano, maybe just different.
The only thing I see as a potential improvement is adding very big e-book reader type screen in landscape A3 size, for reading sheet music.
For me, that would be the ultimate hybrid experience 🙂
Thanks for this presentation!
You're very welcome! Thanks for tuning in! That is a very cool idea indeed. It would be a handy feature. :)
A large size tablet is absolutely needed for sheet music display. All that I know of are too small at the moment.
Certified peloton moment
Thanks for the excellent video, Stu! NV10S actually takes quite a lot of space (bc of the real keybed) and it makes sense to consider Aures or ATX4. I would also like to see a version with no sound, kinda VPC2 with this amazing keybed. NV MIDI :)
Hi! Brent here! Thanks for taking the time to tune in! It is certainly worth considering options like the GL10 ATX4 or GL30 Aures 2, but they are quite a bit more expensive. The fact that they also require tuning and additional maintenance may be a deterrent to some customers depending on their situation and needs. We have not heard any updates from our Kawai reps regarding a VPC1 successor (most logically the VPC2 I suppose!). We will certainly keep you posted if we get any updates.
@@MerriamPianos thanks for your comment, Brent! K-500 ATX4 will be very close in terms of pricing and footprint but you get in this case upright action instead of grand feel. I play mostly classical and the more I’m in, the greater difference I feel between acoustic and digital.
Awesome. I wish I could accommodate an instrument of that size, weight and lack of portability. I'm jealous of those who can. Bravo Kawai.
It is a larger instrument, but it is still more compact than a traditional acoustic piano. Thankfully, there are some excellent digital pianos on the market that have more streamlined cabinets for tighter spaces as well. :)
This is a great video. I wonder if dust would be a problem on those sensors. Cheers from Brazil.
Thank you so much! Glad you enjoyed it! Dust and debris accumulation can be problematic for any sensor system ultimately, but it is fairly easily resolved by an experienced tech. :)
The sensors are most likely similar to all digital piano sensors which are protected from dust.
I tried a NV10s in Kawai store and it played really good. Very controllable and responsive. However on online forums there are complaints that the piano cannot play ppp when using midi (or less that midi velocity 20) which makes me hesitate. Do we have an update on that?
Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! Thanks for the question! The Novus NV10S is a stunning instrument with a fantastic touch and tone. I have not personally experienced any issues related to using the NV10S as a MIDI controller. I have found the optical sensor system to be extremely sensitive and accurate, and - if anything - capable of a truer dynamic representation than the vast majority of other sensor systems on the market.
Thanks for the great review, awesome playing too! Any idea if Kawai will release a version with a real soundboard in the near future?
You're very welcome! Thank you for tuning in! We have not received any updates from Kawai regarding an updated version of the NV10S. However, we will certainly keep you posted if we do. :)
Your video has definitely peaked my interest in revisiting the NV10s. The Kawai NV10s was first introduced in 2021. Since one of the advantages of a digital piano is less maintenance, how has the NV10s faired in this category?
The NV10S is an exceptional piano. It is certainly worth consideration if you are looking for the very best musical experience available from a digital piano. The NV10S will eventually require some regulation work throughout its life, but the use of carbon fibre componentry in the action gives it excellent durability. :)
I've had the VPC1 for the last few years and I love it.
That is awesome to hear! Congrats on your VPC1! It is a wonderful MIDI controller (arguably the best MIDI controller ever produced). :)
I think the action of VPC1 is comparatively simple compared to an acoustic action. I also believe the VPC1 may have one of the longest key sticks on any digital piano controller.
Can you run something like Garritan CFX or Pianoteq through this and use the internal speakers. If you can do this, I would more seriously consider trading my grand in for the convenience of sound/volume adjustment.
Thanks for the question! Unfortunately, the NV10S does not have a USB audio interface that allows you to do this. You could technically still work out some type of chain to achieve the result you are outlining, but there may be some latency with the signal. There are some digital pianos that have a USB audio interface, which allow you to run VST plugins through the onboard speakers.
@@MerriamPianos I really feel like these companies are missing the mark here. At any rate, you are saying that if I utilized my own audio interface and adjusted the parameters to reduce latency, it is possible? You guys should do a video demonstrating! I think it would get a lot of love. Thanks!
@@Pianoman1488 Yes, both Novus Models has a 1(8" audio input. So, all you have to do is get the sound out of your audio interface and send it to the Novus to hear the sound from the Novus' speakers. Yes, a bit of latency, but with a good audio interface, proper settings and a fast computer it might be minimal.
The problem is not with the audio interface, as you could simply buy an external USB audio interface and feed its line out into the NV10S line in. The main problem you will find with Garritan CFX (which is true for many vst pianos) is that they are not specifically designed to produce a live piano tone, but they are meant for album recording or playback using studio monitors. Digital piano speakers are positioned in such a way that they emulate the sound field of an acoustic piano, and the piano sample needed for that task is essentially different from a piano sample used to play back piano using studio monitors or headphones.
For a digital piano to sound live, you need a "rough" piano sample, as opposed to the soft, smooth, elegant piano sample from Garritan CFX, with its natural reverb built in and sort of distant microphone capture (even from the "close mic" setting). You need a piano sample that can be "in your face".
Imagine placing your ear inside an actual grand piano belly: you get a very "in your face" (literally) type of sound, no room ambience, no reverb. Just a loud, clear piano tone. That is why digital piano samples tend to have a very strong fundamental, which may sound less refined when using headphones. It is a sample meant to come through the digital piano speakers and make a presence of "live" sound in the room, as opposed to a refined sample coming through a pair of studio monitors or headphones, where you can appreciate subtle details of the room it was recorded.
In other words, I think you will be more satisfied with the Kawai NV10S built-in samples (which are great quality anyway, and probably better quality than most vst pianos) because they are specifically designed for that speaker system. Garritan CFX is a great piano vst for studio monitors or headphones.
@@Instrumental-Covers thanks for such a detailed reply! That makes sense!
Amazing deep dive of the action. We need more time with the onboard speakers tho.
I have an idea for an interesting video: show the same play on both this NV10S and the real acoustic Shigeru Kawai SK-EX it is based on. We don’t expect it to sound as good, but it would so interesting to actually hear how close it can get.
Thanks so much! And thank you for the excellent idea and suggestion! I will be happy to pass it on to our production team for you. :)
Hi Stu - great video as always. One of the key questions I have relates to the volume level. On your NV10 video, you mentioned that the volume needed to be set at about 75% or the touch felt really heavy. I think kawai did something on the nv5s to address this. Have they done the same on the nv10s?
Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! Thanks for the question! They have made some adjustments to the NV10S' speaker system and overall tone, which helps solve this issue and allow a comfortable feeling even at lower volumes. Of course, you can also adjust the touch sensitivity as well to further custom tailor the playing experience to your preferences. :)
Thank you for your very experienced thoughts, as always.
I just wanted to mention that yamaha has made some upgrading of its screen in its latest version of the nu1xa. It looks more like the roland's screen you talked about. I own a nu1x, old version and I have to say, it's not very convenient. You have to push the piano keys to select values and parameters which is kind of... so old fashioned compared to what exists on the market. Nevertheless I'm so much satisfied with this nu1x. It's a real pleasure to play and the sound is absolutely fabulous, although some might find it too light in the bass range, which I personally find more authentic.
You're very welcome! Thank you so much for tuning in and sharing your experiences with the NU1X. Some control interfaces are more convenient than others - that is for sure. But, the core playing experience (i.e. action and tone) will always be the most important facets of any digital or hybrid instrument. :)
Thanks for this informative video. It's nice to see how much thought and care there is in designing and making this piano. Last time I heard an NV-10, I was impressed, and presumably this is a little better.
I'm guessing that the main difference between the NV-10 and NV-10s is the addition of the Shigeru Competition sample. Any other things?
You're very welcome! The NV10S actually predates the release of the SKEX Competition grands. The updates from the NV10 include a redesigned speaker system, two additional Virtual Technician parameters, and more. :)
So many questions.... I take it the digital components of the piano will fail long before you need to replace the felt? Since there is the virtual analog part to the Kawai piano, is there a difference in the haptic feel of the Roland GP9 over the 10S? Is there any preference of an unlimited polyphony over the 256 polyphony as far as sound and true piano performance? I could go on, but you get the idea!
Thanks for the questions! That is not necessarily true. The durability of components depends on a number of factors, such as one's playing habits. Heavy-handed players putting many hours on the piano may run into issues a lot faster than lighter players putting fewer hours on the instrument. To that point, we have heard of examples where Roland digital pianos have been used regularly for 25 to 30 years without any issues. The haptic sensations felt are quite different between the two pianos. It is quite nuanced though. There are some players that notice the haptic system on the GP9 action immediately, while others don't sense any difference. Unlimited polyphony can be useful in a number of ways. In terms of piano performance specifically, it can improve the sustain, release, and decay properties of the sound.
Wondering how it compares to the GL10-ATX4. I have the Yamaha CLP-795GP which sounds great but there is something missing which most likely could be the feel. I just like the fact that the piano does not need to be tuned every so often.
There are some similarities between the NV10S and GL10 ATX4 of course (Millennium III grand action for instance). With that said, the NV10S' tones are the SK-EX 9' concert grand. To that point, it will have a very different sonic profile than the 5' GL10 baby grand (unless you are playing the digital system, which also uses the SK-EX sample sets).
I wonder howmuch for this NV10S hybrid to see if I can afford replacing my acoustic one. Thanks for sharing the info.
Hi there! The NV10S pricing may vary from region to region. Here in Canada, the NV10S currently (2024) sells for $18,799 + tax. Thanks and all the best!
Nice "Show, don't tell" in action (literally ;-)
Let's explore and geek together.
Thanks for tuning in!
I've played and recorded this piano for almost two years now and yes, it sounds great, feels great, and looks great. What lets it down is the incredibly crummy design of the touchscreen software and the lack of basic functionality. While you can tweak and tune every note individually (as if I wanted that) is there a setting to say that I always want to record in WAV format and not MP3 ? No... it refuses to remember it and I have to change MP3 to WAV every bloody time I switch on the piano. When you are done making a recording, does it automatically generate a filename with date and time, like the lowly CA59 does ? No.... The Novus does not have a clock. All the files get the same meaningless timestamp, and you have to punch in some unique name every time you save a recording or otherwise there's no way to find and sort your files once you've uploaded them to the computer. A royal pain in the bum. There's also no visual indication of the volume, just one rather insensitive turning knob that you never know how far to turn. When you put on the headphones you need to turn the it way down because it's so loud. Is there an option to change that ? Not really, you can only make it louder yet. No presets, obviously. And these are just three of my gripes, though the biggest ones. Apart from this I find the menu system convoluted, illogical and incomplete.
These shortcomings irritate the hell out of me. Apart from this it's a great machine. Except that it occasionally hangs or crashes, like every self-respecting computer.
Hi there, while I'm happy to hear that you've been enjoying the playing experience of your NV10S, I'm sorry that you've been dealing with frustrations regarding recording settings. The touch screens can be a little sluggish, but, if you use the piano in conjunction with Kawai's Piano Remote app, it helps expedite things quite meaningfully. Perhaps, we will see the issues you mentioned addressed with the next generation of Novus instruments. Thanks for sharing your thoughts!
@@MerriamPianos Thanks for getting back. I did try the app to start with, but found it unconvincing and unreliable. IIRC it made some things a little easier but did not significantly address any of my issues (sluggishness being the least of my problems). Anyway using the app would be hugely impractical if not downright impossible, as I need both my iPad and smartphone during the recording sessions.
I m looking to replace my old upright piano with this !!
I think you would be quite pleased with everything the Kawai NV10S has to offer! It is a truly exceptional instrument. :)
@@MerriamPianos totally agreed !!!!
Lovely review thank you Stu !! But I was wondering, for 300 bucks cheaper, I can buy an upright Kawai K300 with ATX4 silent system
Both can be played silent
Both are pretty hard to move around in the house anyway
But the k300 is a real vibrating acoustic
This novus Nv10s is very impressive but I don’t get who would want that and why ?
The grand piano look ? Other reasons ? If someone could enlighten me that would be awesome !
Hi! Brent here! Thanks for the question! It is a personal decision between two amazing instruments of course. With that said, the advantage of an NV10S is the action. A grand piano action is quite different than an upright action. The key sticks and pivot lengths are longer, which provides increased control and connectivity for the player. Furthermore, because of the physics involved (i.e. the influence of gravity on both types of actions), a grand piano will have a faster repetition speed. However, there are players that prefer the feel of an upright piano. The other differentiator here is the K300 ATX4's ability to be played as a standard acoustic piano. There is a certain magic that comes from hammers striking real strings that some players feel cannot be fully emulated yet via digital technology.
I will buy it but it needs to get a bit cheaper Because it's expensive for me right now. I have es920 now and I need to say I love the sound it's great but I can't force myself to like the keyboard.
I imagine that it will eventually get discounted when a new generation model is announced. Hopefully, you can get your hands on an NV10S soon. They're marvellous pianos. :)
I found out the NV10S does not transmit note-off velocity (only fixed at value 64) through MIDI. Does that also mean it doesn't read and reproduce note-off velocity from its keys? If so, does it make a noticeable difference from playing an acoustic piano?
I would have to look into those types of details as they are not formally documents in Kawai's literature on the NV5S and NV10S. With that said, the NV10S is one of the most authentic piano experiences you will find in a digital medium in my opinion. The action is excellent and the tone is quite inspiring. :)
In my opinion note off is note off, but maybe it could be adjusted to simulate a slower damper action. As far as I know the damper drops onto the string as the back of the piano key drops. With the pedal you can control the amount of drop. I would assume the NV10S has a variable damper pedal. (sustain pedal) My DGX has a variable sustain, and it's one of the least expensive digitals in what might be considered the pro-category.
Nice review and fascinating technology, thank you. However, with an MSRP of $19k, potential customers will have to seriously weigh the pros and cons of this instrument vs. an acoustic grand in the lower end of Kawai's range.
Thank you! This piano is designed with a very specific customer in mind of course; someone that wants a playing experience as close to an acoustic grand as possible, but needs volume control and mitigation. The Novus series hybrids are particularly popular for high-level players living in condos, apartments, and townhouses. :)
This piano costs €9k here in Europe, how can it be so expensive in the US?
18 mil dólares. Aqui no brasil tem que ser milionário.
It is an expensive instrument of course, but it represents the most premium of digital pianos on the market currently.
Why has Stu not REVIEWED the Nord stage 4 or Piano 5?
We are not Nord dealers, so it is a bit tougher to tackle reviews of their models. With that said, if the opportunity presents itself, we will do our best to feature some Nord models on the channel. :)
Only Kawai bares their keyboard actions. I tried to search for action keys for both Roland and Yamaha, but I couldn't find any new infos.
It is true that Kawai reveals a lot of info about their actions. They are quite proud of the innovations they have integrated into their action mechanisms, and rightly so. :)
I really enjoyed this video. I am currently having to purchase a 2nd digital piano for our church. I looked at the Casio hybrid models, they also look amazing. But I was just wondering what happens - as with an acoustic instrument, when some of the mechanical elements go wrong? Bearing in mind, you have a lot more in a hybrid, with the hammers and levers. Will these need to be serviced at some point by a technician? Perhaps it is too early to say. On a separate note, I'm having action problems with my Roland FP60X, lots of keys making a rattle/clicking noise when the key returns. Roland have agreed to repair it, but I also have same issue with Roland HP702, a few notes are making the same noise, and it's less than 2 years old.
The sheer volume of components in hybrids make me a bit nervous!
Thanks for the questions! The Kawai NV10S is a fantastic instrument! Given that it does have a full acoustic grand action in it, it will take some maintenance and regulation work throughout the span of its life, but thanks to Kawai's amazing specs and use of carbon fibre, it is a very stable and reliable action that does not require a lot of work in my experiences. :)
Why did Stu switch to a Roland?
I would have to leave that answer to Stu, but I know he is a massive fan of both Kawai and Roland. Even while he had his NV5S at home, Stu was regularly gigging with a Roland RD2000 and FA-08/FANTOM-08.
@MerriamPianos Thank you. On the one hand it is none of my business. Stu is entitled to have any/as many pianos as he wants. But he has always welcomed us inside his own preferences and thinking. When he realized an acoustic no longer fit his lifestyle he explained exactly why the Novus met his need and why he thought it was the closest possible stand in for an acoustic. While always reminding us of the role of personal preference he was close to an evangelist for the Kawai. So it would be very meaningful to know why he now prefers the Roland. Of course the Novus is not a gigging instrument soI'm not surprised he still has several keyboards. I recently upgraded to a Kawai CA 701 which I learned about here. It will be my forever piano if it lasts as long as I do. I'm 76, so time will tell.
Can you turn off the touchscreen while playing?
Yes - you can turn off the touch screen if desired.
@@MerriamPianos That’s really good news!
How many samples (at different velocities) per note? There needs to be at very least 6 if this is to truly RESPOND (rather than just physically feel) like a real piano.
To give huge attention to mechanical action then sample at just 3 velocities per note, is really silly, but also very common...
Kawai doesn't officially share that information in their literature on the NV series instruments. With that said, it certainly sounds like there are a high number of different samples per note. That detailed sampling combined with the enhanced modelled parameters rendered through the tone engine make for a very authentic piano sound. :)
I don't know about the Kawai, but Pianoteq is highly variable with velocity, particularly on the lower notes. Perhaps it's the same on all notes, but easier to notice in the bass.
Is it really that expensive in Canada? 18.800 Bucks is a hefty pricetag. Here in Germany we can get it for 8.900€ which is roughly 12.500 canadian Dollars.
Thanks for sharing! The price points do vary between different markets. Sometimes, these price differences are quite pronounced.
Would love you to compare IF possible, Pianoteq 8 Bosendorfer 280 vc vs Synchron Bosendorfer 280 vc, best reviewer that can deep dive into the piano sound, because of you I explored and fall in love with Bosendorfer 280 vc piano sound!
Thanks for the suggestion! I'll be happy to pass it along to our production team on your behalf. :)
Can't you just test the demo version of the Pianoteq 8 voice? The Synchron voices are great but they are not compatible with Linux. Pianoteq runs natively on Linux.
No strings, so no tuning, right?
Yes, however it still has an acoustic grand piano action that you still need to have maintained🎹🎶
Yup - that is correct. There are no strings and, as such, no tuning required on the NV10S. :)
@MERCEDES-BENZS600GUARD_V12 this is a good thing on 2 counts. It looks to me that any normal piano technician can do some minor repairs as they would do on a normal grand piano.
And secondly, probably more importantly, a piano technician can really customise the action and feel of the piano keys to the way you like.
This is an amazing setup with little compromise for those living in noise sensitive areas. My only question is in regards to the maintenance requirements on all those hand made parts...is this going to be cost prohibitive when it comes to servicing? 😅
Absolutely! The NV10S is an impressive instrument in every regard. An experienced digital piano tech will have no issues servicing the electronic side of things, while an acoustic technician will be able to maintain the action and complete any required regulation work. Beyond regulation work every few years (if that given how stable the carbon fibre componentry of the Millennium III action is), there is really no additional servicing or maintenance required.
Impedance is expressed in Ohms, as the resistance
Yes, that is correct.
Why buying this over an accoustic piano with silent system?
Kawai acoustic grand pianos with silent systems, such as the GL10 ATX4 are at a higher price point. There are some customers that prefer to have an instrument that does not require tuning. Some apartments/condos also have weight limitations, which may limit the options too.
@@MerriamPianos makes sense thanks 🥰
To play without those goddam headphones of course.
@@Maxime-ho9iv What do you mean?
@@blackrachmaninov I was answering your question. You buy an hybrid when you want to play quieter but doesn't want to play with headphones.
.
Thanks for tuning in! :)
This bloke has never seen or played a Yamaha YUS5-TA3. This is a “real” piano. It’s not a “pretend” piano.
Kawai has their version of the TransAcoustic called the Aures 2 series. The Kawai K500 Aures 2 and GX2 Aures 2 are two examples of amazing acoustic hybrid pianos that have comparable technology.
Fire the cameraman. Stop thinking depth of field makes you "cinematic". Your out of focus shots are making it worse for the audience.
Thank you for the feedback. I will pass it along to our production team.
Not to rain on the parade, but this is useless complexity. It brings everything bad from the design of an acoustic piano to a digital piano.
Everyone is entitled to their opinion of course, but the complexity of the action design is what allows for a truly nuanced playing experience and optimal control/connectivity.
I reckon this is true. Acoustic pianos - due to their fully mechanical nature - will come with the associated features - the thunks, clunks etc. From far away - the acoustic pianos will sound like acoustic pianos. Same for digital - from far enough away - digital pianos will also sound like acoustic pianos. They're all pianos though - all of them. Piano forte -- adequate and independent loud soft control of the notes (shortened to piano) - means they're all pianos. Real pianos. Also - hybrid pianos are actually digital pianos. Hybrids are still based on a mechanical front end, coupled to electronics sensor system. They're digital pianos. But they just needed to use a name that allows people to simply know they have traditional acoustic piano 'lever' system. But also knowing that sensor measurements still need to be done to get the electronics/sample playback etc activity happening - velocity etc measurements.
An acoustic piano is not bad design though. It is simply what they could build in the old days, due to the technology. We have various types of pianos these days. I don't mind what people use. I only mind when somebody thinks they're so 'good' (eg. some readers) when they feel the need to say stuff like 'I won't ever go back to digital now that I have this hybrid'. The thing is - the 'hybrid' is a digital piano.
The video is great though. I like the vid. Stu makes very good vids.
You’re actually right on the fact that it brings all the flaws of the acoustic piano to the digital piano, but the point is that we want to reproduce all the « weaknesses » and « quirks » of an acoustic piano, in order for it to feel like an acoustic piano. This isn’t meant to be what an ideal 100% digital piano should be.
@@Maxime-ho9iv True. The designers can do as they wish on pianos. Like many piano players, I am too - as well - at a state where I'm very comfortable with playing any piano, any time and anywhere. I just check its behaviour and then play it - to do what I like or think is nice or enjoyable etc on that. This is regardless of whether it is an acoustic piano or a digital piano.
@@southpark5555I was thinking that too. In the end it's the electronic sensors that trigger the computer signal and sound the note. I haven't heard many complaints about the sensors in digital pianos. They seem to work well. And you are absolutely correct that Stu is a superb player who makes excellent piano sales videos as a result.
I agree that an acoustic action is a marvel of mechanical design. The big deal is actually the escapement. There is no direct connection between the key and the string. The hammer is tossed at the string. The problem with most digital actions is the length of the key stick to the fulcrum. It's too short on most. I don't know who makes the best digital action. What I do know is that there have been tremendous advancements in the action of Rubik's Cubes. The design of completion cubes allow the scrambled puzzle to regularly be solved in under 4 seconds by top competitors. The best competition cubes use a combination of small adjustable magnets and adjustable spring tension to control the motion of the cube. I think digital piano manufacturers would do well to consult with the top end cube manufactures to improve the "feel" and playability of digital actions.
Stu, thank you very much on the review.
Can you share thought on how is nv10s compared to nv5s in terms of outer sound generation? I mean nv5s has that soundboard which amplify sound and make it more realistic via natural resonating mechanics, and nv10s doesn't have this one. How is that feeled on your taste?
Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! Thanks for watching and writing in with your question! The NV5S and NV10S are both exceptional sounding instruments. I personally feel that the soundboard system adds a little bit more warmth and depth of tone that speaker systems alone can't quite produce. With that said, the NV10S' speaker array is extremely sophisticated and does a remarkable job at simulating the sonic experience of an acoustic piano. It is also a more powerful system. For me, I would give the sonic edge to the NV5S slightly, but the NV10S' grand action is exceptional so that would be my preference in terms of touch.