Thank you Tim for this very comprehensive review of the NV10. I am moving from a house to an apartment in the coming months and will be needing to say farewell to my Kawai KG5C, and looking at the NV10 as my next instrument. Thank you, Wayne.
I played on one of these today and I was impressed!! The feel/touch of the keys is great!!! Loved the sound of the SK grand. Played using headphones as there were many customers in the store. Going back some day to play without the headphones
Thank you, Tim, for the great review. It was very helpful in making a decision on a Hybrid Piano. Had the opportunity to play the Kawai Novus and was amazed at the feel. Have used Kawai VPC-1 virtual keyboard w Ivory II software for about 5 years at my church but longed for a better feeling instrument like the Novus. Church has approved the Kawai Novus and will look forward to using it. Again, a great helpful review and done in an excellent way!
No self-respecting video maker should be using the camera for recording voices. They are okay (just decent) for picking up ambient sound (and you need a wind sock if it is a windy day). Anything else is 1980’s home movies quality.
As others have pointed out, Kawai are not the first manufacturer to control the settings via a touchscreen app. Roland and Yamaha both let you use apps on your own devices to adjust their piano settings. Actually the best thing that Kawai have done is remove the button/dial controls from the piano. That puts them a level above Roland.
That’s something I always loathed about the Yamaha Clavinova series-the prominent “digital dashboard”: with all the buttons and dials and lights right there above the length of the keyboard. I favor something that looks more like a real classic acoustic piano-ergo I agree that the LCD should have a cover. That isn’t a showstopper for me though. If I decide to get one of these, I can just cut a small piece of black felt to tactfully cover it up.
@@Boris_Chang I think it'd be more fair to compare these to the Avantgrand, which also doesn't have a digital lcd screen etc.. at least the N1 I had the chance to play didn't.. In that sense the Kawai CA79-99 has gone a bit too far with the ipad like screen:)
Hi Tim, I would like to know if you are still using the Novus 10 today or if you didn't like it anymore? Since I noticed that it got replaced in your studio room / I did not see it again in your studio/videos. Thanks a lot for an answer, best regards Tim
I hate to bring this up, but as you rave about that glass touch screen, it brings back memories of my son as a toddler picking up his toy trucks and banging on my Baldwin grand's piano keys with them at random. I'd worry about a kid smashing that screen, and I wonder if the piano doesn't work AT ALL if that happens, and how much that repair would be. Obviously you want to remember to close the lid, but as mentioned below, that screen should have its own cover too, maybe even a child-protected one! I really think these days you need a digital for all the bells and whistles, AND an acoustic for a truly real piano experience, and in case you lose power! Though at the 2019 NAMM show in California last week, some very decent low-priced digital pianos were introduced, and a few can run on AA batteries for 4 hours, so that you can play outdoor gigs or indoors during the Armageddon! :-)
I’d be more concerned with a kid banging his fists on the keyboard and damaging that lovely and expensive action. At least when the piano is off and you are away from it, the screen is black. That keyboard is always beckoning. Many years ago I witnessed my sister’s young child banging away at her upright while she didn’t say anything to him to stop him. One day I sat down at it to play and found several keys not working right. I’d no sooner allow a young child to bang on a piano keyboard than allow him/her to use a violin as a whiffleball bat or a saxophone to blow soap bubbles.
Loved the NV10. I went with the Casio GP 310 because it's like 1/3 the price and still very good, but the NV10 is definitely what I would get if I could afford it.
Such an expensive piano should last for decades. But will the interfaces do? It is like buying a computere that must be on the top 50 years from now. Will anybody be able to fix or replace parts then?
Imagine buying a car then....seriously, this thing is not much more expensive than a car (at least when I think of prices here in Germany, and compared to a car there are practically no annoying follow up costs as petrol, damaged parts, taxes, worn tires..etc.) - you can play it two years and then sell it for upgrading to the next (like a lot of people do with their cars). Apart from that I'm sure that in the future there will be an equivalent of the present piano builder which will be able to fix digital musical instruments in all sorts of ways anyway. (Disclaimer: no native speaker)
Thanks Tim, a quick question I saw you spent sometime playing the Casio GP500 also, now obviously this Novus is in a very different price point and category but I was wondering if you could describe the differences in two areas, feel firstly. And secondly the built in speakers? I’m not so concerned with headphones or playing through another sound system. I’ve heard mixed things about the Novus built in speakers. I want a hybrid piano that feels great and sounds great, if the Novus exceeds the Casio by a big margin in these two areas then maybe I can justify the extra expense. Of course I’ll make a trip to the city before dropping any money but as you’ve played both I’d love your opinion.
I recently bought the Kawai CS11. I think there is a bug in the Upright Piano Preset. The G5 key plays a double tone. It almost sounds like a Octave piano but just on one note. Does yours have the same issue?
If someone can chime in here because my ****** dealers don’t have any NV10’s or a Yamaha N3X’s to try out I have to literally drive like 6 hours to a different state to listen to them. I see videos comparing both Yamaha N1X to the Kawai NV10 piano sound recorded directly via usb/audio outs. I don’t see allot of people taking about the soundscape through the actual speakers. I’m familiar with the old N3, N2 and N1 soundscape via their speakers but how does the Kawai NV10 sound? Does it produce a soundscape similar to the N1/N1X, N2 or N3/N3X?
Does this piano have a Tactile Response System like the Yamaha N2, N3 and N3X where you can feel vibration through the keys when you play. When I tried out the avant grand I thought this made it much more realistic and worth it above the N1. If the NV10 does not have TRS how does feel when you play? Can you still feel a vibration without TRS?
I wasn’t aware of it so I don’t think it’s a feature. I didn’t find it an issue at all. The responsive vibrations are less of a issue for me given the sound is coming thru the soundboard in a very natural way that resonates with the instrument anyway.
Thanks heaps for the review! Been on the lookout for this piano since it was first announced, and the mechanism they incorporated (full damper action) is what really got me intrigued in terms of performance. Seems like it is as good as I hoped it'd be. Would you prefer it over the Casio? Or rather: is it worth the extra 10k?
Silly question - I notice you have the Kawai logo on the side of the unit - mine in the UK does not have this. Did you apply this yourself or is your unit a kind of promotional version? Thanks. Great review by the way, it really is a beautiful DP (minus the buzzing issues many of us are facing).
I am writing to understand if changing an acoustic Yamaha U3 makes sense for this Kawai model? I ask it in terms of nuance at the pressure of the keys, in the perception of how the touch is playing (in the classic if you do not have a key pressure in a certain way you perceive the difference of sound, of nuance). I am looking at the performances on the Hybrid pianos but I am a bit perplexed by a practically constant sound, sampled in a certain way. I wanted to find out if you had the same opinions on this. Also because this model what like a good used classic grand piano
Depends a bit on the quality/age of your U3 and whether you need the hybrid mode eg. for digital output and/or silent/headphone playing? I wouldn't change it over for the sake of getting a hybrid, but if you're looking, then this and the Yamaha N (eg. N1X) series are worth exploring. I strongly recommend you go and play these instruments to get a feel for the touch and sound.
Hi Joseph, thanks for your interest in my music! The piece is called Goodbye For Now, But Not Forever. You can find it in the book titled BY MY SIDE. Here's a link www.justinlevitt.com/product-page/by-my-side Tim plays it beautifully! Hope you enjoy it :)
Hi Joseph, I'm so happy you enjoyed the piece! Tim is playing (rather beautifully, if I may say so myself) a piece called Mr Bach's Wig. Mr Bach's Wig is a suite, Tim is playing the third movement of the piece. Here is a link for the book that has the piece in it www.justinlevitt.com/product-page/looking-back Hope you enjoy! Thanks!
I just came across this video and noticed it was published more than a year ago. I'm interested in the kawai Novus hybrid piano so I'm curious how it has stood the test of time.
probably just as new as it was! It has ABS carbon materials instead of traditionally wood in the action mechanism which is great to resist to the moist and temperature changes
@@Assassunn A piano student in a music conservatory or music school normally practices four to eight hours a day on the piano. I wonder if a hybrid piano is built to withstand this kind of daily pounding for several years.
@@titob.yotokojr.9337 I thought it has great built quality and materials, it really really feels like premium not only on photos but in reality and also when playing it. Of course I can only talk for the Novus10 and the Avantgrand
My new NV10S has an issue that Kawai Australia brushed off, so far. The sustain pedal press or release is felt in the pressed keys as unpleasant little kicks. In an acoustic grand this sensation is avoided by making sure that pressing of a key raises the damper a little bit higher than the sustain pedal does. For my piano, this is the opposite. The key does not raise the damper high enough, applying the pedal raises it higher thus removing the damper weight from the key and producing the tangible sensation in fingers. Does anybody have this issue with their Novus?
I've just tested this on mine and no issues there, so that sounds a little odd. Sorry to hear you're having that experience and I hope Kawai are able to test and help. Where are you based?
A great instrument no doubt - but IMHO you should say up front that Kawai provided with you with the NV10 free of charge to review - so any positive comments should be treated with scepticism.
@@topmusicco thanks. It would've been cool if you demonstrated it in the video. No one seems to demonstrate the feature anywhere on youtube. Kawai didn't even mention it in their official novus product video..
There's no cover unfortunately, and the screen doesnt full turn "off" it just goes "black" which is still very light because it's just an LCD display. OLED would have been nice for this price. Thankfully the piano comes with a lovely sude cleaning cloth which sites perfectly over the screen, thankfully without triggering the touch-controls whatsoever.
@@Phoerocks it's so ridiculous to me that they couldn't put a cover on it. They innovate so much in the digital piano market in other areas but they fail to give you the simple option to cover the LCD display on their flagship hybrid piano..
@@julianmanjarres1998 Ignore my spelling mistakes above, but yes I agree, especially when one of their DPs does have a cover (can't recall which model).
For examples of professional playing of this piano check out rach3master channel, for instance ua-cam.com/channels/h9N3Xirs86USDQXE1WiwXg.html Note though that the sound you hear in these videos isn't from the piano itself, but a PC. Only the MIDI has been recorded.
Thank you Tim for this very comprehensive review of the NV10. I am moving from a house to an apartment in the coming months and will be needing to say farewell to my Kawai KG5C, and looking at the NV10 as my next instrument. Thank you, Wayne.
Good luck!
Thanks for Demo, ordered today and will receive it tomorrow 🎼🎼👍😎
Wow - amazing 🤩
I played on one of these today and I was impressed!! The feel/touch of the keys is great!!! Loved the sound of the SK grand. Played using headphones as there were many customers in the store. Going back some day to play without the headphones
Thank you, Tim, for the great review. It was very helpful in making a decision on a Hybrid Piano. Had the opportunity to play the Kawai Novus and was amazed at the feel. Have used Kawai VPC-1 virtual keyboard w Ivory II software for about 5 years at my church but longed for a better feeling instrument like the Novus. Church has approved the Kawai Novus and will look forward to using it. Again, a great helpful review and done in an excellent way!
2020 prices in the US:
Kawai NV10 $13,000
Yamaha N1X $9,000
Both with real grand piano actions. That's a significant price difference
kawai has physical sustain pedal
Goo coverage, only problem is the audio. Using a camera mic in that room gives a slightly harsh and cold sound which belies your words.
No self-respecting video maker should be using the camera for recording voices. They are okay (just decent) for picking up ambient sound (and you need a wind sock if it is a windy day). Anything else is 1980’s home movies quality.
@@Boris_Chang Not only that Boris; recording a piano needs carefully chosen mikes.
Tim, How does this compare to the CA98 and the CS11?
Just a reminder that this instrument incorporates a full Kawai grand piano action.
As others have pointed out, Kawai are not the first manufacturer to control the settings via a touchscreen app. Roland and Yamaha both let you use apps on your own devices to adjust their piano settings. Actually the best thing that Kawai have done is remove the button/dial controls from the piano. That puts them a level above Roland.
That’s something I always loathed about the Yamaha Clavinova series-the prominent “digital dashboard”: with all the buttons and dials and lights right there above the length of the keyboard. I favor something that looks more like a real classic acoustic piano-ergo I agree that the LCD should have a cover. That isn’t a showstopper for me though. If I decide to get one of these, I can just cut a small piece of black felt to tactfully cover it up.
@@Boris_Chang I think it'd be more fair to compare these to the Avantgrand, which also doesn't have a digital lcd screen etc.. at least the N1 I had the chance to play didn't.. In that sense the Kawai CA79-99 has gone a bit too far with the ipad like screen:)
Hi Tim, I would like to know if you are still using the Novus 10 today or if you didn't like it anymore? Since I noticed that it got replaced in your studio room / I did not see it again in your studio/videos. Thanks a lot for an answer, best regards Tim
I only had the Novus for a short review period. I now have the Aures which I’m testing.
I hate to bring this up, but as you rave about that glass touch screen, it brings back memories of my son as a toddler picking up his toy trucks and banging on my Baldwin grand's piano keys with them at random. I'd worry about a kid smashing that screen, and I wonder if the piano doesn't work AT ALL if that happens, and how much that repair would be. Obviously you want to remember to close the lid, but as mentioned below, that screen should have its own cover too, maybe even a child-protected one!
I really think these days you need a digital for all the bells and whistles, AND an acoustic for a truly real piano experience, and in case you lose power! Though at the 2019 NAMM show in California last week, some very decent low-priced digital pianos were introduced, and a few can run on AA batteries for 4 hours, so that you can play outdoor gigs or indoors during the Armageddon! :-)
I think the chances for that kid to scratch the finish are far greater than smashing that touch screen glass.
I’d be more concerned with a kid banging his fists on the keyboard and damaging that lovely and expensive action. At least when the piano is off and you are away from it, the screen is black. That keyboard is always beckoning. Many years ago I witnessed my sister’s young child banging away at her upright while she didn’t say anything to him to stop him. One day I sat down at it to play and found several keys not working right. I’d no sooner allow a young child to bang on a piano keyboard than allow him/her to use a violin as a whiffleball bat or a saxophone to blow soap bubbles.
Loved the NV10. I went with the Casio GP 310 because it's like 1/3 the price and still very good, but the NV10 is definitely what I would get if I could afford it.
Yes it’s pricey but I do love it. One of my favourite hybrids of all
Thanks for the good review!
welcome
Such an expensive piano should last for decades. But will the interfaces do?
It is like buying a computere that must be on the top 50 years from now. Will anybody be able to fix or replace parts then?
Imagine buying a car then....seriously, this thing is not much more expensive than a car (at least when I think of prices here in Germany, and compared to a car there are practically no annoying follow up costs as petrol, damaged parts, taxes, worn tires..etc.) - you can play it two years and then sell it for upgrading to the next (like a lot of people do with their cars). Apart from that I'm sure that in the future there will be an equivalent of the present piano builder which will be able to fix digital musical instruments in all sorts of ways anyway. (Disclaimer: no native speaker)
Thanks Tim, a quick question I saw you spent sometime playing the Casio GP500 also, now obviously this Novus is in a very different price point and category but I was wondering if you could describe the differences in two areas, feel firstly. And secondly the built in speakers?
I’m not so concerned with headphones or playing through another sound system. I’ve heard mixed things about the Novus built in speakers.
I want a hybrid piano that feels great and sounds great, if the Novus exceeds the Casio by a big margin in these two areas then maybe I can justify the extra expense.
Of course I’ll make a trip to the city before dropping any money but as you’ve played both I’d love your opinion.
Top Music so the Casio speakers sound shitty or muffled? Or acceptable?
Hi Tim, could you please say what the piano piece is called, what you play. Did you play very beautiful, it touched my heart. Thank you so much!
I also bought NV10 based on your video.
I saw “wood bass” that’s Japanese English for contrabass, acoustic bass.
Ich freue mich auf das Novus NV-10S
I recently bought the Kawai CS11. I think there is a bug in the Upright Piano Preset. The G5 key plays a double tone. It almost sounds like a Octave piano but just on one note. Does yours have the same issue?
Dear Tim, where did you get the golden KAWAI letters on the side from? Kind regards
Hi Anna - it comes with that model I guess - I definitely didn't add them!
If someone can chime in here because my ****** dealers don’t have any NV10’s or a Yamaha N3X’s to try out I have to literally drive like 6 hours to a different state to listen to them. I see videos comparing both Yamaha N1X to the Kawai NV10 piano sound recorded directly via usb/audio outs. I don’t see allot of people taking about the soundscape through the actual speakers. I’m familiar with the old N3, N2 and N1 soundscape via their speakers but how does the Kawai NV10 sound? Does it produce a soundscape similar to the N1/N1X, N2 or N3/N3X?
where are all the outputs if it's next to the wall? how would I plug cords into it?
Does this piano have a Tactile Response System like the Yamaha N2, N3 and N3X where you can feel vibration through the keys when you play. When I tried out the avant grand I thought this made it much more realistic and worth it above the N1. If the NV10 does not have TRS how does feel when you play? Can you still feel a vibration without TRS?
I wasn’t aware of it so I don’t think it’s a feature. I didn’t find it an issue at all. The responsive vibrations are less of a issue for me given the sound is coming thru the soundboard in a very natural way that resonates with the instrument anyway.
Great Review! Thank you! Would you reveal what black light that is next to the Metronom, really would like to buy that as well. Thank you
I think it was just from ikea?! 😂
Thanks heaps for the review! Been on the lookout for this piano since it was first announced, and the mechanism they incorporated (full damper action) is what really got me intrigued in terms of performance. Seems like it is as good as I hoped it'd be. Would you prefer it over the Casio? Or rather: is it worth the extra 10k?
Silly question - I notice you have the Kawai logo on the side of the unit - mine in the UK does not have this. Did you apply this yourself or is your unit a kind of promotional version? Thanks. Great review by the way, it really is a beautiful DP (minus the buzzing issues many of us are facing).
I am writing to understand if changing an acoustic Yamaha U3 makes sense for this Kawai model?
I ask it in terms of nuance at the pressure of the keys, in the perception of how the touch is playing (in the classic if you do not have a key pressure in a certain way you perceive the difference of sound, of nuance). I am looking at the performances on the Hybrid pianos but I am a bit perplexed by a practically constant sound, sampled in a certain way.
I wanted to find out if you had the same opinions on this. Also because this model what like a good used classic grand piano
Depends a bit on the quality/age of your U3 and whether you need the hybrid mode eg. for digital output and/or silent/headphone playing? I wouldn't change it over for the sake of getting a hybrid, but if you're looking, then this and the Yamaha N (eg. N1X) series are worth exploring. I strongly recommend you go and play these instruments to get a feel for the touch and sound.
@@topmusicco thank you so much
Hello Tim, which piece are you performing here by Justin Levitt? I'd like to pick up the book that has this work in it. Thank you! Joseph
Hi Joseph, thanks for your interest in my music! The piece is called Goodbye For Now, But Not Forever. You can find it in the book titled BY MY SIDE. Here's a link www.justinlevitt.com/product-page/by-my-side
Tim plays it beautifully! Hope you enjoy it :)
Hi Joseph, I'm so happy you enjoyed the piece! Tim is playing (rather beautifully, if I may say so myself) a piece called Mr Bach's Wig. Mr Bach's Wig is a suite, Tim is playing the third movement of the piece. Here is a link for the book that has the piece in it www.justinlevitt.com/product-page/looking-back Hope you enjoy! Thanks!
I just came across this video and noticed it was published more than a year ago. I'm interested in the kawai Novus hybrid piano so I'm curious how it has stood the test of time.
probably just as new as it was! It has ABS carbon materials instead of traditionally wood in the action mechanism which is great to resist to the moist and temperature changes
@@Assassunn A piano student in a music conservatory or music school normally practices four to eight hours a day on the piano. I wonder if a hybrid piano is built to withstand this kind of daily pounding for several years.
@@titob.yotokojr.9337 I thought it has great built quality and materials, it really really feels like premium not only on photos but in reality and also when playing it. Of course I can only talk for the Novus10 and the Avantgrand
@@Assassunn Thank you for your input.
My new NV10S has an issue that Kawai Australia brushed off, so far. The sustain pedal press or release is felt in the pressed keys as unpleasant little kicks. In an acoustic grand this sensation is avoided by making sure that pressing of a key raises the damper a little bit higher than the sustain pedal does. For my piano, this is the opposite. The key does not raise the damper high enough, applying the pedal raises it higher thus removing the damper weight from the key and producing the tangible sensation in fingers.
Does anybody have this issue with their Novus?
I've just tested this on mine and no issues there, so that sounds a little odd. Sorry to hear you're having that experience and I hope Kawai are able to test and help. Where are you based?
Really helpful, thanks
Pleasure David
why do you still have a metronome on your piano? ;)
It’s still the fastest thing to access when I’m doing my own practice or need to check something
A great instrument no doubt - but IMHO you should say up front that Kawai provided with you with the NV10 free of charge to review - so any positive comments should be treated with scepticism.
Can the screen be configured to turn off while you're playing? Have you tried it?
@@topmusicco thanks. It would've been cool if you demonstrated it in the video. No one seems to demonstrate the feature anywhere on youtube. Kawai didn't even mention it in their official novus product video..
Isn't there a cover also?
There's no cover unfortunately, and the screen doesnt full turn "off" it just goes "black" which is still very light because it's just an LCD display. OLED would have been nice for this price. Thankfully the piano comes with a lovely sude cleaning cloth which sites perfectly over the screen, thankfully without triggering the touch-controls whatsoever.
@@Phoerocks it's so ridiculous to me that they couldn't put a cover on it. They innovate so much in the digital piano market in other areas but they fail to give you the simple option to cover the LCD display on their flagship hybrid piano..
@@julianmanjarres1998 Ignore my spelling mistakes above, but yes I agree, especially when one of their DPs does have a cover (can't recall which model).
What is the piece you start playing at 12:15 ?
ua-cam.com/video/VtmQzfOKIGs/v-deo.html
Please do tell. It's marvelous.
For examples of professional playing of this piano check out rach3master channel, for instance ua-cam.com/channels/h9N3Xirs86USDQXE1WiwXg.html
Note though that the sound you hear in these videos isn't from the piano itself, but a PC. Only the MIDI has been recorded.
Un piano hybride ? Merci, je fume Gauloises.
@@topmusicco LOL, I just guessing, but maybe he's saying, "A hybrid piano? Thank you, I'm burning with jealousy."
Or at least *I* am! :-)
I wish it was about 100lbs lighter.
You can buy a very powerful phone for $300 nowadays, so they very well may have just used mobile phone hardware in there.
My grandmother can play like this. Amaterur playing.
Dragon Mijovich calm down Mozart ☺️
@@nat.serrano to dragon his playing wasnt fierce enough))