Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Digital Pianos - Electronic Pianos - Synths & Keyboards buying a stage piano for the best "grand piano sound"

Hello everyone,

I have been looking for the best "electronic" acoustic piano sound for the past monds but haven't really found it yet. I just want something that comes really close to the real deal. I have bought EWQL pianos (a VSTi) but I can't use it yet because my old keyboards MIDI is a little bit... let's say it doesn't work as it should be. So I'm going to buy a new keyboard and my price tag is somewhere below 2000 euro's. I want a quality/professional (stage) piano with a really good acoustic piano sound and fine working MIDI. I don't care about anything else except the good "acoustic like" sound and the MIDI soo I guess there are alot of options below 2000 euros. I have taken a look at ROLAND but the acoustic sound is close.. but just "not it" and I'm thinking about going for a YAMAHA again (got a protable grand DGX-620 right now).
Do you guys have any suggestions?

Only you know what is the best acoustic sound according to your taste. The basic sounds from Kawai, Roland and Yamaha are different.

Folks on here will send you towards the Roland 700NX Studio Grand, the Kawai MP6, MP10, ES7 and even the older EP3, and Yamaha Pxx or CPxx. Some of the NORD acoustic samples also find favour.

There's not much love here for Casio, except as good value lightweight boards.

Those on here really after an authentic sound though favour Vintage D VST.

You probably need to differentiate further by price, function, keys and weight. Or, what do you really want it for.

None of them is a perfect emulation of any existing grand piano. There are always compromises.

If you prefer:
Non-looped decay = Roland SN + Korg Kronos/Krome

88-note sampling = Roland + Kawai MP/ES7 + Korg Kronos/Krome

Choice of emulations = Nord (although Roland RD-700NX, Korg Kronos and Yamaha CP5/1 also offer individually sampled alternatives to their main acoustic sound)

Sophisticated tri-sensor action with simulated let-off = Roland RD-700NX + Kawai ES7

Greater than 4 velocity layers = Korg Kronos/Krome + Studiologic Numa + Yamaha CP1 + (possibly) Nord and Roland

But as spanishbuddha says, only you know what you like.

Also, there are numerous additional downloadable different piano samples for Kronos and Yamaha Motif XF... but unlike Nord, you usually have to purchase them separately.

get roland's V-Piano nothing compares as far as the feel, touch and sound.

p.s.
2k Euros should get you first installment
other then that RD700NX in your price range.

RD700NX ....

+1

The RD is not bad but the V-Piano blows it away (for 2.5x the price, it better).

The Nord Piano and Stage 2 both have very good reputations too. They don't feel all that authentic but they're good enough for Hiromi:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Ao3gRYpV6A

OT - Hiromi - Amazing and Boring at the same time. That's quite an accomplishment. The only thing missing is her playing the other instruments during that performance.

If acoustic piano-like action is important: Kawai MP10

That opinion is quite the minority view ...
The NX studio grand kills the V piano ....

The RD-700NX is certainly one of the best (in fact, probably the best among non-modeled DPs), but if played side-by-side with the V-Piano, there's really no comparison in terms of the sheer 'realism' of the latter's responsiveness to minute changes of articulation and touch of the player, especially at the extremes of dynamics. The more it's pushed, the more you realize just how remarkable the V's simulation of the acoustic grand is.

I had a V ... Got rid of it because of its lack of realism.
I've got a RD700NX .....I've kept it and used it, even recorded it when I could have used a real grand piano and that speaks for itself.
I find it amusing that the only people who defend the V are people who already own one and therefore have a vested interest in their hideously overpriced and under performing instrument.

Oke guys, I have found my favourite! Went to a shop today and played a lot of yamaha stage piano's.. None of them really standed out to me and when I went playing on the Nord piano 2.. I was instantly sold. Amazing sound library, a good feel and just a good experience overall. Even all the knobs and buttons felt high quality soo.. I'm almost definitely sure I'm gonna buy that one

@Ray

Is weight a point of consideration ? I mean RN700NX or MP10 (even heavier) are fine boards , but you didn't indicate how much weight you wnat to carry around. Otherwise Nord Piano 2 , or Casio PX or the KROME 88 may be interesting as lightweight boards ? Not the top actions, but since you didn't mention top-action as a top-priority I guess that doesn't matter...In terms of best piano sound: KROME88 >= Nord2 > Casio PX-x50

Oke, I will be more specific.. I want a 88-key stage piano, with fully or graded weighted keys (just a good feel for me, don't really care about the specific specs), amazing piano samples and a below 2500 euro price tag. I don't really care about the weight or all the different synthesizer options and extra sounds. And although with the nord piano 2 I'm also paying for that, for me its: [ Nord 2 > YAMAHA > Roland ] right now, haven't tried any other brand yet..

@JFP I will take a look at the KROME88

It looks as though you don't know any classical musicians who have played and used DPs including the V-Piano. My pop & jazz acquaintances say exactly the same as you do and can't look beyond what they expect a DP to do (not sure what it is they expect, but they equate 'value' with bells and whistles and flashing lights and funny sounds ); my classical friends who normally only play acoustics rave about the V-Piano's sheer realism when they play it, and like me, have no interest in any funny sounds.

But as one hack once said, there's no accounting for tastes (not even bad tastes....).

Don't get me wrong; the RD-700NX is a great DP for people like you. It's just not as good as the V-Piano for a pianist.

+1

Mine is on its way...

I played a V-Piano today through the monitor setup in Thomann's flagship store at the corporate headquarters which is as high end as it get's probably. I found it to be OK but a bit bland and too close to the sound and feel of the RD700NX considering its price tag.

I just purchased the RD700NX and couldn't be happier, I find myself using the studio grand sample or pairing it up with my computer and using NI's The Giant, I waited well over a year going to music stores all over and trying just about every dp out there, Im lucky to live in the Boston area so music stores are everywhere up here. Once you get into that 2k range it really seems that the top offers of today are the MP10, Nord Piano 2 and RD700NX, Yamaha is close and rumor has it that they are hard at work at releasing a new sample for future dp's. My experience is one that put the RD700NX on top for 3 reasons.
1. Keyboard action, MP10 and the 700 are excellent, the Nord really doesn't compete
2. Sounds, all three are great, the Nord has the most character (best sounding unless your really being critical), the 700 has the most complete sample all around (resonance, decay, clarity, tone), and the MP10 is a decent sample but doesn't stand out quite like the other 2.
3. MIDI, as far as hooking the 700 up to a pc and using orchestral, piano, choir and synth libraries while retaining the feel of a great keybed and controls, nothing out there compares at this time other than the MP10. Neither have aftertouch but the 700nx allows you to split and layer up to 4 zones if you need them while the MP10 is limited to one, however I like the MP10s wheels vs the 700NX's joystick.
Also you can get one brand new in the US for under 2300 pretty easily, sweetwater will initially quote 2350, Guitar Center will beat that and then sweetwater may beat that price again. Just email them. Best of luck!