Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Digital Pianos - Electronic Pianos - Synths & Keyboards New Yamaha CLP 500 Series Release May 2014

They do, it's on the specs chart link

@EssBrace,

No, as you are not correct on two counts:

1) As I think you may have forgotten that the Clavinova CLP-990 (that I own) has escapement simulation and it is now a 13 year old model.

2) And, what about the AvantGrands with their "specialized grand piano actions" as you owned an N3 that had escapement simulation, right?

Question:

Why didn't Yamaha add escapement simulation to their later models, i.e., CLP-300/400 series, etc?

That's a big gap of time without having the feature - from the CLP-990 to the AvantGrands.

Richard, none of us could forget you have a CLP-990.

Personally I don't categorise the Avant Grand as a conventional "DP". And in any event they don't have "escapement simulation", because they have a real grand piano action.

YAMAHA has always had the advantage of a very easy and nicely direct to handle user interface, while KAWAI and ROLAND are lost in sub menu structures and excessive need of [+] and [-] button pressing. Furthermore, YAMAHA (440/480) and KAWAI (CA65/95) action and basic sound of their piano tone are quite similar, only ROLAND (505/507) here differs notably. The only drawback of a YAMAHA against a KAWAI to me is the speaker system sounding a kind of distant. The YAMAHA key action on the 470 and its connectivity to the sound engine to me felt actually much better than the one of a CA65, when I could compare them side by side.

I guess I will never get why the KAWAIs are ranked so high here on the forum. Yes, they are excellent instruments, but I do not at all see them outstandig in comparison to the competitors, I see them just as an equivalent alternative.

For me it is a general decision between either ROLAND on the one side with a lighter action and warmer sound, and YAMAHA/KAWAI on the other side with harder action and brighter sound. If opting for the YAMAHA/KAWAI side, then decision making is really getting difficult, because differences are not huge within that group.

Steve,

You are right on that detail, sorry for my error. As the Avant Grands have real grand piano actions as you say and therefore do not have "escapement simulation" like the CLP-990 does, or, other digitals.

Anyway, it appears that the CLP-990 may be the only Yamaha digital that ever had "escapement simulation" prior to the Avant Grands being released several years later.

Yamaha has not added this feature to any other digitals until now with the new Clavinova "500" series.

James (and, Steve) - thanks for the extra note of recognition although the true *accolade of honor* should probably be given to the piano (i.e., CLP-990) and not me!

I doubt anyone else has a remote interest in playing/owning a 13 year old instrument when there is always new stuff around the corner to be had. And, "new" items may be interesting and intriguing to ponder over but are usually not convincing enough to purchase.

I feel I've finally made it. There's very little I could go on to achieve in life that could eclipse being quoted by your good self James. Maybe an OBE I suppose. Or the Freedom of the City of Norwich. Or a guest spot on North Norfolk Digital.

And yes Richard, the CLP-990 deserves its accolade as best Clavinova ever made.

Steve

For me its the action of the Kawais which I find are superior to the Yamaha GHx. They are both trying to simulate a real action but I think Kawai's design is a lot more successful.

This is subjective to a certain extent but I think this is the main reason why Kawai's are preferred. Really Yamaha has sat on the same action design for years and have done nothing to progress it forward despite now adding let-off simulation.

In its advertising Kawai has provided clear diagrams and demonstrations of their actions. Yamaha seems to keep the innards of its design a secret and only use sweet language to describe their actions. What do they have to hide?

I expect I'm perhaps the only other person on PianoWorld to understand this reference.

I don't think it's necessarily a case that Yamaha has anything to hide, but rather that Kawai has more to show.

James
x

Avanguard peek-a-boo now you see now you don't is one example why I spend so much (too much) time on PW I should really be playing my home rig instead, it's not the worst

Avanguard vs. AvantGrand! Now, that would be a nice topic for debate.

I have a CLA-250, yet no one seems to care.

So, you drive a CLA-250 Mercedes-Benz?



Looks like a real eye grabber to me.

Although, on a more serious note, the CL(P)-250 you have is indeed an old model and I am sure it is a very playable piano, also!

If you like it and it holds value for you - then it's a good digital.

I meant the Mercedes; I had no idea that a CLP-250 existed. Though I must admit, I own neither.

@Pete14,

Okay, not that it matters - however, I would prefer a piano.

If one has enough money in which to buy that car - as it lists at nearly $30K - would probably take the same amount and go find a nice acoustic grand, instead!

Other folks might want those fancy wheels.

I think if you can buy such a car, the acoustic grand should not be a problem

I am suspended in/with disbelief!