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Hi,

Does anyone have suggestions on digital or hybrid pianos with quiet hammer action? I currently have a Roland GP610 and the thump is pretty loud to me, and it's certainly annoying my neighbors downstairs. I'm hoping for some general suggestions that I could then go out and try for myself. There are no piano dealers nearby, so I hope to get some recommendations and then see how far those dealers are from me. Price isn't a huge factor, but around $10,000 or under would be okay. What really matters is as quiet action as possible.

Thank You

If a quiet action is what you are after I can say that you should avoid the NU1X. I love the NU1X but the action is definitely not quiet.

I agree that my NU1 action is noisy, but it's more a clacky sound than a thump. If the OP's thump is a problem through the floor rather than air, then people have posted success using sorbothane isolation pads.

I think a general opinion is that the Kawai GF actions are among the quietest hammer actions. The latest and most premium is the GF3 found in Ca79 and CA99, both well within your budget.

Is there such a thing as a ‘quiet’ hybrid piano action? No.

So it’ll have to be a pure digital if action-noise is a main concern; and yes, Kawai seems to make the quietest digital piano actions.


Of course, there’s the sound-proofing option (sorbothane/carpeting), but what if that does not fully do the trick; return the hybrid?

Keep in mind that some neighbors are more tolerant than others; have you seen your neighbors today? Are they friend or foe? Does even the slightest hint of an instrument being played upset them? Or are they hip with it?

My Bose SC25 Noise Cancelling headphones make everything quiet.

Piano is from the percussion family. I once lived in an attached townhouse and I found a musician friend (bass player,) to rent the other side. Even that friend, who played music couldn't handle it.

I'm afraid even the Silent Piano from Yamaha will not fit your requirement.

You could probably spend half of $10K to buy a good Clavinova and the other half to sound proof part of the room. Or 75-25. I understand sound proofing an entire room is not on the cards for many.

I'm very satisfied with the relative quietness of my P-515. The keys make a satisfied muffled thump. It gives me the feeling of something organic. As if the keys were well lubricated in some consistent matter. I would rate the NWX as very silent relative to the current digital market.

Did you consider buying an anti vibrations pad? It's like those you can usually find on the gym floor, made of rubber. You can easily find it on Amazon. I solved it that way, since the issue of the "thump" is usually not the sound but the vibration going down from the piano to the floor.

A Kawai VPC1 action is super quiet.

Now that has really cheered me up! A splendid quote.

:-) isn't that the story of our (most of the folks' here I dare to presume) lives with this beautiful instrument?

My Korg G1 action is super quiet, and about $8000 under your budget! Lol.

This is a big problem in Japan too. I believe they developed a piano base for this exact purpose - to damp the sound of the action before it transfers to the floor. I'll do some digging and report back if I find it.

Oh it was easy to find!
https://www.amazon.co.jp/-/en/Sound...mp;psc=1&refRID=RB83AEDN9A3FJMF92XEB

Uhgggghhhh sorry for the awful link

If you can see and be able to cut off unnecessary garbage in links, then they may look better:
www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B006X7OAF0

I can confirm from experience that the Kawai MP11SE is very quiet. My wife and I have offices that share a wall, and she complained bitterly about the thumping that my Roland FP-80 made. I tried all sorts of isolation, but nothing worked until I got the Kawai, which I've had now for 2 years without a single complaint.

The problem I'm having with the Kawai is that the Grand Feel action is not very responsive. Mushy, or like playing in molasses is the closest I can come to describing it. Trills are much slower than on my Mason Hamlin. I usually practice on the Kawai, and then move to the Mason Hamlin a day or two before my lesson. The difference in feel is dramatic.

Bottom line is, yes the Kawai GF is very quiet, but try it first. Today, I'm in the market for something better, but that will be the start of another thread.

My Korg G1 Air with RH3 action is very quiet and solid build quality-love it!!