Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Digital Pianos - Electronic Pianos - Synths & Keyboards Kawai NV5

Please pardon my errors from the last writing. Yes, I meant to say "Roland" :=_))))

If you are about to pull the trigger on the NV5 like me this video has very strong arguments..



I wish there were more blind test comparison like these with more pianos and different skill players, can't get more unbiased then this.

So what’s the point here? That digitals are inferior or different?

Personally, I’d take a ‘digital’ hybrid (N1X) over an upright acoustic; however, I would consider an NU1X because it’s cheaper and still sounds better (CFX) than an upright acoustic!

I absolutely hate the ‘upright’ sound signature, and no, U3piano, I don’t care about the so-called ‘hammers-hitting-strings feeling’; it wears out fairly quickly (no pun intended).

The upright acoustic only has a few more years before it goes extinct!

Pete14– what are the very best acoustic upright models you’ve ever played? (Am not being snarky; honest question)

Okay, I have not played the fancy-tall uprights (I only got up to a U3), but assuming that those European fancy uprights sound a little better (longer strings, etc..), they cost as much, if not more than some Japanese grands, and certainly way more than a decent Chinese grand. So this alone will be the undoing of the fancy upright.

And by the way, fancy-and-all, it’s still the upright sound-signature:

A boxed-in sound trying to escape its captor (the cabinet).



P.S.


I stand my ground; the N1X will give you an overall better experience than even a fancy upright with real strings struck by real hammers!

It depends. Cheaper uprights sound indeed very metallic and tinny. The more expensive ones doing the job pretty well.

The point is that they are very easily recognizable, besides the NV-5 which has confused most people. Interesting, but well known fact. It'd would have been more interesting if they had also an NU1X and an N1X to see if they fared better/worse than the NV-5.



Sure, (no offense intended ) you take any opportunity to say that.
I own a NU1 (not X) and I am happy about it for various reasons. Sounds is not one of them. In fact I also own an inexpensive acoustic grand (and before that I had an even less expensive upright, not spinet). In my opinion the sound of even the crappiest upright wins hands down on the sound of any digital I've heard (provided the acoustic is decently in tune and not a spinet).

I don't see how the acoustic upright could go extinct. Well, maybe in a few decades when the sound of the digital ones will really be close enough, but certainly not now. Now, that said, to help with an apples-to-apples comparison of piano sounds, I've started http://pianosound.wikidot.com/ and I'd love to have the sounds of the NU1X and NV-5 contributed (granted, the speakers make a difference, and are out of this comparison, but still...)

So I guess it would be safe to say you’ve never played a premium upright piano. You’ve played good ones, but in the Yamaha-sphere alone there are 5 upright models better than the U3, depending on which market you live in. (U5, YUS3, YUS5, SE132, SU7) Also some of these taller pianos have the sound propagating through alternative case designs with “tone holes” (or pick your marketing buzzword) and differently designed lid openings.

I find premium upright pianos to sound better than most small grand pianos.

We don’t take kindly to “tone holes” ‘round here!

If anything, why not build a nekid upright? No cabinet whatsoever; just the guts completely exposed for all to see/hear instead of having to look/listen through tiny tone holes!

Who’s up for the nekid/industrial upright? (It’s either this, or extinction; so think twice before you say no to the nekid upright).

Whenever I play a U3, I always try to take off the front panel, or at least open the lid. I love the sound (and since most of the instruments I play are older, that kind of dusty, musty smell when you open it up is really nostalgic, too, though someone will probably chime in about how is actually mouse droppings and insect shells :))

When one is obsessed with this machine called the piano, which, let’s be honest, we all are, looking under the hood whilst playing makes the experience so much more immersive and intimate.

So yes, an alternative to the nekid upright would be to simply take off the front panel. Of course, the ultimate experience would still be the fully nekid upright; which has no panels whatsoever. It’s basically just a piece of iron keeping the strings in place, the soundboard resonant, the hammers straight, and the wooden keys ready to be played.

I think I’ve just designed the new-and-evolved upright; you’re welcome!

When I had a Kawai US-50 upright I found that the sound was much improved with the upper front panel removed. The difference was remarkable.But it had no musty smell.

Could'nt agree more... And it would be also interesting to do blind tests when comparing actions. (using a setup where the different actions would be coupled to one and the same VST-pianosound )

Every your desire is an order my friend. And by "order" I don't mean "military order", but "online shopping order". Here is your instrument: https://keybird-instruments.com/english/home

You did not say that you wanted lightweight, but since you like the digital-hybrid instruments I thought to make it at least as lightweight and portable as those:

https://keybird-instruments.com/english/home

A pianist I follow, and whose music I have purchased, uses an upright, modified for una corda, but plays and records with a 'nekkid' piano. Given past discussions on this forum on action noise, this may be quite disconcerting as in her recordings you not only hear the keys but the action clicking away. I quite like it now as it's part of her performance, no doubt the purists will not.

So it seems like Pete isn’t so odd after all; there you have it, sort o’, a partly nekid piano that weighs close to nothing. A few more tweaks and we’re there.

And here everyone thought me crazy when I suggested a ‘carry-on’ acoustic piano, yet here Del Vento presents us with just that!

I must say you have done a good job, Del Vento, and for that you get a gold star ⭐️

Ha, Del Vento – that's cool! I've never heard of those before.

Just place your order Pete14.

Yes Pete14 time to put your money down. Enough is enough. You need to build your muscles up anyway. If we have to we shall get the paper work and make it a military order

Perhaps I should place an order, but what about my beloved P-515? Who will take care of it? Who will protect it from this harsh and brutal simulation we call reality?

You guys, I’m not ready to let go, but I applaud this initiative to finally undo the upright as we know it, and build it up right (you get it?) from scratch.

This time around the sound will be set free from obstruction, and all but one person will be needed to move it about from place to place. It will be by definition upright, but in reality it will simply be right; for you see, the status quo is wrong I say!