Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Digital Pianos - Electronic Pianos - Synths & Keyboards Kawai Novus NV5 vs Kawai CA99 -- Stu Harrison

Hello,



Cheers and enjoy,

HZ

I am on laptop speakers, so that may exaggerate some differences, but boy does that NV-5 sound better!

Anyone who has seen Harrison's separate reviews of the NV5 and the CA99 knew before watching this video which one he would consider to be the superior piano.

So, it really comes down to how much you're willing and able to spend, and what level you're at. I thought his point about coming to these from "above" or "below" to be an interesting one. For someone coming from a $500 or $1,500 slab piano, the jump to an NV5 is a big one, in terms of both money and "feel". OTOH, as he says, for someone looking for a digital alternative to a good acoustic upright, the CA99 might not fit the bill.

Interesting comparison, and I always enjoy listening to Stu play!

not to forget that the successor NV5S has been further improved in terms of sound thanks to a further developed SK-EX rendering sound engine and new transducers for the soundboard...

Hello,

This:


And yes, all of this:


Plus:


I find both of these instruments *very* interesting musically, and given space and financial means, would certainly prefer the NV5S (unless a proper acoustic came within reach, that is).

😋

Cheers and happy playing,

HZ

Well the sound difference is fairly small. I don't think would be disappointed by the sound of either one once you got home.
If you have the extra money why not get the NV5, but the CA99 is still quite the piano.

My problem is with the hybrid concept period. The whole point of a digital to me is the no hassle easy to use, no humidity or tuning to worry about and of course the ability to play with headphones or even lowering the sound.

To me, once you get to hybrid and all those moving parts and the price, you really have to start considering if an acoustic would not be a better choice.

And for all the great sound these hybrids have, I still see people on these forums using VST's with their hybrids.

When I got my CA79, I had no interest in the CA99 hybrid and my opinion has not changed.

Great pianos, both of them and another great review by Stu.

Ron

Surely, you meant ‘why not get an NV5S’……..

There’s no reason to get an NV5 at this junction; even if it means waiting a bit longer.

It’s not only for the ‘improvements’ but also for the fact that having yesterday’s model will fetch you less come trade/sell/upgrade time.

Yep gotta go for the new shiny model. Oh wait the old model was also shiny

Since you really can't get the NV5 at most places, you will have to pony up for the NV5S

Me after playing a N1X I'm thinking in the future a grand action is for me.

Of Course the NV5S. That goes without saying Pete.

Seriously...

"And on the software side, we've got providers like Modartt making their Pianoteq that have really celebrated and advanced the art of piano modeling technology"

Maybe I should just stick with Pianoteq, and get a VPC1 and decent speakers... that would be a cheaper option than either of these.

But I really want an NV5

It should do, it's a lot more money lol

It is amazing what polished Ebony can do to a person 😂

I think there is a point in buying a hybrid many people don't think of. I for example live in a town where there is no piano technician. And there are a lot of people who live in places where there are no technicians. And playing on an out-of-tune piano is a very unpleasant experience. So, to have a piano which has a real action but don't need to be tuned is a big plus. And many people don't consider the fact that maintaining an acoustic is expensive. Ok... let's assume that a hybrid does require some maintenance; but at least it doesn't need to be tuned 2-4 times a year.

Interesting video. Great playing from Stu, as always.

In addition to the differences mentioned in the video, it's perhaps worth noting that the Novus cabinets are assembled in Kawai's acoustic piano facilitiies, while the CA99 cabinet is produced in the digital piano facility.

Also, as noted above, the NV5/NV5S have a polished ebony finish, while the CA99 in this video is obviously a Rosewood finish. Polished ebony adds a few millimetres and kilos to the cabinet.

Kind regards,
James
x

Like someone said in the video, adjusting speaker tone control to brilliance, makes the ca99 sound much clearer and cancels out the woofiness.
Try it!

Does this mean they are made with different materials James?

Yes, I believe so.

I recall a long time ago you telling me the ebony polish ca99 is made with the same polyester material as kawai acoustic uprights?

James, thanks for confirming my suspicion:

The cabinet design, materials, etc.. do indeed make a difference when it comes to ‘sound quality’, and how that sound eventually reaches us.

Stu has also confirmed this for me, ‘the NV-5 sounds more refined (mastered)’, and of course, he made this observation when playing through the on-board speakers/soundboard of both the NV-5 and CA-99.

This also applies to the ‘mystery’ surrounding the NU1X, “why does it sound better than the 685 despite the latter having more speakers?”

And keep in mind that Yamaha makes a big deal about their ‘spruce cone’ speaker(s); whereas, the NU1X’s speakers/sound system are rarely mentioned beyond the spec-sheet: “4 speakers.” No hype there, yet that little NU1X keeps smoking the 685\785!

And finally, keep in mind that the difference in price between the NU1X and the 785 is minimal (if at all), so I vouch for the NU1X and/or an NV5/S if you’re after an overall better ‘piano’ experience. If you want violins, tubas, and cellos with your piano, then look elsewhere, but if ‘piano’ is all you’re about, go for the ‘hybrids’!