🎹 Discover the Beauty of Hybrid Pianos | Yamaha N1X vs Kawai NV10s Review, Demo & Comparison 🎹

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0:00 - Introduction
2:41 - PIano Sound | NV10s
7:33 - Piano Sound | Yamaha N1X
12:20 - Piano Action Comparison
14:46 - Connectivity
15:27 - Speakers
17:51 - Final Thoughts
19:47 - Speaker Test

Thanks for joining us today! We’ve got a pretty exciting piano comparison today as we’re putting the Kawai Novus NV10S against Yamaha AvantGrand N1X.

These are some of the top digital piano models from each of these esteemed manufacturers largely due to the presence of real acoustic piano actions, so they often get compared by anyone seeking a top-of-the-line digital piano.

Background
Each piano is equipped with each company’s top tone engine. The NV10S boasts Kawai’s SKEX Rendering engine, as well as the HIXL engine, whereas the N1X has Yamaha’s Spatial Acoustic Sampling engine. Both of these engines feature extremely high-quality samples of their respective manufacturer's flagship concert grand pianos, with added resonance engines to fill out and authenticate the sound.

The goal of these pianos is to create a grand piano experience in a much smaller, maintenance-free footprint. Yamaha also offers their N3X which has the size and shape of a grand piano, so the N1X is really for folks looking for something in a smaller package.

Is This A Fair Comparison?
Many people will ask if this is a fair comparison because the NV10S is quite a bit more expensive than the N1X. But the fact is, these are the two most commonly compared hybrid digital pianos from Yamaha and Kawai according to Google.

This is likely because each piano represents the lowest price point a consumer can access a real grand piano action from these two manufacturers, so that does shed light on why these get compared.

How Do They Sound?
The NV10S’s Rendering engine consists of a sample of the SKEX that is the amalgamation of several full stereo recordings of the piano from different positions and mic placements, which is why it’s considered a multi-channel sample

The first observation is that the bass register sounds fantastic. There’s also a really great sound stage, meaning it really feels like you’re in front of a grand piano due to a sense of 3D space. The treble is very substantive, which is a quality often associated with great Steinway Model D’s.

We don’t have as much info on the N1X in terms of how Yamaha actually achieved the sample, but we can say the bass also sounds great, if slightly less clear than the NV10S. The mid-range is very tight sounding, and the 3D space we noted on the NV10S isn’t really present here. The treble is cleaner on the N1X, but also a little bit thinner.

Both ultimately sound great, but there are some meaningful differences.

Piano Action
The action is really the key selling feature of each of these pianos since they both boast actual acoustic piano actions.

The NV10S features Kawai’s Millennium III Carbon Fiber action - the same action used on their acoustic grand pianos - and it gives the sense that you’re playing a 7 to 9-foot piano. This is the result of a very long key stick and pivot length (both quite a bit longer than the N1X’s action.)

The repetition speed is quite a bit faster on the NV10S, and the damper simulator on the back of the key also feels more realistic.

Due to a shorter key length on the N1X action - Yamaha calls this action the Specialized Grand Piano Action - the weighting of the keys changes from the bottom to the top. The feeling of the dampers is also much less pronounced, and some players might actually prefer this.

Features/User Interface/Connectivity
When it comes to the features, interface and connectivity, this is where the NV10S starts to justify its higher price tag.

The NV10S has a great touchscreen Android user interface that’s easy to navigate, much like a smartphone. Features include 100 sounds, an extensive Virtual Technician function, tons of pre-recorded music, lesson books and more.

The N1X has a traditional push button control with a basic LCD screen. There’s little additional functionality with only 15 sounds, 10 pre-loaded songs and a very basic recorder.

The NV10S also has a lot more connectivity options with all the essentials covered, whereas the N1X is missing obvious things like a line output.

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