Which Digital?, Got a bonus to spend!! Options

[Sunrise]

Hi all, I just got a Christmas bonus and DH has agreed to me spending it on a digital piano, yippeee!! It must be digital as I live in a block of flats, will be moving in the next 2 years and I need the headphone socket as my singing/flute etc makes enough noise already!

I have around ?900. Looking on thomann, that means a Yamaha YDP161 or CLP 320, Kawai CN 23 or CN 42, or a casio AP220 BN.

Does anyone have any experience of these? I'm looking for something that will be good enough to get DD through grade 8 if possible, as I don't want to have to change it too soon. I also have the problem that I am in Gibraltar, so there isn't anywhere for me to try them, no piano shops, so I need to go on reviews and reccomendations.

Thanks! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[PianissiMole]

I would also look at the Roland FP4 which you might just get at that price. I was very impressed by it (although ended up getting the FP7 as it had a few more features) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Sunrise]

I would also look at the Roland FP4 which you might just get at that price. I was very impressed by it (although ended up getting the FP7 as it had a few more features) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Thanks - the Roland isn't on Thomann for that price, and I need to get it from there as I'm in Gibraltar. I'm really interested inthe Kawai CN 42, for ?920, that looks like a bargain, but is it good enough??

[Neil Quinn]

I would also look at the Roland FP4 which you might just get at that price. I was very impressed by it (although ended up getting the FP7 as it had a few more features) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Thanks - the Roland isn't on Thomann for that price, and I need to get it from there as I'm in Gibraltar. I'm really interested inthe Kawai CN 42, for ?920, that looks like a bargain, but is it good enough??

I tried Kawai pianos when I was looking for a new digital. I eventually got a Kawai stage piano but it has the same hammer action as their home digitals. I recall that the CA models have the slighter better action than the CN models (but obviously cost a bit more).

I would recommend getting a CA model with fewer gizmos since it is really all about the action. My Kawai digital has a better piano feel than the accoustic I'll be playing for a school Christmas concert next week!

The Yamaha Clavinovas were also pretty good, but I think the 330 series were better than the 320 series in terms of the action (but as always there is an additional cost).

I would think you will get 10 years life out of a decent digital so it might be better to stretch to one you are happy with. My old Roland RD500 lasted 15 years!

It always seems like the digital piano you really want always costs about 500 pounds more than you actually want to spend!

[Sunrise]

I would also look at the Roland FP4 which you might just get at that price. I was very impressed by it (although ended up getting the FP7 as it had a few more features) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Thanks - the Roland isn't on Thomann for that price, and I need to get it from there as I'm in Gibraltar. I'm really interested inthe Kawai CN 42, for ?920, that looks like a bargain, but is it good enough??

I tried Kawai pianos when I was looking for a new digital. I eventually got a Kawai stage piano but it has the same hammer action as their home digitals. I recall that the CA models have the slighter better action than the CN models (but obviously cost a bit more).

I would recommend getting a CA model with fewer gizmos since it is really all about the action. My Kawai digital has a better piano feel than the accoustic I'll be playing for a school Christmas concert next week!

The Yamaha Clavinovas were also pretty good, but I think the 330 series were better than the 320 series in terms of the action (but as always there is an additional cost).

I would think you will get 10 years life out of a decent digital so it might be better to stretch to one you are happy with. My old Roland RD500 lasted 15 years!

It always seems like the digital piano you really want always costs about 500 pounds more than you actually want to spend!

Yup, if I could I would buy a CLP330 but my budget will not stretch to more than ?940. So do you think these will be good enough for grade 8?

[oldnotes]

I have a CLP970, which I bought new when it was their top of the range model nearly 10 years ago. It has a good touch and sound and got me through grades 5,7 & 8 last year with no problems. I'm told it is not worth very much second hand so, if you can find one from a good home, it could be your answer.

[Sunrise]

I have a CLP970, which I bought new when it was their top of the range model nearly 10 years ago. It has a good touch and sound and got me through grades 5,7 & 8 last year with no problems. I'm told it is not worth very much second hand so, if you can find one from a good home, it could be your answer.

Thanks - however I live in Gibraltar and there are no second hand digitals available here.

From what I've read, the new keyboard action on the Kawai CN23 & 33 is much improved to the CN42, so I'm edging towards the CN23. Just hope it's good enough to do what we need it to do! I'm so excited, I've missed having a piano so much, I got to grade 6 (many years ago) so looking forward to playing around on more than a keyboard again.

I still can't quite believe that DH has agreed to this!

[corenfa]

I've got a Kawai CA51 and I really like it. As mentioned above, it's got a better piano feel than many acoustics. I don't think my playing on real pianos has suffered since I got it.

The one thing I don't like about Kawais is the samples. They do not sound as nice as the Yamahas. But I don't really care what they sound like; if I really got desperate, I could get the Garrittan Steinway samples (but then I'd have to buy a new computer to run them and that would cost more than the piano........)

[Sunrise]

I've got a Kawai CA51 and I really like it. As mentioned above, it's got a better piano feel than many acoustics. I don't think my playing on real pianos has suffered since I got it.

The one thing I don't like about Kawais is the samples. They do not sound as nice as the Yamahas. But I don't really care what they sound like; if I really got desperate, I could get the Garrittan Steinway samples (but then I'd have to buy a new computer to run them and that would cost more than the piano........)

Thanks for that - it's the dynamic levels that I worry about, I think that's going to be the biggie - my accompanist/teacher friend reckons his old CLP120 would be ok for grade 8, I'm hoping these are equivalent to those. Getting close to ordering......

CN23 - which has a new keyboard that has a better feel than the series ending with 2 (CN32 or 42) or CLP 320. Think it might just be the Kawai, as it's a newer model so technology just keeps improving!

[corenfa]

I've got a Kawai CA51 and I really like it. As mentioned above, it's got a better piano feel than many acoustics. I don't think my playing on real pianos has suffered since I got it.

The one thing I don't like about Kawais is the samples. They do not sound as nice as the Yamahas. But I don't really care what they sound like; if I really got desperate, I could get the Garrittan Steinway samples (but then I'd have to buy a new computer to run them and that would cost more than the piano........)

Thanks for that - it's the dynamic levels that I worry about, I think that's going to be the biggie - my accompanist/teacher friend reckons his old CLP120 would be ok for grade 8, I'm hoping these are equivalent to those. Getting close to ordering......

CN23 - which has a new keyboard that has a better feel than the series ending with 2 (CN32 or 42) or CLP 320. Think it might just be the Kawai, as it's a newer model so technology just keeps improving!

Dynamic levels were not a problem - just the timbre, in my opinion. GOod luck! I think my CA51 would do for Grade 8 (I have a grade 8 from years ago) but dont know the newer series.

[vectistim]

I would also look at the Roland FP4 which you might just get at that price. I was very impressed by it (although ended up getting the FP7 as it had a few more features) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Thanks - the Roland isn't on Thomann for that price, and I need to get it from there as I'm in Gibraltar. I'm really interested inthe Kawai CN 42, for ?920, that looks like a bargain, but is it good enough??

I believe there is a CN43 due out early next year, therefore this might be a stock dumping price. I know the CNx3's have an improved keyboard but I can't presonally comment on the diffferences.

It might be worth looking at the instruction manuals for the different machines, as I suspect the 42 may have lots of bells and whistles that you don't really need.

I think the CN42 has the same keyboard as the ES6 - that might give some more options for looking on youtube for various demos.

With Roland's FP4 this _might_ start turning up with a stock dumping price as its expected to be replaced soon by a FP4F, in the same way the FP7 has recently been replaced by a FP7F.

[Sunrise]

I believe there is a CN43 due out early next year, therefore this might be a stock dumping price. I know the CNx3's have an improved keyboard but I can't presonally comment on the diffferences.

That is exactly the reason why I'm swaying to the CN23 - we don't need all the extras, and I'm told the new keyboard is a huge improvement (a few people have tested them and prefer them to the yamahas too) which for me is more important. It transposes and has a few voices, more interested in sound, feel and how realistic it is....

[Neil Quinn]

Yup, if I could I would buy a CLP330 but my budget will not stretch to more than ?940. So do you think these will be good enough for grade 8?

Hmm, I am in a similar position. My Kawai has a lovely action (when I bought it in Japan a few keys were clicky so the tech guy came to the house and tweaked it, this meant I got to see the keys and hammers in action - which showed where all the money went because the keyboard has no recording facility, mundane sounds, and no speakers)

The feel is close enough to a real piano but the difference comes in dynamics. The sound through speakers is never the same as the sound made by hammers hitting strings. When you really bash the low end on a real piano you can feel the volume because the piano vibrates! Plus, the sustain pedal on a real piano is very hard to get right on a digital.

Before my last exam I made a deal with my local primary school to pop in and practice on their rather clunky accoustic. My music teacher is based in a centre which only has a digital piano so I was getting a bit panicky that I would be tripped up by a real piano.

If I have passed my grade 7 (hoping!) then I will heading for grade 8 on a digital. I guess it is doable so long as you have regular access to a real piano too. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) Despite my lovely Kawai digital I am convinced that I need to buy a reconditioned Yamaha U3 in order to achieve my full potential (at least that is the set speech I am planning to use on the wife (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blush.gif) )

I am sure the Kawai CN series will be fine (after all, they're not exactly bargain basement are they!) I think when you get to the 900-1000 pound range most of the gear is pretty good. Paying 2000 pounds doesn't buy something twice as good, usually just something with twice as many gizmos.

[Sunrise]

Hmm, I am in a similar position. My Kawai has a lovely action (when I bought it in Japan a few keys were clicky so the tech guy came to the house and tweaked it, this meant I got to see the keys and hammers in action - which showed where all the money went because the keyboard has no recording facility, mundane sounds, and no speakers)

The feel is close enough to a real piano but the difference comes in dynamics. The sound through speakers is never the same as the sound made by hammers hitting strings. When you really bash the low end on a real piano you can feel the volume because the piano vibrates! Plus, the sustain pedal on a real piano is very hard to get right on a digital.

Before my last exam I made a deal with my local primary school to pop in and practice on their rather clunky accoustic. My music teacher is based in a centre which only has a digital piano so I was getting a bit panicky that I would be tripped up by a real piano.

If I have passed my grade 7 (hoping!) then I will heading for grade 8 on a digital. I guess it is doable so long as you have regular access to a real piano too. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) Despite my lovely Kawai digital I am convinced that I need to buy a reconditioned Yamaha U3 in order to achieve my full potential (at least that is the set speech I am planning to use on the wife (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blush.gif) )

I am sure the Kawai CN series will be fine (after all, they're not exactly bargain basement are they!) I think when you get to the 900-1000 pound range most of the gear is pretty good. Paying 2000 pounds doesn't buy something twice as good, usually just something with twice as many gizmos.

Thanks Neil...this is what I think, the technology is always improving, so I'm hoping it's going to be OK. DD is only just starting on the piano, to back up her singing, but I don't want to be disappointed with it either! Having said that, I think i'll just be delighted with anything, I've just missed having more than a 5 octave keyboard.

I have decided on the CN23, as it is newer than the CLP320 which has been out for nearly 3 years now. Just have to work out the shipping now!

And good luck with the speech to your wife!!!

[Edwardo]

Hi all, I just got a Christmas bonus and DH has agreed...

What's a DH?