Month: June 2023

Hello, piano enthusiasts! We have some exciting news for you today. Yamaha, a name synonymous with quality musical instruments, has unveiled their new Clavinova CLP 735 series, and it’s a game-changer. This new series packs some amazing upgrades and stunning features, perfect for both the seasoned pianist and the budding musician.

At the heart of the CLP 735 are the sounds of two world-renowned grand pianos, the Yamaha CFX and the Bösendorfer Imperial, each with their unique tonal colors and nuances. The Yamaha CFX is a full-sized concert grand piano known for its wide palette of tonal colors and the ability to create the most subtle expressive nuances. It can even project over the sound of a symphony orchestra, even in very large halls! On the other hand, the Bösendorfer Imperial Grand is the legendary 97-key piano with the largest soundboard of any piano. Its rich history of artist endorsements range from Bartók and Debussy to Tori Amos and Oscar Peterson. With the CLP 735, you can have the majesty of these grand pianos, worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, right at your fingertips.

The new series offers some stunning upgrades including Grand Expression Modeling, Virtual Resonance Modeling, and a new GrandTouch-S keyboard. These features are a fancy way of saying that the CLP 735 feels and sounds more like a grand piano than all previous generations. Grand Expression Modeling and Virtual Resonance Modeling add the richness and tonal quality to the high-definition sound of the instrument. Virtual Resonance Modeling, in particular, calculates the various states of strings for each of the 88 notes on the keyboard, from one instant to the next, and the timing and depth of the damper pedals pressed. This technology allows for vivid, bright, richly-varied expression that reflects the limitless number of factors inherent in piano performance.

Touch is just as important as tone and sound, and Yamaha has brought the authentic grand piano touch to the CLP 735. The series features a GH3X action for an authentic touch. It simulates the heavier hammers in the bass section and gets lighter towards the treble section, just like a grand piano. The three-sensor configuration senses and interprets the key depth and force with which each note is played, giving you the natural feedback you would find on a concert grand piano.

But that’s not all. The CLP 735 also offers the benefit of smooth release. Yamaha’s Smooth Release technology provides a finely-nuanced response to the pianist’s playing, offering the crisp tone heard when playing staccato, as well as the lingering sound produced by releasing the keys more.

One of the major advantages of the Clavinova series is the lack of maintenance. Unlike traditional acoustic pianos, which may require regular tuning and upkeep, the Clavinova series stays in perfect tune, saving you a significant amount of money over the years. The touch remains consistent, the sound in perfect tune, and the functions in perfect order for decades to come.

And for those moments when you want to practice without disturbing anyone or being disturbed by the noise of the house, the CLP 735 offers the ability to practice silently with headphones. Yamaha uses Binaural sampling, a sophisticated recording technique using a special combination of microphones, to reproduce the sound of an acoustic piano to the human ear through headphones. It provides a truly immersive experience, allowing you to lose yourself in the music

Here’s a summary of the key features and benefits of the Yamaha Clavinova CLP 735:

1. Grand Expression Modeling and Virtual Resonance Modeling: These technologies emulate the subtle nuances and intricacies of a grand piano’s sound, making the digital piano feel and sound more like a grand piano than all previous generations.
2. GrandTouch-S keyboard: It has synthetic ivory and ebony key surfaces that provide a realistic touch and feel similar to a grand piano.
3. Graded Hammer 3X Action: The touch response of the keys is designed to simulate the heavier hammers in the bass section and get lighter towards the treble section, just like a grand piano. The three-sensor configuration senses and interprets the key depth and force with which each note is played, providing natural feedback similar to a concert grand piano.
4. Smooth Release Technology: The piano offers expressive sound that responds to the player’s touch, from staccato to legato. It features Yamaha Smooth Release technology, which provides a finely-nuanced response to the pianist’s playing.
5. Yamaha CFX and Bösendorfer Imperial grand piano samples: The Clavinova CLP 735 incorporates samples from two renowned grand pianos – the Yamaha CFX Concert Grand Piano and the Bösendorfer Imperial Concert Grand Piano, both of which are known for their distinct tonal colors and expressive nuances.
6. No Maintenance: Unlike acoustic pianos, digital pianos like the Clavinova CLP 735 require minimal maintenance. This means you’ll save money over time because there’s no need for regular tuning, and the sound remains consistent and in perfect tune for decades.
7. Silent Practice with Headphones: The digital piano allows for silent practice through headphones. This feature is particularly useful if you live with other people or in an apartment setting where noise can be a concern. Yamaha uses Binaural sampling, which uses a special combination of microphones to reproduce the sound of an acoustic piano to the human ear through headphones.
8. Other features: The Yamaha Clavinova CLP 735 includes other useful features such as LCD Display, 36 voices, 16 track – 250 song recorder, 3 pedals (Soft, sostenuto, and damper with half damper effect), drum rhythms and metronome for timing, USB and Midi for computer connectivity, and compatibility with Yamaha apps.

In conclusion, the Yamaha Clavinova CLP 735 is an instrument that offers an immersive, high-quality, and sophisticated piano-playing experience. It embodies the blend of tradition and technology, offering the feel and sound of renowned grand pianos, like the Yamaha CFX and the Bösendorfer Imperial. Its impressive array of features, such as Virtual Resonance Modeling, Grand Expression Modeling, and the GH3X action, enables this digital piano to reproduce the subtle nuances of an acoustic piano in extraordinary detail. This extends to the unique character of each note, the expression of your playing style, and the atmospheric resonance that fills a room.

Introduction

Choosing a digital piano can be a daunting task, with many brands offering a variety of features and technologies. In this post, we’ll compare the sound generating systems of two popular digital piano series: the Yamaha Clavinova CLP-Series and the Roland LX700 Series. Both of these series have established themselves as top choices for professional and amateur musicians alike, but they take somewhat different approaches to achieving their signature sounds.

Yamaha Clavinova CLP-Series

The Yamaha Clavinova CLP-Series digital pianos are known for their meticulous replication of two world-renowned concert grand pianos: the Yamaha CFX and the Bӧsendorfer Imperial.

The Yamaha CFX, a flagship 9’ concert grand piano, offers sparkling highs and a powerful resonant bass. It has gained recognition as one of the greatest concert grands of modern times, having been played by the winner of the prestigious International Chopin Competition in 2010. Its sound projects to the furthest reaches of any concert hall, making it a desirable tone for many pianists.

The Bӧsendorfer Imperial, on the other hand, is lauded for its unique warm bass, singing treble, and rich tonal colors known as the “Viennese Sound”. This sound results from Bӧsendorfer’s hand-crafted design, and its development has been influenced by famed composers like Brahms and Johann Strauss. The Bӧsendorfer Imperial is known for its ability to withstand intense playing, a characteristic that made it a favorite of composer Franz Liszt.

The sound generating system in the Clavinova CLP Series goes beyond simple sound sampling, reproducing the Yamaha CFX concert grand and the Bӧsendorfer Imperial in great detail. This allows players to choose the perfect piano tone for the music they want to play.

Roland LX700 Series

The Roland LX700 Series sets itself apart with its Pure Acoustic Piano Modelling technology and Acoustic Projection System. Unlike many digital pianos that use sampling technology, the LX700 Series uses advanced digital modeling technology to recreate the process of piano-tone-generation in real-time. This approach allows for a beautifully rich sound that captures the player’s expression and touch as they perform.

This series also offers the choice of two completely different piano models: a classic European grand with a deep tonal character and an American grand that emphasizes clarity and brightness. These different models provide a level of versatility that goes beyond the typical sound variations found on conventional digital pianos.

In terms of speaker system, each LX700 model includes an Acoustic Projection System, designed to reproduce the rich, room-filling sound of a grand piano in a great venue. The flagship LX708 houses a four-way, eight-speaker system, each speaker fulfilling a specific role in delivering superior piano tone. The LX706 and LX705 models also have impressive speaker systems with six and four speakers, respectively.

Additional features like the opening top lid provide a natural variation in tone, similar to opening the lid on an acoustic grand piano. The front C-shape wide aperture projects the resonance of the piano frame from the top-mounted special speakers, adding another layer of depth to the sound.

Conclusion

In summary, both the Yamaha Clavinova CLP-Series and the Roland LX700 Series offer impressive sound generating systems, but they approachsound generation in different ways. The Yamaha Clavinova CLP-Series emphasizes the detailed replication of two iconic grand pianos, the Yamaha CFX and the Bӧsendorfer Imperial, delivering a rich, concert grand sound at the touch of a button. Meanwhile, the Roland LX700 Series utilizes advanced digital modelling technology and a unique Acoustic Projection System to create a dynamic, rich sound that captures the nuance and expression of each performance.

Choosing between the two ultimately depends on your personal preferences. If you’re a fan of the Yamaha CFX or Bӧsendorfer Imperial, or if you’re looking for a digital piano that meticulously replicates the sound of these concert grands, the Yamaha Clavinova CLP-Series could be the right choice for you. On the other hand, if you appreciate the versatility of having two distinct piano models and the advanced sound generation of digital modelling, the Roland LX700 Series might be your ideal match.

Remember, the best way to decide is to try them out for yourself. After all, what matters most is how the piano sounds to you and how it responds to your touch. So come along to Hickies Music Store on Friar Street, Reading, try both series, and let your ears and fingers make the decision!