Kawai VPC1 "Successor"

In the US at least, I would agree that the VPC1 is outrageously overpriced. MSRP is $2,399.00 at US-based online stores (up from $1,899 a year or two ago), while in the EU you can get them for closer to $1,500.

I have no idea what justifies the absurd price discrepancy.

I was considering one before the recent price increase, but have started looking elsewhere. Current top contender is the Roland FP-90X which I've found to have a really nice action (very solid and robust with great key feel) and also works very well as a midi controller (good thing too, b/c the onboard sounds are frankly terrible).

It's also about $400-$500 less than the VPC1, depending on where you get it from.

There's also the Studiologic Numa X GT, which I've heard very good things about, but haven't had a chance to try myself.

Gamma1734 Is there really no better midi controller option in the 1-2k range, or say up to 3k; has no one competed against the vpc1 for ten years??

The bummer is that a pure midi controller market doesn't exist. I wish there were more options. I really don't want onboard speakers, piano sounds, and everything that comes with portable, digital slab. If I could afford it I'd consider the Casio GP 3/510. Even though their action is not an acoustic action, I think it might be one of the best digital actions available. It would be great if they offered it in a slab format.

God Bless,
David

jdg78 Current top contender is the Roland FP-90X which I've found to have a really nice action (very solid and robust with great key feel) and also works very well as a midi controller (good thing too, b/c the onboard sounds are frankly terrible).

I upgraded from a Kawai MP-10 (with a similar action to the VPC-1) to a Roland FP90 and never looked back.

Thanks again for the answers.

Okay, so I tried the 515 in a store a long time ago and I actually have very good memories of it, it felt pretty good, but I only played one or two pieces on it, i.e., not representable for normal musical situations. Didn't realize that 525 is out, sounds interesting, yeah.

About velocity curves, I just change them in my DAW, it's very easy.

Studiologic I bought some years ago but had to send back, think it was sl88. Maybe I just had a bad day but I remember being disappointed with the way the action behaved. Should tried everything with the curves, maybe I decided too quickly, don't know.

I bought my vpc1 few years ago for about 1.3k€ (new). For 2.2k$ I think I wouldn't have bought. I understand some context now! For me vpc1 was always like the best option for about 1k. But if it's 2k or even more, everything changes.

Again, I'm really pleased with the vpc1+Garritan combination, and I couldn't even think of how an improvement would look like, because I'm so used to it, but will check the Roland and Yamaha out.

jdg78 Current top contender is the Roland FP-90X which I've found to have a really nice action (very solid and robust with great key feel) and also works very well as a midi controller (good thing too, b/c the onboard sounds are frankly terrible).

My experience exactly. Great controller with terrible onboard sounds. As a controller it's better than any Yamaha I've owed even the N1X. I'm simply referring to the ability to reach all velocity levels and control dynamics. Of course this is based on my crude and undeveloped ability, but the ability to reach the full spectrum and "easily" control the lower velocities is more objective than subjective.

God Bless,
David

I just checked, here in Austria the p525 is over 2.1k$ (converted). Yikes!

David B That sounds really good. Thanks for your view on this!

David B

So rude, you are!😒

I see an offer for the fp90, 1k and almost new. Is that good?

Gamma1734 I see an offer for the fp90, 1k and almost new. Is that good?

It’s the same design and action as the FP90x. However, it lacks USB-audio and when using it as a controller that’s a neat feature to have.

Gamma1734 Didn't realize that 525 is out, sounds interesting, yeah.

Somebody said a few things about the P-525 here --- LINK

Hello,

@Gamma1734 ,

I do understand curiosity -- it gets to me all the time.

However a significant question arises: If you're so All Ok piano-wise as it is already, then: why change the winning team?

Cheers and happy curiosity,

HZ

PS In any case thanks for opening an interesting thread!

HZPiano Ah, would of course try out and see if I notice considerable improvements first, that is clear. Also having speakers at all would be already quite an improvement for me at this point. I just wanna jam and sit down sometimes, not open everything up and have something on my head.

Having been the owner of VPC-1 for several years now, I can tell you that before purchasing this device looked very attractive due to its wooden keys and minimalist design. Even now I like the lack of annoying extra keys, extra holes, etc. But in practice, it turned out that when playing for a long time, the mechanism of the instrument causes your hands to get tired. Also, after playing the VPC-1, you will lose the lightness, flight and tenderness of the touch if you have to play on a live instrument. After VPC-1 on a live keyboard, you will roughly hit the keys. But if you only play on VPC, you can get used to it. But still, a fast, easy and flying game is not about this instrument. And there is a possibility of getting hand disease.

johanibraaten It’s the same design and action as the FP90x. However, it lacks USB-audio and when using it as a controller that’s a neat feature to have.

Yeah, the FP-90X includes an onboard USB audio interface, which is a huge plus if you plan to use it as a MIDI controller, and another one of its primary selling points for me.

The older FP-90 doesn't include USB audio, so I would definitely go for the updated version if you can.

I'm starting to believe that different instruments are particularly suitable for different pianistical demands. Maybe it would be worthwhile to keep 2 instruments even. The vpc1 is just a bit a bit mushy but more grand like than the Roland, but the Roland is maybe better for fast pieces where you want to grab into the keys like on an upright. I don't know

Gamma1734 Did you ever try the Lachnit; that company is from Austria so might be easier for you to demo than it would be for most of us.

https://www.flkeys.at/Products.html

Back to the non-existence of a VPC2 …

What would anyone expect from such an instrument? The VPC is little more than a keyboard. The only thing that could be changed or upgraded would be the action. There's nothing else.

Anyway … I'm leaning toward Pete14's position. There are better choices than the VPC, including the Yamaha P-series.

So just pick a keyboard with a suitable action … and turn the volume to zero. Voila! Your very own VPC .. under a different moniker.