NV12 officially announced on 22/08/2025

HZPiano

Over time I've played several acoustic (read: and therefore ultimately "realistic") pianos that had light and nimble actions. To mind spring two Bösendorfers 225 (from the 70s and 90s, respectively), two Grotrian Steinwegs 132 (one brand new, one occasion), a Blüthner grand from 1895 (rebuilt including brand new action), and a new straight-strung Maene full size grand.

These pianos are such a delight to play!

I have also played some Steinways that drove like a long haul truck and some Yamahas that sat halfway the spectrum.

On my most recent dealer visit (see my thread about that afternoon) I played most of the digital suspects and the Bösie after that. Playing that lovely Bösendorfer 225, action-wise it reminded me most of the MP11SE upstairs. So to that, the Kawai GF was closest (not implying actually close or even interchangeable. Of course not!).

So, (y)our experiences may and will vary.

One thing I have learned over the last four years (and am still trying to accept), is that no digital piano will ever get me actually authentically excited.

A Bösie does… ☺️.

Cheers!

CyberGene

HZPiano that’s all a great experience and valid feedback.

Big grand pianos have heavy hammers, while small grand pianos and uprights have light hammers. Intuitively, one would prefer the light action. However, in digital pianos, it’s often the case that people play with samples obtained from the biggest grand pianos. There’s simply no easy and realistic way to map a light piano action to “heavy” samples without feeling weird. That’s how I felt with Kawai DP-s when using their main sample sets or controlling libraries like the Garritan CFX. My point is becoming too convoluted, so let’s all agree that it’s a matter of personal preference and refrain from proclaiming what the “better” digital piano action is because it’s not an easy answer.

HZPiano

CyberGene refrain from proclaiming what the “better” digital piano action is because it’s not an easy answer.

Of course there is an easy answer! It's the Thomann DP-something of € 229,- including tax and shipping! 😉

On a more serious note, I experience the Bösie 225 as big-ish, and the Maene needed binoculars to see its tail from the player bench. And those are lovely, light and intuitively playable instruments (the pedal mechanisms included, by the way).

All tastes do exist, is what I'm trying to illustrate.

Cheers!

Khuja Wangtishvili

CyberGene I’ve been quite critical of their unnaturally boomy bass, shrill highs, and generally unrealistic sound reproduction

Kawai is the only company to get treble sound right actually. But bass was a problem in their previous series indeed. In contrary Yamaha cannot do proper sounding highs - either they are delicate and soft or very sharp and bright. Kawai is the only company (alongside with Roland) to make this correctly.

Florian75

On my side I am still super excited by this NV12, I have been waiting it for months and you can't imagine how impatient I am to try it.

Until know, we don't have a single recording of it yet! Except this "Youtube short" from Dora Shop that we don't even know if it comes from the line out or not. + the opinion from Burkey.

I am much more more measured in my judgement and I still believe it will be a great instrument.

CyberGene

Khuja Wangtishvili In contrary Yamaha cannot do proper sounding highs - either they are delicate and soft or very sharp and bright.

I know what you mean and I have experienced the first one: Yamaha highs are "too" soft and delicate indeed, however that's when one is used to listening to good piano recordings and expects the same from the piano. Whenever I've played good grand pianos, I've noticed that from the player position the highs are actually muffled too. I believe Yamaha might have tried to replicate that same feeling. The issue with this approach though is on a real piano the audience hears proper highs, it's only the player that is a bit isolated. Whereas on a digital piano the speakers are facing away from both the player and the audience (often firing upwards without a lid to reflect the sound towards audience), so such an EQ-ing might become off.

Johnstaf

srodrigo Kawai's actions are the most realistic representations of acoustic actions, but have QC issues. Roland's latest PHA100 is quite good, but key travel is too much depending on your taste and it feels more like a large upright than like a grand.

The PHA50 feels more realistic to me than the Kawai wooden actions (other than hybrid).

srodrigo

CyberGene

Johnstaf

Oh, I should have added a "IMO" disclaimer. Of course I'm not stating that my view was the reality for everyone, just for me.

Pete14

srodrigo Oh, I should have added a "IMO" disclaimer.

Perhaps an “IMHO” would’ve been more appropriate; because it not only shows that it’s just your opinion, but also that your opinion is (H)umble….🤔

Johnstaf

srodrigo Oh, I should have added a "IMO" disclaimer. Of course I'm not stating that my view was the reality for everyone, just for me.

Me too. 😀

Pete14

Florian75 Except this "Youtube short" from Dora Shop that we don't even know if it comes from the line out or not. + the opinion from Burkey.

True that!

I did notice a bit of a “twang” in that “Dora Shop” clip, and I wonder if this was just a bad recording of the piano; however, the conspiracy-theorist in me thinks that something ain’t right about Kawai-Global still not officially announcing an instrument that’s already out there in shops.

Where’s the official event hosted by James, and featuring some random dude playing Chopin?

For that matter, where’s James?

Something doesn’t smell right…..🤔

Pete14

Conspiracy alert!

Here we have Stu stating that “it’s not the sound” that matters so much (in the grand scheme of things), and I wonder, is he preparing us for his upcoming review of the NV12? whence he could further emphasize this notion, and still claim that the instrument is great, because, “who cares about the sound; there’s an effing Millennial III in there.”

HZPiano

Pete14 effing Millennial […] in there

That would indeed secure its reputation as quite a special instrument…

😋

QuasiUnaFantasia

HZPiano This is a common misconception, "Millennial III" is not an action, it is a string material. The strings are spun from the finest guts of Millennials to ensure very high stability of tuning. Gut-wrenching for sure, but apparently these millennials have got some guts.

HZPiano

QuasiUnaFantasia

😂

HZPiano

Pete14

Well of course it's not the sound, can't you understand that?

Music is not about sound.

Cheers,

Eeeeuh… or eeeh… is it?! 😲

Florian75

Ouch! 14 000€ in Germany. NV10s was 8900€ on Thomann.

https://www.bauer-music.de/kawai-novus-nv-12-hybrid-digitalfluegel/

CyberGene

Florian75 Ouch! 14 000€ in Germany

For €2500 more you can get a Kawai GL-10 acoustic piano with the silent ATX system. I’m not sure who would choose a hybrid piano for nearly the same money as an acoustic grand piano with silent function. And of course you can have entry-level acoustic grand pianos for much less, such as the regular Kawai GL-10 for €10990. The NV12 seems like dead in the water to me.

Pete14

CyberGene The NV12 seems like dead in the water to me.

If it sounds as bad as some have suggested, then, yes, it’ll die a painful death; however, and I speculate, if it turns out that Kawai did mange to make this small-ish soundboard sound better than speaker-based digitals, then, it could make sense to those who are not interested in playing through headphones (as with the “ATX” silent system), and/or those who’d rather something smaller than a “regular” GL-10, not as loud, volume control/knob, ability to play VST of choice, and no need for a’ tunin’…….

meh_plus

"The NV12 seems like dead in the water to me." CyberGene And likely you to it as well. Because surely Kawai have no clue how to innovate nor manufacture pianos. Disregarding their brand and reputation, of course they'd market junk as their newest flagship hybrid.
Snarky, but can you truly form (and share) an educated opinion from one brief lo-fi YT playing sample and no thorough professional reviews by such as Stu?
I counsel patience and reserving judgment until there is more evidence of performance.

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