N1X soon to be discontinued?

Pete14

Rumor has it that the N1X is being discontinued (sorry, CG)!😉

Now, the obvious assumption is that something new is coming, and my belief is that they’ll finally get rid of the lemon (N2) and the “new” model will replace both N1X/N2.

It seems like Yamaha will only offer one upright cabinet with grand action, one baby-grand cabinet with grand action, and one upright cabinet with upright action; which makes sense to me.

I truly hope they release all models simultaneously, as Kawai did with their recent NV-10S/5S.

CyberGene

Well, the good thing about hybrid instruments is: the main reason for their existence, namely the action, doesn't need an upgrade, so I won't feel screwed 😀 I can't imagine Yamaha making anything revolutionary, maybe more piano samples, this time a Bosendorfer binaural too?

QuasiUnaFantasia

My prediction is this: a whopping 2% increase in features for only a meagre 20% increase in price. Only drawback: availability will be hovering between limited, and none at all.

Pete14

Why the pessimism? Remember the P-515?

Yamaha has -every once in a while- given us something magical, or as someone said about the P-515 when comparing it to the outgoing model: “it’s not an evolution; it’s a revolution!” And it turns out he wasn’t lying!

I expect some major improvements, if anything, to show Kawai who’s the boss!😊

David B

If they change the action to be a bit lighter (either by longer pivots or whatever) I would have to seriously consider what I can sell next in order to get one. 😳

I don't know if it's my age, limited experience, etc., but I'm finding I enjoy lighter actions. The Yamaha G3 (6') that I have access to in church has a lighter action than my N1X. If it weren't for the volume of the instrument, I would enjoy playing it more. Unfortunately, it's too loud for me even with the lid closed. I can handle a song or two, but for regular practice It would bother my ears.

God Bless,
David

CyberGene

David B I'm wondering if the perception for lighter action comes from the inherently loud real acoustic grand piano? Have you tried changing to another VST, also change the touch response on the N1X and the volume to see if it makes it feel lighter?

Maybe the S6 is indeed lighter though. I haven't recently played a real grand piano, however my past memories from the grands I tested is that they all felt slightly heavier than the N1X. Maybe that was just a coincidence to find heavy weighted pianos...

QuasiUnaFantasia

Since the N1X has a real acoustic action, presumably it can be regulated to a lighter touch, the same way an acoustic can?

David B

CyberGene I'm wondering if the perception for lighter action comes from the inherently loud real acoustic grand piano?

That's possible. I haven't considered that. Sometime this week I'll bring my key weights down to the church and get an actual measurement. I'll report back my results.

God Bless,
David

Pete14

Stu Harrison talks about this phenomenon as it relates to the Novus (keys feel heavy/sluggish at low volume, yet ‘normal’ at louder volume). Of course, this would apply to any digital played at lower volumes, but Stu insists that it’s more ‘pronounced’ with the Novus (real grand action); perhaps because the overall grand action mechanism is heavier?

Still, he then plays the Novus at higher volumes, and claims that difference in perception of weight/sluggishness (or lack thereof) is significant.

kawafanboi

Pete14

kawai's volume system is digital, so it lops off the dynamic range of the key, and it doesn't really scale it properly, so everything except max volume feels weirdly compressed.

using volume control on external amp fixes this issue.