Review: Yamaha CLP-700 Series Clavinova

The new CLP 700 series presents a giant step forward in Yamaha’s quest for instruments that come with a maximum of natural playability, together with the awe-inspiring sound quality that the company has developed over decades of acoustic concert piano craftsmanship. Yamaha’s Real Grand Expression 2 perfectly captures the sensitivity of the player, picking up on the tiniest nuances of the keystroke from touching to triggering the tone, and converts these into an unlimited variety of sounds.

Another innovation is the Grand Expression Modelling, which translates even the finest sound variations produced by the player, as if they were being played on an acoustic concert grand piano.

This combined with the improved Virtual Resonance Modelling (VRM), ensures an incredibly detailed reproduction of the complex interplay and smallest nuances created by acoustic concert pianos. These interactions consist of keystrokes, hammer movement, dampers, pedals, strings and finally, the resonance of the entire body of the instrument.

The new CLP-700 series offers all players an unforgettable, concert grand piano experience, while also being much more than just an alternative to an acoustic instrument. Depending on the model, there are two different keyboards: the GrandTouchTM and new GrandTouch-STM. Both deliver an outstanding level of authenticity and a rich harmony. This is in part achieved by the different key lengths, counterweights and the pivot point between the white and black keys. In addition, they also offer a high degree of expressive control in individually shaping the tone from pianissimo to fortissimo.

The CLP-700 series also features intricate samples of the exclusive Yamaha CFX and the Bösendorfer Imperial grand pianos. Yamaha tell us that their sound was recorded in a new procedure, as well as the coveted Binaural sampling of both concert grand pianos for playing with headphones.

This innovative technology conveys a sense of space, that gives the player the feeling that they are not wearing headphones at all, while providing hearing protection, even at louder volumes.

There has also been a major improvement to the design of the top panel, which is now much more user friendly, with all the voices and functions for the models from CLP-775 to CLP-795GP now easily selected via touch sensors below the LCD screen.

There is no question that this latest offering from Yamaha brings together a sumptuous sophistication in sound, together with a style that will appeal to traditionalists and modernists alike.

Find out more: www.uk.yamaha.com