Kawai Novus NV12chat_bubble_outlineFrom real comments

The action and key response draw praise from concert pianists. Commenters repeatedly single out the NV12's key feel as its strongest asset, with concert pianists noting the hardware and software finally feel fully aligned rather than disconnected as on earlier NV5 models. Reviewers describe sitting at the NV12 as feeling much like playing an acoustic instrument, and multiple viewers who performed on it in dedicated review videos reinforced this impression. This tactile realism is viewed as the core value proposition, even by commenters who remain skeptical about the piano's sound reproduction through its soundboard-speaker system.

Sound quality reports are inconsistent and often disappointing. Multiple commenters who heard the NV12 in showrooms or online describe the tone as thin, weak, or muffled, several explicitly preferring the sound of the predecessor NV10S or the sibling NV6 model. Some technical commenters argue Kawai reduced resonance processing compared to earlier Novus generations, resulting in less bass depth and spatial richness. A few reviewers pushed back, saying the NV12 sounded very good in other recordings, but overall sentiment leans toward disappointment relative to expectations for its price.

Viewers repeatedly question how the piano's audio was actually captured. A large number of commenters ask whether demo audio came from real microphones capturing the soundboard-speaker output or simply from USB or line-out signals, which would only represent the underlying digital samples rather than the physical instrument. This recurring doubt undermines trust in review videos and the marketed 'soundboard' selling point, with some accusing sellers of misleading 'sales talk' by not clearly disclosing recording methods used to demonstrate the flagship feature.