Kawai Novus NV5From real comments

Verdict distilled from 24 mentions across 11 aspects in comments under product review videos.

Positive sentiment48%
PROS 48%
CONS 52%

Rank based on 24 mentions across 11 aspects

View the verdict as

Buy this if...

  • You want a hybrid piano that feels and sounds closest to an acoustic upright
  • You lack space or tolerance for acoustic maintenance/tuning but still want authentic touch and tone
  • You value Kawai's renowned upright action and genuine soundboard resonance

What users love

Skip this if...

  • You're sensitive to mechanical/hammer noise or high-frequency ringing artifacts
  • You want fast after-sales support and want to avoid possible quality-control issues
  • You're on a tight budget, since cheaper digitals like the CA901/CA98 are far less expensive

What users complain about

Compare in seconds

Based on user comments

Best choice
1Mid
Articulate soundGreat with extended-range guitarsStrong overall tone qualityPrice concerns
Articulate sound
Great with extended-range guitars
Strong overall tone quality
Price concerns
2Premium
Musical analog toneLong-term reliability and board loyaltySimple, intuitive controlsHigh price pointCheaper alternatives seen as comparableDistortion at high settings
Musical analog tone
Long-term reliability and board loyalty
Simple, intuitive controls
High price point
Cheaper alternatives seen as comparable
Distortion at high settings
3Premium
Touch-sensitive dynamicsLong-term favorite / durability of appealSweet, low-gain tone qualityHigh price versus clonesDeluxe loses some original characterLimited mid control
Touch-sensitive dynamics
Long-term favorite / durability of appeal
Sweet, low-gain tone quality
High price versus clones
Deluxe loses some original character
Limited mid control
Best value
4Mid
Exceptional versatilityNatural, amp-like tonePowerful 3-band EQDemo videos undersell the pedalNoticeable noise floorVolume drop when engaged
Exceptional versatility
Natural, amp-like tone
Powerful 3-band EQ
Demo videos undersell the pedal
Noticeable noise floor
Volume drop when engaged
5Premium
Exceptional reverb qualityHigh-quality warm pitch shiftingStrong aspirational appealHigh priceCheaper alternatives may sufficeEffect can feel like it plays for you
Exceptional reverb quality
High-quality warm pitch shifting
Strong aspirational appeal
High price
Cheaper alternatives may suffice
Effect can feel like it plays for you
6Premium
Authentic amp-like toneExcellent low-to-mid gain driveUnderrated favorite among ownersHigh price pointLimited gain-staging flexibilityNo built-in reverb
Authentic amp-like tone
Excellent low-to-mid gain drive
Underrated favorite among owners
High price point
Limited gain-staging flexibility
No built-in reverb
7Premium
Iconic, powerful kick drumWarmer, more alive analog characterCultural and historical influenceExtremely high collector priceAnalog noise and static requiring EQReliability concerns of aging hardware
Iconic, powerful kick drum
Warmer, more alive analog character
Cultural and historical influence
Extremely high collector price
Analog noise and static requiring EQ
Reliability concerns of aging hardware
8Premium
Inspiring and addictive to playWarm, fat analog toneStrong DAW/VST editor integrationHigh price for what it offersLimited versatility outside bass rangeNeeds effects/partner gear to shine
Inspiring and addictive to play
Warm, fat analog tone
Strong DAW/VST editor integration
High price for what it offers
Limited versatility outside bass range
Needs effects/partner gear to shine
9
Klon Centaur-style toneConvincing demo influenced purchaseExcellent clean boostNot suited for metal tones
Klon Centaur-style tone
Convincing demo influenced purchase
Excellent clean boost
Not suited for metal tones
10Mid
Transparent toneVersatile across genresWorks well across many guitar typesTwo-channel routing complexityDry signal bleed-throughInconsistent demo impressions
Transparent tone
Versatile across genres
Works well across many guitar types
Two-channel routing complexity
Dry signal bleed-through
Inconsistent demo impressions
You are here
31Premium
Kawai Novus NV5
Acoustic-like sound and feelGood fit for space/maintenance-limited buyersHigh owner satisfaction after purchaseHigh price relative to alternativesQuality control issuesDisplay auto-off distraction
Kawai Novus NV5
Acoustic-like sound and feel
Good fit for space/maintenance-limited buyers
High owner satisfaction after purchase
High price relative to alternatives
Quality control issues
Display auto-off distraction

Who wins on what

Ranked by what users actually praise

Overall Impression

Owners say the NV5 delivers an unusually authentic acoustic-like experience. Multiple buyers compare the NV5S favorably against acoustic uprights and rival digitals, saying it 'sounded and felt comparable to an acoustic upright' and outperformed the Yamaha CLP901. Longtime players praise the Kawai upright action as genuinely playable, and the soundboard speaker system is called an improvement over the NV10's lack of one. One owner called it 'absolutely brilliant' and the 'best thing I ever did.'

Several owners report real quality-control and support headaches. One owner details a pedal that literally vibrates from soundboard resonance, calling it 'a major flaw' after 30+ years of playing many brands. Another says after nearly two years, a Kawai technician took over a year to arrive, fixed only the pedal, and couldn't resolve squeaky and ringing noises, leaving them feeling it wasn't worth the price versus a lower-tier Kawai digital.

A persistent high-frequency ringing and slow startup bother some users. Multiple commenters mention an annoying high-frequency ringing sound, with one comparing it to a similar issue on their Yamaha CLP775 and noting it's most noticeable around E above middle C. Another confirms 'it indeed takes up eternity to start up.' The cheek-block display also turns off after a couple minutes, though one owner notes a menu setting can disable this.

Outdated / Not-accurate data?