Kawai Novus NV5SFrom real comments

Verdict distilled from 35 mentions across 12 aspects in comments under product review videos.

Positive sentiment60%
PROS 60%
CONS 40%

Rank based on 35 mentions across 12 aspects

View the verdict as

Buy this if...

  • You live in an apartment and need a quiet, low-maintenance alternative to an acoustic piano
  • You want an authentic acoustic-like touch and tone with MIDI/recording flexibility
  • You're comparing it against similarly priced acoustics and value space savings

What users love

Skip this if...

  • You're not prepared to deal with potential quality control issues or slow technician support
  • You want instant power-on without a startup wait
  • You're on a tight budget, since it's priced at a premium versus other digital pianos

What users complain about

Compare in seconds

Based on user comments

Best choice
1Mid
Mad Professor Fire Red Fuzz
Articulate soundGreat with extended-range guitarsStrong overall tone qualityPrice concerns
Mad Professor Fire Red Fuzz
Articulate sound
Great with extended-range guitars
Strong overall tone quality
Price concerns
2Premium
Mad Professor Deep Blue Delay
Musical analog toneLong-term reliability and board loyaltySimple, intuitive controlsHigh price pointCheaper alternatives seen as comparableDistortion at high settings
Mad Professor Deep Blue Delay
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
Mad Professor Sweet Honey Overdrive
Touch-sensitive dynamicsLong-term favorite / durability of appealSweet, low-gain tone qualityHigh price versus clonesDeluxe loses some original characterLimited mid control
Mad Professor Sweet Honey Overdrive
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
MXR Super Badass Distortion
Exceptional versatilityNatural, amp-like tonePowerful 3-band EQDemo videos undersell the pedalNoticeable noise floorVolume drop when engaged
MXR Super Badass Distortion
Exceptional versatility
Natural, amp-like tone
Powerful 3-band EQ
Demo videos undersell the pedal
Noticeable noise floor
Volume drop when engaged
5Premium
Eventide Orville
Exceptional reverb qualityHigh-quality warm pitch shiftingStrong aspirational appealHigh priceCheaper alternatives may sufficeEffect can feel like it plays for you
Eventide Orville
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
Origin Effects Deluxe61
Authentic amp-like toneExcellent low-to-mid gain driveUnderrated favorite among ownersHigh price pointLimited gain-staging flexibilityNo built-in reverb
Origin Effects Deluxe61
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
Roland TR-808
Iconic, powerful kick drumWarmer, more alive analog characterCultural and historical influenceExtremely high collector priceAnalog noise and static requiring EQReliability concerns of aging hardware
Roland TR-808
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
Moog Subsequent 37
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
Moog Subsequent 37
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
Wampler Tumnus V2
Klon Centaur-style toneConvincing demo influenced purchaseExcellent clean boostNot suited for metal tones
Wampler Tumnus V2
Klon Centaur-style tone
Convincing demo influenced purchase
Excellent clean boost
Not suited for metal tones
10Mid
Wampler Paisley Drive
Transparent toneVersatile across genresWorks well across many guitar typesTwo-channel routing complexityDry signal bleed-throughInconsistent demo impressions
Wampler Paisley Drive
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 NV5S
Realistic acoustic-like toneAcoustic-like weighted actionIdeal for apartment/space-limited livingPremium pricingQuality control issuesSlow after-sales support
Kawai Novus NV5S
Realistic acoustic-like tone
Acoustic-like weighted action
Ideal for apartment/space-limited living
Premium pricing
Quality control issues
Slow after-sales support

Who wins on what

Ranked by what users actually praise

Overall Impression

Tone and touch that owners compare favorably to real acoustic pianos. Multiple buyers describe the NV5S as sounding and feeling comparable to, or better than, an acoustic upright, with one dealer trial calling it better tonally than a real acoustic Kawai K200. Owners highlight realistic dynamic response and weighted action closely resembling a grand piano, with several saying it beats competing hybrids and digitals they tried, including the Yamaha CLP901 and Kawai CA901.

A popular choice for space-constrained, noise-sensitive living situations. Several owners specifically chose the NV5S because they live in apartments and can't disturb neighbors, or because local climate makes acoustic piano maintenance and tuning impractical. Buyers value not needing regular tuners, and appreciate MIDI connectivity for composing or practicing quietly at night alongside an existing acoustic grand.

Recurring quality control and support complaints temper enthusiasm. Multiple owners report post-purchase problems: squeaky pedals, unexplained high-frequency ringing, and keys sticking within weeks of a brand-new purchase. Getting these resolved has been slow, with one owner waiting over a year for a technician who wasn't Kawai-specific, and another still waiting six weeks under warranty. A slow startup time and, on older units, a quickly-dimming cheek-block display add further frustration, though newer units now let users adjust or disable the auto-off.

Outdated / Not-accurate data?