Yamaha Clavinova CLP-885chat_bubble_outlineFrom real comments

Tone and resonance are the CLP-885's strongest selling points. Multiple commenters describe the piano's sound as beautiful, with deep resonance and tones that stand out aesthetically and sonically. The virtual resonance modelling (VRM) feature adds realistic sustain-pedal ambience, though one player found a subtle noise from it distracting and turned it off. Headphone playback was called so natural one user thought they'd taken them off, though volume perception differed between store and home listening.

Getting the best sound may require setup work, and quality isn't guaranteed. One owner reported the out-of-box sound was flat and needed extensive reverb and settings adjustments before becoming acceptable for their room. Another buyer experienced two faulty keys within two months of ownership and had to wait for replacement parts, raising concerns about consistency. A third asked whether the hammer action's tendency to get louder over time is typical of natural acoustic-like feel or a defect.

Feature and design choices split opinion among long-time Clavinova fans. The light-up touch screen was singled out as a genuinely cool, modern feature. However, a professional pianist noted the absence of stretch tuning offered by Roland and Kawai competitors, which they rely on for a brighter top end. Others lamented the shift away from the older open-back cabinet design, saying they've waited years for its return and won't upgrade without it, while price-conscious shoppers questioned the jump over the CLP-875.