Kawai NOVUS NV5S hybrid upright piano

Introducing the Kawai NV5S hybrid upright piano

The NV5S is the latest addition to the Novus range, and successor to the award-winning NV5 hybrid piano. This updated model retains the industry-leading Millennium III Hybrid upright piano keyboard action and unique real damper mechanism of its predecessor, while upgrading a number of sound, delivery, and operation characteristics. The Novus NV5S is the perfect blend of tradition and innovation. A stunning hybrid instrument that combines a full acoustic piano keyboard action and damper mechanism, with the latest digital sound and amplification technologies. Designed for and tested by professional pianists, the NV5S provides the unmistakable feeling of playing a premium quality acoustic instrument, with all the practicality and convenience of a modern digital. Finally, as with all new Kawai instruments, the NV5S fully supports the latest PianoRemote and PiaBookPlayer apps for iOS and compatible Android devices, providing an effortless way to control the instrument wirelessly from a smartphone or tablet, or to study the notated scores for many of the built-in classical etudes and piano pieces from the comfort of an armchair.

The future of the piano

Based on the ‘K’ series’ proven action design, Millennium III Hybrid retains the composite parts and extended key sticks of its acoustic cousin, while replacing the traditional felt hammers with individually-weighted ABS equivalents. As a hybrid piano, there are no metal strings inside the Novus for these hammers to physically strike when the keys are played, therefore their precise movements are instead captured using high-resolution optical sensors mounted over the action. Millennium III Hybrid delivers all of the benefits of a premium Kawai upright piano action within a digital instrument.

Optimal expression

The Millennium III Hybrid keyboard action comprises over 6,000 individual parts, each playing a crucial role in allowing the performer’s fingertips to express feeling and emotion through music. The Novus NV5S’s precision-engineered ABS hammers have been designed for structural stability and optimum keyboard touch-response. Each individual hammer is grade-weighted to mirror the heavier bass and lighter treble hammers of an acoustic piano, ensuring that the NV5S’s key touch-weight feels the same as a well-regulated acoustic instrument.

Unprecedented realism

The Novus NV5S’s beautiful chrome plated pedals are sourced from the same ‘K’ series instruments as the premium Millennium II keyboard action. Moreover, in addition to featuring a full acoustic piano action, the Novus NV5S also incorporates a real acoustic piano damper mechanism in order to reproduce every aspect of playing an acoustic piano. This innovation allows pianists to not only hear how the damper pedal affects the Novus’ generated sound, but also feel the various mechanical interactions through their hands and feet.

The premier piano of Japan

The spirit of the Shigeru Kawai SK-EX concert grand piano is at the heart of the Novus NV5S. Each world-class instrument is hand-crafted by Master Piano Artisans (MPAs), utilising the finest available materials to ensure optimum touch, tone, and artistic expression. Widely regarded as ‘the premier piano of Japan,’ the SK-EX graces the stages of concert halls and musical institutions around the globe, receiving universal acclaim for its magnificent tonal clarity and exceptional dynamic range.

Naturally expressive sound

In order to reproduce the stunning tonal qualities of the Shigeru Kawai concert grand piano digitally, the Novus NV5S incorporates Kawai’s latest SK-EX Rendering technology. This advanced piano sound engine combines the well-established process of sampling with the modern approach of physical modelling, to produce a piano sound that is both rich in natural acoustic character, and dynamically responsive to the player’s musical desires.

High performance delivery

Developed in collaboration with Onkyo, one of Japan’s leading premium audio equipment manufacturers, the NV5S features specialist filtering and amplification components designed for high-resolution sound reproduction. These technologies improve tonal clarity throughout the dynamic range, while helping to preserve the unique harmonic characteristics of the Shigeru Kawai piano. Finally, this high-fidelity sound is delivered through the NV5S’s powerful speaker system, which combines Kawai’s exclusive TwinDrive soundboard technology with six premium quality Onkyo speaker drivers. The result is a remarkably authentic playing experience that immerses the performer, and faithfully reproduces the tonal ambience of an acoustic piano.

The modern acoustic

Its exterior appearance is undoubtedly inspired by classic piano design, thanks in part to the handsome fallboard and wide music rest, providing a sense of stability and reassurance when sitting at the instrument. However, this traditional character is refined and refreshed by the NV5S’s gently curved edge lines and elegantly tapered legs. Indeed, despite housing an acoustic piano keyboard action and damper mechanism, the NV5S is a remarkably compact instrument, occupying a depth of just 46 cm – far smaller than a conventional upright. This slim profile allows pianists to enjoy an authentic, acoustic piano playing experience, in confined spaces previously limited to a standard digital piano.

Premium design detail

The Novus NV5S’s upward facing topboard speakers project mid-range frequencies outward, closely reproducing the sound field of an acoustic piano. These speakers are protected from dust and other foreign objects by fabric created by esteemed Danish textile house, Kvadrat. The NV5S’s topboard speaker cover features an original Kvadrat material, customised to meet Kawai’s specifications, with a woven mesh composition optimised for musical clarity and tonal projection. Its soft, dark-grey yarn with pearl-like highlights, contrasts with the lustrous sheen of the NV5S’s ebony polish cabinet, elevating this musical instrument to the level of a piece of fine furniture, destined to become the centrepiece of any room it occupies.

Digital piano convenience

While the Novus NV5S’s core features are unquestionably derived from an acoustic piano, the instrument neatly incorporates various additional technologies that provide the modern conveniences of a premium digital piano. These features are primarily controlled through the NV5S’s touchscreen LCD, which is discretely embedded within the instrument’s left cheekblock. Unlike an acoustic piano, the Novus NV5S provides a variety of options for connecting to other devices, with audio jacks that allow the instrument to be amplified in halls and other large settings, and USB and MIDI ports for transferring music data to and from a computer. The NV5S even supports Bluetooth®, providing an effortless way to connect and enjoy smart devices wirelessly.