Kawai NOVUS NV10S hybrid grand piano

• SK-EX Rendering sound engine with additional Virtual Technician parameters
• Speaker system with 20 cm woofer and optimised speaker positioning
• Updated LCD touchscreen hardware and user interface
• Integrated Bluetooth® MIDI and audio connectivity, with aptX support
• Support for Kawaiʼs latest PianoRemote and PiaBookPlayer apps
• Authentic new electric piano, organ, harpsichord, strings, and bass sounds

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Introducing the Kawai NV10S hybrid upright piano

SummaryThe NV10S is the new flagship instrument of the Novus range, and successor to the award-winning NV10 hybrid piano. This updated model retains the industry-leading Millennium III Hybrid grand piano keyboard action and unique real damper mechanism of its predecessor, while upgrading a number of sound, delivery, and operation characteristics. The NV10Sʼ improved SK-EX Rendering multi-channel sound engine features enhanced acoustic piano samples, with new Virtual Technician parameters to precisely control the attack, release, and sustain characteristics of each piano. The updated NV10S retains the high fidelity audio processing and powerful amplification of the original NV10, while improving the instrumentʼs overall speaker system. Finally, as with all new Kawai instruments, the NV10S 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.

Millennium III hybrid grand piano keyboard action

The NOVUS NV10S is the first digital piano to incorporate Kawai’s leading acoustic grand piano keyboard action technology, renowned for its extended spruce key sticks, and innovative ABS Carbon components that are stronger, lighter, and more dimensionally stable than conventional wooden parts. The specially adapted Millennium III Hybrid keyboard action utilised by the NV10S replaces traditional felt hammers with new ABS equivalents that are individual graded in weight from bass to treble, while high-precision optical sensors take the place of metal strings, accurately reading the subtle movements of each hammer as the corresponding keys are played.

Grand piano damper mechanism

In addition to featuring a full acoustic grand piano keyboard action, the NOVUS NV10S is the first hybrid instrument to also incorporate a real grand piano damper mechanism. While there are no strings inside the NV10S to require physical damping, this unique feature replicates the true weighting of a grand piano damper pedal, while also mechanically easing the keyboard action’s touch weight as the pedal is pressed.

Shigeru Kawai SK-EX concert grand piano

The magnificent tone of Kawai’s flagship Shigeru Kawai SK-EX full concert grand piano is at the heart of the NOVUS NV10S hybrid digital piano. Widely regarded as the ‘premier pianos of Japan’, Shigeru Kawai instruments grace the stages of concert halls and musical institutions throughout the world, and are prized for their tonal clarity and exceptional dynamic range. Multi-channel sampling captures the sound from different points of the Shigeru Kawai concert grand piano, allowing a broader range of tonal characteristics to be reproduced, and providing a more lively, authentic response to changes in dynamics.

Alternate acoustic piano sounds

In addition to the latest SK-EX Rendering piano sound engine, the NOVUS NV10S hybrid digital piano also incorporates Kawai’s highly regarding Harmonic Imaging XL technology, showcasing a variety of alternative acoustic piano sounds and a strong selection of additional instrument voices. Supplementing these realistic acoustic piano voices, the NOVUS NV10S hybrid digital piano also features an excellent selection of additional instrument sounds, ranging from electric pianos and drawbar and church organs, to strings, human choirs, and even atmospheric synth-style pads, inviting musicians to add greater variety to their performances.

Virtual technician adjustments

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.

Integrated bluetooth, MIDI and audio connectivity

In addition to standard MIDI jacks for connecting to other instruments, the NOVUS NV10S hybrid digital piano also boasts integrated Bluetooth MIDI and Audio technology that allows the instrument to communicate with supported smart devices wirelessly. Once connected to a phone, tablet, or laptop, NV10S owners can enjoy a wide variety of exciting music-related apps that enhance their learning and playing experience, or stream audio from songs and videos through the instrument’s speakers without any additional cables.

USB to device functionality

The NOVUS NV10S hybrid digital piano is equipped with USB connectors that not only allow the instrument to be connected to a computer for MIDI use, but also to load and save data to USB memory devices directly. This ‘USB to Device’ feature allows recorded songs stored in internal memory to be saved to USB for posterity, or standard MIDI files (SMF) downloaded from the internet to be conveniently played back without additional hardware. USB memory devices can also be used to play back MP3 or WAV audio files, allowing musicians to learn the chords or melody for a new piece, or to simply play along with their favorite songs.

Premium audio hardware, powered by Onkyo

Developed in collaboration with Onkyo, one of Japan’s leading premium audio equipment manufacturers, the NOVUS NV10S hybrid digital piano is one of the first Kawai musical instruments to utilise specialist components designed for high-end audio reproduction. With cutting-edge technologies such as 1-bit processing, dual DAC signal conversion, and Onkyo’s DIRDC filtering, the NV10S’s optimised power amplifiers reproduce the Shigeru Kawai grand piano sound with stunning clarity, richness, and power, while the high-performance Discrete Spectra Module headphone amplifier ensures the finest quality listening experience, even when playing in privacy.

 

Full colour touchscreen display

The NOVUS NV10S is the first instrument of its kind to feature a full-colour 5” touchscreen display. Discreetly embedded within the left cheekblock, this high resolution touchscreen allows sounds and settings to be selected from an attractive user interface with the swipe of a finger. The display can also be set to turn off automatically while playing, thus preserving the NV10S’s acoustic piano-like appearance, and minimising any visual distraction to the pianist.