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If you’ve been browsing Yamaha digital pianos recently, you may have noticed something slightly confusing.
There’s the CLP series, the CVP series, and the CSP series.
Three letters. Three ranges. All sitting under the Clavinova umbrella.
If you’re anything like me the first time I encountered them, you probably wondered whether Yamaha had simply started throwing letters at the alphabet and hoping for the best.
But once you understand the idea behind each range, the logic actually makes a lot of sense.
In simple terms, each one is designed for a different type of pianist.
Let’s break it down.
Chris actually recorded a video a while back comparing these three ranges side by side and explaining what makes each one unique. If you’d like a quick overview before diving deeper into the details, it’s well worth watching.
The CLP series is the one most people imagine when they think of a modern digital piano.
These instruments are designed first and foremost to recreate the experience of playing an acoustic grand piano, but with all the practical benefits of a digital instrument.
That means:
• weighted keys designed to feel like a real piano
• detailed piano sampling from Yamaha’s flagship concert grands
• powerful speaker systems built into a traditional cabinet
Models higher up the range also introduce wooden key actions, which many pianists (myself included) really appreciate. They add a level of control and authenticity that makes the instrument feel much closer to an acoustic piano.
The CLP range is ideal if your main goal is simply to sit down and play piano.
There are other sounds available of course, but the focus is clearly on the piano experience itself.
For someone learning piano, returning to piano, or wanting a serious home instrument without the maintenance of an acoustic piano, the CLP series is often the natural place to start.
Now this is where things get interesting.
The CVP series still gives you a beautiful digital piano experience, but it adds something else entirely: automatic accompaniment.
In other words, the piano can effectively become your backing band.
Play a chord with your left hand and the instrument generates a full arrangement behind you. Drums, bass, guitars, orchestral parts – all responding to what you play.
If you enjoy playing songs and want the experience to feel more like performing with a band rather than playing solo piano, the CVP range can be incredibly inspiring.
These instruments also include:
• hundreds of instrumental voices
• full arranger styles
• lyric displays
• recording features
• karaoke-style playback
• advanced learning features
In many ways, a CVP is halfway between a digital piano and a professional arranger keyboard like the Yamaha Genos or PSR-SX series.
They’re particularly popular with players who enjoy entertaining friends and family, performing songs, or simply exploring lots of musical styles.
The CSP series is perhaps the most modern and clever of the three.
Instead of relying on lots of buttons and menus, the CSP range works closely with Yamaha’s Smart Pianist app on a tablet or smartphone.
The app becomes the main interface, giving you access to sounds, songs, and features in a very visual and intuitive way.
But the feature that really makes the CSP range stand out is something Yamaha calls Stream Lights.
These are lights above the keys that show you exactly which notes to play when learning a song.
It’s a remarkably engaging way to learn music because the piano effectively guides your hands along the keyboard.
Many people who might otherwise feel intimidated by learning piano suddenly find themselves able to start playing songs quite quickly.
In other words, the CSP range is designed to make the process of learning music feel much more accessible and interactive.
Once you understand the philosophy behind each range, the choice becomes much clearer.
CLP
Best for players who want a realistic piano experience and mainly intend to play piano music.
CVP
Perfect for players who enjoy performing songs and want the excitement of playing with full backing arrangements.
CSP
Ideal for beginners and hobbyists who want a more guided learning experience with app integration and interactive features.
All three ranges share Yamaha’s reputation for excellent sound quality and reliable digital piano design. The difference simply comes down to the type of musical experience you want.
Quite a few people who explore these ranges already own a digital piano and are simply wondering whether it might be time for an upgrade.
If that’s the case, we’re always happy to discuss part-exchange options. Many customers are pleasantly surprised by how much value their current instrument can contribute towards a newer Yamaha model.
One thing I’ve noticed when talking to customers is that Yamaha’s technology has improved so much that people are often surprised by how good these instruments sound.
Digital pianos today are capable of a level of realism and musical expression that would have been hard to imagine even ten or fifteen years ago.
So while the choice between CLP, CVP and CSP might seem confusing at first, it’s actually a good problem to have.
It means there’s probably a Yamaha piano designed specifically for the way you want to play music.
If you’d like to explore the different Yamaha digital piano ranges in more detail, you can view the available models on our website.
And if you’re ever unsure which one might suit you best, we’re always happy to help point you in the right direction.
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These items are sold on behalf of Yamaha, and are sent to us on a per-order basis, typically within 5-7 working days, unless an ETA is otherwise stated.
We'll contact you the moment your purchase arrives with us to organise delivery, based on your selected option.
Example products: Yamaha DGX670, Yamaha P-525, Yamaha YDP-S55, Yamaha Clavinova.
These items must be sent with a heavy-goods courier (typically APC or FedEx). On occasion, depending on which is fastest, we will drop-ship directly from Yamaha to your address via Dachser.
Tracking will be provided by the haulier, with a typical arrival time of 1-2 working days.
*If you have included the optional £180 "Yamaha Premium Service" home delivery & setup option offered on selected products, we will contact you regarding arrangements after purchase.
**The Yamaha CSP Series, Yamaha CVP905 & CVP909, Yamaha CLP875, 885 & 895GP, and Yamaha NU1Xa are all sold on behalf of Yamaha and arrive with us on a per-order basis. As soon as your piano has arrived, we will contact you to organise the appropriate dispatch method. ETA for stock is shown on the product page for those items.
***If you have included the optional £99 home delivery & setup option offered on selected products, we will send your details direct to the installation team, who will contact you within 48 hours to make arrangements.
Depending on which option is most appropriate, we will either contact you to discuss a bespoke ePianos delivery surcharge for goods we can’t package for a 3rd party courier, or otherwise dispatch goods via FedEx or APC.
If a courier is used, tracking will be provided by them directly, with a typical arrival time of 1-2 working days.
Example products: Yamaha PSR-SX920, Yamaha P-225, Yamaha NP-15.
These items will be sent via courier (typically APC or FedEx). On occasion, depending on which is fastest, we will drop-ship directly from Yamaha to your address via UPS or Parcelforce.
Tracking will be provided by the courier, with a typical arrival time of 1-2 working days.
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If you have selected the option to receive a pre-loaded USB stick, then this will be dispatched via Royal Mail.
We will contact you regarding any pre-ordered items, and let you know when they arrive so as to arrange delivery with you at a convenient time.
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Total amount payable: £893.32
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We are closed on all bank holidays, therefore the processing of sales and deliveries will be delayed.
For orders of any stock displaying a 7-10 day lead time, we will contact you as soon as the item arrives with us to schedule a delivery with you.
Occasionally, there may be availability issues with our suppliers, in which case we'll get in touch with you to see if you're happy to wait, or if you'd like to cancel the order and receive a full refund.
This is a special order "agency" item, and comes to us directly from Yamaha on a per-order basis.
It typically takes 7-10 days for this item to arrive with us, whereupon we'll contact you to discuss the arrangement of delivery.
For any pre-orders, we will contact you as soon as the item arrives with us to schedule a delivery with you, and update you with an ETA.
Occasionally, there may be availability issues with our suppliers, in which case we'll get in touch with you to see if you're happy to wait, or if you'd like to cancel the order and receive a full refund.
*Cashback amount varies product to product, as indicated.
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