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When it comes to digital pianos, Yamaha consistently leads the way with innovative technology and exceptional quality.
The Yamaha CLP-875 and CLP-885 are no exception, offering a sublime playing experience that closely mimics that of a traditional grand piano.
As an experienced pianist and digital piano industry veteran, I’ve had the pleasure of exploring these models in detail, and I’m excited to share my insights on their differences and what makes each one special.
Firstly, the differing cabinet designs are the things that you’ll notice straight away.
The CLP-885 really does look like a traditional upright piano.
Both models look like upright pianos with a drop lid, or “fall” as it’s called, and in the polished ebony finish, particularly with its slightly higher cabinet, the CLP-885 really looks like I would want a traditional upright piano to look in my house.
I think it would fool most people who were casually glancing at it into believing it is indeed an upright piano, much like one of the ones from the Yamaha U series upright range.
In contrast, the CLP-875 features a sleek sliding key cover, maintaining a modern yet elegant look.
The sound system is where the CLP-885 truly shines.
The performance of the amplifiers and speakers on the CLP-885 compared to the CLP-875 is quite noticeable.
The CLP-885 has a three-way speaker system, and you will notice this underneath the keys, stretching down to where the pedals are housed in one large bass speaker cabinet.
This setup delivers a richer, more nuanced sound, especially noticeable in the treble and bass ends.
You can feel the vibrations through your ankles when you play, particularly in the treble and bass.
As you transition through the scale to the higher end, there’s a crispness and clarity that the CLP-875 doesn’t quite match.
This superior amplification gives you more dynamic range and more light and shade in your playing, allowing for greater expressiveness.
Both models feature Yamaha’s GrandTouch™ keyboard with wooden keys, synthetic ebony and ivory key tops, and escapement.
However, the CLP-885 includes counterweights, which enhance the feel and responsiveness of the keys.
This subtle yet impactful difference is crucial for advanced pianists who rely on the nuanced feedback from the keyboard to convey their musical expression.
The GrandTouch™ mechanism is already established in the industry as the one that other manufacturers strive to compete with.
It’s highly authentic and a real joy to play, and the added counterweights on the CLP-885 make it even better.
For serious students and professional pianists, the differences in sound transfer and key response between the CLP-875 and CLP-885 are crucial.
The CLP-885’s advanced speaker system and key mechanism ensure that every nuance of your playing is captured and projected with clarity.
When I lean on the keys and put a bit of my soul into it, the piano responds in kind.
It feels like there’s a genuine interface between my emotions and the piano itself, creating music that’s full of life and expression.
This is what playing piano is all about. Over time, this can significantly impact your development and satisfaction as a pianist.
Both the CLP-875 and CLP-885 bring the benefits of digital pianos, such as zero maintenance, portability, and silent practice.
However, the CLP-885 is positioned as a market leader, offering top-of-the-line specifications that other manufacturers strive to match.
These two models would really benefit serious students and advanced players, particularly the CLP-885.
I would consider the CLP-885 a “buy-once” model, meaning you’re unlikely to find your playing standard hitting any sort of artificial limit with it.
If the CLP-885 is within your budget, I would urge you to invest in this one because there’s nothing worse than hitting an artificial limit when it comes to your ability to express yourself through your playing.
The CLP-885, with its superior sound, key response, and aesthetic appeal, makes it a worthwhile investment for long-term satisfaction and growth.
In summary, while both the Yamaha CLP-875 and CLP-885 are exceptional digital pianos, the CLP-885 stands out with its advanced features and superior performance.
If you have the opportunity, I highly recommend visiting a showroom to play both models side-by-side.
At our Banbury showroom, you’re welcome to take your time and experience the differences firsthand.
For those who seek the best in digital piano technology and wish to invest in an instrument that will serve them well into the future, the Yamaha CLP-885 is the clear choice.
If you love playing piano, you’ll find yourself drawn to the CLP-885.
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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.
Smaller items, such as books, discs, etc, will be dispatched via Royal Mail second class.
After purchase, you can download the file either from the order confirmation page or the "Downloads" tab in "My Account".
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.
Used items can also be purchased using either of the following options (minimum loan amount of £250 after deposit):
Total amount payable: £893.32
Available finance options are displayed at checkout. Alternatively, please get in touch and we’ll be happy to discuss the options, or email a finance application to you. Find out more by clicking here
Our seasonal opening hours are as follows:
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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