Yamaha CLP775 & Yamaha CLP785

Earlier this year Yamaha announced the release of their new CLP 700 series of pianos, including the flagship Yamaha CLP775 and CLP785.

So you might be wondering – what’s the difference between the Yamaha CLP775 and CLP785?

First impressions

First off, let’s take a look at the controls on these ranges – the Yamaha CLP775 and CLP785 both offer a neat touch panel for improved user interaction with the piano, which is a big step up from the limited, rudimentary buttons on the 600 series models. This builds upon the basic concepts of the CLP series pianos: simplicity and ease of use. The touch panel further blends into the piano’s gloss black or white finish when turned off, making it practically invisible.

Key Action

The GrandTouch key system has also been implemented into all of the 700 models, replacing the NWX keys used on some of the 600 series models. This offers a far more authentic hammer action and key response when playing. This is a very useful feature when it comes to switching between a digital piano and an acoustic piano, as the less difference there is between the two in terms of the physical playing experience, the easier the transition.

Yamaha CLP775 & CLP785 | Sound & Features

The CLP795GP, CLP785 and CLP775 models further offer a new Grand Acoustic Imaging feature for when you’re using the stereo 3-way speaker system built into the piano itself. It aims to offer a perfect reproduction of the soundstage created by the resonating body of a full size grand piano, achieved by very specific speaker driver placement in the piano itself alongside some clever digital signal processing.

But what does this actually mean? Well it simply refers to the fact that sound radiates out from a grand piano in a particular way, and most of the sound is created by the large soundboard resonating or vibrating with the strings. Grand Acoustic Imaging aims to mimic this to give a more powerful playing experience, and this feature really sets the CLP775 and CLP785 apart from it’s competitors.

All the 700 series models, including the CLP775 and CLP785, give you 38 voices and 21 voice demo songs, bar the 795GP and 785 which boast 53 voices and 25 voices demo songs, offering an increase over the 600 series. Among the new voices are ones based on the early ‘Fortepiano’ piano, perfect for getting an authentic sound for 18th and 19th century classical music from composers such as Chopin, Beethoven and Mozart.

In the same way they did with the higher end 600 series pianos, Yamaha have included their signature spruce cone speaker drivers, which uses the same wood stock used for manufacturing their piano soundboards, a concept aided by their vast knowledge in the HiFi industry. Physically, the 600 and 700 series counterparts are almost identical sizes, maintaining the high end, slim and compact design for the majority of the range, along with two GP or Grand Piano models.

All models give you full recording capability with the ability to export recordings (in a .WAV format) via USB, and (apart from the 735), the ability to connect via bluetooth and use the piano as a speaker or for accompaniment.

In summary

The Yamaha CLP775 and CLP785 are, arguably, the greatest replacements for an acoustic piano available on the market today.

What strikes you most about these pianos is how far the series has progressed from it’s earliest days. As the series continues to progress, you get the sense that Yamaha are as obsessed with refining their existing technologies as they are with developing new ones; research and development live at the heart of the Yamaha Clavinova range, and both fledgling and established musicians are benefitting from their efforts.

Specification