General
Yamaha are deeply serious when they state that 'Digital never felt so grand'. In the CLP-700 Series on the world at large, Yamaha have managed to breathe warm, acoustic life into their digital instruments. As such, the CLP-765GP Clavinova looks every bit like an acoustic mini-grand piano and in terms of playing feel and sound, could lead you to believe that it is. But what actually lies inside is a host of highly advanced tech that widens the potential of this piano while maintaining as authentic a feel as possible. This accomplished instrument is available in Polished White and Polished Ebony; this is the white model.
The GrandTouch-S Keyboard
The first thing you see and feel as you sit at this piano is, of course, the keyboard. The GrandTouch-S 88 note keyboard has been specifically developed to provide the same response as the hammer-based mechanics of a real piano. Here, the letter 'S' stands for small and refers to the mini-grand dimensions of the instrument that have been kept similar to the size of a small grand, making it the perfect home piano that certainly wouldn't look out of place in a smaller venue or theatre. The white keys are made of synthetic ivory while the black keys are made from synthetic ebony and have precisely the same size and layout as that of a standard grand. This keyboard offers considerably dynamic control - from pianissimo to fortissimo, and since it's also supported by an escapement mechanism, so that a note can be played repeatedly in quick succession. In fact, words really aren't enough to describe what this keyboard is capable of, so we can only recommend experiencing it yourself.
The Yamaha CFX and Bösendorfer Imperial
Once you're comfortably seated at the keyboard, the CLP-765GP, you're given access to the binaural (stereo) sampled sound of the infinitely expensive Yamaha CFX grand piano. Since it has been recorded with the latest technique, the sound is more rich and spacious. This same technique has been applied to the sound of the priceless Bösendorfer Imperial, granting you sumptuous, concert-grade sound in the comfort of your own living room.
Binaural Sampling
It's worth going into a little detail when referring to the sampling method used for both the Bösendorfer Imperial and Yamaha CFX. Binaural sampling, in the most basic sense, ensures that the natural sound is retained, whether you're using the built-in speakers or a set of headphones - which is an important feature when considering a digital piano. Playing while wearing headphones can lead to listening fatigue following hours of practice. Binaural sampling serves to ease this problem simply because it is so spacious. It's also worth mentioning that this is the first model to also including binaural samplers of the Bösendorfer.
Pianoforte: Mozart Piano (Walter) and Chopin Piano (Pleyel)
If you have a particular taste for playing 18th of 19th century pieces, then you'll be interested to hear that Yamaha have included the sound of two awe-inspiring forte pianos to accommodate you. The first is the 18th century 'Mozart' piano - originally made by Walter in the Viennese tradition. The second is the 19th century 'Chopin' piano that was originally made by Pleyel in Paris. The tuning can also be adjusted as needed, starting with a standard tuning at A (440Hz) that can be brought down to 414.8Hz or up as far as 466.8Hz.
Sound Quality and Detail
So the quality of the samples and the keyboard are certainly assured, but what about the sound reproduction. Thanks to the enhanced VRM (Virtual Resonance Modelling) and the newest acoustic technology going, you're near enough sitting at an acoustic baby-grand piano. The VRM tech ensures that not only the damping and resonance is clearly audible, but that the 'duplex scale' (complex overtones) can also be heard. You also notice the same little sounds made by the pedals of an acoustic instrument, heightening the sense of realism even further. Due to the smart design of the chamber and the intelligent placing of the speakers, the audio optimally reaches the ears of the pianist and the is treated to the sound of a piano at its best. Two amplifiers are responsible for this and combine with the speakers to deliver a fantastically clear sound. The sound is that good that you could comfortably place this piano in your living room and need no further audio equipment. This piano can be wirelessly coupled with Bluetooth capable devices or connected using the fitted AUX input so that you can even listen to music using the built in sound system.
Control and Functionality
The Clavinova CLP-765GP has been finished with an incredibly discreet touch sensor menu to the left of the keyboard. The menu only lights up when in use and any indicative lights automatically switch off after a few seconds so that the visual illusion of an acoustic piano remains intact. Via the menu, you are offered a 3-band equaliser to adjust the balance between the bass, mid and high. 20 rhythm tracks can played along with, and this model doesn't offer your standard, someone well-trodden rhythms but also bass accompaniment that can be followed with neat chords. This piano also comes with extensive recording options - and this is definitely the case if you couple the SmartPianist App via Bluetooth. This app can be used by a smartphone or tablet to expand the potential of the piano even more. An enormous database of play-along-songs is included as well as lessons and exercises. It's also possible to import songs from something like an iTunes playlist so that they can be played along with. The app is able to analyse the song and determine not only the tempo but the chords! Another useful feature of this comprehensive app is that it can listen to what your playing and transcribe it into musical notation for you.
The Yamaha CLP-765GP Clavinova Grand Piano
It might already be fairly clear that we're pretty big fans of the CLP-765 Grand Piano. If you're looking for a professional-grade digital piano then you simply have to try this piano. You don't buy a piano every day so it's essential to choose an instrument that you feel at ease with and that you can enjoy getting to know. What's absolutely certain about this piano is that it's really one of the best models of 2020, if not ever.
